Guides: Student Code of Conduct: Home

Definitions

Academic misconduct	Any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for a SAIT student and/or other SAIT students and is described in more detail in the Code. It includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, collusion, altering academic documents or transcripts, intentionally or deliberately gaining access to materials before they are intended to be available, or helping another student to gain an unfair academic advantage.
Balance of probabilities	The standard of proof that is met when something is more likely to be true than not true.
Cheating	Cheating is academic misconduct that usually (but not always) arises during the course of assignments, quizzes, examinations or other evaluative processes.
Collusion	Collusion occurs when two or more persons act together to cheat, plagiarize or engage in academic misconduct or encourage others to do so.
Plagiarism	Plagiarism occurs when a student submits work in which the student has taken ideas or words from another source and presents them as if they are the student’s own work, without appropriate acknowledgement of the original source. It is the act of presenting another’s materials as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement that constitutes plagiarism, whether or not the student does so intentionally.
Student	For the purposes of this Code, a student is a person who has a SAIT ID number.

Governing Principles

SAIT seeks to promote the personal, educational and social well-being and development of its students.
SAIT acknowledges that students have the right to study, learn and socialize in a safe, supportive and healthy learning environment.
SAIT operates on the basis of certain core values:
1. absence of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, violence and vulgarity;
2. advancement of human rights;
3. freedom of expression;
4. personal integrity; and
5. respect for human dignity

SAIT upholds the principles of academic integrity, honesty, fairness and the promotion of ethical scholarship as key. SAIT expects its students to respect those values and to adhere to the academic requirements of their respective fields of study.

SAIT is committed to developing a learning environment of the highest quality, characterized by mutual respect and consideration, in which students and employees and others are free from harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse, discrimination and disruptive behaviour.
Students have rights and responsibilities, and they are required to make responsible decisions concerning their conduct.
Students shall comply with applicable civil and criminal laws while on and off campus. Even when criminal or civil proceedings have been taken, proceedings may be brought under this Code when appropriate. If a student violates applicable laws or the student breaches this Code while off campus, SAIT may pursue disciplinary action if the conduct has a connection to the interests of SAIT and/or members of the SAIT community.
This Code relates to a variety of activities and behavior, including, without limitation, students’ access to the use of computers and information technology.
A SAIT official referred to in this Code may delegate his/her authority to take the steps set out in this Code, subject to express limitations defined by this Code.
An individual bringing a complaint against a student may wish his/her identity to be kept confidential from the student alleged to have committed the misconduct. SAIT will, in appropriate situations, take reasonable steps to keep the complainant’s identity confidential.
Students and employees and others shall not interfere, by threat or otherwise, in the communication or pursuit of a complaint under this Code.
If several students are involved in any alleged misconduct, each student will be treated individually in accordance with this Code.
Students shall comply with the direction of employees and others acting within the scope of their respective authorities.
Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or failing to review this Code does not extinguish or diminish a student’s violation of this Code.
This Code shall not apply to any of the following:
1. Any decision of the Board of Governors;
2. Parking or traffic violations;
3. Any policies of SAIT identified from time to time by the Board of Governors as not being subject to this Code.

SAIT Principles

SAIT is committed to academic integrity, which is grounded in certain fundamental values of fairness, integrity, respect, safety and transparency. Academic integrity also involves honesty, responsibility and trust. SAIT requires that its staff and students honour those values at all times so that academic integrity and freedom of intellectual inquiry are maintained.
SAIT will ensure that reasonable measures are taken to inform students of the standards of academic honesty.
All members of the SAIT community share the responsibility and authority to address acts of academic misconduct. If in doubt regarding the standard of academic integrity required in a SAIT course or program, students should consult with their instructor before presenting any work for evaluation.
In determining whether academic misconduct has occurred, it is not necessary to show that a student has achieved an improper academic advantage or benefit. Some acts of plagiarism or collusion, or other acts of academic misconduct, may not actually confer an academic advantage or benefit.

Students' Rights

Students can expect the following rights to be upheld:

Rights and freedoms recognized by applicable laws.
Freedom from discrimination by reason of race, religious beliefs, colour, gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and gender identity), physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, source of income, or sexual orientation, subject to limitations based on reasonable and justifiable bases under law. Please refer to HR.4.5 Discrimination – Education
Freedom from harassment, including sexual harassment and including any actions or words that demean and/or deny to any person dignity and respect. Please refer to HR.4.5 Discrimination – Education
A community that supports intellectual learning and growth, academic integrity and freedom of inquiry.
Disclosure to students on course outlines as to how their academic performance is assessed in their courses, and objective evaluation of their academic performance.
Safety and security while on campus.
Respect for intellectual property rights and interests. See also AC.3.10 Ownership of Student-Produced Work and other policies and procedures relating to intellectual property.
Support and guidance, where appropriate and reasonable, including the support of the SAIT Students’ Association (SAITSA).
The equitable application of classroom standards and rules.

Students' Responsibilities

Students have individual and, where applicable, group responsibility for:

Staying informed of and respecting SAIT’s policies and procedures and asking questions if in doubt. Students are expected to understand the specific rules that may apply to particular SAIT programs or courses.
Respecting the lawful rights, dignity and authority of SAIT employees and others.
Taking full advantage of, and allowing other students to take full advantage of, the education, training and services that SAIT offers.
Maintaining academic integrity and freedom of inquiry.
Contributing to a working and learning community free from discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation and physical or psychological abuse or threat thereof.
Respecting the property of SAIT, of members of the SAIT community, and of the public, and not taking, destroying, defacing, tampering with or damaging such property or unnecessarily endangering or threatening the destruction of such property.
Complying with all applicable civil and criminal laws.