General questions
If I report something, will I lose control over that happens next?
We operate from a trauma-informed lens. You get to direct what happens with your concern, including whether it moves forward. There are choices all along the way, your voice matters, and we will work together to support you.
There are a few exceptions — for example, if serious harm to self or others is disclosed. For the most part though, whether your complaint moves forward is entirely up to you.
What happens when I contact your office?
We understand contacting our office may not be most comfortable thing.
There are three of us who work in the office, two Senior Advisors and a Manager. We want to assure you that everyone here is genuinely committed to a fair process.
You can expect us to uphold our values. We communicate clearly and support students to uphold and internalize integrity. We make equity-informed decisions that honour the needs of learners and the community. We support turning mistakes into momentum—encouraging responsibility, reflection, and meaningful change.
Grade appeal questions
I am only 2% away from passing the course. What can I do to challenge this and receive a passing grade?
A grade appeal is intended to identify and resolve possible errors in the assessment of coursework or the calculation of a final grade. Seeking a passing grade alone is not considered a valid reason. To pursue a grade appeal, the student needs to point out and explain where a possible error occurred in how their work was assessed or how the final grade was calculated.Can someone (e.g. instructor, the SRIO) review all my coursework to ensure my assignments were graded correctly and no errors were made?
It is the student’s responsibility to raise a concern in a timely manner if they believe there was an error in the assessment of their coursework or in the calculation of their final grade.
The SRIO is not involved in evaluating coursework and does not have the subject matter expertise in individual programs, so we are unable to review student work or provide an alternative academic opinion.
Requesting your instructor to review all coursework without identifying a specific assessment or concern is not appropriate. It is best to specifically identify and respectfully communicate where you believe an error may have occurred.
I emailed my instructor to dispute my grades, but I’m not hearing anything back. I heard grade appeal is time sensitive. What do I do?
A grade appeal begins by contacting your instructor to discuss your grade. If you do not receive a response within five business days, you may forward the appeal to the Program Chair who oversees your course for review and a final decision. The SRIO can help you identify your Program Chair if needed. Please note that grade appeals initiated at the end of a term may be addressed in the following term, particularly if there is a scheduled break (the winter break in December, for example).I talked to my instructor about my final grade, and they told me there’s nothing they can do. What is my next step?
If your concern about your grade is not resolved, and you have grounds for an appeal, the next step is to forward your appeal to the Program Chair for review. Please note that the Program Chair’s decision is final. If this decision results in a grade change after final grades have been submitted, the program can submit a grade change request to update your record accordingly.Academic misconduct questions
I don’t have any prior academic integrity concerns. This being my first incident, does that mean I only get a warning this time?
Accountability decisions are not standardized. While academic integrity standards are consistent across the college, how they are applied can vary based on factors such as program level, course learning outcomes, expectations for professional conduct, and a student’s stage of learning.
When determining an outcome, considerations include not only the frequency of academic integrity violations, but also the nature and seriousness of the incident, the context in which it occurred, and any relevant student factors. While the college prioritizes learning and student development, each case is unique, and outcomes are determined on an individual basis.
I disagree with the academic misconduct decision from the Chair. How do I appeal?
Students have the right to appeal academic misconduct decisions if there is evidence that the decision was unduly influenced by bias or an unfair procedure, or if new evidence has emerged. In all cases, the student must demonstrate how one or more of these factors could have substantially affected the outcome. Finding the outcome unfavorable alone is insufficient to appeal.
The student is responsible for submitting evidence for the appeal within ten working days of deemed receipt of the decision. The appeal package must be submitted to the SRIO.
I think one of my classmates cheated on their exam. What do I do?
Academic Misconduct reports must be submitted by the instructor. If you have concerns that a classmate may have cheated or used an unfair advantage in completing their assessment, you should share any relevant information with your instructor. The instructor will review the information and decide how to proceed.My instructor talked to me about an academic integrity concern. I disagree, but I haven’t received anything from SRIO. What is going on?
Your instructor is likely in the process of submitting a faculty report to the SRIO. Once the SRIO receives and processes the report, you will be contacted via email and given five business days to review the report and submit a written response to explain your perspective.
It is your right to have SRIO involved when marks are deducted for academic integrity to support due process. If you still have not heard from us, we suggest you follow up with your instructor to see if the report has been filed.
Will it appear on my transcript that I have a finding of academic integrity finding against me?
Not typically. A student’s official academic record is only affected when an accountability outcome explicitly requires a transcript notation, following a formal process. A student’s official academic record is also affected in rare cases of suspension or expulsion.Will my future instructors find out that I have a positive finding of academic misconduct?
The SRIO does not share academic misconduct findings with other instructors. Findings are communicated to the responding student, the reporting instructor, and in cases involving a subsequent finding, the Program Chair.
However, if a subsequent academic misconduct report is submitted regarding your coursework, the process requires the case to be forwarded to the Program Chair for review. In such instances, the reporting instructor will be informed that the decision rests with the Program Chair.
Financial appeal questions
I disagree with the financial appeal decision. Can I appeal it to the SRIO?
No, the financial appeal decisions are final once made by the Office of the Registrar. The SRIO has no role in financial matters and financial appeals.I want to submit a financial appeal. How do I do this?
Please complete the Request for Financial Appeal form in the NorQuest Forms Library.Student complaint questions
I was treated unfairly/something concerning and/or unfair has happened to me. What is the process for addressing this?
You can submit a student complaint through the Student Resolution and Integrity Office. If you would like to know more about how the process works before reaching out, refer to the Student Complaints Procedure or contact our office for a meeting.I have a complaint, but I would like to stay anonymous. What can I do?
Currently, the Student Resolution and Integrity Office does not accept anonymous complaints. You can connect with the Safe Disclosure Office, they may be able to accept your complaint anonymously.Integrity Matters course questions
I completed the course, but I can’t find the completion badge. Where can I find it?
Please go to your Profile under the user menu in misiwe dashboard to find your completion badges. Clicking on the badge will display the full information, including your full name and the time of completion.I completed the course, but I have not received a certificate. When will it be emailed to me?
There is no individualized certificate sent out upon completion of the course. You should check your misiwe profile to find your completion badge and its full details.