Case #534

DATE: April 23, 2010
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. J.J.


Hearing Date(s): December 2, 2009

Panel Members:
Andrew Pinto, Chair
Professor Markus Bussman, Faculty Member
Adil D’Sousa, Student Member

Appearances:
Robert Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
Julie Wilkes, DLS for the Student

In Attendance:
Professor John Britton, Dean’s Designate, Office of Academic Integrity

Trial Division – s. B.I.1(d); s. B.I.1(f); and s. B.I.3(b) of Code – plagiarism – concocted sources – hearing not attended – Agreed Statement of Facts – finding of guilt – Joint Submission on Penalty – Joint Submission on Penalty accepted  -  grade assignment of zero for course; five-and-a-half-year suspension; five-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. Charges relate to the allegations that the Student plagiarized significant portions of an essay and had knowingly submitted work which contained concocted sources. The Panel was provided with an Agreed Statement of Facts signed by the Student and counsel for the University. In the Agreed Statement of Facts, the Student admitted to committing the academic offences under s. B.I.1(d) and s. B.I.1(f) of the Code. Based on the Agreed Statement of Facts, the University withdrew the charge under s. B.I.3(b) of the Code. The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Penalty, noting that the Joint Submission on Penalty was not the sole consideration for the sanctions imposed and the sanctions reflected the consensus view of the Panel.  The Panel imposed a grade assignment of zero for the course, a five-and-a-half-year suspension to begin at the date of the Student’s last registration at the University, a five-year notation on the Student’s transcript and that a report to the Provost be issued.