DATE: June 10, 2011
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. P.P.
Hearing Date(s): April 5, 2011
Panel Members:
Ms. Ira Parghi, Chair
Prof. Graeme Hirst, Faculty Member
Mr. Albert So, Student Member
Appearances:
Mr. Robert Centa, Assistant Discipline Counsel for the University
In Attendance:
Christopher Lang, Director, Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances
Trial Division – s. B.i.1(a) of Code – forged documents – submitted falsified petitions to defer exams in four courses over the span of two years – hearing not attended – request to proceed in the absence – Agreed Statement of Facts – guilty plea – finding of guilt – Joint Submission on Penalty – administration of justice would not be brought into disrepute by accepting the Joint Submission – grade assignment of zero for courses; five-year suspension; five-year notation on transcript; report to Provost
Student charged under s. B.i.1(a) of the Code. The charges related to allegations that the Student submitted falsified petitions and letters claiming deaths of family members to defer her exams. The Student did not attend the hearing but requested that the hearing proceed in her absence. The parties submitted an Agreed Statement of Facts. The Student pleaded guilty to the charges, and the Panel found the Student guilty under s. B.i.1(a). The parties also submitted a Joint Submission on Penalty. The Panel recognized that to reject a joint submission, it must meet a high threshold which requires that accepting the joint submission would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The Panel concluded that this threshold could not be met in this case as (1) the Student had admitted to committing the offences; (2) providing falsified information and documents even once was a serious offence; (3) the penalty called by the joint submission was reasonable in consideration of precedents; and (4) procedurally, the Student had had the opportunity to obtain legal advice, had appropriate notice of hearing, requested that the hearing proceed in her absence, and voluntarily signed the Agreed Statement of Facts and the Joint Submission on Penalty. The Panel accepted the Joint Submission and imposed a grade assignment of zero in the four courses; a five-year suspension; a five-year notation on the Student’s transcript; and a report be issued to the Provost.