Case 632

DATE:

November 10, 2011

PARTIES:

University of Toronto v. Z.M.

Hearing Date(s): 

October 19, 2011 

Panel Members:

Mr. Clifford Lax, Chair
Prof. Markus Bussmann, Faculty Member
Ms. Alice Kim, Student Member

Appearances:

Ms. Lily Harmer, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
Mr. Kenneth Raddatz, DLS for the Student

In Attendance:

Ms. Z.M., the Student
Prof. G. Scott Graham, Dean's Designate
Ms. Natalie Ramtahal, Coordinator, Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances
 

Student charged under s. B.i.1(a) of the Code. The charge related to allegations that the Student falsified marks on her mid-term test. After receiving her test back, the Student falsely claimed that there appeared to be a typographical error and asked her professor to contact the TA. The Student then submitted her test, smudged and discoloured, to the TA, claiming that her lab partner spilled onto her papers. The TA did not believe that he was reviewing the same test, and the Student, after offering a variety of explanations, admitted at the meeting with the Dean’s Designate altering the marks. The Student pleaded guilty to the charge, and the Panel found the Student guilty under s. B.i.1(a). The Student submitted that she should be suspended for two-years with permission to attend classes after one year, provided that her marks would be withheld until the two year suspension had been completed. The Student also submitted that a suspension greater than two years would amount to an effective expulsion because she was to be married and in her culture, it was extremely unlikely that her husband would permit her to continue to be a student. The Panel stated that it was not convinced that the Student would be unable to complete her studies once the period of suspension has ended and that if the Student would be unable to resume because of external factors, she had only herself to blame. The Panel also stated that the language in the Code specifically required the Student to be suspended from any form of attendance. Therefore, a permission to attend classes while under suspension contravened the Code. In considering precedents, the Panel found M.S. (Case 542) and S.M. (Case 478), in which the student was suspended for three-years, to be applicable to this case. In both S.M. and this case, the sanction was aggravated by a prior academic offense of the same nature. The Student had previously been cautioned in writing for falsifying data in her lab report in another course. The Panel imposed a grade assignment of zero in the course; a three-year suspension; a four-year notation on transcript or until graduation, whichever was to occur first; and a report be issued to the Provost.