Case #04-05-02

DATE: October 8, 2004
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. Mr. L.


Hearing Date(s): September 29, 2004

Panel Members:
Ronald G. Slaght, Q.C., Co-Chair
Ellen Hodnett, Faculty Panel Member
Asma Khan, Student Panel Member

Appearances:
Mathew Lewans, agent for Mr. L.
Robert A. Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel, for the University

Trial Division - s. B.i.1(d) of Code – plagiarism – paper and introduction to Master’s thesis – guilty plea – Agreed Statement of Facts – decanal sanction for prior academic offence - three-year suspension at most severe end of sanction in circumstances - no fraudulent intention – disclosure that balance of paper also plagiarized despite no obligation to admit fact -  Joint Submission on Penalty accepted - grade assignment of zero for course; three-year suspension; five-year notation on transcript; and report issued to Provost

Student charged with two offences under s. B.i.1(d), and alternatively, two offences under s. B.i.3(b) of the Code. The charges related to allegations that the Student submitted a plagiarized paper in one course and that he submitted a plagiarized introduction to his Master’s thesis. The Student pleaded guilty to the charges under s. B.i.1(d) of the Code. The parties submitted an Agreed Statement of Facts. The Student had previously been sanctioned at the divisional level for a prior plagiarism offence. The Panel accepted the Student’s guilty pleas. The Student admitted that the entire paper was plagiarized, when only the first half had been identified as such. The Panel considered whether or not the submitted three-year suspension was adequate in light of the previous plagiarism incident and whether the Student had learned from his previous divisional sanction. The Panel observed that a three-year suspension was at the most severe end of what was afforded in such cases. The Panel found that there was no fraudulent intent on the part of the Student. The Panel stated its appreciation that the Student admitted that the balance of the paper was also plagiarized. The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Sanction and imposed a grade of zero in the course; a three-year suspension; a five-year notation on the Student’s academic record; and that a report be issued to the Provost.