Policy on Academic Professionalism Panels

I. Purpose

The Faculty Panel on Academic Professionalism FPAP provides a school-based mechanism for addressing academic course-related compliance and professionalism issues. Their mandate is limited to academic matters that do not require investigative authority but deal with de facto non-compliance with course/assessment policy. They are not judicial bodies, but they are the sole authority for imposing academic penalties/sanctions related to professionalism lapses in coursework and/or assessments. The FPAP determines and imposes the appropriate academic penalty within the confines of those established in the course syllabus.

II. Scope

1. Applies to all students enrolled in the School of Medicine (SOM) and the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and the School of Arts and Sciences professional programs (SAS).
2. Covers issues directly tied to non-compliance with academic courses and assessments, including but not limited to:
3. Examination compliance (lateness, unexcused absence, ID issues, technical requirements, misconduct)
4. Academic integrity violations (cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of participation)
5. Professional behavior during academic sessions, assessments, simulations, and patient/client interactions, such as unsafe behavior with patients
6. Completion and remediation of course-required assessments
7. Excludes: Behavioral or conduct matters not directly related to coursework (e.g., harassment, campus misconduct). These are under the authority of the Office of Student Affairs and the Judicial Office. Any issues that require investigative due process must be handled by Office of Student Affairs. 

III. Relationship with Student Affairs/Judicial

1. Behavioral/Conduct Issues: All non-academic professionalism or behavioral issues are referred directly to Office of Student Affairs / Judicial Office / Judicial Boards; these bodies cover any issues that require investigative determination.
2. Academic Penalties: Office of Student Affairs / Judicial Office can administer non-academic penalties, including but not limited to; suspension, warning letters, non-contact orders, dismissal but cannot impose academic penalties within courses (grade deductions, zeros for exams, incomplete grades, academic remediation).
3. Referral Back: If an Office of Student Affairs / Judicial Office investigation establishes misconduct with academic consequences, the case is referred back to FPAP/FPP to determine and impose the appropriate academic penalty within the confines of those established in the syllabus.

IV. Panel Structure

1. Each school maintains its own Faculty Panel of Academic Professionalism
2. Membership:
   1. School-specific faculty (SOM → MD faculty; SVM → DVM faculty; SAS → faculty  as appropriate for Program)
   2. Optional cross-representation: one external faculty member from another school may be invited to serve as a non-voting member to enhance transparency and consistency across schools.
3. Quorum: The membership of the FPAP must be at least 3 voting members.

V. Process

1. Referral: Complaints or concerns may be submitted by course directors, faculty, staff, or Student Affairs directly to Faculty Panels where non-compliance with courses/assessment policies is indicated. All cases of suspected cheating, plagiarism, academic misrepresentation issues must first go to the Office of Student Affairs for investigation; these may be referred back to FPAP from Student Affairs for determination of academic penalty/remediation.
2. Review: The Panel reviews the case, confirms jurisdiction, and proceeds with action as necessary.
3. Determinations may include:
   1. Dismiss complaint with no action
   2. Refer student to academic support, mentoring, counselling, other offices or resources, or appropriate intervention
   3. Impose academic penalties as defined in the relevant course syllabus and school policy (grade deductions, zero for assessment, remediation, probation)
4. Documentation: All cases and outcomes are documented and filed with the appropriate Dean's office and the Office of Student Affairs.

VI. Appeals

1. A student sanctioned by academic penalties may appeal in writing within 2 business days of notification of the penalty.
2. Appeals are directed to the Dean of the respective school (or their delegate), who may:
3. Uphold the panel’s decision
4. Modify the penalty
5. Dismiss the panel’s decision and recommend an alternative course of action.

VII. Limitations

1. Panels cannot exceed penalties published in the syllabus.
2. The course syllabus must outline the infractions by category and the type of penalties or sanctions that may be applied.
3. Panels do not adjudicate non-academic behavior and should not be investigatory, i.e. should not be collecting testimony, statements, etc. They have limited powers to confirm non-compliance with the course administration only.
4. Panels cannot dismiss or suspend a student independently; such actions require Dean-level or Student Affairs-level action.
5. Panels have no authority to request information from Student Affairs or the Judicial office. Their role is limited to action directly related to coursework/assessment.
6. Bylaws for each school panel and its operation must be outlined in detail in the respective School Student Manual and must align with this policy. 

VIII. Authority

Office of the Provost: reviewed every 3 years.

IX. Version History

(1025003)