What is Academic Integrity?
In the Faculty of Arts & Science, academic integrity means to act with honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage in all academic matters.
Every member of the U of T community should help to ensure academic integrity.
Fostering Academic Integrity and Responsibility (FAIR) through Peer Leadership
Become a FAIR Student Ambassador
The Student Academic Integrity team is searching for engaged students who want to take the lead in fostering and maintaining a culture of integrity on campus.
One of the most effective ways students learn about university practice and policies is through their peers. The FAIR Student Ambassadors will promote academic excellence and integrity across Arts & Science.
Duties
- Raising awareness by organizing events and campaigns that speak directly to students (i.e., Exam Jam).
- Helping guide messaging about academic integrity by offering on-the-ground insights.
Benefits of joining the FAIR Student Ambassador Program
- Build relationships with instructors, staff members and your fellow students and hone skills like public speaking, event planning and leadership.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of academic integrity in the University of Toronto context and beyond.
- Receive an entry on your Co-Curricular Record (CCR) and honorarium.
Requirements
- Currently in your second, third or fourth year of study and in good academic standing.
- Familiar and/or interested in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters and other academic integrity challenges.
- Complete up to 30 hours over the course of the academic year.
- Comfortable and interested in using social media platforms to share information and available to attend in-person events on campus.
Deadline for applications is May 30, 2025.
For all questions about the FAIR Student Ambassador Program, please contact Lauren Vollmer, Associate Director, Academic Integrity at sai.artsci@utoronto.ca.
Academic Misconduct
According to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, an academic offence or academic misconduct is any behaviour, intentional or otherwise, that gives a student unearned or unfair advantage in academic work over other students and results in an academic offence.
As a student, you are responsible for ensuring the integrity of your work and for understanding what constitutes an academic offence. Be sure to understand what is covered under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, and if you are not sure, seek guidance from your professor or TA.
An academic offence can include:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Altering, forging or falsifying documents other than academic records
- Possession or use of unauthorized aids
- Assisting another student in committing an offence
- Impersonation
- Submission of work for which credit has previously been obtained
- Submission of work containing purported statement(s) of fact or reference(s) to concocted sources
- Altering, forging or falsifying an academic record
- Any other misconduct to obtain academic credit or advantage
Each offence can involve different types of student actions. Visit the U of T Academic Integrity website for examples of what actions can constitute academic misconduct.
Be aware of the risky situations that could result in an academic offence such as keeping a cell phone in your pocket during an exam, hidden course notes, improperly cited sources, submitting shared work, etc
If you have been accused of an academic offence
If you are facing allegations of an academic offence, seek guidance from your College Registrar’s office. You can also check the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters for the steps to follow in the case of any allegation of academic misconduct.
Visit the U of T Academic Integrity website to learn about the key consequences of academic misconduct including impact on grades, suspension, etc.
The U of T Academic Integrity website contains an outline of Process and Procedures involved in academic misconduct cases.
You will have an opportunity to meet with your instructor to discuss the matter. If your instructor believes that an academic offence has occurred, they will forward the matter to the department Chair (or Chair’s designate). Your instructor is not authorized to impose a penalty. In some cases, this may be followed by a meeting with a Dean's designate.
Important things to consider:
- Do not drop the course involved in the allegation while it is under investigation or after a sanction has been imposed. If you do drop the course, you will be reinstated and be responsible for any work missed. Your academic record will normally show a GWR (grade withheld pending review) for the course until the matter is resolved.
- If the course in question is designated as CR/NCR, you will lose this option if sanctioned for an academic offence.
- All correspondence will be typically be emailed to your U of T email address or the address listed in ACORN, so make sure you check it regularly.
- You can seek advice and/or be accompanied by counsel at your meeting with the Dean's designate. Counsel can be anyone you wish. Speak with your College Registrar about your options. If you decide to bring counsel, please let the Student Academic Integrity team know in advance of your meeting.
Tutoring Services & Contract Cheating
There are many third-party companies advertising tutoring services and coursework assistance to U of T students. It is important to note that some of these services violate U of T's academic integrity policies. Learn about what types of actions can be considered an academic offence. To find trustworthy tutors who have completed the U of T Tutor Training Program, visit the UT3 Directory.
Resources to Ensure Academic Integrity
There are many resources available at U of T to help you enhance your academic skills and avoid any potential academic offences. If you are unsure what may constitute an academic offence or academic misconduct, contact your professor or TA.
Review the resources below are to learn about best academic practices in your courses:
- University of Toronto Libraries – Citing Sources/Create Your Bibliography
- U of T Writing Centre
- College Writing Centres
- English Language Learning (ELL)
- Centre for Learning Strategy Support
- Sidney Smith Commons
- Math Learning Centre
You may find that issues concerning academic integrity may not arise in a vacuum. If you are experiencing personal or health circumstances, connect with a health practitioner at the U of T Health & Wellness Centre for support. In addition, your College Registrar’s office can provide advice and guidance if you encounter academic integrity issues.
Visit Smart Strategies on the U of T Academic Integrity site for information, tips and resources on how to promote and maintain academic integrity. And remember, if ever you are unsure of the correct way to do something, don’t hesitate to ask your professor or TA.
Frequently Asked Questions
When the University suspects that academic misconduct may have occurred, your instructor may enter a No Grade Available (NGA) or the Student Academic Integrity team may place a Grade Withheld Pending Review (GWR) notation on your academic record in place of a grade for that course.
- An NGA and GWR prevents you from dropping the course until the matter is resolved.
- If you dropped the course before the NGA or GWR was applied, you will be reinstated into the course, and the GWR will be added to your record. You will be responsible for keeping up with all of your coursework.
The next steps can vary depending on the nature of the allegation, the weight of the assessment(s) involved, and other factors. You can find more details on the Process and Procedures page.
If you have specific questions, you can email the Student Academic Integrity team at sai.artsci@utoronto.ca using your official U of T email address.
No, your instructor cannot sanction you for an academic offence.
If your case is resolved by the department, the Chair (or the Chair’s designate) will decide the sanction. Cases that are forwarded to the Divisional level and the Tribunal level each have their own guidelines for sanctioning and operate independently from the instructor.
The purpose of the instructor meeting is to provide students with a chance to learn about the allegation and to explain their perspective.
Although the Dean or their representative will have access to evidence provided by the instructor, this meeting gives them the chance to speak to you directly and hear your side of the story.
This happens if you have not responded to emails regarding an academic misconduct allegation.
- When an allegation is forwarded to the Student Academic Integrity team, you are notified via your official U of T email or the email address listed on ACORN.
- If you do not respond, an administrative hold is placed on your academic record, preventing course registration and transcript requests via ACORN.
To have the administrative hold removed, you need to contact the Student Academic Integrity team at sai.artsci@utoronto.ca and engage in the process to resolve the allegation.
When you join the University of Toronto, you are expected to learn the rules, policies, and regulations of the institution. This means that you should read and be familiar with what is written in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Not knowing the Code is not a valid excuse for academic misconduct, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with it.
You should also review the academic integrity policies in your course syllabi. If you’re unsure about what is allowed for your assessments, ask your instructor for clarification.
Meeting slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to book the earliest available appointment. If no slots appear on Calendly, it means there are currently no openings. However, you can check back using the booking link to see if any cancellations occur. If an earlier time becomes available, you are welcome to book it.
Once a case is forwarded to the Provost’s Office, it can take several months for review. You will be contacted by the University’s legal team when your case progresses. More details on University Tribunal proceedings can be found in the Academic Discipline FAQ. Past Tribunal decisions are also available for review.
Legal Support
If your case moves to the University’s Tribunal, you are encouraged to seek legal counsel. Downtown Legal Services offers free legal advice and representation to students.
Once charges have been laid, the matter falls under the discretion of the Office of Appeals, Discipline, and Faculty Grievances.
No, you cannot withdraw from the course or use the Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) option if you have been sanctioned for academic misconduct.
If you previously applied for CR/NCR for the course where you were sanctioned, the CR/NCR credit will be reversed, and credit weight allowance can be allocated in the future as per Faculty policy.
No, instructors in other courses cannot access your academic misconduct records.
These cases are confidential and protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
Once your case is resolved, your instructor receives an email requesting them to update your final grade.
- The GWR is automatically replaced with your numerical grade once the instructor submits final grades at the end of the course.
- If several weeks have passed and your grade has not been updated, contact your academic department for assistance.