Student FAQs
Academic Integrity
If you suspect a peer is engaged in academic misconduct, you are encouraged to speak to the person directly. Remind them of our community values and that it creates an unfair advantage. If you aren’t sure how to bring it up, reach out to the Office of Student Community Standards to ask for guidance. It’s free and confidential. Book a consultation here. You can also consider submitting a report.
You will be notified in writing of a review, including a general, but brief description of the suspected allegation. You’ll also be invited to a meeting with your professor or the Associate Dean. The purpose of the meeting is for you to receive a more detailed description of the allegation(s), and to learn more about the review process. Only following this step, will you be asked to respond and share your side of what happened.
It is important to know that you have rights, and responsibilities, in the review process. Learn more here. You also have the right to access support. To get support, connect here.
It is important to know that you have rights, and responsibilities, in the review process. Learn more here. You also have the right to access support. To get support, connect here.
You are encouraged to meet with your instructor. Remember, the purpose of the meeting is to hear your side of what happened. Should you choose not to participate in the review process, the Decision Maker will decide if the policy was violated using only the information available to them. You can also choose to attend and just listen. And, bring someone with you.
Yes! You are encouraged to bring a support person with you to a meeting. This can be an individual, unrelated to the report/incident, who can provide you with personal support and can attend meetings with you throughout the course of a review or an appeal. It is important to note that your support person may not speak on your behalf.
You are entitled to a fair process that maintains the principles of procedural fairness, including; a process free from bias, the ability to respond to the allegation(s), the reason(s) for a decision, and the right to appeal a decision.
The Office of Student Community Standards was created to promote your rights and responsibilities through the process outlined in the Code of Student Academic Integrity.
Remember, our values are a shared responsibility across the University Community. Make sure you take time to familiarize yourself with the Academic Code and to act respectfully, honestly, and ethically while participating in the review process.
The Office of Student Community Standards was created to promote your rights and responsibilities through the process outlined in the Code of Student Academic Integrity.
Remember, our values are a shared responsibility across the University Community. Make sure you take time to familiarize yourself with the Academic Code and to act respectfully, honestly, and ethically while participating in the review process.
You will receive a letter listing the exact policy statement you are responsible for violating, along with the Decision Maker’s reason for finding you responsible. The letter will outline a resolution(s). Resolutions are the outcomes of the process and they vary from a warning, to participating in a workshop or being asked to resubmit your work. It’s essential that you can demonstrate your commitment to maintaining the high standards of learning and to improve your understanding of academic integrity. Other consequences can include receiving a reduced grade on an assignment or in a course. Severe breaches of the Academic Code can lead to significant consequences such as suspension, transcript notations and expulsions.
This depends on the circumstances surrounding the misconduct. For severe breaches, the Dean responsible for the academic area of study or the Registrar can place a notation on your transcript of academic misconduct. The notation can be for a period no longer than two (2) academic years. This can only happen within the final steps of a formal review as outlined in the Code of Student Academic Integrity Procedures.
Yes. Every student found responsible for a policy violation has the right to challenge the Decision Maker’s decision using one of four grounds. To learn more you can refer to the Appeal section or review the Student Appeal Policy & Procedures.
All documents and records collected as a result of these policies and procedures will be maintained in compliance with the University’s Records Policy and the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by the Office of Student Community Standards (OSCS).
Community Standards
There are lots of informal, alternative and positive ways to address conflict outside of the Code process. We encourage you to reach an agreement with others, when possible. We also strive to honour the ways in which our diverse population address and resolve harmful behaviours and will collaborate in doing so. Connect with us for some conflict coaching.
Yes, to get support, connect here. You can also ask us, the Office of Student Community Standards, to explain the process to you, along with all your options for reaching a resolution.
Anyone can submit a report to the OSCS, preferably within 24 hours of the incident or when safe to do so. There is no set time limit. Submit a Report.
You will be notified in writing of a review, including a general, but brief description of the suspected violation(s). You’ll also be invited to a meeting with an Investigator, commonly a staff member from the OSCS. The purpose of the meeting is for you to receive a more detailed description of the allegation(s), and to learn more about the process. Only following this step, will you be asked to respond and share your side of what happened.
It is important to know that you have rights, and responsibilities, in the process. Learn more here. You also have the right to access support. To get support, connect here.
It is important to know that you have rights, and responsibilities, in the process. Learn more here. You also have the right to access support. To get support, connect here.
You are encouraged to meet with the Investigator. The Investigator is the internal staff person, (or in rare cases an external consultant), responsible for collecting the facts of the incident. Remember, the purpose of the meeting is to hear your side of what happened. Should you choose not to participate in the review process, the Decision Maker will decide if the policy was violated using only the information available to them.You can also choose to attend and just listen. And, bring someone with you.
Yes! You are welcome to bring a support person with you to a meeting. This can be an individual, unrelated to the report/incident, who can provide you with personal support and can attend meetings with you throughout the course of the process or an appeal. It is important to note that your support person may not speak on your behalf.
You are entitled to a fair process that maintains the principles of procedural fairness, including; a process free from bias, the ability to respond to the allegation(s), the reason(s) for a decision, and the right to appeal a decision.
The Office of Student Community Standards was created to promote your rights and responsibilities of students through the administration of the Code. Learn your rights.
Remember, our values are a shared responsibility across the University Community. Make sure you take time to familiarize yourself with the Code and to act respectfully, honestly, and ethically while participating in the process
The Office of Student Community Standards was created to promote your rights and responsibilities of students through the administration of the Code. Learn your rights.
Remember, our values are a shared responsibility across the University Community. Make sure you take time to familiarize yourself with the Code and to act respectfully, honestly, and ethically while participating in the process
That’s up to you. You have the choice of who to bring as a Support Person; a lawyer, a family member, a friend, or someone from the Student Advocacy Resource Centre. Most importantly, this person is here to support you. You decide who can do that for you. Just remember, they cannot speak for you during the meeting but we can certainly take breaks for you to consult privately with them.
It is important to note that the Code of Student Community Standards is not a legal process. If you are however also engaged in a criminal matter and/or possible legal proceedings, you are encouraged to consult with your own legal counsel prior to engaging in any process within or external to the institution.
Once a Report is received, the OSCS will determine if the Code applies. If so, they will assign an appropriately trained Investigator. The student Respondent will be notified of the investigation and provided an opportunity to respond. The investigation process includes but is not limited to the interviewing of Witnesses or individuals with relevant knowledge, the gathering and reviewing of materials and documents, and consulting with other appropriate policies, procedures and laws. The findings of the investigation will be summarized in an Investigation Findings Report and whether the policy was indeed violated and, if warranted, the appropriate resolution(s).
Cases whereby the Respondent takes responsibility for their behaviour(s) and/or where there was limited harm caused may be resolved by an OSCS representative, commonly also the Investigator.
Cases whereby the Investigator is unable to resolve the incident and/or where the behaviours caused significant or repeated harm to the University Community, the Executive Director of Student Affairs or designate will serve as the Decision Maker. These cases will include additional steps in the process including the Respondent’s opportunity to review the Findings Report, to pose questions to the Investigator, and an invitation to attend a meeting with the Decision Maker prior to a decision being made.
All decisions will be communicated to Respondents in writing, including reasons for the decision, within ten (10) business days.
Decisions can be appealed through the Student Appeal Policy & Procedures.
We have a responsibility to protect the privacy of your personal information and to adhere to legislation to keep your case confidential. This means that we will only share information with those who are involved in your case, the administration of the processes, those that need to know information to address safety concerns, or who have a right to know. We will review our commitment to privacy with you and others throughout the process.
You will be asked if you have any Witnesses, defined as an individual who was present, either immediately before, during, or after an incident who may have information regarding the report/incident. Character witnesses are normally not allowed. We aren’t here to judge your character only to hold you accountable for your behaviour, if warranted.
Interim measures are temporary conditions placed on you and impact your privileges as a student. The conditions are intended to protect the safety and/or well being of the University Community. If you have been issued interim measures, they will be reviewed with you every seven (7) days, and revised, renewed, or removed as necessary. Interim measures do not imply you have violated the Code.
You will receive a letter listing the exact policy statement you are responsible for violating, along with the Decision Maker’s reason for finding you responsible. The letter will outline a resolution(s). Resolutions are the outcomes of the process and vary from a warning, to participating in a workshop, offering a genuine apology, to losing a student privilege. If you accept responsibility for your behaviour, you can make suggestions as to how you think you can right your wrong and repair relationships with community members! Share your plan with the Investigator on how to rebuild trust with the community.
Severe breaches of the Code can lead to significant consequences such as course/program deregistration, suspension, transcript notations and expulsions.
Severe breaches of the Code can lead to significant consequences such as course/program deregistration, suspension, transcript notations and expulsions.
This depends on the circumstances surrounding the misconduct. For severe breaches, the Executive Director can place a notation on your transcript of misconduct. The notation can be for the duration of the suspension or up to five (5) years for expulsion. This can only happen within the final steps of the process as outlined in the Code of Student Community Procedures.
Yes. Every student found responsible for a policy violation has the right to challenge the Decision Maker’s decision using one of four grounds. To learn more you can refer to the Appeal section or review the Student Appeal Policy & Procedures.
All documents and records collected as a result of these policies and procedures will be maintained in compliance with the University’s Records Policy and the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by the Office of Student Community Standards (OSCS).