The Petitions Process

• Step 1:
  Information Table
• Step 2:
  Prepare Documents
• Step 3:
  Submit Petition
• Step 4:
  Processing Time
• Step 5:
  Petition Decision
• Step 6:
  Appeal(optional)
• FAQs

Please review the Petition Information Sheet below for the type of petition you plan to submit.

Please note:

• Incomplete petition packages will not be reviewed by the Petitions Committee.
• If a petition is missing required documents, it will be cancelled, and you will be notified by email to resubmit a complete package.
• You may submit more than one petition in a single submission (for example: requesting a waiver of the required one-year withdrawal and requesting to drop course(s) past the published deadline as a Late Withdrawal).

Please review the Petition Information Sheet below to confirm the required documents for your petition.

Please note:
Petitions submitted on medical grounds must include an Attending Physician Statement (APS) form.
A regular doctor’s note is not acceptable. The APS must include the physician’s stamp or licence number, as well as their signature. Forms missing any of these requirements will not be considered.

Please note:
The petition letter for all petition types must be entered directly into the form and can be a maximum of 1,000 words. Letters prepared in another program may be copied and pasted into the form.

Petitions must be submitted online. Please ensure all required documents are scanned and ready to upload when you begin your submission.

Please note:

• Incomplete petition packages will not be reviewed by a Petitions Committee.
• If a petition is incomplete, it will be cancelled, and you will receive an email instructing you to resubmit a complete petition package.
• If you experience any issues submitting your petition online or uploading your required or supporting documents, please contact scipettc@yorku.ca or your assigned advisor for assistance.

Please note that petitions may take several weeks to review. To help ensure timely processing, we ask that students wait until the full 12–14 week timeframe has passed before emailing to inquire about their petition status. If you have not received a decision after this timeframe, you may contact scipettc@yorku.ca for an update.

Reminder:
Decision letters are sent by email.

Note:
If you are using an external email address (such as Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo), the petition decision email may be delivered to your spam or trash folder.

Please ensure your contact information is up to date by visiting 

You will be notified of your petition decision by email.

The decision letter will be sent to the email address you provided in the Petition Portal (MachForm) or the email that is currently on record with 91��ɫ.

Please ensure that your contact information is correct and up to date by visiting Current Students – Personal Information.

Note:
If you are using an external email address (such as Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo), the petition decision email may be delivered to your spam or trash folder.

What is an Appeal

Students who disagree with the result of a petition, have new evidence to support their request that was not available at the time of the petition, or find evidence of bias, prejudice or procedural irregularity in the handling of a petition file may appeal the decision.

Section	Details
Required Documents	An appeal letter explaining the new grounds and/or evidence you are addressing to support your request. It is recommended to address why this new information or evidence was not included in the original petition. Strongly recommended: new supporting evidence that was not available at the time of the petition Recommended: Supporting Documentation (i.e. , , etc.) or other documentation to support the request.
How Do I Appeal a Petition Decision?	The decision letter from the Petitions Committee will contain information about making an appeal. Generally, you must submit a personal letter describing the reasons for your appeal, and any supporting documentation, and you must do so within the specified deadline. Appeals packages are submitted to scappeal@yorku.ca.
Important Notes	The Petition Committee adjudicating the appeal package will also have access to the original petition package. Students who are appealing do not need to resubmit the original petition in the appeal package.  Appeals are reviewed by a different panel of members than the panel that adjudicated the original petition

1. Timelines & Status Updates

When will I get a decision?

Petition decisions may take 12–14 weeks during peak periods (May–September) or during times of high backlog.
During non‑peak periods, petitions may take up to 8 weeks from the date a complete petition package is submitted.

Can I check the status of my petition?

Petitions are currently experiencing a backlog, and processing is taking approximately 12–14 weeks.
If the full timeframe has passed and you have not received a decision, you may email scipettc@yorku.ca for a status update.

How will I know the result of my petition?

You will be notified of your petition decision by email. The decision letter will be sent to the email address you provided in the Petition Portal (MachForm) or the email that is currently on record with 91��ɫ.

Please be sure that your contact information is correct and up-to-date by visiting 

Note: external email addresses (such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) may receive the petition decision email in a spam or trash folder.

My petition/appeal was granted but my record hasn’t been updated yet?

Congratulations on your granted petition or appeal.

Please allow up to 15 business days from the date of the decision letter for the Registrar’s Office to update your academic record with the approved changes.

How long does it take to receive my petition results?

The petition decision letter is emailed to the 91��ɫ account indicated on your petition application.

Timeframes vary depending on several factors, including:

• whether your petition package was complete upon submission;
• whether supporting documents were required;
• the need for clarification or additional information;
• the type of petition submitted; and
• the time of year (April–October is typically a high‑volume period).

Due to ongoing backlog, petitions are currently taking 12–14 weeks to be processed.

If your petition is denied, the decision letter will include information about the appeal process.

Notification of the Results of your Appeal

If you request to appear before the Appeals Committee, you will be notified of the time, date, and location of the meeting.

Appeal decisions typically take 6–8 weeks from the date the appeal package is submitted. Once a decision is made, a decision letter will be emailed to you.

2. Deadlines & Extensions

Can I petition courses from my first year even though I am past the deadline?

Yes, you would submit a " Dropping a course past the drop date" petition.
Potential Committee Decisions

• Refuse the petition
• Grant a withdrawal (W) on the transcript,
• Grant a full drop, which removes the course entirely from the transcript

Deadline for Deferred Standing

Within 14 days of missed exam or term work deadline.

In general, if a student does not petition by the required deadline but still wishes to do so, the first step of the petition is to request, with strong and well documented reasons, that the deadline be waived.

Deadline for Extension of Deferred Standing

Within 7 days of missed deferred exam or deferred work deadline.

In general, if a student does not petition by the required deadline but still wishes to do so, the first step of the petition is to request, with strong and well documented reasons, that the deadline be waived.

What is a Drop Deadline?

It is the final day to use the to drop a course. If you do not want a final grade in a course, then you must use the enrolment system to drop the course on or before the withdrawal deadline date.

You are responsible for:

• ensuring the accuracy of your enrolment record
• verifying all changes after each add/drop/section change
• making sure you do not remain enrolled in a course past the withdrawal deadline if you are not prepared to receive a final grade

3. Petition Process & Requirements

How can I ensure that the Committee has all the information they need from me to make an informed decision?

Supporting documentation is recommended for all petitions.

If your personal letter references a “documentable” event, include supporting documentation. Petitions can be denied due to lack of documentation. For example, a death in the family is recommended to have a death certificate to support the request.
Visit your academic advisor to discuss how to improve your petitions package. You may book an appointment with your academic advisor.

How do I choose which petition type to submit?

Visit your academic advisor and explain your situation. They will be able to guide you on the type of petition that you need to submit. You may book an appointment with your academic advisor.

How do I submit a petition?

Petitions are submitted directly to the Faculty of Science using the portal. Find more details under this link: /science/academic-advising/petitions-appeals/

What do I add in my petitions package?

All petitions packages require a statement of grounds to explain your extenuating circumstances and why you need this petition. Then, you may choose to include additional documentation to support your statement of grounds. Depending on the petition type, certain documentation will be mandatory, and that information is listed below on the Petition Information Sheet

What is a Petition?

A petition is an online written request for the waiver of a Faculty's regulation or deadline. Students have the right to petition on reasonable grounds for special consideration. The Faculty's Petitions Committee will review the petition request and make a decision on a case by case basis.

What is an Appeal?

An appeal is a written request for the alteration of the decision made on a petition and will be considered by a different panel on the Committee on Student Academic Petitions and Appeals. Appeals will be permitted only on the grounds of:

• new evidence,
• evidence of procedural irregularity in the committee's consideration of the case. For petition procedures, procedures of the Committee on Student Academic Petitions (PDF), or
• denial of natural justice.

Instructions are included in each denied decision letter explaining how to appeal and what to include. A new link is generated and available in the decision letter which students should use to appeal their decision.

4. Forms & Documentation

How to fill out a CPS form?

Section 1 must be completed by you. Once finished, you must send the form to the course instructor or department for each course you are petitioning. They are required to complete Section 2.

How to fill out an DEF form?

Section 1 must be completed by you. Once finished, you must send the form to the course instructor or department for each course you are petitioning. They are required to complete Section 2.

5. Course-Specific Situations

I missed my final exam/I missed the deadline to submit my final assignment and the Course Director did not allow me to defer the final exam/final assignment. What do I do?

Students who missed their final exam or the deadline to submit a final assignment will need to meet with their Course Director to request a deferred standing to complete the final exam or submit the assignment at a later date.

If the Course Director is unable to approve a deferred standing, you may submit an academic petition requesting deferred standing.

I was granted a deferred standing, but I missed the deferred deadline. What do I do?

Students who were granted a deferred standing to complete a final exam or submit a final assignment, but missed the set deadline, may petition for an extension of deferred standing.

I need to petition to drop multiple courses. Can I include them in the same petition?

Yes. You may include all courses in the same petition package.
If you are petitioning courses from different academic sessions, we recommend organizing your petition letter so that each session is addressed in its own paragraph or section. Using headings can help keep your letter clear and well organized.

Which courses can I Pass/Fail?

You may petition to request Pass/Fail grading for elective courses only.
You may not request Pass/Fail for courses that are mandatory for your degree.

Which courses can I petition for a Dropping a course past the drop date?

You may petition to drop any course on your transcript as long as:

• you do not have an Academic Honesty charge in that course, and
• you have not already withdrawn yourself from the course.
  If the course already shows a W because you withdrew, you are not eligible to petition to fully remove the course from your transcript.

6. Faculty & Contact Information
tensions

I am not a science student, but I am in a course that is under the Science Faculty. Who do I petition to?

All students must petition to their home faculty, even if the course is offered by another faculty. To learn how to submit a petition to your home faculty, please visit .

I haven’t heard from my professor about the completion of my form, what do I do?

Please follow up with the professor directly first.
If you do not receive a response, you may contact the academic department that offers the course. Department contact information is available at:

Program Contact Information

If your petition requires a Course Performance Summary (CPS) form, departments can assist with completing it. Department contact information can be found at:

I have a question that is not mentioned here. Who may I contact?

For additional questions pertaining to academic petitions, please contact the Faculty of Science Petitions Officer at scipettc@yorku.ca

For general inquiries regarding your academic program or record, you may contact the Office of Student and Academic Services by email at sciquest@yorku.ca

You may also find your Assigned Advisor here: /science/academic-advising/

7. Confidentiality & Guidelines

Petition Confidentiality

At the Faculty of Science, the petitions process is confidential. Information and documentation submitted in relation to a petition is restricted to office staff and Committee members involved in the decision-making process.

Petitions and appeals are considered anonymously. Where a petition includes allegations about the actions or advice of an employee or office of the University, the employee or a representative of the office in question may be given a copy of the petition letter and an opportunity to respond to the allegations. In such cases, the student is presumed to have waived the right to confidentiality (and anonymity) as concerns those individuals.

Students may request, by appointment, to review the information in their file.

(PDF) for the Consideration of Petitions/Appeals by Faculty Committees can be found on the Senate Appeals Committee Website.

What are Extenuating Circumstances?

You may have circumstances that you believe justify waiving the drop deadline. You should be aware, however, that you are expected to assess your academic progress in each of your courses, and the impact that your personal, family, medical, financial, or employment circumstances are having on each course, before the withdrawal deadline. If you could have assessed the need to drop a course before the withdrawal deadline, then you must explain why you did not.

I have a question that is not mentioned here. Who may I contact?

For additional questions pertaining to academic petitions, please contact the Faculty of Science Petitions Officer at scipettc@yorku.ca

For general inquiries regarding your academic program or record, you may contact the Office of Student and Academic Services by email at sciquest@yorku.ca

You may also find your Assigned Advisor here: /science/academic-advising/

Type of Petition

Deferred Work & Course Overload

Deferred Standing / Extension of Deferred Standing

What is Deferred Standing / Extension of Deferred Standing

Students are expected to complete course work by the scheduled deadlines. If you are unable to meet course requirements, you are expected to drop the affected course(s) by the withdrawal deadline.

If you need to write an exam at a later date or submit outstanding term work after the deadline, you should first attempt to arrange a Deferred Standing Agreement (DSA) directly with your instructor.

If your request is denied or you do not receive a response from the instructor within a reasonable timeframe, you may submit a formal academic petition for deferred standing.

Similarly, if you have already been granted deferred standing, you may petition for an Extension of Deferred Standing if additional time is needed due to new or ongoing extenuating circumstances.

Please note that there is no provision for re‑writing a final exam.

Section	Details
When to Apply	If extenuating circumstances after the withdrawal deadline prevent you from completing coursework or final exams: Step 1: Contact your instructor to request a Deferred Standing Agreement (DSA). Step 2: If your request is denied, or you do not receive a response in a reasonable timeframe, submit a formal petition through the online portal.
Deadlines	Deferred Standing: Submit within 14 days of the missed final exam or term work deadline. Extension of Deferred Standing: Submit within 7 days of the missed deferred exam or deferred work deadline.
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: the exceptional situation you experienced during the final exam date or assignment deadline, and the strategies you will use to successfully complete the work if granted an extension. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. 2. Copy of Denied (one per course). If your instructor did not respond within a reasonable timeframe, the DSA form is not required. However, you should clearly explain your attempts to contact the instructor in your petition letter. Recommended: Supporting Documentation (i.e. , , etc.) or other documentation to support the request.
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	There is no provision to re‑write a final exam. The Petitions Committee assumes you continue working on outstanding course work while waiting for a decision. If granted, deadlines will reflect this assumption. Consider reducing your current course load if needed to prioritize deferred work.
APS example:

Course Overload

What is Course Overload

You may request a course overload if you wish to take more than 15 credits in a summer session or more than 33 credits in a fall/winter session.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: the exceptional reasons you are requesting a course overload, and the strategies you will use to manage the increased course load if the petition is granted. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. 2. Sample Timetable: Build your timetable using the Include the course(s) you are already enrolled in. Include the course(s) you wish to add if the course overload is granted.
Submission Method	Online Petition
Note	Course overload petitions take time to review and process. Approval is not guaranteed, and petitions are reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis. Students are strongly encouraged to submit course overload petitions well in advance of registration deadlines to allow sufficient time for review and follow‑up if additional documentation is required.
Timetable Example:

Waiver of University Deadline

Drop course(s) past the published deadline (Late Withdrawal)

What is Drop course(s) past the published deadline (Late Withdrawal)

A petition for Drop Course(s) Past the Published Deadline (Late Withdrawal) is a request to drop a course after the official withdrawal deadlines have passed.

Students who choose the “W” (withdrawal) option in the Registration and Enrollment Module before the withdrawal deadline cannot submit an academic petition to drop that course. Once a “W” has been selected, the course is considered formally withdrawn, and no petition is permitted.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: • the exceptional circumstances that affected your studies, and • why you were unable to drop or withdraw from the course before the published deadlines. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. 2. — one per course — signed by the course instructor. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: The Petitions Committee may refuse the petition; or Grant a withdrawal (W) on the transcript: or Grant a full drop, in which the course is fully removed from the transcript.
CPS example
APS Example

Adding a course past the last date to add

What is Adding a course past the last date to add

Students who have missed the last day to add a course—even with permission from the course instructor—may submit a petition to request late enrolment.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: the exceptional circumstances that prevented you from adding the course by the required deadline, and any strategies you will use to manage your studies if the petition is granted. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. 2. — requires signatures from the Course Director and the Department. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: You may add the course after the enrolment deadline; or Refused: The petition is not approved.

Academic Standing

Waive a required 1-year withdrawal

What is Waive a required 1-year withdrawal

Students who have been required to withdraw from their studies for 12 months at the end of an academic session may submit a petition to waive the required withdrawal. If granted, the student may continue their studies on Debarment Warning without the 12‑month interruption.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter outlining: the exceptional circumstances that affected your academic performance; how the situation has been resolved or is in the process of being resolved; why you did not drop the affected courses by the withdrawal deadline or petition for deferred standing at the time; and the resources and strategies you will use to support your academic progress and meet the conditions of Debarment Warning. The petition letter must be entered directly in the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: You may return to your studies on Debarment Warning; or Refused: The required 1‑year withdrawal stands. Note: Students are encouraged to submit both a Drop Course(s) Past the Published Deadline (Late Withdrawal) petition and a Waive a Required 1‑Year Withdrawal petition in one submission, if applicable. Each petition type has different required documents. Please review the Late Withdrawal page for full details.
APS Example

Waive a required 2-year debarment

What is Waive a required 2-year debarment

Students who have been debarred for 2 years at the end of an academic session may petition to waive the debarment. If granted, the student may continue their studies on Probation, without leaving 91��ɫ for two years or re‑applying for admission.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter outlining: the exceptional circumstances that affected your academic performance; how the situation has been resolved or is in the process of being resolved; why you did not drop the affected courses before the withdrawal deadline or petition for deferred standing; and the resources and strategies you will use to support your academic progress and meet the conditions of Probation. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: You may return to your studies on First Probation; or Refused: The required 2‑year debarment remains in effect. Note: Students are encouraged to submit both a Drop Course(s) Past the Published Deadline (Late Withdrawal) petition and a Waive a Required 1‑Year Withdrawal petition in a single submission, if relevant to their situation. Each petition type has different required documents. Please review the Late Withdrawal page for full details.
APS Example

Degree Requirements

Degree requirement(s) waived or altered

What is Degree requirement(s) waived or altered

In exceptional circumstances, students may petition to have a degree requirement waived or altered. Examples of degree requirements include:

• Upper‑level credit requirements
• General Education requirements
• Elective requirements
• Residency requirements

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: the exceptional circumstances that affected your academic progress; how the situation has been resolved or is in the process of being resolved; why you were unable to meet the degree requirement under usual timelines or processes; and the resources and strategies you will use to support your continued academic progress. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: The degree requirement may be waived or altered; or Refused: The requirement remains in place.
APS Example

Repeat a course for degree credit

What is Repeat a course for degree credit

When a course is repeated, the previous attempt is excluded from both the grade point average (GPA) and credit count. The earlier attempt remains on the transcript with an “NCR” (No Credit Retained) notation beside the grade.

Students who wish to have a previous attempt included in their GPA and credit count, or who wish to alter the usual Course Repeat Policy, may submit a petition requesting an exception to the legislation.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter explaining: the exceptional reasons why the should be waived or altered; why you did not pass the previous attempts and how you attempted to follow the ; or why you are requesting that previous attempts (currently listed as NCR) be included in your GPA and credit count; why the Committee should grant an exception to the legislation.
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions Petitions Committees can choose to: Granted, your degree requirement will be waived or altered.Refused.

Waive Honours Standing

Due to extenuating circumstances, you wish to continue in a 120-credit honours program despite not having met the required average(s) needed to continue past the 90 earned credits check point.

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter outlining: your intended program (degree type and major); an academic plan that addresses:  remaining courses needed to complete the program (use the Degree Progress Report),  the grades you must achieve to remain in Honours (use the 91��ɫ GPA Calculator), the resources and strategies you will use to achieve the required grades and support your academic progress; the exceptional circumstances that affected your studies and how the situation has been resolved or is being resolved. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: You may continue in your Honours program. A waiver of Honours Standing allows you the opportunity to attempt to earn the required standing. Refused: You must follow the standard academic progression rules.
APS Example

Upgrade GPA in Attempt to Graduate (additional credits)

Students may petition to take additional credits in order to raise their cumulative GPA to meet graduation requirements.

A petition is required for:

• Bachelor degree students who have already taken the maximum number of credits allowed and whose GPA is below 4.00 (C).
• Honours degree students who have earned 120 or more credits and whose GPA has fallen below 5.00 (C+).

Section	Details
Required Documents	1. Petition Letter outlining: your intended program (degree type and major); an academic plan that identifies: remaining courses needed to complete the program (use your Degree Progress Report), the grades required to reach the necessary GPA for graduation (use the 91��ɫ GPA Calculator), the resources and strategies you will use to achieve these grades and support your academic progress; the exceptional circumstance(s) that affected your academic performance and how the situation has been resolved or is in the process of being resolved. The petition letter must be entered directly into the form (maximum 1000 words). You may copy/paste text prepared in another program. Recommended: Supporting documentation (e.g., , , or other documentation that supports your request).
Submission Method	Online Petition
Important Notes	Potential Committee Decisions: Granted: You may be permitted to take additional credits. Note that approval simply provides an opportunity to work toward the required standing, and the Committee may grant a limited number of credits; or Refused: You must follow the standard program and graduation rules.
APS Example

Need Help?

For inquiries about the submission of petitions or appeals, please review the online information before contacting an advisor.

Contact to Faculty of Science Petitions Officer

Science Academic Services (SAS)

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Career | Fit programs are short online programs for currently enrolled university undergraduates and college students that supplement academic courses. Free to students who identify as Asian (whether South, East, Southeast, Central or West Asia), these sector-specific programs are designed to bridge theory to practice by featuring a hands-on, realistic project guided by a mentor from a Fortune 500 organization.

“We believe that experiential education can be a crucial factor in launching a successful career, and we are thrilled to be offering these opportunities at no cost to students thanks to the generous sponsorship of RBC and their focus on fostering greater diversity and inclusivity,” says Elena Caprioni, program director at ABMP.

"We're excited about Career | Fit programs because they offer the opportunity for students to stand out to potential employers by demonstrating that they take the initiative to learn relevant, practical new skills and can make a contribution from day one,” said Hugo Chen, interim assistant dean, Strategic Enrolment Management & Science Engagement
Programs, and director, International Collaborations & Partnerships. “These programs will help open career doors for our science students.”

See the Career | Fit programs website for more information.

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Getting involved in co-curricular activities at university is a great way to network, meet new people and learn more about your school. Discover the many ways you can get involved academically and socially on campus as a 91��ɫ Science student.

The Getting Involved section also provides new students with the information they need to be part of an active student club such as the Undergraduate Science Students Association, how to be an active member of a college council or how to attain volunteer positions within the Faculty of Science. Being such an exclusive Faculty means that new Science students are quickly integrated into our tight-knit community.

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What happens if your professor suspects or accuses you of academic dishonesty?

Firstly, it is not appropriate that the professor or TA simply assigns you a mark of zero, although minor infractions can result in automatic grade reductions.

Senate Policy specifies the steps a professor must take. The first step, which is optional, may be a preliminary meeting with you to discuss the matter. If this meeting does not resolve the matter your professor will forward the information to the Undergraduate Program Director in the department which will arrange for an exploratory meeting. Often professors will proceed straight to the exploratory meeting without having any preliminary meeting with you.

The exploratory meeting may have one of four outcomes:

1. the professor and the Undergraduate Program Director (or designate) who conducts the meeting are convinced that you have not breached the academic honesty policy in any significant way and the matter is dismissed
   
2. you agree that you have breached the academic honesty policy and following further discussion you agree to accept a proposed academic penalty
   
3. you agree that you have breached the academic honesty policy but  following further discussion you do not agree to accept a proposed academic penalty
   
4. you do not agree that you have breached the academic honesty policy but the professor and the Associate Dean remain convinced that the evidence shows you have

In outcome 2, the agreement reached must be ratified by the Committee on Examinations and Academic Standards (CEAS). In outcome 3, a panel of CEAS must meet to decide the penalty, and you are able to present your proposed penalty along with reasons. In outcome 4, a panel of CEAS must meet to hear the evidence and decide whether or not you have breached the academic honesty policy. If they decide you have breached the policy the panel will also receive penalty recommendations and then decide a penalty.

Senate Policy specifies two other important effects resulting from a finding that a student has breached the policy. One is that a confidential note is added to the student’s record on the Student Information System barring the student from dropping a course in which they have been found to have breached the policy. This means the course always remains on the student’s academic record. Secondly, the University keeps a confidential file of the matter (held in the Office of the Dean).

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The University maintains many resources related to academic honesty matters. Two important ones are:

• Senate Policy
• Academic Integrity website

If you are facing an academic honesty allegation from a professor the Senate Policy is your primary resource regarding the procedures to be followed.

The best resource to help you avoid an academic honesty allegation is …

Your Professor

Professors are responsible for maintaining academic integrity in their courses. They set the rules that you must follow. We describe here basic default information that in the absence of other instructions always applies.

All course work is intended to be individual work, and your own work, unless the professor has specified otherwise.

A good rule of thumb when doing research in preparation for producing a piece of work is to take point-form notes as you read. Also be sure you make note of the necessary citation information. Then you can write in your own words based on the notes, and provide the correct reference/citation..

Such notes should not include copy and paste of sections of text. Writing an assignment does not mean ‘constructing’ it by putting together such copied sections and then trying to modify the words a bit.

Many professors use the text matching service called Turn It In. Turn It In only checks that the words you use are your own; it cannot check that ideas and thoughts are your own. It is also open to the criticism that it encourages students to manipulate their words, treating the act of writing as an optimisation game.

Students are encouraged to discuss course topics and to help one another. This is not inconsistent with producing individual work. A good rule of thumb is to take only point-form notes as you discuss topics. Do not collaborate to the extent of writing down sentences or equations together with other students.

When you help another student do not simply hand over your work so they can “see how you did it”. Do not sell or give away your work from a course you completed previously. Check the Senate Policy regarding aiding and abetting!

When doing group work:

When your professor has specified you are to work in a group, you as an individual are responsible for the entire piece of work submitted by the group. If one group member plagiarises work, it is no defence for the others to claim they didn’t know. Groups are students working together, not students working independently and then combining their pieces.

When writing tests and exams:

When writing a test or exam, it is a breach of academic honesty if you ignore instructions or use any unauthorised aids. It is also a breach if you communicate with other students during the test or exam, over any matter at all, including asking for an eraser or the time!

For example, if the professor or invigilator, has said to leave your cell phone in your bag and you are found to have it on your person you are in breach irrespective of whether you have actually been seen using it. If you are seen using it and you claim to be checking the time you are definitely in breach.

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The post Academic Honesty appeared first on Faculty of Science.

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If you've been offered admission but haven't started your first term yet, head over to our new students page for important enrolment information and next steps. Don't miss out!

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Whether you're a first-year student or further along, you can get help from an Academic Advisor based on your program. Don't wait, reach out to your advisor today!

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Do you have any questions regarding these topics?

• Health and well-being services: and
• Find your degree/program requirements: – choose the calendar for the year in which you started your program
• Course reserved/full: see the and connect directly with the department that offers the course – Academic Advisors do not open spaces or grant permissions for courses
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• Social and academic support: Bethune College
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• Change or declare a major/minor: Update Your Program

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