Academic Integrity Policy | Tyndale University

Integrity in all academic work is required from all students. Academic fraud violates the academic integrity which is to be the foundation of Christian university studies: it is a serious matter with serious consequences. Knowingly aiding or abetting anyone in a breach of academic integrity shall in itself be considered misconduct and result in a range of consequences leading up to and including expulsion.

Definition of Academic Fraud:

Academic fraud is defined as, but not limited to, the following:

Falsification of Data or Citation
1. Giving false information for the purpose of gaining admission or credits.
2. Fabricating, forging or altering Tyndale University documents.
3. Fabricating, forging or altering transcripts, letters of reference or other official documents.
4. Providing false information or forged medical documentation to gain extensions, exemptions or advantages for any academic work.
5. Presenting information or research data that has been falsified; providing statements or referencing sources that have been invented.
Interference with or Falsification of Academic Assessment
1. Tampering with, stealing or destroying another student’s academic work.
2. Preventing another student from completing a task for academic assessment.
3. Altering a grade on academic work for the purposes of having the recorded grade changed.
4. Impersonating other students for the purpose of academic assessment.
Multiple Submission
1. Submitting an assignment for which previous academic credit was given, either at Tyndale or at another institution, or submitting the same assignment for two or more courses.
2. In some circumstances, an expanded paper or project common to two or more courses of study may be submitted with prior approval.
Cheating
1. Copying another person’s test, examination, or coursework or allowing another student to copy one’s work and submit it as his or her own.
2. Accepting credit for group work or a group project for which the student did not provide assistance or participate.
3. Using notes, electronic devices, or other aids during a test or examination without permission from the instructor or disregarding instructions and guidelines set forth by the instructor for take-home or online examinations.
4. Obtaining or distributing unauthorized tests, examinations or other course materials for academic assessment.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism may be attributed (but is not limited) to any of the following types of academic work: papers, essays, tests, exams, research reports, theses (oral or written), lab reports, oral presentations, music, or artwork.

Any of the following may constitute plagiarism:

Submitting academic work that has been, entirely or in part, copied from or written by another person without full and proper acknowledgement. “In part” can be as little as a sentence or two: plagiarism is not a matter of quantity.
1. Using the exact wording of a source without putting the borrowed words in quotation marks, or following the syntax (structure) or wording of the source too closely. Even if a citation is given, this is still plagiarism, as it misrepresents the wording as the student’s own.
2. Paraphrasing words or ideas from a source without full and proper acknowledgement of the source.
3. Including a source in the “works cited” list or reference list, but giving no parenthetical citations or footnotes/endnotes in the essay to show exactly which quotations, ideas or facts were taken from that source.
Submitting academic work which has been written, rewritten or substantially edited by another person.
Instructors can use discretion to determine whether a technical error has been made or academic fraud(plagiarism) has been committed.

For further guidelines on proper acknowledgement of sources, consult the Centre for Academic Excellence.

Procedure in Cases of Academic Fraud

In all cases of alleged academic fraud, the instructor or staff member will inform the Academic Standards Committee. He or she will notify the student of the alleged offence. Whenever possible the instructor will take the opportunity to review the situation with the student for instructional purposes.

The instructor will provide the Committee with evidence of the alleged offence.
1. For all cases of alleged academic fraud the instructor, staff member or faculty member will submit a written statement and/or evidence that substantiates the allegation. When applicable, this will include submitting an original copy of the student’s academic work.
2. For all cases of alleged plagiarism, the instructor must also submit an original copy of the student’s academic work or assignment, along with its instructions or guidelines, as well as written indications as to which aspects or sections of the academic work or assignment may have been plagiarized. The instructor will also provide copies of any sources from which material is alleged to have been plagiarized.
The Chair of the Academic Standards Committee will give written notice to the student, which will be placed in the student’s file, indicating the nature of the alleged offence and setting a date, time and place for a hearing in which the accused will be afforded the opportunity to respond in writing or in person to the allegation. The student may be assisted and represented by another person of his or her choice. The student may waive his or her right to respond in writing or to appear in person.
After the hearing, the Academic Standards Committee will rule on the allegation. The Chair will then notify the student of the committee’s ruling, in writing, including any penalties imposed. A copy will go to the instructor and be placed in the student’s file.
Appeals of decisions concerning academic fraud may be made, on procedural grounds only, in writing, to the Academic Dean. Such appeals must be made within fourteen calendar days of the student’s having received notification of the decision of the Academic Standards Committee. The policies for appeals of grades on assignments and appeals of final grades do not apply to decisions concerning academic fraud.

Penalties in Cases of Academic Fraud

In cases of academic fraud a written reprimand will be placed in the student’s academic file and at the discretion of the Academic Standards Committee, one or more of the following penalties may be applied:

for cases where academic fraud is established within the context of a student’s course or coursework.
1. in cases of plagiarism, cheating, falsification of data or citation, or interference with academic assessment:
  1. the assignment of a grade of zero on the academic work
  2. the assignment of a grade of zero in the course.
2. in successive cases of plagiarism, cheating, falsification of data or citation, or interference with academic assessment:
  1. the assignment of a grade of zero for the course(s) in question
  2. suspension from Tyndale University
  3. expulsion from Tyndale University
3. when a student voluntarily withdraws from a course in which it is determined that he or she committed academic fraud:
  1. the assignment of a grade of zero on that course
4. when academic fraud is discovered after a student has received a passing grade on an assignment, test or examination:
  1. the retroactive assignment of a grade of zero on the academic work
  2. the retroactive assignment of a grade of zero in the course.
5. When a student submits an assignment for which previous academic credit was given, either at Tyndale or at another institution, or has submitted the same assignment for two or more courses without prior approval:
  1. the assignment of a grade of zero on one or more of the assignments in question.

In all cases, the Academic Standards Committee shall refer the student to the Centre for Academic Excellence.

for cases where academic fraud is established within the broader context of a student’s relationship to Tyndale University
1. where false information is given for the purpose of gaining admission or credits:
  1. revoking the falsely obtained credits
  2. expulsion from Tyndale University
2. when university documents, letters of reference or other official documents have been fabricated, forged or altered:
  1. expulsion from Tyndale University