Academic Policies

Overload courses are deemed to be courses taken in addition to the prescribed term load for a given program. Unless otherwise stated in the calendar description for the program, a normal course load is five 3.0 credit courses (or equivalent) per twelve-week semester (Fall Semester, Winter Semester, Summer Semester). A normal course load in the two six-week Sessions (Intersession and Summer Session) is three 3.0 credit courses (or equivalent) per session, but not more than five 3.0 credit courses (or equivalent) in total over a twelve-week period. 

In exceptional circumstances, and within the approval of the Associate Dean, Academic and Student Success, Semester 1 students will be permitted to take an overload course. 

In all other semesters, students who have major and cumulative averages of 85% or higher may take one overload course per semester. 

The substitute course must deliver the equivalent progrma learning outcomes in terms of breadth, depth, and the balance and nature of the skills, attitudes, and content delivered by the course being replaced. 

Survey and introductory courses generally provided breadth while more advanced courses tend to provide depth. In considering equivalency, this dimension should be taken into account. 

A course must be offered at an equivalent level to be eligible for substitution. Level is evaluated by considering the degree of sophistication of the course requirement. 

Substitution of courses from cognate disciplines is generally more readily established than substitution of courses from unrelated disciplines. In some cases, substitution of courses identified as anti-requisites might be acceptable as they are likely to deliver the equivalent program learning outcomes. 

Alternative formats of course delivery are acceptable when they provide an equivalent learning experience. 

Plagiarism is the act of copying, reproducing or paraphrasing significant portions of one's own work, or someone else's published or unpublished material (from any source, including the internet), without proper acknowledgement, representing these as new or as one's own. Plagiarism applies to all intellectual endeavours: creation and presentation of music, drawings, designs, dance, photography and other artistic and technical works.

Submitting the same work, research or assignment, or portions of the same course work, research or assignment, for credit on more than one occasion without the prior written permission of the instructor(s) in the course(s) involved. 

Copying or using unauthorized aids, or, without permission, working or receiving assistance from another, for any evaluative procedure. 

Allowing another student to copy one's academic work when one knows or has reason to believe that other student will be submitting the work for evaluation. 

Failing to take reasonable care, in the circumstances known to the student, to prevent one's material from being inappropriately copied. 

Breach of the Senate Policy on the Conduct of Exams and Tests. 

Taking part in unauthorized collaboration with another student, which may include working in a group, and submitting the same course work as one or more students in the course, unless expressively permitted by the instructor. 

Falsifying/altering, withholding or concocting medical records, compassionate documents, correspondence, academic documents, research results, references, sources. Forging or using University documents, records, or instruments of identification with intent to defraud. 

Impersonating another or permitting someone to impersonate you, either in person or electronically, for academic assessment or in order to improperly gain access to services. 

Improperly obtaining, through thief, bribery, collusion or other means, access to confidential or privileged information, examination papers, or set of questions, or improperly distributing restricted material. 

Altering, destroying, hiding or otherwise restricting access to academic materials intended for general use. 

Interfering with the scholarly activities of another in order to harass or gain unfair academic advantage. This includes falsifying, interfering or tampering with experimental data, with a human or animal subject, with a written or other creation, with a chemical used for scientific study or research, or with any other object of study. 

A notice to the student, orally or in writing, that s/he has violated a rule of conduct and that continuation or repetition of the conduct found wrongful may be cause for more severe disciplinary action. There shall be no transcript notation related to this sanction. 

A short reflective paper describing the misconduct and acknowleding wrong-doing. There shall be no transcript notiation related to this sanction. 

A requirement that the student attend an educational session, if available, on what constitutes plagiarism and how to cite properly, on time management, or on stress management, etc. There shall be no transcript notation related to this sanction.

1) A reduction of the mark or assigning a mark of zero for the work submitted, based on an evaluation of the academic merit of the work and taking into account the criteria for, and nature of, the assignment, and taking into account the extent of the work that is the result of the misconduct. This may result in a reduction of the final grade int he course; or 2) A grade of zero in the course, where the academic misconduct so taints the student's academic performance in the course that no credit can be given. There shall be no transcript notation related to this sanction. 

A requirement that the student re-do the assignment or re-sit the test/examination for full or partiaul credit. There shall be no transcript notation to this sanction. 

A reprimand for violation of a sepcified University regulation, including the possibility of more severe disciplinary sanction in the event of conviction for the violation of any University regulation within a period of time stated in the reprimand. This sanction shall normally result in a transcript notation for a specified period of time. 

A decision to deny the student permission to register ina c ourse or a program, or to cancel the student's registration in a course or program. There shall be no transcript notation related to this sanctionw here there is no existing transcript. Where there is an existing transcript, this sanction shall normally result in a transcript notation for a specified period of time. 

Community service work withint he campus or wider community as set forth in the order of community service for a definite period of time. The student shall make appropriate arrangements with the intended agency, with which s/he may be serving his/her community service work, and shall submit proof of hours worked by the deadline stated in the order. The community service work setting shall be approved by the person or body responsible for adjudicating the matter. This sanction shall normally result in a transcript notation for a specified period of time. 

Exclusion from classes or other privileges or activities as set forth in the noice of suspension for a specified period of time. This sanction shall result in a transcription notation for a specified period of time. 

Termination of student status for an indefinite period. The conditions of readmission, if any is permitted, shall be stated in the order of explusion. A notation shall be placed ont he student's transcript for an indefinite period of time. A student amy apply to the adjudicator or the Discipline Appeal Committee, as the case may be, to request to have the notation of explusion removed from his/her transcript three years afte rthe imposition of the sanction. 

Rescinding the student's degree, requiring approval by the President of the University, based on a recommendation from the Discipline Appeal Committee. In cases where this may be warranted, the adjudicator shall forward the matter with his/her recommendation to the Discipline Appeal Committee for hearing. The rescinding of a student's degree shall remain on his/her transcript permanently.