Academic Integrity and Anti-Plagiarism Policy

1. Our Philosophy

At Am-Can Business & Tech Institute, we believe that authentic learning requires honesty, responsibility, and independent thought. Academic integrity is the foundation of our educational community. To accurately assess a student's knowledge and skills according to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Growing Success guidelines, it is imperative that all submitted work is the student’s own original creation.

Our goal is not only to enforce rules but to educate students on proper research, citation, and ethical digital citizenship as they prepare for post-secondary education and their future careers.

2. Defining Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty occurs when a student attempts to gain an unfair advantage or submits work that is not their own. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism: The act of taking another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative work and presenting it as your own without proper citation or acknowledgement. This includes copying from websites, books, peers, or purchasing pre-written essays.

• Cheating: Using unauthorized aids, materials, or devices during an examination, quiz, or assignment. This includes sharing answers with peers or accessing the e-LMS irregularly during a closed-book assessment.

• Unauthorized Collaboration: Working with other students on an individual assignment or assessment without the explicit permission of the instructor.

• Misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) to write essays, solve equations, or generate project components, unless the instructor has explicitly permitted AI use for a specific learning activity.

• Self-Plagiarism: Submitting the same piece of work for credit in more than one course without prior approval from both instructors.

3. Student and Teacher Responsibilities

Student Responsibilities:

• Ensure all submitted coursework, projects, and exams are 100% original.

• Properly cite all sources (using MLA, APA, or the format requested by the instructor) when referencing outside information.

• Protect personal login credentials for the techstudy.ca portal to prevent others from submitting work on their behalf.

• Ask the instructor for guidance if unsure about how to properly cite a source or whether a specific resource is permitted.

Teacher and Administration Responsibilities:

• Provide clear instructions on assignment expectations and acceptable resources.

• Teach and model proper citation methods within the course curriculum.

• Utilize integrated plagiarism-detection software within the e-LMS to review submitted assignments for originality.

• Investigate all suspected cases of academic dishonesty fairly and transparently.

4. Progressive Discipline and Consequences

Am-Can Business & Tech Institute employs a progressive discipline model. We recognize that students are still learning, and our primary goal is educational. However, maintaining the integrity of OSSD credits is paramount.

When a teacher determines that academic dishonesty has occurred, the following factors will be considered: the student's grade level, maturity, the nature of the assignment, and whether it is a first or repeated offense.

Level 1: First Offense / Minor Infraction (Educational Focus)

• The teacher will discuss the incident with the student to ensure they understand what they did wrong.

• The student will be required to redo the assignment (or an alternate assignment) under supervision.

• A minor grade penalty may be applied to the resubmitted work.

• The incident will be logged in the student's file, and parents/guardians will be notified.

Level 2: Major or Repeated Offense

• The student will receive an automatic mark of zero (0) for the assignment or assessment, with no opportunity for resubmission.

• The incident will be formally reported to the Office of the Principal.

• A formal meeting will be held with the student, their parents/guardians, and the Principal.

• The student may be placed on Academic Probation.

Level 3: Severe or Chronic Dishonesty (e.g., Contract Cheating)

• Immediate suspension from the course or the e-LMS platform.

• Potential expulsion from Am-Can Business & Tech Institute and removal from the course without a refund.

• A permanent note may be attached to the student’s internal academic record.

5. Appeals Process

If a student believes they have been wrongly accused of academic dishonesty, they have the right to appeal the decision. The student must submit a written request to the Office of the Principal within five (5) business days of receiving the penalty. The Principal will review the evidence, consult with the instructor, and make a final, binding decision.