New Policy FAQs

  1. How do I find the policies mentioned in this FAQ

  2. Who do I contact if I have a concern about the behaviour of a student?

  3. What are types of academic and non-academic misconduct?

    • Academic misconduct includes: plagiarism, cheating and any other form of misconduct that gives a student an unfair academic advantage.
    • Non-academic misconduct can include interpersonal misconduct, such as violence, threats, harassment and other conduct that harms others; and University-related misconduct, such as disruption, obstruction, property damage, unauthorized use of University resources and other conduct related to University property, processes and resources.
    • All definitions are included in Schedules A and B of the Student Student Conduct Policyicy.

  4. What options will I have if I disclose an incident of sexual violence to the University?

    • The University takes a survivor-driven approach to addressing sexual and gender based violence. Options include:receiving personal support, seeking interim measures (for the person who caused harm), modifications for the survivor, voluntary non-disciplinary accountability options and making a complaint under the Student Conduct Policy. A survivor can work with the Office of the Dean of Students to understand the options available in their specific situation and request one or more of these options. Doing nothing is also a legitimate option.
    • All members of the University of Alberta community are also able to access the Sexual Assault Centre on campus (2-705 Students’ Union Building) for support in understanding their options. Staff and Volunteers at the service are also able to provide information about sexual violence and its impacts, as well as advocate on behalf of those who have been subjected to sexual violence in on- and off-campus processes (e.g. reporting an experience to UAPS, engaging in a criminal legal process, etc).

  5. Will I get help in determining what those options are?

    • All members of the University of Alberta community are able to access the Sexual Assault Centre on campus (2-705 Students’ Union Building) for support in understanding their options. Staff and Volunteers at the service are also able to provide information about sexual violence and its impacts, as well as advocate on behalf of those who have been subjected to sexual violence in on- and off-campus processes (e.g. reporting an experience to the Dean of Students, engaging in a criminal legal process, etc). 
    • Additionally, the new Options Navigation Network is a group of University units with special training in assisting survivors to understand their options and connecting them with the right person for the option(s) they choose. This network will be activated in early 2023. In addition, the Office of the Dean of Students is available to help you understand your options and provide support and assistance in pursuing them.

  6. Will I have to tell my story over and over again?

    • The new processes are built around trauma-informed practice and include options that reduce the number of times someone has to provide details about a difficult experience. The only time you would need to provide a detailed description of what happened is if you choose to make a complaint and are giving your statement to the investigator. In all other cases, only a high-level overview with a few particulars is necessary.

  7. Why might the University have to proceed with a complaint even if I don’t want to participate?

    • Sometimes the University learns of behaviour that could suggest that a student may be a potential danger to others. In those circumstances we would have to proceed with a complaint and investigation under the Student Conduct Policy in order to ensure the safety of the community. As part of our survivor-driven approach, the person who was impacted by the misconduct can decide for themself what their own level of participation in any process will be.

  8. What are interim measures?

    • In this context, interim measures are non-disciplinary conditions or restrictions that the University may apply to a person alleged to have committed a violation under the Student Conduct Policy or the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy Gender-Based Violence Policy. The purposes of interim measures are to ensure the reporting individual’s safety or the safety of the University’s learning environment, to remove barriers to the reporting individual’s access to the learning environment, to discourage or prevent retaliation, prevent further harm and/or preserve the University’s ability to conduct an investigation.
    • Interim measures are not based on a finding of a policy violation, are not considered sanctions under any University complaint process, and can not be interpreted or used in a complaint as evidence that the person under allegation committed misconduct.

  9. What are modifications?

    • Modifications are adjustments to the learning environment made for a student who has disclosed that they have been subjected to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).  Modifications may relate to their academic program, employment, University residence, or recreational or other programs. They are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the survivor and any regulatory, academic, or other limitations. The goal of modifications is to reduce, to the extent possible, the negative impacts of the SGBV on a survivor’s ability to access and participate in the learning environment.

  10. What are forms of non-disciplinary accountability?

    • Non-disciplinary accountability options are collaborative facilitated processes to explore interpersonal accountability options outside of a complaint under the Student Conduct Policyt. Typically requested by the reporting individual but voluntary for all parties, non-disciplinary accountability options are intended to be flexible and creative, and may include, but are not limited to: restorative practices, transformative justice, culturally-specific and appropriate practices, peacemaking circles, educational and other remedial activities. Not all non-disciplinary accountability options are possible or available in all cases, but the Office of the Dean of Students can work with you to develop an appropriate process. 

  11. If I proceed with a complaint, which policy applies?

    • It depends on when the behaviour occurred and when the complaint is made. Complaints made under the Code of Student Behaviour before the new policy came into effect will continue under the Code of Student Behaviour. 
    • Complaints made after November 22, 2022 (when the new policy was approved), but involving behaviour that occurred before that date will be heard using the new procedures but will refer to definitions and sanctions under the Code of Student Behaviour that were in effect at the time of the offence. 
    • Complaints made about behaviour that occurred after November 22, 2022 will use the definitions, sanctions and procedures from the new Student Conduct Policy.

  12. If I want to proceed with a complaint what will happen?

    • The Office of the Dean of Students will make an initial assessment to ensure that the policy applies to the alleged conduct in question. Once they have accepted the complaint, they would refer it to an investigator.
    • The investigator requests to interview everyone involved and collects all available evidence to make findings of fact, which means that they consider all of the statements and evidence they have collected to determine what most likely happened. This is not based on believing or not believing the parties and witnesses, but based on what conclusions the statements and evidence support. The investigator provides a report detailing the investigation and findings to Student Conduct and Accountability. 
    • The case is assigned to a Student Conduct Officer who will hold a hearing and answer two questions: 1) did the student violate the Student Conduct Policy and 2) what is the appropriate sanction? Both the complainant and the respondent receive a written decision with reason. You can find detailed information about the process in the Student Misconduct Complaints Procedure.
    • Both the complainant and the respondent have a right to appeal the decision of the Student Conduct Officer to the Student Misconduct Appeal Panel. The appeal is not a rehearing of the case, but a check on the decision of the Student Conduct Officer to ensure that it was procedurally and substantively fair. You can find detailed information about the appeal process in the Student Misconduct Appeal Procedure.

  13. What rights will I have if I make a complaint?

    • A complainant has equal procedural rights to the respondent. That means if you are the complainant you will have the right to:
      1. be accompanied by a support person throughout the process
      2. an impartial decision-maker,
      3. reasonable disclosure of the available evidence,
      4. speak to the person making the decision, 
      5. suggest new avenues of investigation, 
      6. respond to information or evidence that does not accord with your account of the incident,
      7. receive a copy of the decision in the case, and 
      8. appeal a decision with which you do not agree or where you believe you did not receive the above rights.

  14. What is the role of an investigator?

    • An investigator impartially interviews all of the parties in the case, including the complainant and respondent as well as any witnesses who may provide additional information, and collects any relevant and available evidence. They create a report on the facts of the case and send it to Student Conduct and Accountability to be used by the Student Conduct Officers in hearing the case.

  15. What is the Student Conduct and Accountability Office?

    • The Student Conduct and Accountability Office is part of the Student Life team in the Office of the Dean of Students. Their focus is on addressing concerns about student conduct, as outlined in the Student Conduct Policy. The Student Conduct Officers in that office hear complaints and make decisions under the Student Conduct Policy. The office also supports the development and implementation of voluntary non-disciplinary accountability options at the University.

  16. What is the role of a Student Conduct Officer?

    • A Student Conduct Officer is the University official who makes decisions about student conduct under the Student Conduct Policy (non-academic) and the Code of Student Behaviour (academic). They conduct hearings and review the available evidence before rendering a decision as to whether or not there has been a violation of University policy and, if so, what sanctions will be put in place. Those decisions are subject to appeal. Student Conduct Officers are responsible for making decisions in all cases of non-academic misconduct complaints. In addition, they make decisions on whether to impose a severe sanction (suspension or expulsion) in complaints of academic misconduct under the Code of Student Behaviour.

  17. What will happen during a hearing?

    • It is the opportunity for complainants and respondents to be heard prior to the Student Conduct Officer making a decision on a complaint. This includes the chance to provide or respond to information, arguments, and evidence presented in the complaint process. A hearing can take place in the form of written document exchange and/or one or more oral meetings, either virtual or in-person, between the decision maker and each of the parties and witnesses. The parties each have the opportunity for an individual hearing with the Student Conduct Officer, along with their advisor or support person. Typically in the hearing, the Student Conduct officer will review the evidence with the party, listen to any additional evidence or statements they want to provide, ask clarifying questions and provide them with the opportunity to speak about the impact of the incident and/or potential sanctions. The Student Conduct Officer will not provide a decision in the hearing, but will make a decision after hearing from everyone and provide that, along with their reasons for the decision, in writing.

  18. What if I disagree with the outcome?

    • A decision by the Student Conduct Officer can be appealed by either the complainant or the respondent.
    • The appeal is not a rehearing of the case, but a check on the decision of the Student Conduct Officer to ensure that it was procedurally and substantively fair. You can find detailed information about the appeal process in the Student Misconduct Appeal Procedure
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