Curious about the significance of the hummingbird? Watch Flight of the Hummingbird - Haida Manga
Formal Reporting
Q: If an informal restorative justice conversation occurs, do faculty still make a formal academic integrity breach report?
A: Only if a grade penalty and having the breach on the student record is decided by faculty and student as part of the resolution.
Options for resolution and repair
Q: What are some examples of agreements that could result from a restorative justice process in response to a breach of non-academic misconduct?
A: This list is not exhaustive and more than one of these could be included in an agreement.
- Acknowledgment of harm - The student who caused harm recognizes and takes responsibility for their actions
- Validation of impact - The person harmed feels heard, understood, and believed
- Apology or expression of remorse - A sincere verbal or written apology that addresses the specific harm done
- Rebuilding trust - Both parties agree to take steps to re-establish respectful communication or boundaries.
- Commitment to behavior change - The responsible student identifies concrete steps to prevent future harm by addressing the contributing causes
- Restitution or repair of damage - The student may replace, repair, or make amends for damaged property or disrupted work
- Completion of reflective tasks - A written reflection, essay, letter to future self or creative project demonstrating learning and accountability
- Community service or contribution - Volunteering time to benefit the campus or community as a form of giving back
- Participation in education sessions - Engagement in workshops (e.g., conflict resolution, bias awareness, consent, communication, safer campuses)
- Future communication plan - Agreements on how to interact respectfully in shared spaces (e.g., classrooms, clubs, etc).
- Boundary setting - Clarifying personal boundaries or establishing expectations for contact going forward
- Follow-up - Scheduling a check-in or facilitated follow-up meeting to ensure agreements are upheld.
Q: What are some examples of agreements that could result from a restorative justice process in response to a breach of academic integrity?
A: This list is not exhaustive and more than one of these could be included in an agreement.
- Complete or redo the Introduction to Academic Integrity Tutorial
- Write a reflection paper/answer reflection questions.
- Write an Apology Letter (e.g. to the instructor to a group member (if a group project))
- Redo the assignment or a portion of the assignment (e.g. the part where the breach occurred)
- Complete a replacement or extra assignment/task to demonstrate learning and achievement of course objectives
- Attend a Learning Centre Workshop that addresses the reason(s) that contributed to the breach
- Meet with a Learning Strategist (e.g. for support with time management, study skills)
- Meet with a Librarian (e.g. for support with citations and references)
- Meet with an Academic Advisor (e.g. for support with selecting the right courses/course load)
- Meet with a Counsellor through KPU Counselling Services, KPU’s 24/7 Student Support Program TELUS Health Student Support, or Kwantlen Student Association Counselling Services (e.g. for support with stress or anxiety)
- Meet with an Academic Integrity Student Ambassador to learn more about available academic integrity resources.
Fairness in Outcomes
Q: Given that restorative justice is person centred, different agreements could be reached for similar situations? Isn’t this “unfair?
A: Because restorative justice is about attending to the unique needs of the people affected by the harm, there will be different outcomes for similar offenses. However, the approach/process will be similar and each student and faculty is given the opportunity to share their needs, intentions and ideas for resolution.
Time
Q: It takes time to work through the restorative justice process and to follow up on the agreement. How do people find the time to do this?
A: In the cases of harm and conflict, conversations can be difficult. However, often those who take some time to participate in conversations or processes that are guided by restorative justice principles report that it was time well spent.
In some cases, meetings can be brief (maybe 15 minutes) and in other more serious matters, processes can take longer. Taking this extra time for a restorative approach can build and repair relationships and prevent future harm.
Unfulfilled agreements
Q: What is an appropriate response if a student doesn’t fulfill what was agreed upon in the restorative justice process?
A: There are a couple of options for incomplete agreements. One is to meet again to explore what is getting in the way of the agreement terms being completed and to collaborate on changes to the agreement. The other is to forward the matter to internal (i.e. Dean’s office, SRRO) or external sources (RCMP, Human Rights) to explore other options.
More Information and Training
Q: Where can I learn more about restorative justice in BC?
A: Restorative Justice Association of BC (RJABC) was established in 2018 as a non-profit organization that advocates for the expansion and strengthening of restorative justice practices. RJABC's mission is to support, strengthen, and expand restorative justice in BC, focusing on increasing awareness, building capacity, and promoting collaboration among restorative and Indigenous justice programs. They work to ensure restorative justice is known for quality, accessibility, and innovation, with a focus on victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches.
RJABC hosts events like the Provincial Restorative Justice Symposium (PRJS) to offer learning and engagement opportunities for restorative justice practitioners, advocates, and justice partner, distributes a newsletter, and has a website of resources related to training opportunities.
Q: Who can I reach out to for further support or 1:1 guidance on restorative justice?
Email alana.abramson@kpu.ca for further support and resources.