How to Say No to Classmates & Friends

While group chats and social media are a good tool to connect students, particularly during the remote environment, it is important that boundaries are established in group chats. When collaboration is not permitted (e.g., on a test or individual assignment), sharing answers in a group chat or on social media is an academic offence.

If a classmate asks you to share answers in a group chat, let them know that it is an academic offence and could negatively impact all of the group members. Instead, suggest to use the group chat to discuss course concepts and readings. Establish the following boundaries:

• The group chat will be used to discuss course concepts and readings
• The group chat will not share answers, unless explicitly permitted by the instructor
• Any cheating in the group chat will be reported to the instructor

Sharing assessments, unless explicitly permitted by the instructor, is an academic offence. Students are expected to complete their assessments using their own thoughts, ideas, and analysis. If you share your assessment with someone else, they may advertently or inadvertently use your work, which could get you both into trouble. 

If a classmate or friend asks to look at your assignment, let them know this is an academic offence. Protect the work that have done!

Instead, if they are having trouble completing the assignment on their own, suggest they use the following campus resources:

• E-mail their instructor or visit their office hours or contact the TA for help 
• Visit the Writing and Communication Centre for assistance with the writing process
• Ask a Librarian for help finding research related to their topic
• Use the Assignment Planner to break the assignment up into manageable chucks and access related resources
• Use the SSO resources on time management and completing assignments, or book an appointment with a peer success coach

Having someone else complete your work, whether for payment, bartering or for free, is an academic offence called 'contract cheating' or 'assignment outsourcing'. Having friends, classmates or family members complete a students work is not allowed. 

If a classmate or friend asks you to complete their work, let them know it is an academic offence that could get you both in trouble. 

If they are having difficulties completing the assignment on their own, suggest they use the following campus resources:

• E-mail their instructor or visit their office hours or contact the TA for help 
• Visit the Writing and Communication Centre for assistance with the writing process
• Ask a Librarian for help finding research related to their topic
• Use the Assignment Planner to break the assignment up into manageable chucks and access related resources
• Use the SSO resources on time management and completing assignments, or book an appointment with a peer success coach

If a student has an unauthorized copy of a test, exam, assignment, or solutions, it is an academic offence, regardless of whether or not the student actually used it while completing the assessment. Students using an unauthorized copy are not being fair to other students who are completing their work honestly. Further, if students cheat in this way, the assessment won't accurately assess their knowledge on the topic. 

If a classmate or friend offers you a copy of an unauthorized assessment, decline their offer. Have the courage to report the unauthorized assessment to the course instructor and/or Associate Dean of the Faculty so they can investigate. 

Collaborating on an individual assessment, such as a test, exam, or an assignment, is an academic offence. Your instructor should specify whether collaboration is permitted. If you're not sure, check with your instructor before collaborating. Did you know that both parties who collaborated on an individual assessment have committed misconduct, regardless of who submitted the work?

If a classmate asks you to collaborate on an individual assessment, let them know it is an academic offence and you could both get in trouble. If they are having trouble completing the assignment on their own, suggest they use the following campus resources:

• E-mail their instructor or visit their office hours or contact the TA for help 
• Visit the Writing and Communication Centre for assistance with the writing process
• Ask a Librarian for help finding research related to their topic
• Use the Assignment Planner to break the assignment up into manageable chucks and access related resources
• Use the SSO resources on time management and completing assignments, or book an appointment with a peer success coach