DATE: October 23, 2008
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. L.P.
Hearing Date(s): October 14, 2008
Panel Members:
Ms. Roslyn Tsao, Chair
Professor Magdy Hassouna, Faculty Member
Mr. Paul Byron, Student Panel Member
Appearances:
Mr. Robert Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
L.P., the Student, did not attend
Trial Division – s. B.i.1(d) of Code – plagiarism – course work copied from internet – Agreed Statement of Facts – guilty plea – cooperation with discipline process – Joint Submission on Penalty accepted – grade assignment of zero for course; two-year suspension; two-year notation on transcript; and report to Provost
Student charged under s. B.i.1(d), and alternatively, s. B.i.3(b) of the Code. The charges related to allegations that the Student submitted a plagiarised essay taken verbatim and without attribution from an essay available on the internet. The parties submitted an Agreed Statement of Facts and the Student pleaded guilty to the charges. The panel accepted the Student’s plea and entered a verdict of guilty on the charge under s. B.i.1(d) of the Code. The parties filed a Joint Submission on Penalty. In support of the recommended sanction, the University noted that in similar cases the Tribunal had imposed the same sanction. The Panel acknowledged the Student’s guilty plea and her cooperation as mitigating factors. The Panel accepted the sanctions proposed in the Joint Submission. The Panel imposed a grade of zero in the course; a two-year suspension; a two-year notation on the Student’s academic record and transcript; and that a report be issued to the Provost.