SAIT’s expectations for academic conduct
AC.3.4.3 Student Academic Conduct policy and procedures outline definitions, governing principles and sanctions for first offences, second offences and third misconduct offences. The procedure’s four schedules set out:
- AC.3.4.3 Student Academic Conduct
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule A - Examples of Student Academic Misconduct
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule B - First Offence Procedures and Appeal Procedures
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule C - Second Offence and Third Offence Procedures and Appeal Procedures
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule D - Academic Misconduct Hearing Processes and Principles
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule E – Use of Text-Matching Software – Guiding Principles
- AC.3.4.3 Schedule F - Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Teaching and Learning
SAIT defines academic misconduct as “any action or attempted action that may create an unfair academic advantage for a SAIT student.”
These actions fall into three broad categories:
- Plagiarism*
- Cheating
- Other types of academic misconduct
*Information sourced from libguides.sait.ca.
Did you know?
If you are being asked to attend a hearing for an action that isn’t specifically listed on the schedule, this does not mean you can’t be found to have breached one of the rules – these are meant to be examples only.
How to avoid being accused of misconduct
To avoid putting yourself into a situation where you might be accused of academic misconduct:
✅ Be sure you understand the directions given to you by your instructor. If you don’t fully understand, ask your instructor for clarification.
✅ Only work with other students if you have been advised you can. If you are not sure if you are allowed to work with other students, ask for clarification. “Collusion” is a type of academic misconduct that can occur when you work with others beyond what your instructor said you can.
✅ Do your own assignments. Paying someone else to do your assignments can lead to an allegation of “contract cheating.”
✅ Only use artificial intelligence tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, or translation tools) if your instructor has said you can and only to the extent your instructor has allowed.
✅ You work hard for your grades - make sure you keep the grades you have earned. It can be hard when a friend asks for help, but if you share a file, you could also be found to have committed academic misconduct, even if you didn’t know your friend would use the information.
✅ Only reuse a paper or assignment if your instructor has given you permission. If you don’t, this can be self-plagiarism.
✅ Make sure you understand how to cite information properly. If you aren’t sure how to cite or have questions, check out the section on “I need more help.”
✅ If you are part of a group, your whole group is responsible for the assessment you submit. Be sure you double-check that there is no plagiarism in what the group submits.
✅ Learn to manage your time. You will have very busy times in the semester, and you may feel you need to “cut corners” to save time. If you are struggling with time management, talk to your instructors.
✅ Be honest when you take a test. Don’t use anything that could lead to an allegation of misconduct. Put away your phone, don’t access unauthorized sites, don’t speak to other students, keep your eyes on your test, write the test when and where your instructor tells you to, and pass in scrap paper if your instructor directs you to do so, and don’t post questions/answers online or share them with anyone else.
Download a printable copy of this checklist
What happens if you are accused of academic misconduct
There are a series of steps that will happen, depending on whether this is your first, second or third allegation of academic misconduct. The possible consequences of a finding of academic misconduct are:
| First offense | One or more of the following:
Letter documenting the offence is put on the student’s file. The letter remains on the student’s record for seven years. |
| Second offence |
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| Third offence |
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Did you know?
Suspensions and expulsion from SAIT can have an impact on the funding you receive if you have student awards and on study permits if you are an international student.
I need more help
SAIT has a number of free resources to help you be successful during your academic journey:
- SAIT Learning Strategists and Academic Success Seminars (time management, study skills, surviving final exams, etc.)
- SAIT Tutoring Services
- Tutoring for English as an Additional Language (TEAL)
- Writing Specialists and Writing Seminars
Guides to Citation:
Frequently asked questions for students
Your instructor will contact your academic chair, who will review the situation.
If your academic chair thinks there’s enough information to follow up on this, they will set up a meeting (or “hearing”) with you and the instructor.
You and the instructor will explain your sides of the story at the hearing. After the hearing, the academic chair will decide if the allegation against you is proven or unproven (“founded” or “unfounded”) and, if it is founded, what the sanctions will be for you.
The academic chair will email you a letter telling you their decision.
You have the right to appeal this decision.
The academic chair’s decision letter to you will tell you how to appeal and will give you a deadline to start your appeal.
At the appeal hearing, you and the academic chair will explain your sides of the story.
The person hearing this appeal will usually be the dean/associate dean. They can overturn or uphold the academic chair’s decision.
If they uphold the decision, they can keep the sanction the same, decrease it or increase it. Their decision is final and binding (which means you can’t appeal the appeal decision).
You can bring a supporter with you to the hearing.
Students often approach Saitsa and ask for one of the student directors to be their supporter at the hearing, but you can ask anyone you would like to be your supporter.
However, the supporter cannot speak for you during the hearing.
If you have a legal guardian or are under 18, you can bring your guardian or parent.
A first offence finding is recorded for seven years on your internal SAIT record (but is not on your SAIT transcript).
A second offence finding (suspension) is recorded for seven years on your internal SAIT record and your SAIT transcript.
A third offence finding (expulsion) is permanently recorded on your internal SAIT record and your SAIT transcript.
You should bring your concerns to your instructor or your academic chair so that they are aware of the need to carefully assess all the projects in the class and can speak to the class as a whole, without singling out any particular students, about observing academic integrity.
If you are uncomfortable approaching your instructor or academic chair about the situation, you can contact the Office of Community Conduct at student.conduct@sait.ca, and the OCC can talk with your instructor or academic chair about this.
It is an offence for students to retaliate against other students in this situation, and students will be subject to non-academic misconduct proceedings if they do this.
Should you like some guidance on navigating an academic misconduct allegation, you can reach out to the Office of the Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson acts as a resource for members of the SAIT community to explore their rights and options.
Generally, the OCC will not accept an anonymous complaint and the names of witnesses will not remain confidential. In accordance with the principles of administrative fairness and natural justice, a student needs to know the case and evidence against them and have the opportunity to respond to this information. In order to meet these requirements, names of complainants and witnesses need to be disclosed. You may be asked to provide a written statement to the OCC to explain your concerns as part of the investigation process. Any retaliation against a complainant/witness will be taken seriously and should be reported to the OCC.
If you would like to discuss any specific concerns around this, please reach out to the Office of Community Conduct directly.
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.