DATE: November 20, 2017
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. Y.R. (“the Student”)
Hearing Date(s): August 28, 2017
Panel Members:
Ms. Dena Varah, Barrister and Solicitor, Chair
Professor Michael Saini, Faculty Panel Member
Mr. Andrey Lapin, Student Panel Member Appearances:
Mr. Robert A. Centa, Discipline Counsel
In Attendance:
Dr. Kristi Gourlay, Manager & Academic Integrity Officer, Office of Student Academic Integrity
Ms. Sana Kawar, Manager, University of Toronto Transcript Centre
Mr. Christopher Lang, Director, Office of Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances
Mr. Sean Lourim, IT Support, Office of the Governing Counsel
Not in Attendance:
The Student
Trial Division - s. B.i.3(a) – forged academic record – Student not present – inactive UofT email account – Notice of Hearing sent to alternative email account provided by Student to accrediting agency – forged degree submitted for accreditation in another country – immediate suspension, recommendation of expulsion, and report to the Provost with the student’s name withheld.
The Student was charged with one charge of forging an academic record contrary to s. B.i.3(a) of the Code, or in the alternative, one charge of academic misconduct not otherwise described contrary to s.B.i.3(b) of the Code. The charges related to a forged degree that the Student had submitted in support of an application to have their degree accredited in China. The Student’s UofT email address was inactive, so the University sent the Notice of Hearing to the email that the Student had provided to the accrediting agency. There was no response from the Student. The Panel ordered that the hearing could proceed in the Student’s absence. Upon the Panel finding the Student guilty of forging an academic record, the University withdrew the alternative charge of academic dishonesty not otherwise specified. The Panel was referred to seven cases involving forgery of an academic record where the Tribunal recommended that the student be expelled. On the basis of these cases, along with the case University of Toronto v. F.Z. (Case No. 572, Jan. 11, 2010 at para 10) where the Tribunal held that the forgery of an academic record is one of the most serious offences set out in the Code and the typical sanction is expulsion, the Panel ordered: (a) immediate suspension from the University for a period of up to five years; (b)a recommendation to that the Student be expelled from the University; and (c) that the case be reported to the Provost with the Student’s name withheld.