What happens if you are suspected of departing from academic integrity?
Don’t panic — you are not alone, and we are here to help. If you are suspected of an academic integrity violation, there is a clear process in place to help you understand the process and guide you through each step. Make sure you understand your rights during the process. Follow the steps below to get started.
Contact us at aic@tru.ca if you have general questions about the process, academic integrity, or wish to schedule an appointment with the learning strategist for support.
Accountability
It is important to be honest and dependable. Your educational, vocational, and personal ethics depend on those qualities.
Progress
It is important to aim for excellence. Having high standards means being committed to personal and professional growth.
Reliability
It is important to be trustworthy. This means having an honorable disposition.
Scholarly resources
It is important to accurately cite the resources you use. Acknowledge and respect the authenticity of information, particularly Indigenous knowledge.
Academic integrity case process overview (students)
Phase 1pre-submission (14 days)
- Receive a notification from your instructor if you are suspected of a possible departure from academic integirty
- Review the resources in the Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) website including the ED 05-0 Academic Integrtiy Policy. Contact the academic integrity learning strategist for support at aic@tru.ca
- Meet with your instructor to discuss the possible departure
Phase 2student feedback and support (14 days)
- Formal process initiation if you are suspected of a departure after the meeting
- Receive a copy of your case report form from aic@tru.ca
- Review and add your comments to the case report form
- Submit the completed case report form to aic@tru.ca within seven (7) days
- Final review and comments before entering the adjudication process
Phase 3adjudication process (31-46 days)
- Decision makers assess the case and make a decision
Phase 4appeals process
- • You may appeal a decision on the grounds of procedural fairness within thirty (30) days of receiving the decision letter. Please refer to Policy ED 04-0 Student Academic Appeals for further details.
Phase 5after the case
- Regardless of the outcome, you can meet with the Academic Integrity Learning Strategist to improve your academic skills and better understand academic integrity.
TRU support and resources
You are responsible for your academic practice. Explore these resources to learn more about Academic Integrity and how you can ensure success in your academic work.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
By now, students and faculty members are aware of text-generating technology, such as Chat GPT.
Amongst faculty members, there continues to be a dichotomy about whether to ban or allow the use of artificial intelligence. This difference of opinion amongst faculty members puts more pressure on students because it is a student’s responsibility to navigate this contradiction.
Please review the below resources for more education and awareness.
ChatGPT has become an educational tool that can assist a student with their education. However, it is imperative that students use these tools ethically. Here is some information for students to consider. » Students Using ChatGPT
Artificial Intelligence, such as ChatGPT, can be a useful tool to help students. However, ChatGPT can be used unethically. Here is some information for students to consider. » Using Artificial Intelligence to Complete Assignments
Have you considered the impacts artificial intelligence, such as Chat GPT, has on humanity? Here is some information for students to consider. » Ethical Concerns and Artificial Intelligence
The library also created a guide, Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Students, on how artificial intelligence may be used responsibly, how to critically evaluate content created by generative AI, and how to acknowledge and cite AI.
Student Academic Integrity Policy ED 5-0
Academic integrity is essential for value and credibility of education, producing knowledgeable and ethical students. Throughout the academic integrity process, it is important that you are aware of your rights as outlined in TRU’s Student Academic Integrity Policy ED 05-0 under Regulation III – Procedural Fairness. These rights are designed to ensure a fair and transparent process.
- The right to a fair process, including for the participants to be initially informed of that process and their rights in the process, and to be informed of substantive decisions at each stage.
- The right of participants to the support of an advisor or peer of their choosing at all stages of the process, provided that there is no right to counsel at hearings of the Academic Integrity Committee.
- The right to know the details of the case including the right to view all written evidence.
- The right to make submission and to provide responses to the submissions of others with the student being allowed the final submission.
- The right to an impartial adjudicator.
- The right to an expedient adjudication to normally take place within sixty (60) days of the commencement of the case.
- The right of a student to be presumed innocent until a finding is made.
- The right to reasonable confidentiality.
Smart strategies
The following Smart Strategies are designed to provide students and instructors with information, tips and resources to help them promote and maintain academic integrity.
