Skip to Content
Close Search

Revised Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (CBAM), 2025 (PDAD&C #47) 

From:  Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life  
Date: June 27, 2025 
Re: Revised Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (CBAM), 2025 (PDAD&C #47) 

On June 24, 2025, the Governing Council approved changes to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (CBAM), effective July 1, 2025.  

As announced in PDAD&C #9, 2024-25, I undertook a review of CBAM with the support of the Office of University Counsel in order to support principles of procedural fairness, timeliness, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and upholding fairness and honesty in the academic work of students.    

We are thankful to the broad range of community members who contributed their time and insights to the consultation process from multiple perspectives, including student unions, Downtown Legal Services, and the Office of the Ombudsperson.  

Highlights of the updates to CBAM include:  

  • Updated definitions to clarify the role of the School of Graduate Studies in academic integrity matters involving graduate students. 
  • More detailed student notification requirements.   
  • Introduction of “deemed admission” option if a student fails to respond to the invitation for a meeting with the dean or department chair.  
  • Change in department chair jurisdiction threshold, which has been raised from assignments worth ten percent or less to fifteen percent or less of the final grade.  
  • Expansion of divisional sanctions to include suspensions between 12 and 24 months, with the provost’s approval.  
  • Introduction of a sanction of forfeiture of unauthorized aids.  
  • Clarifying in the text of the policy that the standard of proof at the Tribunal is “a balance of probabilities,” to align with the existing practice.   

The new “deemed admission” option is available for cases already in progress prior to July 1, 2025, for which charges have not already been filed. If a division wants to use the deemed admission option for open cases, they will need to send a new notice to the student that adheres to the student notification requirements of the new CBAM. 

The new option for the dean to impose, with the provost’s approval, a sanction of up to two years will be available for offences committed prior to July 1, 2025 that have not yet reached the dean’s meeting stage. This option will also be available for cases where charges have been filed that are subsequently returned to the decanal level for sanctioning or resolved via Minutes of Settlement.   

The new forfeiture sanction will be available for offences committed July 1, 2025 or later. 

New resources to support divisions with implementation will be forthcoming, including an update to the academic integrity website over the summer months.  

For divisions requiring further support or with questions about ongoing cases, please contact vpfal.academicdiscipline@utoronto.ca.