Unauthorized Assistance

Scenario 1:

Lisa’s Computer Science assignment, worth 40% of her mark, is due on Friday and she has yet to begin her research. She is busy juggling a part-time job and school work while taking care of her younger siblings at home. It is difficult for her to find time to work on her assignment so she asks her friend Rena if she can provide her with a copy of an old assignment which Rena previously submitted in the course in another academic term. This is especially easy because Lisa’s approved outline reflects the same topic as Rena’s and she has done most of the research required. Rena sends Lisa a copy of her assignment but cautions her to use it only as a reference and not to copy her work. Lisa is nervous about approaching her instructor to ask for an extension since the deadline is drawing near. Therefore, in order to submit her paper on time, Lisa decides to use most of Rena’s paper in her written work by claiming it as her own and submits it to turnitin.com.

The Issue:

Since Lisa decides to use Rena’s work as her own, she is committing an academic offence. The importance of producing original work is not only to prevent academic misconduct but also to maintain intellectual creativity as an individual. The instructor will be able to identify Rena’s assignment using turnitin.com and both of the students will be approached about the issue.

Description/Relevant Section of Code:

Section B.i.1.(b): To 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

Section B.i.1.(d): To 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

Range of Consequences:

For offences on term work, term tests or final exams, the sanction recommended is:

  • A reduction of not less than twice the value of the exam, work or test.
  • For submitting work, where it forms a major fraction of the course (e.g. 40%), in whole from another person, the sanction recommended shall be suspension from the University for at least two years.
  • An annotation on your academic transcript.

 Smart Strategies

  • It is best for you to speak to your instructor about the situation you are in before he/she approaches you. Instructors are likely to accommodate a student's individual needs as long as they are notified prior to the deadline date of any assignment.
  • If you are experiencing difficulty managing your workload, there are academic resources and services available to help. Contact your undergraduate advisor or visit the University of Toronto website for a full list of personal/ academic resources.
  • You may also visit the Health and Counselling Centre for assistance

 

* Video courtesy of Innis College, University of Toronto 

Scenario 2:

 You are writing your final exam in Geography. At the beginning of the exam, you were told that unauthorized aids were not permitted at desks and were told to place them with your other belongings. You have also seen posters around exam rooms reminding students that calculators, cell phones, and other unauthorized aids are not permitted in your exam. You thought that, since your cell phone was on silent, it would not be a problem to keep it in your back pocket while you wrote the exam.  About half-way through the exam, you ask to go to the bathroom and a TA accompanies you. The TA sees the cell phone in your back pocket, asks you to hand it over, and it is confiscated.

The Issue: 

By failing to comply with all of the reminders about unauthorized aids during a final exam, you may have compromised the security of the examination room.  Any student found in possession of an unauthorized aid, whether it was used or not, has committed an offence under the University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, and may be sanctioned accordingly.

Description/Relevant Section of the Code:

Section B.i.1(b): To use or possess an unauthorized aid or aids in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work.

Range of Consequences:

 For offences on term work, term tests, or final exams, the sanction(s) recommended may be:

  • A written reprimand;
  • A reduction of not less than twice the value of the exam, work, or test; and/or
  • An annotation on your academic transcript.

Smart Strategies:

  • Familiarize yourself with the Rules of Conduct for Final Examinations.
  • When coming to write a final exam, leave your cell phone at home or at the front of the examination room with your other belongings.
  • Remember that as a student at U of T, you are responsible for ensuring that you take the appropriate steps to avoid committing an academic offence.

Scenario 3:

Your Visual Studies professor assigns a group project to complete followed by a group presentation to the class. There are three members in each group as assigned by the professor. The group members (Jermaine, Sima and Carlos) have a conversation about the project and when to get together.  A few days later Jermaine has a car accident and breaks his foot. Jermaine calls Sima and Carlos to tell them about the accident and that he cannot help them with the project because he is in pain. He also tells them he needs the grade for the project in order to pass the course. However, Jermaine fails to notify the instructor of his accident. Sima and Carlos feel sorry for Jermaine and want to help him any way they can. They tell him that they will do the work and will list his name along with theirs. Sima and Carlos complete the project without Jermaine's help. They submit the assignment to the instructor and the cover page lists the names of all three students as having completed the project together.

The Issue:

Although Jermaine was unable to participate in the group project due to his accident, he did not contribute to the group project and in turn should not receive a grade for the assignment. Jermaine's name on the cover page illustrates that he is taking ownership of his team`s work without any contribution; this is considered to be an academic offence on the part of all three students.

Description/Relevant Section of Code:

Section B.i.1.(b): To 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

Section B.ii.1.(a)(ii): Does or omits to do anything for the purpose of aiding or assisting another member to commit the offence

Range of Consequences: 

For offences on term work, term tests, or final exams, the sanction(s) recommended may be:

  • A reduction of not less than twice the value of the exam, work, or test;
  • Assignment of a grade of zero for the course in which the offence was committed; and/or
  • An annotation on your academic transcript.

Smart Strategies:

  • Unexpected situations may arise while working on group assignments. In cases where a member may be unable to participate for various reasons, it is important for the student to notify the instructor of his/her situation. The group should collectively consult the instructor for alternative solutions to the problem rather than trying to resolve the issue by simply doing the missing group member's work.
  • It is important to discuss the absence of one of your group members with your instructor so that he/she can offer appropriate assistance to the group. You must keep in mind that if you decide to help your peers by completing their assigned work, you too are committing an academic offence while providing unauthorized assistance. 
  • If the group fails to inform the instructor and he/she recognizes that your peer does not seem to be aware of the project’s content, all members are likely to be subject to questioning and may be faced with an allegation of academic misconduct /offence.

Scenario 4:

During the final exam period, you are struggling to find the time to complete all of your work and study for your finals. You are about to write your last Management exam, but realize that you are extremely unprepared. You make the decision to hide your course notes in a washroom stall with the intention of taking a bathroom break during the exam to refresh your memory. During the exam, you are escorted to the bathroom by a TA who waits outside the stall while you go to the bathroom. You seem to be taking a long time and the TA thinks she hears papers rustling inside your stall. Once you leave the washroom, the TA enters the stall you were in and finds your notes related to the course material being tested on the exam.

The Issue: 

When you hid your notes and consulted them during the writing of the exam, you were using an unauthorized aid, which is strictly prohibited. You are compromising the integrity of your work and obtaining an unfair advantage over the other students in the course.

Description/Relevant Section of the Code:

Section B.I.1(b): To use or possess an unauthorized aid or aids in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work.

Range of Consequences:

For offences on term work, term tests, or final exams, the sanction(s) recommended may be:

  • A reduction of not less than twice the value of the exam, work, or test; and/or
  • An annotation on your academic transcript.

Smart Strategies:

  • Familiarize yourself with the Rules of Conduct for Final Examinations.
  • Remember that you are asked to sign-out of the exam room when you go to the bathroom. You are also usually accompanied by an instructor, Chief Presiding Officer (CPO), or T.A.