Assignment Integrity

Students will risk an accusation of academic dishonesty if they do any of the following:

• Fabrication: falsifying data, information or citations in academic assignments.
• Deception: providing false information to an instructor concerning an academic assignment (e.g. giving a false excuse for missing a deadline, falsely claiming to have submitted work or falsely submitting someone else’s work as their own).
• Bribery: giving assignment answers or test with or without payment.
• Impersonation: assuming a student’s identity with the intent to advantage the student.
• Sabotage: intentionally interfering to prevent others from completing their work (e.g. intentionally disrupting experiments of others, cutting pages out of library books).
• Violation of assignment protocol (e.g. re-submitting a previous assignment after being instructed not to).

Students will be held accountable for any form of academic dishonesty, and incidents will be dealt with by program coordinators.

Exam Integrity

Students will risk an accusation of academic dishonesty if they cheat on an exam or display any behaviour that deviates from instructions on an exam sheet.

Cheating can take the form of crib notes, use of technology or any items when prohibited, using or sharing answers from a classmate’s exam or any forbidden sharing of information between students that violates the established rules governing the administration of the exam.

Plagiarism

The Canadian Oxford English Dictionary defines “plagiarize” in the following way: “1. Take and use (the thoughts, writings, inventions, etc. of another person) as one’s own; 2. Pass off the thoughts etc. of (another person) as one’s own.”

Students will risk an accusation of plagiarism and/or self plagiarism if they do any of the following:

• Use words written by another person as if they were their own without providing appropriate documentation and/or citation.
• Use, in whole or in part, re-stated or verbatim, of any words or ideas, clever or astute phrase written by someone else without acknowledging and referencing that source.
• Reproduce the substance or structure of another person’s work or argument without providing appropriate documentation or citation.
• Submit the same assignment or partial assignment to two instructors without written permission from both instructors and without proper referencing.
• Download work from any source, whether it be the Internet, a database, a catalogue, other electronic form of storage or retrieval, print-based, lecture, television or radio transmission, film or streaming video without acknowledging and referencing that source.

Instructors can investigate any essay or assignment they suspect might contain plagiarized material using any of the resources available at the College including plagiarism detection software, and may engage the assistance of other faculty members or administrators in their investigation.

Each student, through the process of application and registration with the College, agrees to abide by the policies, guidelines and regulations of the College with regard to his/her academic and non-academic conduct. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with all matters relating to the College’s standards of conduct.

Academic Misconduct is defined as “any improper behaviours/attitude affecting a student’s continuing participation in a program of study” displayed in the classroom environment (virtual or face-to-face), while on field placement or work experience arrangements, or during any College function. It includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Interfering with the studies or other legitimate activities of students or staff (such interference may include acts of harassment or discrimination towards students, staff or patrons of Portage College);
• Unethical, illicit, indecent or otherwise inappropriate use of computer and internal resources;
• Cheating, plagiarism, fraud, deceit or other forms of academic dishonesty; and
• Failing to maintain acceptable progress in the program of studies (e.g. inability to complete assignments within the required time lines, placement difficulties).

Breaches in academic conduct may result in disciplinary action. A substantial breach of academic conduct is any behaviour that intentionally or unintentionally jeopardizes the integrity of academic endeavor, or creates a safety hazard, or threatens or endangers the student or others. Such conduct may result in immediate suspension and/or withdrawal from the College programs.

Portage College will consider granting advanced course credit to students who have   successfully completed recognized course work at a post-secondary institution, or who can demonstrate learning based on information educational experiences.

At the time of application - Advisors will grant Advanced Credit to students who have taken courses at institutions with which Portage College has an Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) Agreement.

       If NO Advanced Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) agreement exists:

Requests for advanced course credit or assessment of prior learning should be made in writing to the registrar and must be accompanied by official transcripts or appropriate documentation when applying to the College. Fees for this service vary.

Since tuition fees are assessed by program, students will not be refunded  fees for courses for which they have received advanced or transfer credit.  Contact the Registrar’s Office at 780-623-5551 for more information.

Course additions after 10% of the course length will normally not be allowed. Changes in enrolment (drops or withdrawals) prior to 10% of the course length will have no record of the course enrolment on the transcript.

In order to change courses, a student, in consultation with his/her Program Coordinator and Student Advisor, must complete a “Course Change/Student Withdrawal” form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Students must complete the requirements for graduation within three (3) years of commencing a certificate program and within five (5) academic years of commencing a diploma program. Exceptions for career program completion may be granted by the Program Coordinator on a case-by-case basis. A re-assessment of competency skills may be required in these cases.

A student withdrawal up to and including 10% of the course length will result in no record of the course enrolment on the transcript. A withdrawal greater than 10% but less than or equal to 95% of the course length will result in “W” (withdrawal) grade on the transcript.

Certain programs offered by the College include placements or work experience for students. This learning takes place within community institutions, agencies or health regions. Many of these organizations, either for statutory reasons (e.g. Protection of Persons in Care Act) or for policy reasons, require criminal record or other background checks for students who will have access to their clients and place of business. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain, at the student’s expense, the necessary checks and provide the document(s) to a student advisor prior to registration. Any information received by the College will be protected from disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act. Criminal record checks are usually obtained from the local police agency where the student normally resides.

It is the decision of each agency designated as a placement site to accept or reject a student for placement based upon the results of a criminal record and/or other background check. The College will not be responsible for providing an alternate placement location. Since both completion of program requirements and eventual employment in the field of study may be dependent upon results of criminal record and/or other background checks, the College is not responsible for students with unclear records, if they are unable to complete program requirements, obtain employment, obtain professional licensing or become members of professional associations. Students who have concerns should discuss the matter with a student advisor.

All financial obligations to the College must be met before transcripts will be released to the student or third party. The College may withhold services to students who have outstanding accounts.

Tuition refunds are calculated on the basis of the official date of withdrawal from Portage College.

Universal/instructional fees (tuition):

• For a non-registered student (no show) — full refund.
• When the College cancels an offering — full refund.
• Within the first 8 calendar days of the program/course start date — full refund.
• Student attends up to 20% of the course or program — 75% refund.
• Student attends over 20% of course or program — no refund.
• Refunds to Advanced Education for Alberta Supports (formerly Alberta Works)
• program are in accordance with College Policy.

Apprenticeship and oversubscribed programs:

• Tuition deposit is non-refundable.
• Cancel one business day or more before tuition deposit due date — full refund.
• Less than one business day cancellation or no show — no refund.

Continuing Education courses and programs:

• No refund is issued beyond the course cancellation or registration date, as advertised by the College unless the offering is cancelled by the College.

Universal non-instructional support fees (Recreation Fee):

• For a non-registered student (no show) — full refund.
• When the College cancels an offering — full refund.
• Within the first 8 calendar days of the program/course start date — full refund.
• After 8 calendar days — no refund.

Application fee:

• Once a student is past the "Applied" state in our Student Records system, no refunds are given.

Fees for other services offered at the College (such as books and housing) are based on student utilization, and refunds vary depending on service and circumstance.

Should a student decide to withdraw from a program for any reason whatsoever, the student must notify the Instructor, Program Coordinator, Advisor, or Counsellor.

Failure to complete the clearance procedure or return books and materials can result in the withholding of the transcript, certificate, and/or diploma. Depending upon when the student withdraws, grades of “W” (withdrawal) may be assigned in the courses, and a refund may apply.

A student may be required to withdraw by the College due to lack of student achievement, unacceptable conduct and/or poor attendance. A student who is required to withdraw has the option of appealing this decision. Notice to Appeal forms are available from the Registrar’s Office or Counselling.

The Registrar’s Office will release official transcripts only upon request by the student. Students are required to sign a Transcript Request Form and pay $10 per copy requested before transcripts will be issued. Current students are not required to pay the fee. The Transcript Request Form is available on the College website.

Each program outlines the requirements for certification and all students will be advised of the requirements at the start of the program. Students must complete all requirements to obtain a certificate or diploma.

There is normally a 25% residency requirement. The registrar will determine the condition of any student’s admission/readmission and the advanced credit or transfer credit to be granted ensuring that the integrity of the College’s program and certification processes are maintained.

• Students will receive regular evaluations of their academic progress from course instructors.
• Students will be informed, at the beginning of the course, of the evaluation practices that apply to the course.
• Students can expect that results of marked/graded work will be returned to them promptly.
• Although not all course work must necessarily be returned to students, student access and review of results will be assured for a period of 90 days from course completion date.
• Evaluations will give consideration to all aspects of the learning process, including assignments, tests, evaluations, participation, shop/lab work, reports, projects, and work placements, as are appropriate to the course.
• Evaluation results will be recorded on progress Progress reports may be discussed with the student, and will normally be signed by the student.
• Final grades are recorded on the progress report, indicating the grade is Copies of the progress reports are given to the students.
• Unacceptable academic standing by a student in a program or course may result in disciplinary action. Satisfactory standing is pre-defined on a program-by-program basis.

The decision to take disciplinary action and place a student on academic warning/probation or to dismiss the student from a program is made on a case-by-case basis considering all relevant factors.

College campuses will remain open and classes will run during cold/inclement weather in accordance with the standard hours of operation unless closure is declared by the president. The College will only be closed in the event of a public safety/health matter. Students are encouraged to use judgment to ensure safety during cold/inclement weather.

Portage College is committed to providing its students and employees a learning and work environment that ensures an atmosphere of mutual respect. Harassment is any unwelcome and unwanted behaviour that degrades, demeans, humiliates, excludes, isolates or embarrasses a person or group that a reasonable person would have known to be unwelcome and unwanted. It does not matter whether the harasser intended to offend the other person.

Harassing behaviours may include: malicious or intimidating gestures or actions, threats, bullying, coercion, verbal assault, taunting or ostracizing, threatened or actual physical assault, insults, derogatory comments, rudeness, gossip and slander. It may be a single significant incident or it may be a series or pattern of behaviours persisting over time. Examples of harassment include: written or verbal abuse or threats; displays of racist or other offensive or derogatory materials; practical jokes that embarrass or insult someone; bullying; offensive gestures; unwelcome physical contact; intimidating, patronizing or condescending behavior; humiliating an individual in front of co-workers or their peers; vandalism of personal property; physical assault; and the use of electronic methods including texting, blogging or use of social networks in a derogatory manner.

When a student experiences harassment, it is important to:

• Identify this to the person who is committing the unwanted behaviour. They may not realize their behaviour is a problem, and they need to be informed that it is unwanted and inappropriate.
• Report the concern to the Vice President of Student Services, an instructor, coordinator, or counsellor (whoever you feel comfortable with).

Portage College is committed to prompt action to protect the rights of students and staff, as harassing behaviour is absolutely not acceptable.

Portage College promotes a healthy learning environment. All Portage College campuses are smoke free environments. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas.

Cannabis Use

Students are responsible to ensure they are fit to learn. Any impairment and/or inappropriate conduct will be addressed through the college’s Student Misconduct Guidelines. Impairment can be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or any other substances. Be aware of workplace and practicum drug policies.

Smoke can impact the healthy environment and safety of others. Impairment can impact the healthy environment, the safety of others as well as one’s success.

Community standards will respect the rights of all of us and one individual’s or group’s decision should not interfere with the rights of others.

Each campus in different communities have differing bylaws and legislation that can apply. Before using cannabis at any location please ensure you are following all Portage College guidelines, county or city bylaws, and federal legislation.