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Once the suspensions are lifted, the organization plans to take the names down. Despite the SATCC’s intent to remove the names eventually, Ritter acknowledged in an Internet age, no information is ever completely erased.

“A good number of them have … accepted responsibility for what they did. I think disappointment would be a fair categorization, but again it varies from individual to individual,” he said.

Since the construction electrician trade certification is compulsory, the 22 sanctioned individuals can’t work legally in Saskatchewan as construction electricians during the suspension or cancellation periods. Students who took compromised exams will have to retake them. Students who did not write a compromised exam will have to wait for their suspension period to end and then reapply to have their certification reinstated. Individuals who were still apprentices will receive apprenticeship suspensions.

The SATCC has also notified apprenticeship jurisdictions across Canada of the sanctions.

Officials said changes have already been made to prevent a repeat. The SATCC now videotapes all exam sittings, which senior managers audit to ensure procedures and protocols are followed. An external investigator has been retained on contract to investigate any future allegations of academic misconduct.

The SATCC plans to move to online exams with “enhanced security mechanisms” from paper ones. The school also created an internal website, so faculty and students can anonymously report concerns of academic misconduct.

Doug Folk, executive director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Saskatchewan, said he and the association’s board of directors first learned of the investigation a couple of months ago from the SATCC. While the board was concerned to hear of misconduct, it’s pleased with how it was handled.

“Obviously one (incident) is too many, but I think it’s good that the institutions were able to identify … the 22 individuals that were involved,” said Folk, adding he has faith in the education system. “I don’t see it as an ongoing issue.”

While this situation is concerning, there are “checks and balances” that ensure electrical work is done properly, he added.

“If there is faulty work that has been done, it would be caught by the inspector,” said Folk.

He too believes the situation is a one-off and hopes it future students from such activity.

“The potential exists that you’re going to get caught and then of course you have a whole list of issue in which to deal with,” said Folk. “It could cost you your career and that’s not to be taken lightly.”

Ritter said the public should still have confidence in the SATCC’s capability to certify electricians.

“The downside of participating in academic misconduct is incredibly large, so we’d certainly encourage individuals to think about the consequences of some of their decisions,” he said. “These were clearly some bad decisions.”