Academic Regulations

Academics at university can be complex, and it is important to know the rules and guidelines that govern the university. As students, Policies 19, 70, 71 and 72 impact you the most. A detailed listing of all university policies is available on the Secretariat website.

• Plagiarism
  Plagiarism is defined as the presenting of ideas, words or intellectual property of another as one's own. It applies to essays, lab reports, assignments, and any other work you are required to submit. Plagiarism is a very serious academic offence and can result in expulsion from the University. If you are unsure how to cite other people's ideas or work, or how to use information from the Web, you should ask your instructors. They will be more than pleased to help you steer clear of trouble in that regard. Policy 71 also discusses plagiarism in greater detail.
• Fair Treatment
  One of the fundamental values at UW is respect between all members of our campus community. If you feel that you are being treated unfairly by a professor or an instructor, there is a process in place for your protection. You should make an appointment to discuss your situation with the Chair or Director of the professor's home department or school. These individuals are the immediate supervisors of the professors teaching your courses and are in the best position to help. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, you would then discuss the situation with the Dean of Science. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies would only become involved if the treatment resulted in an appeal. External to science, there is also a Student Resource Office on campus. The Student Resource Office provides an impartial, independent and objective service to all members of the University community. This office deals with both academic and nonacademic situations by investigating complaints, mediating disputes and offering options to those seeking assistance.
• Guidelines for students who are ineligible to continue in their current program, required to withdraw or wishing to change faculties ...more

Student-Related Policies

• Policy 19 (Access to and Release of Student Information) protects your privacy-it stipulates who at the university has access, what information can and cannot be provided, what information needs your permission for release, and what is considered to be a matter of public record. Information regarding your record or academic status WILL NOT be provided to nor discussed with anyone else without your written permission. [View complete policy]
• Policy 70 (Student Grievance) governs how students' academic, procedural, and other grievances are handled. [View complete policy]
• Policy 71 (Student Academic Discipline) describes different types of academic offences (cheating, violation of safety regulations in a lab or classroom, plagiarism, unethical behaviour, etc ...), as well as the consequences of such academic offences and procedures for appeals to disciplinary decisions. [View complete policy]
• Policy 72 (Student Appeals) describes the principles set out in Policy 33 - Ethical Behaviour, Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances or Policy 71 - Student Discipline apply to an appeal from a decision made under the applicable policy.. [View complete policy]