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Academic dishonesty controversy at SFU
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January 29, 2003
Simon Fraser University maintains zero tolerance for academic dishonesty but insists that allegations of dishonesty are investigated fairly. A controversy has emerged in the media concerning two students who submitted identical papers in an undergraduate education course. The instructor gave both students a failing grade for the assignment. One student admitted the work was not their own and accepted the failing grade, the second student appealed the failing grade that was given for "submitting identical work."
At the hearing before the University Board on Student Discipline (UBSD) it was openly acknowledged that the two students sought assistance from a tutor who mistakenly returned the same paper to both of them. The student who was appealing insisted that the paper was their own. After reviewing all of the documentation and hearing from the student, the tutor and the instructor, the three members of the UBSD concluded that this student had not committed academic dishonesty.
The UBSD then directed the instructor to re-evaluate this student’s assignment, but the instructor has publicly refused to do so claiming an ethical position that the student’s access to a tutor in this case is academic dishonesty. The tribunal did not consider whether the student’s use of a tutor constituted academic dishonesty because the issue was not raised by the instructor.
The instructor was unaware of the tutor’s involvement until the UBSD hearing because the instructor neglected to meet with the student, as requested by the student and as required by university policy.
"Seeking assistance from an instructor, teaching assistant or tutor to master the subject matter is not plagiarism as long as the student submits their own work," says John Waterhouse, vice president academic.
There has neither been an investigation, nor a finding of fact that the student submitted work done by the tutor. Without such facts it would be unfair to apply a disciplinary penalty. "It is the University’s position," says Waterhouse, "that the paper should be re-evaluated as directed by the UBSD. If, on fair and even-handed examination, questions remain about the student’s authorship of the paper it should be graded accordingly."
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Contact
Kathryn Aberle, Media & PR, 604.291.3929, aberle@sfu.ca
At the hearing before the University Board on Student Discipline (UBSD) it was openly acknowledged that the two students sought assistance from a tutor who mistakenly returned the same paper to both of them. The student who was appealing insisted that the paper was their own. After reviewing all of the documentation and hearing from the student, the tutor and the instructor, the three members of the UBSD concluded that this student had not committed academic dishonesty.
The UBSD then directed the instructor to re-evaluate this student’s assignment, but the instructor has publicly refused to do so claiming an ethical position that the student’s access to a tutor in this case is academic dishonesty. The tribunal did not consider whether the student’s use of a tutor constituted academic dishonesty because the issue was not raised by the instructor.
The instructor was unaware of the tutor’s involvement until the UBSD hearing because the instructor neglected to meet with the student, as requested by the student and as required by university policy.
"Seeking assistance from an instructor, teaching assistant or tutor to master the subject matter is not plagiarism as long as the student submits their own work," says John Waterhouse, vice president academic.
There has neither been an investigation, nor a finding of fact that the student submitted work done by the tutor. Without such facts it would be unfair to apply a disciplinary penalty. "It is the University’s position," says Waterhouse, "that the paper should be re-evaluated as directed by the UBSD. If, on fair and even-handed examination, questions remain about the student’s authorship of the paper it should be graded accordingly."
30 –
Contact
Kathryn Aberle, Media & PR, 604.291.3929, aberle@sfu.ca