Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For a comprehensive list of academic offences applicable to student and faculty members of University of Toronto, please see Section B of the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.

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B.i.

1. It is an offence for a student to knowingly commit the following acts:

(a) FORGERY of DOCUMENTS

To forge or in any other way alter or falsify any document or evidence required by the University, or to utter, circulate or make use of any such forged, altered or falsified document, whether the record be in print or electronic form.

This section is applicable to any document required by the University, such as a doctor’s note or certificate, a letter of reference, an email, a course syllabus, etc.

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Using a forged, altered or falsified document such as a medical note or certificate in order to defer writing a test or exam or in order to attain an extension on a due date;
• Submitting a falsified course syllabus to obtain a transfer credit; or
• Modifying the answers on a marked test or exam and resubmitting it for grading.

It is an offence whether a document is fabricated in its entirety or in part - i.e., a signature is forged, dates are altered, or the contents of the document are false.

Note, that this offence is closely related to the offence in section B.i.3.(a) of the Code of knowingly forging, altering or falsifying an academic record and/or making use of such records, which typically involves transcripts, admissions documents, personal and biographical information, among other things.

(b) UNAUTHORIZED AID

Use or possess an unauthorized aid, or aids, or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work. 

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Bringing notes into a closed book exam where it is not permissible, even if they are not used;
• Bringing a cellular phone into an exam where it is not permissible, even if it is not used;
• Hiding notes in a washroom stall that can be referred to during a washroom break;
• Collaborating/working with another student on an assignment when you were required to work alone;
• Using ChatGPT to write an essay when it was not allowed by the professor (see Use of GenAI for Students); or 
• Making use of verbal or non-verbal signals/communication to provide or obtain unauthorized help during a test or exam.

(c) PERSONATION

Personate another person or to have another person personate you at any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work.

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Having someone else write your test or exam for you – even if the other person is not enrolled in the same course or is not a member of the University of Toronto;
• Writing someone else’s test or exam – even if you are not enrolled in the same course (if you’re not currently a University of Toronto student but have been in the past and have not graduated, you may be charged under the Code. If you are from another academic institution, you may be in breach of its policies); or
• Claiming to be someone else in order to pick up or submit academic work.

(d) PLAGIARISM 

Represent as one’s own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work (for a more detailed account of plagiarism, see Appendix "A" of the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters).

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Copying word for word, or paraphrasing, someone else's work without clearly indicating that the work is not your own through the use of quotation marks and/or separate indentation together with appropriate citation;
• Asking an unauthorized person to review your academic work and either make or offer advice on significant changes to the work;
• Paying someone to complete your academic work; or
• Purchasing academic work and submitting it as your own.

(e) RESUBMISSION 

Submit, without the knowledge and approval of the instructor to whom it is submitted, any academic work for which credit has previously been obtained or is being sought in another course or program of study in the University or elsewhere. 

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Renaming a previously graded academic work, altering some of the wording and examples, or adding and removing a few details and submitting it for grading in a different course, without the instructor knowing the origins of the academic work and approving the resubmission.

(f) CONCOCTION
Submit any academic work containing a purported statement of fact or reference to a source which has been concocted (also known as fabrication).

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Creating “facts” that are untrue or unsupported and purporting them to be facts;
• Making up references that do not exist; or
• Altering research results, lab results or statistics.

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3. It is an offence for a faculty member and student alike to knowingly commit the following acts:

(a) FORGERY of ACADEMIC RECORDS

Forge or in any other way alter or falsify any academic record, or utter, circulate or make use of any such forged, altered or falsified record, whether the record be in print or electronic form.

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Providing evidence that falsely documents your grades in a course and/or your enrollment in an educational or professional institute in order to gain entrance into a course, program, academic or professional institution; or
• Falsifying a degree in order to gain employment

b) CHEATING, DISHONESTY, MISCONDUCT, FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION

Engage in any form of cheating, academic dishonesty or misconduct, fraud or misrepresentation not herein otherwise described, in order to obtain academic credit or other academic advantage of any kind. 

Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Failing to report an instance or instances of cheating for academic advantage;
• Providing test questions to individuals who have yet to write the test (e.g., peers in a different course section);
• Erasing someone’s name from a test or exam and submitting the test as one’s own;
• Modifying the answers on a marked test or exam and resubmitting it for grading, without the instructor’s knowledge or authorization to make such modifications; or
• Removing a test or exam from the exam room, without authorization.

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4. A graduate of the University may be charged with any of the above offences committed knowingly while he or she was an active student, when, in the opinion of the Provost, the offence, if detected, would have resulted in a sanction sufficiently severe that the degree would not have been granted at the time that it was.

The ADFG Office acts as an informational and educational resource for students, staff and faculty regarding the administration of these processes. The ADFG Office is neutral and does not advocate for a particular side, but rather, ensures that the various processes are followed, and run smoothly and efficiently.  The ADFG Office does not provide substantive or legal advice, but rather, provides information regarding the various processes.
For more information, click here.

 See At the Faculty/Division for information on the academic misconduct process at the Division. 

If the Provost considers that there is sufficient evidence to support an allegation that an offence has been committed, he or she will formally lay charges (Section C.ii.(a).1 & 2, Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters) .

• The ADFG Office is notified by the Provost that charges have been laid. The ADFG Office provides the accused with a procedural letter in which the rights of the accused are defined and the composition of a hearing panel is described.
• Once charges are formally laid, Discipline Counsel from the law firm of Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP will provide disclosure.

Yes. If you are charged with an academic offence, retaining legal representation is strongly encouraged. (See Finding Legal Representation to locate legal assistance).

• If there is sufficient evidence to support an allegation that an offence has been committed, and the accused does not admit guilt; or
• The sanction deemed appropriate, relative to the alleged misconduct, exceeds the authority of the Dean as stipulated in section C.II.(a).1 of the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters; or
• The accused has previously been found guilty of an offence; or
• The accused is simultaneously charged with two or more different offences involving more than one incident.

The Provost may either refer the matter to the Dean, who shall impose sanctions as appropriate under section C.i.(b) of the Code of Behavior on Academic Matters, or forward the matter to the Tribunal where a panel will determine the sanction to be imposed in accordance with section C.ii.(b) of the Code of Behavior on Academic Matters.

The ADFG Office tries to set a hearing date that is convenient for all parties. The ADFG Office then sends the accused the Notice of Hearing (click here to see a sample Notice of Hearing), in which the following information is provided:

• Date and time of the hearing (held Monday to Friday, either morning, afternoon or evening)
• Location of the hearing
• The names of Tribunal members who will hear the case

*Note: University Tribunal hearings are held 12 months of the year.

The period between the laying of charges to the hearing date varies depending on the availability of the parties, number of witnesses required by the parties, the availability of panel members, etc.

A panel of three people consisting of a legally qualified Chair, one student, and one faculty member adjudicates each hearing at the Trial Division of the University Tribunal. 

• Discipline Counsel, on behalf of the Provost, will present the University’s case. Discipline Counsel is permitted to call witnesses to testify and substantiate the charges.
• The accused (or legal representative) and panel members may question the witnesses presented by Discipline Counsel.
• The accused (or legal representative) then presents their defence against the charges. The accused is also permitted to call witnesses, whom Discipline Counsel and panel members may question.
• The Panel after hearing this evidence, will decide whether Discipline Counsel has proven the charges.
• If the Panel makes a finding of guilt, it will then be required to determine an appropriate sanction.
• Both Discipline Counsel and the accused are permitted to call witnesses and present evidence to support the sanction they feel is appropriate.
• Both Discipline Counsel and the accused are permitted to make suggestions regarding sanction.

For more information click here. 

Yes, hearings are open to the public in accordance with s.9.(1) of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chap. S.22 as amended. Normally, however, only the individuals who are directly involved in a case will attend the hearing, that is, the three (3) panel members, the accused, with counsel if applicable, Discipline Counsel, with a divisional representative (or representatives), witnesses and the ADFG Secretary or designate.

Click here to see "Who is going to be at the Hearing?".

The burden of proof is on Discipline Counsel who must show on clear and convincing evidence that the accused has committed the alleged offence. The standard of proof is the "balance of probabilities", which means that Discipline Counsel must prove that it was more likely than not that the accused committed the offence.

Both you and the Provost are given 21 calendar days to appeal after being given notice of the decision. That is, after the signed Order relating to the outcome of the hearing or the Reasons for Decision have been given to the parties, whichever is earlier. Notice of a decision is usually given by a signed Order and is followed later by written reasons. In some instances, the panel reserves its decision (i.e., it does not make a decision at the hearing) and notice of the decision is given through written reasons at a later date. Therefore, if an Order is issued, the appeal timeline starts at that point even though Reasons for Decision have not yet been issued.

For information on the appeals process, please see the Discipline Appeals Board Terms of Reference and the Academic Discipline Appeals section of the website. 

Hearings are presumptively held virtually over Zoom. A party may request to the Chair that a hearing be held in person (see Rules of Practice and Procedure, Part 8).

If the request is granted, hearings are most often held in Simcoe Hall’s Governing Council Boardroom. Other locations where hearings have been held are: Governing Council Chamber, President's Boardroom in Simcoe Hall, McMurrich Building, Medical Science Building and Sidney Smith Hall. The hearing location is often determined by the availability/unavailability of the Boardroom. All of these buildings are wheelchair accessible.

Hearings usually begin at 9:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m. or at 5:45 p.m. The duration of each Tribunal hearing varies as each case is unique. We suggest that hearing attendees reserve at least six (6) hours in their calendar. Hearings have been known to conclude in as little as three (3) hours but have also been known to take multiple days.  For hearings beginning at 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., we suggest that attendees keep their entire evening free. As hearings may take multiple days, we ask that attendees bring their calendars to the hearing to facilitate scheduling if another day is needed.

Please see the Rules of Practice and Procedure for more information regarding Tribunal hearings.

University Tribunal hearings are recorded for the purposes of producing transcripts, should they be required. The ADFG Office keeps the original recordings and facilitates the ordering of transcripts, should the Student or Discipline Counsel make a request. The party who orders the transcript is normally responsible for the costs of the transcript if they order it. For example, the Student may wish to order the hearing transcript if they plan to rely on it should they decide to appeal the Tribunal panel’s decision to the Discipline Appeals Board.  See section E.6 of the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.

Although there is no dress code, attendees usually dress in business casual to business attire.

If you need a disability-related accommodation to participate in this academic discipline process, please review and follow the procedure set out in the Protocol for Requesting Accommodation for Disabilities in the Academic Discipline Process.