Case #558

DATE: January 21, 2010
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. S.J.


Hearing Date(s): June 9, 2009

Panel Members:
Jane Pepino, Chair
Kathi Wilson, Faculty Member
Liang Yuan, Student Member


Appearances:
Robert Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
Elesha Shore, Assisting Robert Centa


In Attendance:
Dr. Helen Slade, Office of Student Life
The Student


 

Trial Division – s.B.i.1(b) of Code­ – unauthorized aid – giving questions and receiving answers over the phone during a final examination – agreed statement of facts - finding of guilt – guilty of two charges of unauthorized aid – two prior convictions for unauthorized aid joint submission on penalty accepted - Panel imposed: 1) a final grade of zero in the course; 2) a four year suspension; 3) a transcript notation until graduation; and 4) a report to the Provost.

The Student was charged under s.B.i.1(b) of the Code, and, alternatively, s.B.i.3(b) of the Code. The charges stemmed from allegations that the Student made and received several telephone calls during a final examination which he wrote in a private study carrel at Accessibility Services, before the examination time for other students, reading questions to another student and receiving answers from that student. An Agreed Statement of Facts was submitted in which the Student admitted that he taped an earpiece taped to his arm and body, and that he hid the cell phone in his shoe in order to sneak it into the private examination room. The Student was found guilty of one count of obtaining an unauthorized aid and one count of providing unauthorized assistance. The Panel, noting the seriousness of the offence, the Student’s two prior convictions for using unauthorized aids, as well as mitigating circumstances, accepted the joint submission on penalty and imposed: 1) a final grade of zero in the course; 2) a four year suspension; 3) a transcript notation until graduation; and 4) a report to the Provost.