Diversionary Process at UBC Vancouver
Supporting students and Faculties in the process.
The goals of the Academic Integrity Hub are to support students and faculty in the implementation of the academic misconduct regulation.
The Academic Integrity Hub will support the academic misconduct process by facilitating the diversionary process and Integrity Plans, will run a central education program around academic integrity standards and skills, and will support Faculties and students around academic integrity awareness and education at various stages.
The Academic Integrity Hub’s role is to shepherd the diversionary process and support awareness of the topic and of the process. It does not have decision-making power around outcomes included in the Integrity Plans or other matters and is acting as a process support and information resource.
The diversionary process pilot for UBC Vancouver commenced in Winter Session 2022/2023, Term 1. It is currently applicable to eligible cases committed in courses offered by the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Applied Science, the Sauder School of Business, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, the Faculty of Education, Vantage College, the Faculty of Forestry, the Peter A. Allard School of Law, and the Faculty of Dentistry. It is also applicable to academic misconduct cases involving any academic activity undertaken while enrolled in a graduate degree program administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
It is intended that further Faculties will be added through a staged rollout.
Mission
Awareness
Fostering awareness of academic
integrity across UBC.
Education
Working to educate the UBC community about academic integrity regulations.
Support
Supporting UBC students suspected of
academic misconduct.
Diversionary Process
The diversionary process is available when the student admits to having committed academic misconduct and it is the student’s first offense. A first offense means there is no previous academic misconduct record. Both Faculty and student need to agree to engage in the diversionary process.
If the Dean’s Office determines this option is appropriate, the diversion option will be made available to the student. This includes developing an Integrity Plan to respond to the academic misconduct with outcomes agreed upon by student and Faculty.
The student has the right to not sign the plan if they have concerns or if they disagree. Other options are available such as a written warning or a referral to PACSD.
In the case of a transcript notation of academic misconduct, the parties will also agree as to the period of time it will be on the transcript and the applicable process for the notation’s removal. Normally, the process for its removal is by application to the Dean or automatically, and in either scenario, after a specified amount of time has passed.
Note that in the case of an “automatic” removal with no conditions or further documentation required, the student will still be required to trigger the removal by emailing the designated party.
Referral from Faculty
The Academic Integrity Hub will receive referrals from the Faculty when the Faculty feels the case of academic misconduct can be suitably resolved by the diversionary process, and the student is eligible (first offence and admitted to the misconduct). The referral includes the proposed Integrity Plan.
Meeting with the student
Following the referral, the Academic Integrity Hub will organize a meeting with the student. The Academic Integrity Hub will present the diversionary process to the student, answer any questions they may have, and review the terms proposed by the Faculty with them. As Integrity Plans are intended to be educative, the student may consider what would help them to better their understanding of academic integrity concepts or related skills.
Facilitation of the Integrity Plan
The Academic Integrity Hub will facilitate the Integrity Plan, acting as the intermediary between Faculty and student. This will include sharing the outcomes determined by the Faculty and having a discussion around outcomes with the student. The Academic Integrity Hub will facilitate the signature of the Integrity Plan.
Follow up
The Academic Integrity Hub will track completion of the outcomes of the Integrity Plans. They will liaise with the Faculties and PACSD to confirm completion or to signal if students have not satisfied the terms of the agreement within the deadline.
This is an educative website intended to support understanding of the topics and associated processes and does not constitute legal advice nor impose legal obligations on the University. The content of this site may be updated. The Academic Calendar is the official governing document, and where there is any inconsistency or contradiction between this educative website and the Academic Calendar provisions governing academic integrity and academic misconduct, the Academic Calendar governs.