S.09-1 For Information

Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals

S.09-1

For Information

Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters ?

2007/2008

University Board on Student Discipline **

Senate Conmuttee on Disciplinary Appeals **

Statistical Summary - Academic Dishonesty Incidents*

Statistical Summary - Non-academic Discipline Incidents*

Section 11.1 of Policy T10.03 states:

The Registrar and the Senior Director, Student and Community Life, shall

maintain a statistical summary of cases which are handled through their offices each year, and these data shall be included in

the Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters.

Section 11.2 of Policy T10.03 states:

In addition to the data in 11.1, the Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters

will contain a summary of the UBSD Tribunal's decisions, the President's decisions, SCODA's decisions and the penalties

imposed. This report will be accessible to the University community and will be submitted to Senate for information except

cases or parts of cases that the Tribunal, SCODA or the President decides should not be disclosed. Such summary shall not

disclose the identities of the parties. A set of decisions which does not disclose the identities of the parties shall be maintained

in the office of the Secretary of the UBSD and is available for review upon reasonable notice..

University BoardBoard

on Student Discipline

Reporting Period: January 2008 - December 2008

UBSD Membership

Faculty:

David MacAlister (Co-Ordinator), Criminology (Oct 2005 - Dec 2008)

Deborah Connolly, Psychology (Nov 05 - Oct 2008,

2 nd term)

Greg Baker, Computing Science (Oct 2004 - Sept 2010, 2

term)

Anne Macdonald, Business Administration (Sept 06 - Aug 2009)

Kevin Douglas, Psychology (Sept 2008 - Aug 2009, replacing G.Baker

while on study leave)

Wanda Cassidy, Education (Nov 2008 - Oct 2011)

Students: ?

Jasmine Crane, Grad, MPP Program (Sept 2007 - April 2008)

Grant Janzen, UG, FASS (Sept 2007 - April 2008)

Jeff Miller, UG, FAS (Sept 2007 - Aug 2009, 2nd term)

Karel Casteels, Grad, Mathematics (Sept 2007 - Aug 2009, 2 term)

Kathy McKay, Grad, FASS

duly

2008 - June 2009)

Amanda van Baarsen, UG, FASS (July 2008 —June 2009)

Staff:

Tracy Bruneau, Computing Science (Aug 2004 - Aug 2010, 2 term)

S ?

Donalda Meyers, Education (Nov 2005 - Oct 2011, 3' term)

Yvonne Tabin, Continuing Studies (Oct 2006 - Oct 2009, 311 term)

Eight cases concerning academic dishonesty were referred to the University Board on Student

Discipline. The UBSD dealt with five cases in the period covered by the report; one case

appealed to the UBSD by a student was subsequently withdrawn by the student, and two cases

(also student appeals) were referred to the Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals.

A summary of the cases dealt with by the UBSD is forwarded for the information of Senate.

David MacAlister

Coordinator, University Board on Student Discipline

Rej

Case # Nature of Offence ?

Outcome

08-1

Academic Dishonesty - Cheating on ?

Allegations of academic dishonesty appealed by student; appeal

final examination ?

subsequently withdrawn by the student

08-2 ?

Academic Dishonesty - Alteration of ?

Student admitted academic dishonesty. The President accepted

transcript to gain admission to SFU ?

the recommendation of the Tribunal and suspended student

Co-Op Program ?

for two semesters. Transcript revised to remove credit for Co-

op course in question. Following suspension eligible to return

but must take Foundations of Academic Literacy program.

Upon successful completion, will be permitted to enroll in

other SFU courses.

08-3 ?

Academic Dishonesty - Had another ?

The Tribunal found that the student committed academic

student write examination on his/her ?

dishonesty. The student had a record of prior acts of academic

behalf ?

dishonesty. The President accepted the recommendation of

the Tribunal and permanently suspended the student from the

University, the Departmental penalty (F in course) to stand,

and the student's transcript will contain an annotation

reflecting the permanent suspension.

08-4

Academic Dishonesty - Student

The Tribunal found that the student committed an act of

wrote an examination on behalf of ?

academic dishonesty. The President accepted the

another student ?

recommendation of the Tribunal and suspended the student

from the University for a period of six terms.

08-5 ?

Academic Dishonesty - Plagiarism,

Student appealed departmental ruling; Since student was not

failed to put quotation marks to ?

disputing the facts, the case was referred to SCODA by Co-

reference work of others ?

ordinator of the UBSD. The appeal more closely fit the

"penalty appeal" paradigm rather than the "factual appeal",

therefore the UBSD was without jurisdiction to proceed.

08-6

Academic Dishonesty - Plagiarism,

Student appealed departmental ruling. Since student was not

failed to put quotation marks to ?

disputing the facts, the case was referred to SCODA by Co-

reference work of others ?

ordinator of the UBSD. The appeal more closely fit the

"penalty appeal" paradigm rather than the "factual appeal",

therefore the UBSD was without jurisdiction to proceed.

08-7

Academic Dishonesty - Submission ?

The Tribunal found that the student committed academic

of fraudulent letters of reference in

dishonesty. The President accepted the recommendation of

support of application to graduate ?

the Tribunal and suspended the student for six terms. The

program at SFU President also accepted the recommendation that the student

will be unable to graduate until the period of suspension has

expired. Appealed to SCODA

08-8

Academic Dishonesty - Several ?

Case outstanding

incidents of plagiarism in several

distance education courses in same

semester

Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals - SCODA

2008 Report

Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals

Reporting Period

January 2008 - December 2008

The

Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals (SCODA)

dealt with five appeals in the

period covered by this report, four of which involved charges of plagiarism and one which

involved the submission of falsified documents:

SCODA Case Appeal No - 08-3 (plagiarism)

Appeal based on Policy T10.03, section 8.1(a) ("that a procedural error occurred of

sufficient magnitude that it may reasonably be said to have affected 'the fairness of the

process"). The Committee found in favour of the student and varied the grade assigned

to the paper from 0/40 to

15/40 ("F")

based on its finding that the instructor's discretion,

as outlined in Ti

0.03,

section 2. 1, was impeded by the adoption of a department policy

mandating a grade of "0" in all cases of academic dishonesty without consideration of the

facts specific to the case.

SCODA Case Appeal No - 08-6 (plagiarism)

Appeal under Policy T10.03, section 8.1(a) ("that a procedural error occurred of

sufficient magnitude that it may reasonably be said to have affected the fairness of the

process"). The Committee found in favour of the student and concluded that the mark of

• "0" assigned by the instructor should stand, but that the "Academic Dishonesty Report"

should be removed from both University and department files because the instructor did

not notify the student that the report had been filed or give the student an opportunity to

discuss the matter until some weeks after the report was filed.

SCODA Case Appeal No - 083

(plagiarism)

Appeal under Ti 0.03, section 8.1(c) ("the penalty imposed on the student is excessive in

all the circumstances of the case"). The Committee found in favour of the student and

concluded that the grade of "0" assigned by the professor should stand, but that the

"Academic Dishonesty Report" should be removed from both University and department

files.

SCODA Case Appeal No - 08-4 (plagiarism)

Appeal based on Policy TlO.03, section 8.1(c) ("that the penalty imposed on the student

is excessive in all the circumstances of the case"). Pursuant to T10.03, section 10.3(d)

("confirming the original decision which remains unchanged"), the Committee concluded

that the grade of "0" assigned by the professor should stand and that the Academic

Dishonesty Report should remain in the student's file.

SCODA Case Appeal No - 08-7 (falsified documents submitted for admission)

Appeal of UBSD Case 08-7 based on T10.03, section 8.1(b) ("that a factual error of

sufficient magnitude that it may reasonably be said to have altered the outcome of the

'Accidentally misnumbered: should have been 08-5.

Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals - SCODA

2008 Report

case against the student") and section 8.1(c) ("that the penalty imposed on the student is

excessive in all the circumstances of the case)." The Committee concluded that the

UBSD decision was based on a fair reading of the evidence in the record and that the

penalty imposed on the student was not excessive under the circumstances of the case.

Accordingly, the Committee found against the appellant pursuant to T10.03, section

10.3(d) ("confirming the original decision which remains unchanged") and upheld the

original decision imposing a 6-semester suspension from the University and providing

that the student is ineligible to put his name forward to graduate until that time has

expired.

SCODA Membership as of December 2008:

Chair: ?

Dr. Andrea Geiger, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Vice-Chair:

Vacant

Faculty (Regular Members)

Dr. Andrea Geiger, Department of History

Dr. Geoffrey Poitras, Department of Finance

Dr. Abraham Punnen, Department of Math

Faculty (Alternate Members)

Dr. Luis Goddyn, Department of Math

Dr. Jodi Viljoen, Department of Psychology

Students (Regular Members)

Ms. Aman Bains, undergraduate student

Mr. Justin Basinger, undergraduate student

Mr. Ravi Patel, undergraduate student

Students (Alternate Members)

Ms. Nathalie Bocking, undergraduate student

- Mr. Thomas Unsoeld, graduate student

Secretary

Ms. Concetta Di Francesco, Student Academic Appeals

LLCLJ

Concetta Di Francesco

Andrea Geiger

Secretary, SCODA

Chair, SCODA

. ?

REGISTRAR AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT

STUDENT SERVICES

December 11, 2008

Senate and Academic Services

Academic Discipline Report - 2008

tel 778.782.3108

fax 778.782.5732

Maggie Benston Centre ?

The Academic Integrity Coordinator in the Registrar's office collects and compiles data regarding

Simon Fraser University ?

academic dishonesty cases from units across all three campuses. Between January and December

8888 University Drive

2008, 108 incident report forms were filed in the Registrar's office. Seventeen of thirty-eight

Burnaby BC V5A 1S6

academic

incidents.

Canada ?

c units reported

Four cases involving repeat offenders were identified through the

central database and the Registrar met with each student and issued a reprimand in addition to the

academic penalties levied. Students were also informed that any further incidents would be

forwarded directly to UBSD.

There are 37 active Academic Integrity Advisors representing departments and faculties coordinated

by the Academic Integrity Coordinator in the Registrar's office.

The total number of cases filed in the Registrar's office is down from 2007. At this time it is not

clear that all academic units are reporting their incidents of academic dishonesty to the Registrar's

office so the data below may not be an accurate indication of the extent of academic dishonesty

campus-wide.

Table 1 below lists the most common types of incidents that occur and Table 2 details the

breakdown of penalties assigned.

TABLE 1

Type of Incident:

No. of Cases:

Plagiarism, ?

Examples:

-assignment was submitted that was cut and pasted from an article

- paper plagiarized from wide variety of web sources; fabricated

research notes

- verbatim passage from wikipedia not in quotation marks

Cheating on exams or assignments

Examples:

- looking at notes during an unplanned fire alarm during exam;

- student had two friends re-write most of their paper

- student was found to have textbook formulas on their hand at

the final exam

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

THINKING OF THE WORLD

REGISTRAR AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT

STUDENT SERVICES

Fraud

Examples:

- alteration of transcript to gain admission to the Co-op program;

- submitted fraudulent letters of reference for graduate application

- wrote final exam for another student

TOTAL

108

TABLE 2

Penalties

Number

Give the student a warning

Assign a grade penalty less harsh than 'F' for the work

Impose a failing mark for the work

Assign a grade penalty of 'F' for the course

Re-do the work or do supplementary work

Refer to UBSD

TOTAL

108

Kate Ross

Registrar & Senior Director Enrollment Services

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY THINKING OF THE

WORLD

MEMO

ATTENTION

Senate

TEL

2-4004

FROM

Tim Rahilly, Ph.D., Senior Director Student & Community Life

Annual re

ort of Student Conduct, Nov. 1", 2007 - Oct. 31, 2008

DATE

December 9, 2008 ?

Under the Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct Procedures (T10.03), Section

11.1 states "The Registrar and the Senior Director, Student and Community Life shall

maintain a statistical summary of cases which are handled through their offices each year

and these data shall be included in the Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters". The

information below fulfils the annual reporting requirement of student misconduct.

The purpose of the Code of Student Conduct (Policy Number T10.01) is to create a

scholarly community characterized by honesty, civility, diversity, free inquiry, freedom

from harassment, mutual respect and individual safety. The policy covers SFU student

conduct in University-related activities (i.e., activities operated under University auspices

at any location).

•

The procedures for student misconduct are outlined in SFU Policy T10.03. As per the

Policy, reports of student misconduct are forwarded to the Senior Director, Student &

Community Life who will give the student the opportunity to meet and discuss the

situation. The Senior Director, Student & Community life is empowered to take one or

more of the following courses of action:

seek an informal resolution;

recommend professional assistance with the intention of assisting the student;

issue a formal reprimand;

assess and recover costs to rectify the damage or loss caused by the student;

require the student to write a letter of apology;

allow the student to perform up to 50 hours of community service;

terminate scholarships or other financial support;

refer the matter to the University Board on Student Discipline (UBSD).

Attached is a summary table for cases of student misconduct in which my office intervened

during the period of October

31st

2007 to November V

t ,

2008. Beginning in 2006 the

annual report only included those cases where the student met with the Senior Director, or

designate, Student & Community Life. Prior to 2006, Annual Reports also included:

Cases of theft from the bookstore where the student was issued a letter indicating

the matter would be kept on file.

Cases in which complaints were initiated but the complainant was unwilling to

proceed with the matter.

Cases involving mental health concerns where an immediate referral was made but

there was no follow up with regard to the alleged misconduct.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY THINKING OF THE WORLD

I continue to focus my efforts on addressing cases of student misconduct where a

disciplinary action is warranted by the University. Although I am aware of cases of

criminal activity on campus that are before the courts, these cases are not included in this

summary unless they have already been disposed of by the courts and the matter is

followed up under the Code of Student Conduct.

In addition, the issue of student mental health that precipitates complaints of alleged

misconduct continues to be a major issue. During this reporting period, I dealt with 11

cases (not included in the totals presented below) in which I chose to not interview or

impose disciplinary measures, provided the students agreed to be assessed by Health &

Counselling by the Mental Health Intake Worker. In these cases it was necessary for the

student to show that steps were being taken to meet their immediate needs and begin to

address the underlying cause of their behavior. In such cases it is my view that the

application of misconduct procedures, informal or formal, would not be helpful to the

student and disciplinary action would be meaningless. Similarly, there have been other

cases in which the student disclosed a mental health disability during their initial meeting

with me. In these cases, the student was immediately referred to the Centre for Students

with Disabilities (C SD) so that appropriate documentation can be acquired and assessed by

that office. The University's duty to accommodate students with disabilities is triggered on

notification (of the presence of a disability) and proof by duly qualified professional.

Therefore, these cases are left pending until the nature of the disability can be assessed and

CSD staff provide information to inform the misconduct process. If further action is taken

in the cases referred to CSD, the case are included in this report.

In all of these cases, the information is retained in the Office of the Senior Director,

Student & Community Life to inform future incidents. For example, I do reserve the right

to act when the behavior of a student with mental health issue is having an impact on the

SFU community. Ideally the incident can be used to ensure the student agrees to a series

of actions that are in their best interest as well as those of the broader SFU community.

- I would like to share some general observations with Senate with regard to this important

topic:

• The number of misconduct cases seen this year is 47% less than the previous year

(see Table 1). I believe this is due to: 1) the removal of the majority of misconduct

stemming from mental health issues, and 2) the improved disciplinary practices

employed in the Department of Residence & Housing.

• Incidents where alcohol is a factor have decreased during the past year; incidents

involving alcohol tend to involve property damage or theft.

• While inquires have been made regarding on-line conduct on social networking

sites operated outside the auspices of the University, no complaints have been

made during this reporting period. Generally it appears that students, staff, and

faculty are more aware of the issue of on-line conduct.

• There has been a sharp increase in cases of theft this year. These cases appear to

be crimes of opportunity.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

THINKING OF

THE WORLD

Table 1 - Misconduct Cases from 2006 to Present

2006-2007

2007-2008

Disruptive or Dangerous Behaviour

Damage, Destruction or Theft

Fraud and Misuse

Unauthorized Entry/Presence

Misuse of Disciplinaiy Procedures

Violation of University Policies

Total

The attached table (see Table 2) indicates the sanctions imposed in each case. Below, the

chart indicates the broad categories of the cases dealt with during the past year.

Chart 1 - Percentage of Misconduct Cases by Category - 2007-2008

University Policies

Unauthorized ?

10%

Presence

Fraud and Misuse

lly 1 1:

I '

s ......

I ?

Damage or Theft ?

II1I1I:I:I:I::I:I

42%

Disruptive or?

Dangerous?

38%

I hope that the information provided helps the community understand this important and

complex issue.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tim Rahilly, Ph.D.

/O.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY THINKING OF THE WORLD

Table 2: Non-Academic Student Discipline Incidents ?

(Nov 1 2007-Oct 31 2008)

Incident

Type

#/(%)

Cases

Resolution

Seek

Informal

Resolution

Recommend

Professional

Assistance

Issue a

Formal

Reprimand

Recover

Costs

Require

written

Apology

Require

Community

Service

Terminate

of Financial

Aid

Refer to

UBSD

Disruptive or

Dangerous

Behaviour

(38%)

Damage,

destruction or

theft

Fraud and misuse

(5%)

Unauthorized

Entry/Presence

(5%)

Misuse of

disciplinary

procedures

Violation of

University

Policies

(10%)

Total

Percentage*

19%

38%

66%

14%

42%

28%

*=h case can result in multiple actions; accordingly percentages will total more than 100%

I,.