UWO statement on plagiarism: “Scholastic offences are taken
seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy,
specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the
following Web site: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf”.
[1] The Department of French Studies considers plagiarism, defined as
“the act or instance of copying or stealing another’s words or ideas and
attributing them as one’s own” (cited from Black’s Law Dictionary in
UWO Scholastic Offence Policy [2]), to be a serious scholastic offence and will
apply the UWO policy to deal with all cases detected. Sometimes students commit plagiarism without being fully aware
they are doing so. It is each student’s responsibility to become informed about
what constitutes plagiarism and to take steps to avoid committing this
scholastic offence by learning how to make proper use of sources. If you are
uncertain about how to acknowledge sources you have used, consult your
instructor before submitting the assignment. The UWO Ombuds Office publishes a
useful guide that will help you avoid committing a mistake of this nature that
could have serious consequences. [3] Please note the following UWO statement on plagiarism checking:
“All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review
to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University
for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be
included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of
detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the
service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University
of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).” [1] Other forms of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to
cheating on tests and examinations, will also be dealt with seriously according
to the terms of University policy. Please note that when evidence of a scholastic offence is
detected, it is the Chair of the Department (or designate) who directs the
investigation, and who makes a finding and imposes a penalty if the student is
found to be guilty. The policy [2] outlines the process for appealing a Chair’s
decision. UWO Statement on requisites: “Unless you have either the requisites for this
course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you will be
removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision
may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event
that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary
prerequisites.” [1] Please note that you are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully
completed the prerequisites for this course. Lack of prerequisites cannot be
used as grounds for an appeal. You are responsible for ensuring that this course
is not an antirequisite for another course you have already taken. The French Placement Test is a mandatory requirement for any student taking a
French course for the first time at Western who has not completed 12U French.
You must submit the results of the test to the Department of French Studies
office so that they will appear on your academic record. The Department of
French Studies reserves the right to place you in a course that is appropriate
to your level, based on the level of secondary school French you have completed.
For example, if you have completed grade 12U French, you will not normally be
eligible to enroll in French 1002 or 1010. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to take a language course in
the series 1002, 1010, 1900E/1910, 2900, or 3900, concurrently with another
language course that is a prerequisite for it. The website of the Office of the Registrar is a valuable resource for information about many administrative aspects of your studies at Western: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/ If you have any concerns about your progress with the academic material in a course, you should not hesitate to contact your instructor. For advice on courses and programs / modules offered by the Department of French Studies, you should inquire at the Department office (UC 138) to find out the office hours of our academic advisors, who will be pleased to counsel you on your options. If, due to circumstances beyond your control such as illness, you have to miss class for an extended period and/or you cannot meet assignment deadlines or write tests/exams at the scheduled times, you should arrange to submit documentation of the circumstances to the academic counseling office of your Home Faculty. If you are feeling extremely stressed out or overwhelmed by your studies and/or personal circumstances, or if you feel you might be suffering from depression, the University has services to help you. Contact the Student Success Centre at: (519) 661-3559. After hours, contact the London Mental Health Crisis Service at: (519) 433-2023. The Academic Counsellors in your Home Faculty can also direct you to services where you can get assistance. Students are required to respect all deadlines for submission of assignments
and to write tests, mid-terms and exams on the scheduled dates, unless
circumstances beyond their control prevent them from doing so. Please take note of the UWO Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf [downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC): http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medicalform.pdf under the Medical Documentation heading. According to
this policy, students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any
missed tests, exams, participation components and/or assignments worth 10% or
more of their final grade must apply to the Academic Counselling office of their
home Faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted
by the instructor or department. Please note that in all courses offered by the
Department of French Studies, this same requirement will also apply to
assignments worth less than 10% of the final grade. No term work may be submitted after the last day of classes for a course
unless the student has successfully petitioned for Incomplete Standing on the
basis of documentation submitted to the Academic Counselling office of her or
his Home Faculty, with the approval of the Dean’s Office, the Department, and
the instructor. Final examinations must be written at the scheduled time unless formal
alternative arrangements for a Special Examination have been approved (by the
instructor, the Department and the Home Faculty Dean’s Office) based on valid
documented grounds. Academic accommodation is given for Religious Holidays – students should be
careful to check the policy well in advance and be sure to follow the proper
steps outlined in the University Calendar. [4] With the exception of distance studies and on-line courses, attendance in all
classes is an obligatory component of all courses in the Department of French
Studies. The UWO Handbook of Academic and Scholarship Policy [5] states the following:
Any student who, in the opinion of the instructor, is absent too frequently
from class or laboratory periods in any course will be reported to the Dean of
the Faculty offering the course (after due warning has been given). On the
recommendation of the Department concerned, and with the permission of the Dean
of that Faculty, the student will be debarred from taking the regular
examination in the course. The Dean of the Faculty offering the course will
communicate that decision to the Dean of the Faculty of registration.
The UWO Handbook of Academic and Scholarship Policy sets out the policy for
grade appeals [6] Students should note that the first step to take if they wish to contest a
mark is to discuss the matter with the instructor. A student who wishes to
pursue an appeal after consulting the instructor must appeal in writing to the
Undergraduate Studies Chair of the Department of French Studies. Instructors in the Department of French Studies will not
entertain requests to have a mark increased when the request is based solely on
a student’s alleged need for a better mark for external reasons (e.g.
maintaining a scholarship or gaining admission to a professional school or other
academic program). In order to be given consideration, any academic appeal or
informal request for reconsideration of a grade must be based on appropriate
grounds of the kind set out in the UWO appeals policy. ReferencesImportant Academic Information for Students Taking
Courses in the Department of French Studies
Plagiarism, Cheating and Other Scholastic
Offences
Prerequisites and Antirequisites
Where to Go for Help
Accommodations for Work Missed Due to
Problems
Debarment from Final Examination for Excessive Unjustified
Absence
Academic Appeals
[2] http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf
[3] http://www.uwo.ca/ombuds/student/cheating.html
[4] http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/accommodations_religious.pdf
[5] http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/exam/attendance.pdf
[6] http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/appealsgrad.pdf
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