Student Rights, Discipline and Appeals
Following is a brief summary of University of Saskatchewan policies and procedures. For a complete set, students and faculty should consult the Office of the University Secretary (www.usask.ca/university_secretary), or their college dean's office.
|
Student Appeals in Academic Matters
A student wfho is dissatisfied with the assessment of their work or performance in any aspect of course work, including a midterm or final examination, should consult the University Council policy titled Student Appeals in Academic Matters. This policy was approved by Council on November 18, 1999 with revisions to September 19, 2002.
This policy describes the process to be followed in appealing the assessment. Appeals based on academic judgment follow a step-by-step process including consultation with the instructor and re-reading of written work or re-assessment of non-written work. Appeals involving only academic assessment do not go beyond the college or unit responsible for assessing the student involved. Appeals based on factors other than academic judgment (for example, where discriminatory treatment is alleged that affected academic assessment) also follow a step-by-step process including review by the Bylaws Committee of University Council and establishment of a university-level appeal board.
|
Student Discipline
The University of Saskatchewan Act, 1995 gives University Council the responsibility for student discipline in matters of academic dishonesty, and gives Senate the responsibility to make bylaws respecting the discipline of students for any reason other than academic dishonesty. In addition, the Act gives the President of the University or his designate the right to suspend a student for unacceptable conduct in either area. A student has the right of appeal as described below.
Student Appeals in Non-Academic Matters: The university considers students to be responsible adults, who will comport themselves in a manner consistent with the University's objectives and values, and in accordance with community standards. The University has developed policies and procedures for the guidance and discipline. These rules reflect the policy of the University to not tolerate or denigrate its values nor condone student misconduct. Decisions made under these policies are held to standards of fairness, and the procedures allow for due process consistent with principles of natural justice.
The Senate policy on Non-Academic Student Discipline and Appeals was approved on October 20, 2000. The policy defines misconduct as "any conduct, other than academic dishonesty, that falls below a standard of conduct accepted in the community, consistent with an informed individual of reasonable intelligence, including, but not limited to, any disruptive or dangerous behaviour, unauthorized entry or presence, violation of University policies, and misuse of disciplinary procedures, or other inappropriate behaviour." This policy covers the conduct of all U of S students in University-related activities or with respect to, and on, University property. University-related activities of any type operated under University auspices at any location. The policy establishes an appeal procedure which is designed to ensure fairness, consistency and equity.
Academic Dishonesty: "Academic Dishonesty" is essentially cheating. Types of cheating are listed in the Student Academic Dishonesty Rules of the University of Saskatchewan Council approved by University Council on September 16, 1999, with revisions up to June 2002.
To summarize briefly, the Rules list two procedures which can be followed when a professor believes a student has cheated. "Informal Procedures" are followed when a professor feels that a student has cheated inadvertently or without intending to do wrong. This can be handled between the professor and the student with a discussion and a warning. "Formal Allegations of Academic Dishonesty" are the procedures followed when a professor feels that the cheating requires a penalty, ranging from a mark of zero in an assignment to expulsion from the university. These procedures require that the student have an informal hearing within the unit involved. If the student is judged guilty of the offense, a penalty will be applied. The student may appeal to a university-level appeal board.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty: The following constitute academic dishonesty which may be the subject-matter of an allegation under Rule 2:
(a) Providing false or misleading information or documentation to gain admission to the University or any University program;
(b) Theft of lecture notes, research work, computer files, or academic materials prepared by another student or an instructor;
(c) Using work done in one course in fulfilment of the requirements of another course unless approval is obtained from the instructor involved;
(d) Passing off the work of someone else as one's own;
(e) The supply of materials prepared by the student to another student for use by that student as the work or materials of that student;
(f) Alteration or falsification of records, computer files, or any document relating to a student's academic performance;
(g) Failure to observe any stated rule with regard to the procedure used in an examination or any other form of exercise undertaken for academic credit which could result in the student gaining relatively greater credit;
(h) Altering answers on a returned examination;
(i) When prohibited, removing an examination from the examination room;
(j) Seeking to acquire or acquiring prior knowledge of the contents of any examination question or paper with the intention of gaining an unfair advantage;
(k) Possessing or using notes or other sources of information or devices in an examination not permitted by the course instructor;
(l) Consulting or seeking the assistance of others when writing a "take home" examination unless permitted by the course instructor;
(m) Providing false or misleading information with the intent to avoid or delay writing an examination or fulfilling any other academic requirement;
(n) Failing to observe the terms of any undertaking of non-disclosure given in connection with an examination;
(o) Misrepresenting or conspiring with another person to misrepresent the identity of a student writing an examination or engaging in any other form of assessment;
(p) Knowingly doing anything designed to interfere with the opportunities of another person to have his or her contribution fully recognized or to participate in the academic program;
(q) Preventing others from fair and equal access to University facilities;
(r) Using or attempting to use personal relationships, bribes, threats or other illegal conduct to gain unearned grades or academic advantages;
(s) Knowingly assisting another person engaged in actions that amount to academic dishonesty;
(t) Plagiarism: the presentation of the work or idea of another in such a way as to give others the impression that it is the work or idea of the presenter.
There is an onus on every student to become informed as to what does or does not constitute plagiarism. Ignorance of applicable standards of ethical writing is not an acceptable excuse. The critical consideration is the impression created in the mind of the others, not the subjective intent of the student. This determination involves an objective evaluation of the manuscript. No intent to deceive is required to establish plagiarism.
Adequate attribution is required. What is essential is that another person have no doubt which words or research results are the student's and which are drawn from other sources. Full explicit acknowledgement of the source of the material is required.
Examples of plagiarism are:
(i) The use of material received or purchased from another person or prepared by any person other than the individual claiming to be the author. [It is not plagiarism to use work developed in the context of a group exercise (and described as such in the text) if the mode and extent of the use does not deviate from that which is specifically authorized].
(ii) The verbatim use of oral or written material without adequate attribution.
(iii) The paraphrasing of oral or written material of other persons without adequate attribution.
|
|
 |
