Rights and Responsibilities

As members of the University of Toronto community, students assume certain responsibilities and are guaranteed certain rights and freedoms. The University has several policies that are approved by the Governing Council and which apply to all students. Each student must become familiar with the policies. The University will assume that they have done so. The rules and regulations of the University are listed in this Calendar. In applying to the University, the student assumes certain responsibilities to the University and, if admitted and registered, shall be subject to all rules, regulations and policies cited in the Calendar, as amended from time to time.

University policies can be found at www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.

Those which are of particular importance to students are:

  • Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
  • Code of Student Conduct
  • Discipline Codes
  • Guidelines Concerning Access to Student Academic Records
  • Policy on Official Correspondence with Students
  • Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harrassment
  • University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy
  • Officials of the University of Toronto

Registration and Fees

By virtue of enrolment, students accept responsibility for payment of associated fees, and agree to ensure that the accuracy of personal information such as their current mailing address, telephone number, and utoronto.ca email address is maintained. A student’s registration is not complete until they have paid tuition and incidental fees, or have made appropriate arrangements to pay. Students who defer their fee payment pending receipt of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) or other awards, acknowledge that they continue to be responsible for payment of all charges, including any service charges that may be assessed. The University reserves the right to alter the fees and other charges described in the Calendar. For details, see the Student Accounts website.. Students who are still registered in a course after the final date to drop will receive a grade for that course, even if they have never attended, have stopped attending, or did not write the final examination. They are responsible for applicable fees regardless of any subsequent changes. Receipt of registration material, or any campus publication, submission of a registration form, or payment of fees, does not necessarily constitute eligibility to register in the coming session. Students who are suspended will be informed of their academic status, via their U of T email address shortly after final grades are posted on ACORN. They will not be permitted to register in any courses until after their suspension period is completed. Any fees paid toward tuition and other applicable fees will be refunded in full.

Academic Responsibilities

Student success at U of T Mississauga depends upon the student’s response to the opportunities provided. Students who enrol in courses agree by virtue of that enrolment to abide by all of the academic and non-academic policies, rules and regulations of the University as set out in the Calendar. Instructors, advisors, counsellors and support services can help, however it is the responsibility of students to ensure that:

  • they monitor their own records using ACORN and Degree Explorer;
  • course selection is correct, timely and complete, with particular attention to deadlines;
  • all course, program and degree requirements are met;
  • they adhere to the university’s policy on academic honesty;
  • contact information and emergency contact information is correctly recorded on ACORN; and
  • information sent to them via their utoronto.ca email account is monitored, read and understood.
     

Course descriptions, curriculum information, prerequisites, corequisites, exclusions, academic advisory information, and information on each program area are available in this Calendar. Students should read all information regarding the programs they are interested in, including all course descriptions, prerequisite and exclusionary information, and degree requirements. This information will help students select the courses they need to complete their program(s) of choice and degree in a timely manner. When researching courses and programs, students are encouraged to pay particular attention to exclusions, prerequisites, and corequisites. Misunderstanding, misapprehension or incorrect advice received from another student will not be accepted as a reason for exemption from any regulation, deadline, program or degree requirement. Staff and faculty are always available to give guidance to students; however, it must be clearly understood that the ultimate responsibility rests with the student for completeness and correctness of course selection; for compliance with prerequisite, corequisite and exclusion requirements, or other course entry requirements; for completion of program requirements; for proper observance of distribution requirements; and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc.

For more information on support services available to students, please see Advising Support.

Copyright in Instructional Settings

If a student wishes to record, photograph, or otherwise reproduce lecture presentations, course notes or other similar materials provided by instructors, they must obtain the instructor’s written consent beforehand. Otherwise, all such reproduction is an infringement of copyright and is absolutely prohibited. In the case of private use by students with disabilities, the instructor’s consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

Personal Information

Personal information provided at the time of admission becomes part of your student record and should be kept up-to-date at all times. This information is a vital part of the student’s official university record and is used to issue statements of results, transcripts, graduation information, diplomas and other official documents and information. The university is also required by law to collect certain information for the federal and provincial governments; this is reported only in aggregate form and is considered confidential by the university. Any change in the following must therefore be reported immediately to the Office of the Registrar:

  • Legal name
  • Legal status in Canada

Any change of the following must be recorded on ACORN:

  • Permanent address and telephone number
  • Mailing address and telephone number while attending U of T Mississauga (if different than above)
  • Emergency contact information

Student Accounts with the University

Student Number

Each student at the University of Toronto is assigned a unique identification number. The number is confidential. The University, through the Policy on Access to Student Academic Records, strictly controls access to student numbers. The University assumes and expects that students will protect the confidentiality of their student identification number.

Student Card (TCard)

A TCard is a wallet-sized photo identification card that all University of Toronto students are required to have. It is used for identification purposes within the university, such as evidence of registration, as a library card, for participation in student activities, athletic association privileges, signing up for academic and financial advising, identification at examinations, on Mississauga Transit and to utilize the campus meal plan.

The loss of the student TCard must be reported promptly to the TCard Office (www.utm.utoronto.ca/tcard). The card becomes invalid when a student is not actively registered with the university. There is a replacement fee of $20 for lost or stolen cards. The university is not responsible for funds accumulated on the TCard if it has been lost.

University Email Address

The University’s official method of corresponding with students regarding registration, enrolment status, student accounts and other important areas of business, is through their University of Toronto email address. It is the student’s responsibility to check their utoronto.ca email on a regular basis.

UTORid

A UTORid is a student-specific account name that allows access to a variety of services, such as: ACORN, Quercus, utoronto.ca email, Degree Explorer, online services of the Office of the Registrar, UTMail+ and the on-campus wireless network.

Notice of Collection of Personal Information

The University of Toronto respects your privacy.

Personal information that you provide to the University is collected pursuant to section 2(14) of the University of Toronto Act, 1971. It is collected for the purpose of administering admissions, registration, academic programs, university-related student activities, activities of student societies, safety, financial assistance and awards, graduation and university advancement, and reporting to the government. This includes advising notes created to document interactions with students in support of their academic program. These notes may be accessed by authorized departments also involved in advising, to collaboratively support student success.

In addition, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development has asked that we notify you of the following: The University of Toronto is required to disclose personal information such as Ontario Education Numbers, student characteristics and educational outcomes to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development under s. 15 of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.19, as amended. The ministry collects this data for purposes such as planning, allocating and administering public funding to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational and training institutions and to conduct research and analysis, including longitudinal studies, and statistical activities conducted by or on behalf of the ministry for purposes that relate to post-secondary education and training. Further information on how the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development uses this personal information is available on the ministry's website. At all times it will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have questions, please refer to www.utoronto.ca/privacy.

Academic Honesty

Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental to the university's mission, and, as a result, all those who violate those principles are dealt with as if they were damaging the integrity of the university itself. When students are suspected of cheating or a similar academic offence, they are typically surprised at how formally and seriously the matter is dealt with -- and how severe the consequences can be if it is determined that cheating did occur. The University of Toronto treats cases of cheating and plagiarism very seriously.

Examples of offences for which you will be penalized include (but are not limited to):

  • Using any unauthorized aids on an exam or test (e.g., "cheat sheets," cell phones, electronic devices, etc.)
  • Representing someone else's work or words as your own -- plagiarism
  • Falsifying documents or grades
  • Purchasing an essay
  • Submitting someone else's work as your own
  • Submitting the same essay or report in more than one course (without permission)
  • Looking at someone else's answers during an exam or test
  • Impersonating another person at an exam or test or having someone else impersonate you
  • Making up sources or facts for an essay or report.


As a student it is your responsibility to ensure the integrity of your work and to understand what constitutes an academic offence. If you have any concerns that you may be crossing the line, always ask your instructor. Your instructor can explain, for example, the nuances of plagiarism and how to use secondary sources appropriately; he or she will also tell you what kinds of aids -- calculators, dictionaries, etc. -- are permitted in a test or exam. Ignorance of the rules does not excuse cheating or plagiarism.

This information is taken from a series of University of Toronto policies written to help students understand the university's rules and decision-making structures. To view these policies, please go to www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.htm.


All of the policies and procedures surrounding academic offences are dealt with in one policy: "The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters." Students should also thoroughly review the information at the Academic Integrity website.