DATE: February 6, 2012
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. R.M.
Hearing Date(s): June 27, 2011
Panel Members:
Mr. Andrew Pinto, Chair
Dr. Annette Sanger, Faculty Member
Ms. Alice Kim, Student Member
Appearances:
Mr. Robert Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
In Attendance:
Prof. Eleanor Irwin, Dean's Designate
Ms. Natalie Ramtahal, Coordinator, Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances
Trial Division – s. B.i.1(d) of Code – plagiarism – passages from essay taken verbatim from secondary sources without attribution – hearing not attended – Student submitted a Consent to the hearing proceeding in her absence – Agreed Statement of Facts - guilty plea – finding of guilt – Joint Submission on Penalty – Panel reviewed JSP and found that it reflected an appropriate penalty – grade assignment of zero for course; two-year suspension; two-year notation on transcript; report to Provost
Student charged under s. B.i.1(d) of the Code. The charges related to allegations that the Student submitted an essay containing passages taken verbatim or nearly verbatim without attribution. The Student did not attend the hearing but submitted a Consent to the hearing proceeding in her absence. The parties submitted an Agreed Statement of Facts, and the Student pleaded guilty to the charges. Accordingly, the panel found the Student guilty under s. B.i.1(d). The parties also submitted a Joint Submission on Penalty. After reviewing previous decisions presented by the University, the Panel concluded that a two-year suspension reflected an appropriate penalty for a first offence of plagiarism. The Panel also agreed that there were no compelling reasons in this case for departing from the sanction jointly suggested in the Joint Submission on Penalty. The Panel imposed a grade assignment of zero in the course, a two-year suspension; a two-year notation of the Student's transcript; and a report be issued to the Provost.