Academic Support & Policies - Electrical & Computer Engineering

Support

Policies

All members of the University of Toronto community are expected to live by the regulations of The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. The Office of Academic Integrity outlines the most common perils and pitfalls — protect yourself and your work, and know what to watch for.

Possible penalties for cheating include a negative mark on a piece of work, zero in a course, loss of library and/or computer privileges, annotations on your transcript, or even expulsion from the University.

ECE Reduced Course Load Policy

Only full-time students in third or fourth year can reduce a full academic load by 0.5 credits. They:

Must drop a CS, HSS or technical/free elective course
Must take the dropped course or a replacement course in a subsequent session (or Summer session)

Some important considerations about reduced course loads:

Your student advisor: The ECE Undergraduate Office can provide you with advice on the impact to the completion time of your degree requirements, the course overload in future sessions and other concerns. We strongly recommend you consult them
Scholarships and the Dean’s Honour List: You are ineligible for both if you carry less than a full course load as defined by year and program of study.
Program fees: You are not entitled to any tuition refunds as a full-time student with a reduced course load—you must pay the full-time program fee.

Communication and writing help

Strong communication skills are essential for successful engineers. The demands of the curriculum mean that you may have to actively seek outside help to strengthen your presentation or writing skills for reports, essays, theses or other media you might use to communicate your ideas.

The Engineering Communication Program (ECP) is here to help!

At ECP, you can get help you with all aspects of report writing and oral presentation, including strategies of organization and clarity, as well as revision, editing and/or speaking clearly. Find out about:

One-on-one tutoring in the ECP Tutoring Centre
Seminars in Professional Writing, Oral Communication, Writing Lab Reports, and more
Comprehensive online handbook as well as other tools and references
Communication Program staff who are ready to guide you

The Writing Centre is open to all undergraduate engineering students.

Book your appointment online to ensure you have a chance to meet with a tutor. Drop-ins are welcome, but the place gets very busy the day before an assignment is due. Plan ahead!

Academic integrity

What is academic integrity?

Academic integrity is applying the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage to academic pursuits, even in the face of adversity. These values are explored in a booklet from the International Center for Academic Integrity. U of T’s Student Life page explains that academic integrity ensures a community where:

Competition is fair and honest work is rewarded
Students are developing the personal and professional skills needed for success, like time management, effective research/writing, independent thinking, and ethical judgement
Intellectual property is respected
Our degrees continue to receive the respect and recognition they deserve

ECE is committed to promoting these values among students, faculty and staff in line with our Vision and Mission.

What are the policies and procedures?

Academic integrity applies to every member of the University, which treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. If it has been alleged you committed an academic offence, the allegation will be dealt with formally and seriously. The penalties can be severe if it is determined that you did cheat.

Ignorance of the rules does not excuse cheating or plagiarism. Learn about the policies and procedures surrounding academic offences in The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Familiarize yourself with the Academic Integrity Handbook to prepare yourself for a successful university career free from academic misconduct.

Academic probation

Academic probation is a common way for universities to maintain a minimum academic standard for their students. If you received notice that you are on academic probation, the first step is to talk to an Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Office. They can answer any questions you may have and give you advice on how to proceed.

Academic probation is to be taken seriously, but rest assured that U of T has many resources to get you back on track:

For more details on the specifics of academic probation, refer to section VIII, Promotional Regulations of the Academic Regulations in the current Academic Calendar.