Case #594

DATE: August 31, 2011
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. B.P


Hearing Date(s): August 12, 2010

Panel Members:
Roslyn M. Tsao, Chair
Professor Paul Cooper, Faculty Panel Member
Gillian Reiss, Student Panel Member

Appearances:
Lily Harmer, Assistant Discipline Counsel, for the University
B.P, the Student

In Attendance:
Professor John Britton, Dean’s Designate
Professor Denis Smyth, Course Instructor
Alexandra Lucc, Course Teaching Assistant

Trial Division – s. B.I.1.(d); s. B.I.1(f)); s. B.I.3(b) of Code – plagiarism – portions copied verbatim or close to verbatim – concocted sources – hearing attended – Agreed Statement of Facts – guilty plea – Joint Submission on Penalty  – 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 with three offences under s. B.I.1(d), s. B.I.1(f), and s. B.I.3(b)of the Code. The charges related to the allegations that the Student plagiarised significant portions of a paper and that the Student included concocted sources to give the impression that more sources were referred to. The matter proceeded on an Agreed Statement of Facts. The Student pleaded guilty to two charges under s. B.I.1.(d) and s. B.I.1(f) of the Code. As a result, the University withdrew the alternative charge of cheating as per s. B.I.3(b) of the Code. The Panel accepted the guilty plea based on the Agreed Statement of Facts. After the Student entered a guilty plea, the University withdrew the charge under s. B.I.3(b). The Panel further accepted the Joint Submission on Penalty submitted by the University and the Student. 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.