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Senate Policy Document

Click below link for the corresponding Senate policies.

Part I

Academic Seal of the University

1.0 Academic Seal

1.05 Definition

The academic seal, s. 37.10 an impression of which appears in the margin hereof, shall be the seal of the University for academic purposes.

1.10 Purpose

The academic seal shall be kept in such place of deposit & in such charge as the Senate shall from time to time direct; & it shall not be affixed to any instruments except as bear the signatures of the President & the Registrar, or in the case of the absence or illness of the President, that of the President's designate, & in the case of the absence or illness of the Registrar, that of the Acting Registrar.

Part II

Nipissing University Policies

1.0 Policy on Academic Dishonesty

The University takes a most serious view of such offenses against academic honesty as plagiarism, cheating, impersonation and the presentation of altered or falsified documents. Penalties for dealing with such offenses will be strictly enforced.

1.05 Plagiarism

Essentially, plagiarism involves submitting or presenting work in a course as if it were the student’s own work done expressly for that particular course when, in fact, it is not. Plagiarism should be noted and reported to the Dean. Students should be informed of the University’s definition and policy on plagiarism at the beginning of each course.

Most commonly plagiarism exists when:

  1. the work submitted or presented was done, in whole or in part, by an individual other than the one submitting or presenting the work;
  2. parts of the work (e.g. phrases, ideas through paraphrase or sentences) are taken from another source without reference to the original author;
  3. the whole work (e.g. an essay) is copied from another source; and/or
  4. a student submits or presents a work in one course which has also been submitted or presented in another course (although it may be completely original with that student) without the knowledge or prior agreement of the instructors involved.
1.10 Cheating

Cheating at tests or examinations includes, but is not limited to, dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct such as speaking to other candidates or communicating with them under any circumstances whatsoever; bringing into the examination room any textbook, notebook, or memoranda not authorized by the examiner, or leaving answer papers exposed to view.

1.15 Penalties

A student guilty of academic dishonesty may be subject to the imposition of one or more penalties, of which those listed below shall be exemplary:

  1. assignment of a grade of zero in the assignment, test, or exam;
  2. assignment of a grade of zero in the course in which the offence is committed;
  3. suspension from attendance in all courses in which the student is registered at the time the offence was committed, and loss of credit for any course or courses which have not been completed or in which no grade or final evaluation has been registered at the time the offence was committed;
  4. suspension from the Faculty;
  5. expulsion from the Faculty;
  6. suspension from the University; or
  7. expulsion from the University.

Withdrawal from a course will not preclude proceedings in respect of academic offences committed in the course, and the right to withdraw may be refused where an academic offence is alleged.

1.20 Instructor's Action

The initial responsibility for punitive action lies with the Instructor. The Instructor may assign a zero for that particular assignment, test or exam, or may assign a zero in the course. The Instructor will advise the Department Chair, the Dean, & the Registrar of the action taken.

1.25 Suspension or Expulsion by Dean

The Dean of the Faculty may exercise his/her authority to suspend or expel the student from the Faculty. The suspension or expulsion will be confirmed in writing to the student by registered mail & the Department Chair & the Registrar will be notified.

1.30 Suspension or Expulsion by President

If, upon suspending or expelling a student from a Faculty, the Dean determines that the severe sanction of suspension or expulsion from the University is warranted, such a recommendation may be made to the President who may act to expel or suspend the student from the University.

1.35 Appeals
  1. A student who is assigned a grade of zero in an assignment, test, or examination may appeal the grade to the Senate Appeals Committee.
  2. An undergraduate student who is suspended or expelled from the University may appeal that decision to the Senate Subcommittee on Undergraduate Standing and Petitions. A graduate student who is suspended or expelled from the University may appeal that decision to the Graduate Studies Committee of Senate.
  3. The final appeal in all cases shall be the appropriate Senate Committee.
1.40 Transcript Notation
  1. The symbols AD (Academic Dishonesty) will be entered on the student’s Academic Transcript.
  2. The notation “suspended (or expelled) from the Faculty (or University) for academic dishonesty” will be entered on the student’s Academic Transcript and Grade Report upon receipt of such a notice by the Registrar from the Dean.
  3. The symbols RW (Required to Withdraw) will be entered in the grade column on the student’s Academic Transcript or Grade Report in the courses in which he or she was registered for that session except for the courses in which a “0” was given as a penalty or which have already been completed and a grade assigned.
  4. The record of a student will be cleared of the notation “suspended (or expelled) for academic dishonesty” upon re-admission to and successful completion of a degree program. The zero grades given because of cheating will remain but the symbol AD will be changed to F. The symbol RW will remain as such.
1.45 Re-admission
  1. A student who has been placed under suspension from a Faculty is conditionally eligible to reapply for admission or registration in the same Faculty at either the end of a specified time or thereafter.
  2. A student under suspension from a Faculty may not apply or be considered for readmission to the University in another Faculty until at least after the next regular Fall/Winter session has passed.
  3. A student who is expelled from a Faculty is dismissed permanently from the Faculty with no right to reapply for admission
  4. A student who is expelled from the University is dismissed permanently from the University with no right to reapply for admission.

Note: Suspension does not imply automatic readmission. An interview & subsequent positive recommendation from the Dean must satisfy eligibility for re-admission.

2.0 Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities

2.05 Statement of Discipline and Student Conduct

Nipissing University does not stand “in loco parentis” to its student members, that is, it has no general responsibility for the moral and social behaviour of its students. However, the University recognizes the need for guidelines, regulations and standards of acceptable behaviour, which must be based on a sense of responsibility to the University in its broadest sense and to the members of the surrounding community. The University requires that students conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of the country, province, city, and the policies of the University. Dishonesty, willful misconduct, fraud and failure to respect the rights of others cannot be tolerated in a community which is dedicated to the development of responsible individuals.

The University reserves the right to terminate, at any time, its relationship with any student whose disruptive* behaviour is deemed to be detrimental to the purposes and goals of the University. All students should be familiar with the regulations printed in the University Calendar as well as specific policies published from time to time.

*Definition: Disruptive behaviour applies to behaviour that persistently or grossly interferes with academic and administrative activities or reputation of the University.

2.10 Preamble of Student Rights

At Nipissing University, students are free to think, speak, write, create, study, learn, pursue social, cultural and other interests, and freely associate together for all these purposes, subject to the requirement that they respect the rights of members of the University and general community to pursue these same freedoms and privileges. In order to secure these rights, the University will use its best efforts to ensure the following:

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