All members of the Conestoga community are responsible and accountable for upholding academic integrity. All of those who are involved in the academic integrity procedure at Conestoga will be treated in a fair, transparent and consistent manner.

This policy applies to formally signed, binding, academic agreements between Conestoga and other accredited post-secondary institutions or designated organizations. Academic agreements with other institutions are created through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). Academic agreements arising from MOUs may include, but not limited to: 

• Articulation Agreements 
• Curriculum Sharing Agreements 
• Exchange Agreements 
• Linkage Agreements

Conestoga College maintains a glossary of terms specific to the institution. The ones in use for this document are defined below.

Academic Integrity Office

Registrar’s Office

Executive Dean/Dean

Chair

Faculty

Academic Administration

Teaching & Learning

Information Technology Systems

Students

1. When a possible Academic Integrity Violation (AIV) is identified the following must occur:
   1.  A member of the Academic Team notifies the student in writing within 3 business days of determining that an AIV has likely occurred.
      1. The timeline may be extended in circumstances involving multiple students.
   2. The student has 3 business days from the date the notification communication was sent to respond with an explanation and/or evidence countering the allegation. A member of the Academic Team and student will discuss the Incident, as required.
      1. Where the communication to the student has been sent during Student Success Week, the 3 business days timeline will begin when classes resume.
   3. If the student does not provide evidence to prove the AIV did not occur, a member of the Academic Team files the AIV within 3 business days of the student’s response or by the end of the allotted three business days provided to the student.
      1. If the student does not communicate with the Academic Team member within the allotted timeframe, the Academic Team member may file the AIV 3 business days after the initial communication.
   4. The filing of all AIVs, other than those resulting in Discontinuance, will be completed within 14 business days of the original communication to the student.

Filing an Incident

2. For all AIVs, the Academic Team member must complete a description of the AIV.
3. For a first AIV, a Warning may be filed.
   1. No Penalty is applied where a Warning is appropriate.
      
4. For all AIVs, the student is directed to complete the educational opportunities and assessment.
   1. Other educational supports may be recommended.
5. For subsequent violations, an Offence will be filed and an appropriate Penalty selected.
   1. A progressive Penalty should be applied for subsequent AIVs.
   2. Where an Offence is filed by an Academic Chair, it may be filed with or without penalty.
      1. Where a penalty is applied by an Academic Chair, the penalty will be explained within the description of the AIV provided to the student.
6. If a Faculty selects one of the following penalties, the Academic Chair will be notified for approval.
   1. a Penalty of “other,”
   2. a Penalty on an Assessment worth 20% or Greater,
   3. a Penalty of Zero in the Course
   4. Discontinuance
7. The Academic Chair reviews and communicates the decision to the Faculty within 5 business days.
   1. In complex cases, additional time may be required for investigating and filing an AIV. The Academic Chair will notify the student in writing within 5 business days of receiving the Penalty notification, if additional time is required.
8. Faculty completes the filing process within 3 business days of receipt of approval from the Academic Chair.
9. The Student receives notification to their Conestoga email account once the AIV has been submitted.
   1. If the Penalty approved by the Academic Chair is Discontinuance from the college, the Executive Dean/Dean is notified for review and approval.
   2. If the Penalty is approved by Executive Dean/Dean, the Registrar’s Office will be notified of the decision.