Case #858 - Tribunal 2

Case 858 - Appeal 2
Case 858 - Appeal 1
Case 858 - Tribunal 1
DATE: January 15, 2018
PARTIES: University of Toronto v. A.S. (“the Student”) 

Hearing Date(s):    August 22, 2017 and October 17, 2017
 
Panel Members:
Ms. Amanda Heale, Chair
Professor Dionne Aleman, Faculty Panel Member 
Mr. Harvey Lim, Student Panel Member
 
Appearances:
Mr. Robert Centa, Discipline Counsel, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Ms. Emily Home, Counsel, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP (October 17, 2017) 
Mr. R.S., the Student's Representative
Ms. Lucy Gaspini, Manager, Academic Success and Integrity, Office of the Dean, UTM 
Professor Divya Maharajh, (Course Instructor) UTM (August 22, 2017)
 
In Attendance:
Mr. Christopher Lang, Director, Appeals, Discipline, Faculty Grievances (August 22, 2017)
Ms. Tracey Gameiro, Associate Director, Appeals, Discipline, Faculty Grievances (October 17, 2017)
Ms. Sandra Nishikawa, Tribunal Co-Chair (Observer, August 22, 2017)) 
The Student
The Student's Mother
Ms. Alexandra Di Blasio, Academic Integrity Assistant, Office of the Dean, UTM 
Mr. Sean Lourim, IT Support, Office of the Governing Council
Mr. Anwar Kazimi, Office of the Governing Council (Observer, October 17, 2017)
 
 
Trial Division – s. B.i.1(f) of the Code  – concoction of sources –  s. B.i.3(a) of the Code  - falsifying an academic record - student concocted references in an essay  –  s. B.i.1(a) of the Code  – forged/falsified document  - student also falsified a letter, purporting to be written by the Vice Dean, Undergraduate Studies –  prior offence - recommendation of expulsion, suspension for a period of up to 5 years from the date of the order or until Governing Council makes its decision on expulsion, corresponding notation on the Student’s transcript, and report to the Provost with the Student’s name withheld. 
 
The Student was charged with one count of concocting sources contrary to section B.i.1(f) of the Code, or in the alterative, engaging in a form of academic dishonesty or misconduct not otherwise described contrary to section B.i.3(b) of the Code.  The Student was also charged with falsifying an academic record contrary to s. B.i.3(a) of the Code, falsifying evidence or circulating a falsified document contrary to section B.i.1(a) of the Code; or in the alternative, academic dishonesty not otherwise described contrary to section B.i.3(b) of the Code. The charges relating to the concoction of sources were laid in connection to an essay that the Student had submitted that contained references to two sources that did not exist.  The charges concerning the falsification of evidence and falsification of an academic record stemmed from a letter that the Student submitted in an appeal of an academic sanction to the Provost. This letter, purportedly written by the Vice Dean, Undergraduate Studies, was an altered version of a letter that was originally provided to the Student.  The Panel found the student guilty of one count of falsifying any document or evidence required by the University, or uttering, circulating or making use of any such document, contrary to section B.i.1(a) of the Code and one count of knowingly submitting academic work that contained references to one or more concocted sources contrary to section B.i.1(f) of the Code. The Panel ordered a final grade of zero in the affected course; suspension from the University for up to 5 years from the date of the order; recommendation of expulsion; and that the case be reported to the Provost for publication.