Academic integrity is a shared responsibility at Nipissing University. It reflects honesty, fairness, trust, and respect in all learning and research activities. Upholding these values ensures that every student’s work is evaluated fairly and that the University’s academic standards remain strong.
Academic Misconduct Roadmap
for Students
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT NOTIFICATION
This email from your professor is your notification. Take a deep breath, we are all here to support you and address misconduct with education and understanding.
SDS SUPPORT
The Student Support Navigator (SSN) can be contacted by emailing nusuccess@nipissingu.ca. The SSN will support your understanding of the process, resources, and navigation of your next steps; they will help walk you through the process.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
This process may feel stressful and intimidating. You may want to reach out to the Mental Health and Wellbeing team at nipissingu.ca/mhwellness for support navigating your emotional and mental wellbeing during this process and to review available resources.
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
Learning is the core of this policy. You have the opportunity to book an appointment with a Student Learning Coordinator to receive educational support regarding academic integrity. You can connect with the Student Learning and Transitions (SLT) team by booking an appointment at nipissingu.ca/slt
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
If you choose to connect with a Student Learning Coordinator in Student Learning and Transitions (SLT) as part of your academic integrity educational process, you'll write a letter to acknowledge your misconduct, discuss your new knowledge, and demonstrate your commitment to future academic integrity.
DECISIONS
The decision on penalties comes from your professor's recommendation and the Associate Dean's judgement. There is an appeal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Academic misconduct occurs when a student acts in a way that breaches the principles of academic integrity. It includes any behaviour that gives, or attempts to give, an unfair academic advantage to oneself or another person.
- Plagiarism
- Cheating (e.g. unauthorized cheat sheets, using two computers in lockdown, …)
- Contract cheating (e.g. buying/obtaining term papers, or assignments, subscriptions)
- Submitting the same piece of work for more than one course without the instructor’s permission.
- Impersonating another person in a test or exam
- Unauthorized collaboration on individual assignments, tests or exams
- Falsifying, misrepresenting, or forging an academic record or supporting document
- Improper computer/calculator use
- Fabrication: creating, altering, or reporting (e.g. changing lab data to fit the hypothesis, - inventing quotes to support an argument)
- Tedious, frustrating, suffering, stressed
- Sick, fatigue, life events
- Employment, family, academic workload
- Procrastination
- Lack of understanding of academic misconduct (Just didn’t know this was plagiarism).
- Dismiss the severity of academic dishonesty.
- Students think it's teamwork not academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism – includes but is not limited to:
- Claiming, submitting or presenting the words, ideas, artistry, drawings, images or data of another person or Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated, including information found on the Internet, and unpublished materials, as if they are one’s own, without appropriate referencing;
- Claiming, submitting or presenting someone else’s work, ideas, opinions or theories as if they are one's own, without proper referencing;
- Claiming, submitting or presenting collaborative work as if it were created solely by oneself or one’s group;
- Submitting the same work, in whole or in part, for credit in two or more courses, or in the same course more than once, without the prior written permission of the instructor;
- Minimally paraphrasing someone else’s work by changing only a few words and not citing the original source.
- Start your assignment early
- Keep track of the sources you consult in your research.
- Paraphrase or quote from your sources (and add your own ideas).
- Credit the original author with an in-text citation and in your reference list.
- Still unsure? Book an appointment here.
Falsifying, misrepresenting, or forging an academic record or supporting document – includes but is not limited to:
- Furnishing false information in the context of an academic assignment
- Fabricating or altering information or data and presenting it as legitimate
- Providing false or misleading information to an instructor or any other university staff member
- Falsifying clearance forms, practicum and placement documentation.
- Falsifying doctor's note.
- Misrepresentation of credentials.
- Forging an instructor’s or university official’s signature on any document.
- Submitting an altered transcript of grades to or from another institution or employer.
- Putting your name on, or copying, another person’s paper or assignment.
- Altering a previously graded exam or assignment for purposes of a grade appeal.
When Misconduct is Suspected
If academic misconduct is suspected, the steps listed below will be followed to ensure the process is fair and consistent:
Instructors Will:
- Review the evidence – They will gather relevant materials such as the assignment, communication records, or other documentation.
- Consult their Chair or Director – They will discuss the situation to confirm whether a report should be submitted.
- Contact you – They will email you at your @my.nipissingu.ca address to request a meeting to discuss the concern.
- Determine next steps – After reviewing the evidence and meeting with you (or if you do not respond), decide whether misconduct occurred.
- If no misconduct is found, they may close the matter or issue a warning.
- If misconduct has occurred, they will complete and submit the Academic Misconduct Incident Report.
Proctors, Teaching Assistants, or Invigilators Will:
- Document the incident in detail, including what was observed, when, and any materials involved.
- Report the incident to the course instructor as soon as possible.
- The instructor will then follow the steps above to review the matter and determine next actions.
When There's a Finding
If, after reviewing the evidence and meeting with you (or if you do not respond, or meet), your instructor determines that academic misconduct has occurred, they will do the following:
Step 1: Complete the Academic Misconduct Incident Report
- Your instructor will complete the Academic Misconduct Incident Report Form and attach all supporting documentation, such as assignment files, comparison sources, communication records, and meeting notes.
- They will include your version of events, if provided.
Step 2: Submit the Report
- Once the form is submitted by your instructor, a notification is automatically sent to you and Associate Dean, including a copy of the completed report.
- You will have 10 business days from the report date to provide written comments or request a meeting with the Associate Dean.
- The Associate Dean will review the report, supporting documentation, and any response you provided before determining next steps.
Step 3: Keep Your Records
- Retain copies of your correspondence and any relevant materials.
- Notifications will continue to be sent automatically as the report moves through the review process.
You are encouraged to meet with the Student Support Navigator (SSN), and/or a representative from NUSU for further assistance on the process.
Appealing a Decision
- Appeal to the Dean – Within three weeks of being notified of the Associate Dean’s decision, you may appeal on the following grounds:
- New evidence that significantly affects the case and could not have been provided earlier.
- A procedural irregularity that impacted the outcome.
- Appeals cannot be made solely because you disagree with the penalty.
- Appeal to the Academic Appeals and Petitions Committee – If dissatisfied with the Dean’s decision, you may appeal within three weeks. The committee’s decision is final.
- All appeals must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation.
Before submitting an appeal you are encouraged to meet with the Student Support Navigator (SSN), or a representative from NUSU to seek clarification of the appeal process.
Progressive Discipline
- Nipissing University applies a progressive approach to academic discipline to ensure penalties are fair, transparent, and proportionate.
- Minor Academic Misconduct may include incomplete citations, first-time unauthorized collaboration, or other limited infractions.
- Major Academic Misconduct includes extensive plagiarism, cheating, falsification, contract cheating, or repeat offences.
- All confirmed cases are recorded on the student’s academic record. The University may rescind a degree if misconduct is discovered after graduation.
The Student Support Navigator (SSN) can be contacted by emailing nusuccess@nipissingu.ca. The SSN will support your understanding of the process, resources, and navigation of your next steps; they will help walk you through the process.
Learning is the core of this policy. You also have the opportunity to book an appointment with a Student Learning Coordinator to receive educational support regarding academic integrity. You can connect with the Student Learning and Transitions (SLT) team by booking an appointment at nipissingu.ca/slt