The academic regulations outlined below are the basic regulations for undergraduate degree and associate diploma programs of the University as approved by the Senate. Terminology used to describe academic regulations is defined in the Glossary. If Senate changes the regulations of this calendar, these changes will be posted on the Senate bulletin board in the University Library and at the Colleges. In these regulations where the consent of the dean is required, the term "dean" is interpreted to mean the person responsible for the academic program, for example dean, director, chair of program committee, or the program counsellor in a particular diploma program. Approved changes in the regulations which affect a student's program of study will be included with the course selection or registration material.

Senate

Under the University of Guelph Act, the Senate is the ultimate academic authority in the University. Senate Bylaws may be consulted in the office of the Secretary of Senate. Notices and agenda of Senate meetings are posted on the Senate bulletin board in the University Library. College students and faculty at Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown may obtain this information from their Director's Office.

Diploma student senators are elected by their fellow students. The meetings of Senate are open to visitors who have tickets. Tickets are available from the Secretary of Senate (or the Director's office for regional Colleges). Senate directs the academic life of the University assisted by its boards and committees which report regularly to Senate. The Senate meets at least ten times per year from September to June. Dates of the meetings are published in Section III--Schedule of Dates.

Board of Undergraduate Studies

The Board of Undergraduate Studies, which normally meets every two weeks from the beginning of September to the end of June, controls all undergraduate degree and associate diploma programs under the authority of Senate. The Board comprises the Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Registrar, the Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) and fourteen other members appointed by Senate, two of whom shall be college deans and five of whom shall be undergraduate student senators, one from the Associate Diploma program.

Provincial Diploma Programs Committee

The Provincial Diploma Programs Committee is a subcommittee of the Board of Undergraduate Studies comprised of one faculty/instructor and one senior diploma student from the College Curriculum Committees at OAC and the three Colleges, plus 8 ex-officio members including the Dean of OAC; the Director, Agri-Food Diploma Programs; the Associate Directors from each college; the Co-ordinator of Undergraduate Curriculum; the Director, Counselling and Student Development Centre (Guelph); and the Associate Registrar Undergraduate Program Services. The Committee has the responsibility to manage curriculum, approve new/deleted courses, review and revise the schedule of studies and make recommendations to the Board of Undergraduate Studies.

Other responsibilities include:

• managing guidelines and the application process
• reviewing and overseeing student counselling, advising and student services
• overseeing the creation and operation of Boards of Appeal at the Colleges which function in place of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions
• other academic matters as may be appropriate or assigned by the Board of Undergraduate Studies

College Curriculum Committees

The Ontario Agricultural College and the Colleges at Alfred, Kemptville, and Ridgetown each have a Curriculum Committee chaired by the Associate Director (Director at OAC) and comprised of faculty/instructors from each Diploma Program offered at the College. Membership also includes students from years one and two of each Diploma program. Other faculty/students may be added as required. Students are elected by their peers. The Associate Director, one faculty/instructor and one senior student from the Curriculum Diploma Programs Committee represents their college on the Provincial Diploma Program Committee.

The responsibilities of each Curriculum Committee include:

• to review and submit course proposals and revisions to the provincial committee
• to appoint an Academic Review Committee to process all student requests for supplementals, academic consideration, absences from examinations etc.
• to appoint an Admissions Committee to deal with readmission, appeals, and recommend changes to the admissions criteria
• to oversee student counselling, advising and student services at their location

Senate Committee on Student Petitions (O.A.C. at the University of Guelph only)

This committee assesses and disposes of academic appeals from students registered at the University of Guelph. The Senate Committee on Student Petitions consists of ten members of Senate and a chair, who is named by Senate and is a tenured faculty member and a member of Senate. Of the ten members of Senate, five are students and five are faculty members. The members of the committee are appointed annually by Senate based on recommendations from the Senate Striking Committee on Bylaws and Membership.

Board of Appeal (Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown Colleges)

Each of the three Colleges has a Board of Appeal in place of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions. The Board of Appeal is comprised of six members including the chair. The six members of the Board are comprised of three students and three instructors/faculty appointed annually.

The Board assesses and disposes of academic appeals from students registered at that College of the University of Guelph.

The University of Guelph is committed to supporting students in their learning experiences and responding to their individual needs. To this end a broad network of advising, counselling, and support services is provided to assist students in meeting their personal and academic goals. The University is aware that a variety of situations or events beyond the student's control may affect academic performance. Support is provided to accommodate academic needs in the face of personal difficulties or unforeseen events. Procedures for academic appeals are designed to ensure that every effort is made at these times to provide appropriate accommodation and consideration, thus enabling students to complete course and program requirements as quickly as possible.

Knowledge of the procedures, early action on the student's part, timely consultation with the instructor(s) and/or program counsellor, and immediate provision of any required documentation will facilitate a prompt, coordinated institutional response.

Students should familiarize themselves with the procedures outlined below under Academic Consideration, Grade Reassessment and Petitions.

Academic Consideration

The University will consider granting consideration for courses if there are sufficient extenuating medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances. Academic Consideration may take the form of an extended deadline, a deferred privilege, a late drop of a course(s) with or without failure, withdrawal from a semester with or without academic failure, or permission to continue on probationary status. A deferred privilege could take the form of approval to write a missed final examination or the completion of a course requirement after the end of the semester. Academic consideration is granted when acceptable medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances affect any portion of the semester work. Generally, work commitments will not constitute grounds for academic consideration. Depending upon the circumstances and whether the semester work is complete, consideration may be granted by the instructor, the program counsellor or the Academic Review Sub-Committee of the program in which the student is registered.

Students will need to assess the extent of the difficulty they face and the possible implications on their course work. For instance, an illness which lasts one or two days resulting in a missed deadline can usually be resolved between the faculty member and the student, often without documentation. Circumstances which affect the student's ability to attend classes, write term tests or meet assignment deadlines for an extended period of time may require more formal documentation and consideration. Students are encouraged to seek documentation if the situation extends for a significant length of time. The program counsellor, who is the dean's designate, should be contacted regarding appropriate procedures and documentation.

It is the University's policy that students will be accommodated if they experience a conflict between a scheduled mid-term examination and a religious obligation. Students must contact the instructor-in-charge to make alternate arrangements. A listing of recognized major religious holidays is available from the Office of Student Affairs or Administrative Offices at the Colleges. Verifying documentation may be required and the granting of consideration is at the discretion of the University.

The program counsellor is the student's advisor in all matters pertaining to academic consideration and can assist in defining an appropriate course of action It is the student's responsibility to consult the program counsellor as soon as extenuating circumstances affect academic performance, in order to initiate action, and provide any required documentation.

All available evidence, including the student's performance during the semester, will be given careful consideration when making a decision. Questions about procedures and deadlines should be directed to the program counsellor.

Grounds for Academic Consideration

Where possible, requests for academic consideration are to be accompanied by supporting documentation. Students unsure of documentation requirements are encouraged to contact their program counsellor.

1. Medical Grounds

For academic consideration based on medical grounds a student may be asked to provide documentation for the period of the illness. The necessity for documentation will depend in part upon the length of the illness and the amount of work missed during this time. If the medical situation results in missed semester work, the student should contact the instructor, presenting medical documentation where warranted. If the absence due to illness is of a duration that will affect a number of courses or completion of the semester's work, the student must contact the program counsellor for advice and consideration.

When the absence affects final examinations or final assignments the student should go to Student Health Services or a personal physician for documentation. The student must present the medical documentation to the program counsellor.

2. Psychological Grounds

For academic consideration based on psychological grounds the student will be asked to provide documentation for the period affected. The necessity for documentation will depend in part upon the length of the problem and the amount of work missed during this time. The student should submit this documentation to the program counsellor who will then advise the instructor of the need for consideration. When the psychological difficulty affects final examinations or final assignments, Counselling Services, upon receipt of student authorization, will send documentation to the program counsellor . If the difficulty is of a duration that will affect a number of courses or completion of the semester's work, the student must contact the program counsellor for advice and consideration.

3. Compassionate Grounds

Unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control in either their personal or family life may affect academic performance. The procedure to follow to request academic consideration based on compassionate grounds depends upon the severity of the circumstance and the amount of work missed. Students may wish to contact the instructor for consideration for missed semester work resulting from a compassionate circumstance. If the circumstance is more significant, the student must consult with the program counsellor. Generally, work commitments will not constitute grounds for academic consideration.

Incomplete Semester Work

Semester work consists of term assignments, tests or labs that must be completed before the last class day. Instructors are responsible for granting academic consideration for semester work. Types of consideration that may be granted by an instructor include the setting of a make-up test, transferring the weight of a missed assignment to the final, extending a deadline or allowing the resubmission of an assignment. If the student feels that appropriate consideration has not been granted by the instructor the program counsellor should be consulted for advice on an appropriate course of action.

For missed final assignments, projects or tests, see Incomplete Final Examinations/Final Assignments.

Incomplete Final Examinations/Final Assignments

If final examinations are not written or final term assignments, projects, or work term reports are not completed by the deadline date, academic consideration is not the responsibility of the faculty member but rather, the responsibility of the Academic Review Sub-Committee of the program in which the student is registered.

A request for academic consideration should be made to the Academic Review Sub-Committee during, or immediately after, the semester to which it refers.

A request to change an earlier decision of the Academic Review Sub-Committee may be made only on the basis of relevant information not previously submitted. Students wishing to resubmit a "Request for Academic Consideration" form with additional supporting documentation should consult their program counsellor. Students who believe that the decision of the Academic Review Sub-Committee is inappropriate may appeal the decision to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions or the Board of Appeal (Colleges) within 90 days of the academic review decision (see Petitions). The Senate Committee will not normally consider any appeals submitted past this deadline.

Academic Review

The Academic Review Sub-Committee of each program committee meets three times each semester as follows:

• after the third day of the add period.
• after the twentieth class day.
• after the last day of exams.

Refer to Section III--Schedule of Dates, for the submission deadlines for each of these meetings.

A request for academic consideration should be made to the Academic Review Sub-Committee during, or immediately after, the semester to which it refers. If a student is appealing a required to withdraw decision, the student should submit the "Request for Academic Consideration" form by the first deadline of the next semester.

The Academic Review Sub-Committee will consider requests for academic consideration with regard to:

1. Course results (e.g. late drop of a course(s) with or without failure, deferred or supplemental privileges, credit status).

2. Meeting the continuation of studies requirements (e.g. probationary status).

3. Meeting the graduation requirements.

All requests are to be made in writing, preferably type-written, on the "Request for Academic Consideration" form available from the program counsellor. Request forms must be accompanied by relevant supporting documentation. Requests that are inadequately documented or that lack clarity will not be dealt with but will be returned to the student. The student should meet with the program counsellor for advice on the preparation and submission of requests for academic consideration.

When the form is complete, the student should retain the third copy along with copies of all documentation submitted. The form, with the original documentation attached, should be submitted to the student's program counsellor.

An appeal of an Academic Review Sub-Committee's decision may be submitted to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions or Board of Appeal (Colleges) within 90 days of the decision (see PETITIONS). Students who are appealing the decision of an Academic Review Sub-Committee for denial of probationary status will not be allowed to attend classes.

Petitions

The Senate Committee on Student Petitions or the Board of Appeals (Colleges) will consider petitions and conduct hearings on requests which fall under one of the following:

1. Appeals of decisions of Academic Review Sub-Committees involving medical, psychological or compassionate grounds. Petitions has the same options for consideration available to it as the Academic Review Sub-Committee (see Academic Consideration).

2. Appeals of academic misconduct decisions.

3. Petitions concerning the methods and criteria used by an instructor in assigning a grade. The Committee does not consider appeals for grade reassessment unless the request concerns the methods and criteria used by the instructor.

4. Appeals of an Admissions Committee decision regarding readmission to a program. The Committee will consider appeals concerning readmission provided the appeal is on the grounds of procedural unfairness or bias on the part of the Admissions Committee.

Petitions Concerning a Course Grade(s) Involving Medical, Psychological or Compassionate Grounds

A student may appeal any decision of the Academic Review Sub-Committee to Petitions. The appeal must be submitted to the Office of the Judicial Officer within 90 days of receiving notification of the decision. Requests submitted after this deadline will not normally be considered.

Students should speak to the Judicial Officer before submitting a petition to ensure proper completion of the form.

The Committee will not normally consider a petition concerning an illness or incident that occurred at some time in the past unless there is a reasonable explanation for the delay in submitting the petition.

Petitions Concerning Methods and Criteria Used by an Instructor in Assigning a Course Grade

Before submitting such a petition the student must have submitted a written appeal to the chair of the department of the instructor assigning the course grade and have received from the chair of the department a written statement that every effort has been made at the department level to resolve the issue. The student must provide the Judicial Officer with a clear and concise statement of the allegations.

All students at the University or Colleges are registered each semester either as full-time or as part-time students. The admissions standards are the same for both classifications.

Full-time

Each program specifies the number of credits that constitute a normal credit load for a semester and students are warned that by registering for fewer credits, the student runs the risk of requiring one or more additional semesters to complete the program. A student who is registered in the normal semester credit requirements for the program (3.00 credits) is considered to be full- time. A student who wishes to register in one course more than the normal course load may do so with the approval of the appropriate program counsellor. An additional course becomes part of the requirements for the semester.

Part-time

A student who is registered in fewer than 2.00 credits in a semester is considered to be part- time.

Academic misconduct is behaviour that erodes the basis of mutual trust on which scholarly exchanges commonly rest, undermines the University's exercise of its responsibility to evaluate students' academic achievements, or restricts the University's ability to accomplish its learning objectives.

The University takes a serious view of academic misconduct and will severely penalize students, faculty and staff who are found guilty of offences associated with academic dishonesty, misrepresentation of personal performance, restrictions of equal opportunities for access to scholarly resources, and damage to the integrity of scholarly exchanges. The Senate of the University has adopted a number of policies that govern such offences, including: the Student Academic Misconduct Policy, the Research Misconduct Policy, and the Students Rights and Responsibilities Regulations. These policies will be strictly enforced.

It is the responsibility of University of Guelph faculty, students, and staff to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent such offences from occurring. Furthermore, all members of the community, students, faculty and staff have the specific responsibility of initiating appropriate action in all instances where academic misconduct is believed to have taken place. This responsibility includes giving due consideration to the deterrent effect of reporting such offences when they do occur, making one's disapproval of such behaviour obvious, and helping to ensure that the university community does nothing to encourage or facilitate academic misconduct.

Responsibilities

University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on student academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of creating an environment that discourages misconduct.

Offences

Academic misconduct is broadly understood to mean offences against the academic integrity of the learning environment. This would include, but is not limited to, the following examples:

1. Academic Dishonesty

a) Copying from or using prohibited material including, but not limited to documentary, electronic equipment or other aids not approved by the instructor, in an assignment or examination.

b) Copying another person's answer(s) to an examination question.

c) Improper academic practices-this includes the falsification, fabrication or misrepresentation of material, including research results, that is part of academic evaluation, the learning process, or scholarly exchange. This offence would include the reference to resources that are known to not exist or the listing of others who have not contributed to the work.

d) Plagiarism - in the broadest sense of misrepresenting the work of others as one's own. Plagiarism specifically can be understood as: the act of copying, reproducing or paraphrasing significant portions of someone else's published or unpublished material, and representing these as one's own thinking by not acknowledging the appropriate source or by the failure to use appropriate quotation marks. These materials include: literary compositions and phrasing, performance compositions, chemical compounds, art works, laboratory reports, research results, calculations and the results of calculations, diagrams, constructions, and computer reports or software. Students have the responsibility to learn and use the conventions of documentation, and, if in any doubt, are encouraged to consult with the instructor of the course, the academic supervisor, or the department chair/director for clarification. Instructors have the responsibility of advising students in writing of any significant individual interpretations of plagiarism or of any aspects concerning paraphrasing limits or referencing formats unique to the instruction, the discipline, or the course material.

2. Misrepresentation of Personal Performance

a) Submitting false or fraudulent or purchased assignments, research, or credentials; or the falsifying or withholding of records, transcripts, or other academic documents.

b) Impersonation-involves having someone impersonate oneself, either in person or electronically, in class, in an examination, or in connection with any type of course assignment or material or availing oneself of the results of such impersonation. Both the impersonator and the individual impersonated (if aware of the impersonation) are subject to a penalty. In this context, plagiarism is simply another form of impersonation that misrepresents personal performance.

c) Submitting a false medical or compassionate certificate, or presenting other such documentation under false pretences.

d) Improperly obtaining, through theft, bribery, collusion or otherwise, access to privileged information, or examination paper or set of questions.

e) Submitting the same course work, research, or assignment for credit on more than one occasion in two or more courses without the prior written permission of the instructors in all of the courses involved.

f) The above provisions are institutional requirements that apply to all graduate and undergraduate degree or diploma courses, and to the presentation of all work, including graduate theses submitted for academic evaluation and undergraduate degree or diploma or graduate credit. In addition to these provisions, an instructor may require that other constraints apply in the context of a particular course. Such constraints may include, but are not necessarily restricted to, for example, a ban on the use of writing or editorial services, or the use of a research survey service. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the instructor in charge of the course to inform the students of these additional constraints in writing on the course outline, and it is the responsibility of the student in the course to abide by these constraints.

3. Damage to the Integrity of Scholarly Exchanges

a) Altering, destroying, hiding, or generally restricting the access to academic materials intended for general use.

b) The unauthorized removal, destruction, or theft of library and other university academic resources.

c) Inappropriate distribution of restricted material.

d) Obstructing the academic activities of others. This involves interfering with the scholarly activities of another or altering or falsifying the work of others, in order to harass or gain unfair academic advantage. This includes, but is not limited to, interfering or tampering with experimental data, with a human or animal subject, with a written or other creation (example, a painting, sculpture, film), with a chemical used for research, or with any other object of study.

e) Aiding or abetting academic misconduct. Knowingly aiding or abetting anyone in committing any form of academic misconduct is itself academic misconduct. This may include, but is not limited to, offering for sale essays or other assignments with the intention that these works be subsequently submitted for assessment.

Note: Many of these offences could also be viewed as a violation of the Research Misconduct Policy, or the Student rights and Responsibilities regulation. Students may also, therefore, be subject to procedures and penalties outlined in these policies.

Penalties

If a student is found guilty of academic misconduct, one or more of the following penalties may be assessed:

1. Requirement for submission of a new piece of work; partial or total loss of marks on the exam/assignment; partial or total loss of marks for the course in which the offence occurred;

2. An official warning that the penalty for a subsequent offence will be suspension from the University for a period of up to two years or expulsion;

3. The rescinding of University-funded scholarships or bursaries.

4. Suspension from the University for a period of either one or two years. A student who wishes to be considered for readmission after this period must make an application that will be judged on the basis of eligibility to continue;

5. A recommendation for expulsion from the University. A student who has been expelled from the University of Guelph is not eligible for readmission to the University for at least five years. A student who wishes to be considered for readmission must petition the President to have the expulsion status removed. The President will form a hearing committee to review the case for lifting the admission restriction. If the committee decides to remove the expulsion status, the student who wishes to be considered for readmission must then make an application that will be judged on the basis of eligibility to continue. If the committee decides to leave the expulsion status in place, the student must wait at least another two years before submitting a new petition.

6. A recommendation for revocation/rescinding of a degree or diploma. A person who is found guilty of academic misconduct after having been approved for graduation, or after having a degree or diploma conferred, may have the degree or diploma rescinded or revoked.

Note: The guidelines that deans consider when determining the appropriate penalty are available on request from any dean.

Procedures

Detection and Documentation

1. Examinations

The responsibility for preventing and detecting academic misconduct in an examination lies with the invigilators, although they may make use of reports from others to assist them in detection.

In cases of suspected impersonation, the chief invigilator shall require the student concerned to remain after the examination until the student is satisfactorily identified.

In other cases of suspected academic misconduct, the chief invigilator shall allow the student to complete the examination, but may take action by either:

• requesting that the student complete the examination in another location or setting when it is deemed that such action will cause the least disruption to those taking the examination; or
• confiscating the suspect material and requesting that the student make contact with the instructor once the examination period is over.

In any case, the chief invigilator shall give a full report, together with any confiscated material, to the instructor-in-charge of the course if the instructor is not the chief invigilator. In instances of open learning courses, the material will be submitted to the Director of Open Learning. This documentation is used in consultation with the chair/director when preparing a formal complaint.

2. Term assignments, including research and thesis work

The responsibility for detecting academic misconduct on term assignments, etc., lies with the person responsible for evaluation and discussion of the student's work (marker), although that person may make use of reports from others to assist in detection.

Where academic misconduct is suspected, the marker:

• shall retain possession of suspect material; and
• may seek to interview the student to allay suspicion or to confirm it.

In any case, the marker shall give a full report in writing together with any confiscated material to the instructor-in-charge of the course, or to the advisor of the student's work, if the instructor/advisor is not the marker. This documentation is used in consultation with the chair/director when preparing a formal complaint.

3. Cases outside the domain of examinations or assignments

The responsibility for detecting academic misconduct in the context of an academic environment that is not part of the formal examination or assignment process must rest with the entire university community. Where academic misconduct is suspected, but where it is unclear whether it is directly related to a specific course, or where the specific course is unknown, those with knowledge of an offence should attempt to contact either the chair of the student's department, the student's program counsellor, or the student's college dean. If the suspected offence appears to be related to a specific course, then the instructor of the course should be contacted.

Response to Academic Misconduct

1. Suspected Academic Misconduct.

Where there is evidence of suspected academic misconduct associated with a specific course, the instructor-in-charge of the course should consult with the chair/director (Associate Director at the Colleges) to help determine whether the offence and the associated evidence/documentation merit a formal complaint. At this stage, the student is likely to be interviewed, but there is no obligation to do so.

When it is determined that a formal complaint is appropriate, the chair/director (Associate Director at the Colleges) shall make the complaint in writing to the dean or director of the college offering the course. The complaint shall include copies of all relevant material including a description of the method of evaluation as described in the course outline. The dean or director of the college offering the course will take the initiative in determining whether to proceed with a complaint.

The complaint shall refer to how the offence is or is not directly related to the assessment format (for example, "plagiarism on the 50% term assignment"). If the formal complaint involves a final examination or final assignment, the grade submission for the student shall be delayed.

In those cases where the suspected misconduct is not directly related to a specific course, the complaint may be made directly to the dean of the student's college.

2. Formal Complaint Procedures for Academic Misconduct.

The responsibility in all cases for deciding whether to process the formal complaint, deem a student guilty or not, and for determining any penalty, lies jointly with the dean of the college (or Director at the Colleges) offering the course and with the dean (or Director at the Colleges) of the student's college (or the Director of Open Learning, where appropriate), acting in consultation with the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), and where appropriate, the Dean of Graduate Studies.

The dean or director of the college offering the course shall contact Undergraduate Program Services, or the Dean of Graduate Studies, to ascertain if any record of previous academic offences exist. Either dean (or Director at the Colleges) concerned may seek further information concerning any reported incident from the instructor or from any other person involved.

Should the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges) decide that the evidence/documentation or the offence does not merit any further action on behalf of the formal complaint, the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges) will return the formal complaint to its source and indicate the reasons for the return. A formal complaint not processed as an accusation of academic misconduct by the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges) has no official status as an accusation and no record of the complaint shall be maintained.

Once the decision is made to process the formal complaint as an accusation of academic misconduct, the dean of the college offering the course shall interview the student, unless the student is unavailable or unwilling.

The dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges) may, after the appropriate inquiry and a guilty verdict, impose one or more of the penalties previously listed. The penalty is assessed by the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges) concerned (acting jointly) in consultation with the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), and where appropriate, the Dean of Graduate Studies.

If the student is deemed not guilty by the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges), no penalties will be assessed, no record of the suspected offence or formal complaint will be kept, and all parties will be informed of the final decision by the dean(s) (or Director at the Colleges).

3. Penalty Assessment for Academic Misconduct

a) Cases where Expulsion not recommended - The dean or director of the college offering the course shall inform the student in writing whether he/she has been found guilty, what penalty if any has been assessed, and of his/her right to appeals.

The dean or director shall also notify the instructor, the instructor's chair, Undergraduate Program Services, the dean of the student's college, the Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

The penalty assessed shall stand unless the student appeals within 15 calendar days of notification.

The student may appeal against the dean's finding of guilt or the assessed penalty. The appeal procedure is described in the Regulations of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions.

b) Cases where Expulsion is recommended - The dean or director of the college offering the course shall inform the student in writing and forward the matter to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions for disposition.

At that time the student may request a hearing of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions.

If a hearing is not requested, the Senate Committee on Student Petitions will conduct a review and subsequently notify those individuals involved with the case.

c) Cases where Revocation/Rescinding of a degree or diploma is recommended - The dean of the student's (or former student's) college or the Director of Open Learning shall inform the student in writing and forward the matter to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions for disposition.

At that time, the student (or former student) may request a hearing of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions.

If a hearing is not requested, the Senate Committee on Student Petitions will conduct a review and make recommendations to a closed session of Senate, and will subsequently notify the individuals involved with the case.

4. Appeal Process

If a student is charged with academic misconduct resulting in the dean's (or Director at the Colleges) assignment of a penalty that consists of the loss of marks only, the student has the right to appeal first to the dean or director of his or her college. This right need not be exercised, and the student may appeal such a penalty directly to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college).

If a mark only appeal is not submitted to the dean or director within 15 calendar days of receipt of the notification, the mark penalty as assessed shall stand unless it is appealed directly to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college) and changed as a result of such an appeal.

If the student is charged with academic misconduct, the student may submit a petition to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college). When there is no appeal of a mark penalty made to the dean or director or director, or when the penalties go beyond mark penalties, then the submission of a petition is to be made within 15 calendar days of the receipt of the initial penalty assessment. In the case of a mark only penalty, this petition may be made within 15 calendar days of receipt of an appeal decision by the dean or director. At the time of submitting the petition, the student may request a hearing for the next scheduled meeting of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college).

A review by the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college) involves an examination of all relevant documents to determine the appropriateness of a dean's (or director's) finding of guilt or of the assessed penalty. In the case where a petition is received after the 15 day limit and a mark penalty is the only penalty assigned, the committee will seek to determine whether the penalty was first appealed to the dean or director. The procedures for conducting a review and for holding a hearing are set out in the Regulations of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college).

Following a review or hearing, the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college) may take one or more of the following courses of action:

a) confirm a finding of guilt;

b) reverse a finding of guilt (in which case no penalty shall apply);

c) confirm a penalty;

d) assess a different penalty.

Record of Academic Misconduct

Undergraduate Program Services, or the Dean of Graduate Studies, shall place in the student's file a record of all academic misconduct for which the student is penalized. This record shall be expunged from the student's file upon graduation, or completion of a certificate or diploma for open learners. Students who do not graduate from the University of Guelph or another university may submit an appeal to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (or the Appeal Board at a regional college) to have the record expunged no sooner than 5 years after the date of last registration. Students who have graduated at another accredited university may submit verification of graduation to the Undergraduate Program Services, Office of Registrarial Services and have their record expunged. The record for expulsion is permanent, unless removed by petition to the President.

Access to the record of academic misconduct will be limited to those involved in processing appeals and those involved in processing additional complaints against the student. It is normally assumed that the penalties for repeat offenders will be more severe than those assigned for first offences.

All course additions to a student's program for a particular semester are to be completed by the end of the add period.

The addition of a course after the end of the add period will be considered only in exceptional circumstances and will require the approval of both the instructor for the course and the program counsellor of the program in which the student is enrolled. The program counsellor's signature should be sought first but does not presume the judgement of the instructor as to the appropriateness of the late addition for his or her particular course. In practice, the following have been deemed to be exceptional circumstances: illness or compassionate grounds for missing all or part of the first three class days; interchanging courses with common lectures, one with and one without labs; late resolution of appeals; failure of a deferred course condition or examination; university errors in registration procedures.

Distance Education Courses may be added up to the end of the add period, with the permission of the Distance Education Office.

Program Approval

is required to add courses if the student's category is special or probationary or if the student is adding more than the normal number of courses.

Regular Courses

may be added without permission of the department. Regular courses are those courses that are not designated as Priority Access in Chapter XII.

Two-Semester Courses

When adding a two-semester course, students must complete the course selection process for each part of the course during the appropriate course selection period. (e.g. AGR*2351 in the Fall semester and AGR*2352 in the Winter semester). These courses must be taken in consecutive semesters as outlined in the course description.

Caution: Students granted permission to add a course after the end of the add period may encounter difficulty in mastering course content and may be unable to meet all course requirements. The University has no obligation to assist students to pick up material that has been missed because of late enrolment in a course.

University of Guelph Associate Diploma students may, at some point, be required to complete and submit an application form for University of Guelph students to the Admission Services Office. The most common reasons for submitting this internal application form are: to apply to transfer to a degree program or to apply for readmission to a program.

Application forms must be submitted to Admission Services by the deadline date established for each semester. An application fee is payable at the time the application is submitted (refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees).

Application deadline dates are published in Section IV--Admission Information.

Instructors will inform students of the attendance requirements for individual courses in accordance with the policy of the department or school.

Caution: A student who for any reason does not meet the attendance requirement may be required to withdraw from the course by the Academic Review Sub-Committee for the Associate Diploma programs. Such action on the part of the Committee will constitute a failure in the course.

A student may audit a course upon approval of the department offering the course and payment of a fee. The department shall provide to persons intending to audit a course a written statement prescribing the extent to which they may participate in the work of the course. No official transcript record of audited courses will be provided. The procedures for registration and course changes are the same as for regular course attempts, except that after the end of the add period, a student who is registered under audit status for a particular course is committed to that status and may not convert to credit status for the same course. A student may change from credit to audit status up to the drop deadline applicable, with approval. A fee is assigned for each audit course (refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees) except in the case of a student holding full-time classification. full-time students who have received approval for audit courses are not assessed additional fees.

Permission to audit must be obtained from the instructor for the course, the chair of the department offering the course, and the student's program counsellor.

The student who receives approval to audit should discuss with the instructor the conditions under which that approval is given including, for example, attendance, submission of term work, taking of examinations.

An approved audit course does not constitute a course attempt. No official grade will be reported, and audit courses will not be used in the determination of the eligibility for continuation of study. Also, no official documentation will be provided to verify the auditing of a course.

Audit courses are not considered in calculating full-time or part-time status.

Each full-time or part-time student is registered as one of the following:

Regular

A student with category "Regular" is registered in the regular course requirement for a program.

Special

A student with category "Special" is admitted to a program and is required to complete course deficiencies necessary to proceed under the regular student category.

Probationary

A student who does not satisfy the program requirements for continuation of study will be allowed to continue in their program if granted probationary status-see Continuation of Study in this section.

Students who do not satisfy the program requirements and are not granted probationary status may appeal to the Academic Review Sub-Committee for probationary status to be granted based on medical, psychological or compassionate grounds.

Programs determine semester level on the basis of successfully completed courses plus the number of courses in progress. Class Level is determined as follows:

The continuation of study for Associate Diploma Programs (Schedule 3) applies to all students who register in Diploma Programs at the University of Guelph and its Colleges at Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown, and is based on the number of credits attempted.

Schedule 3

Credits granted towards an Associate Diploma for courses completed at other institutions, or in other programs of the University are included in the credit count for continuation of study. Students who have attempted less than 2.00 credits will not be subject to continuation of study requirements, but will receive a letter of warning if any course grades are below 60%.

Students who have attempted between 2.00 and 3.00 credits at the time of review:

Students who have attempted more than 3.00 credits:

If the student's standing is on probation at the time of review, the student's standing will depend first on the semester average, then on the cumulative average.

If the student is eligible to continue at the time of review, the standing will depend on the cumulative average:

This is the procedure by which students indicate their course requests for upcoming semesters. Program approval may be required. Students are cautioned that courses may be subject to listed enrolment restrictions.

Effective Spring 1986, the University established a Dean's Honours List which has common criteria throughout all baccalaureate degree or Associate Diploma programs and which is recognized on students' transcripts. Prior to Spring 1986 colleges used different criteria and the designation was not recognized on transcripts. Effective Spring 1991 the Dean's Honours List procedures take into consideration the flexibility afforded to students by the semester system and its opportunities for alternating semesters of full-time and part-time study. Effective Fall 1996 the Dean's Honours List or Director's Honours List (Colleges) procedures were revised to include all undergraduate degree or diploma programs.

The Dean's Honours List (Guelph) or Director's Honours List (Colleges) will include:

1. students taking full-time studies who have obtained a minimum semester average of 80.0%.

2. students who in part-time semesters (which do not need to be consecutive) attain a minimum cumulative average of 80.0% in a sequence of at least four courses. All courses will be counted and the designation will appear under the last of the semesters making up the average, and in the graduating semester of students who have maintained a cumulative average of 80.0% since their last Honours List Designation.

3. a student with a deferred condition, or a mark not received, will not be evaluated for placement on the Honours List until the academic record for that semester has been completed.

4. a part-time student who transfers from program to program within the University should consult the appropriate office about the eligibility for the Honours List.

Students who have consistently maintained a high average, but for whom a change in program; in part-time status in the graduating semester; or other anomalies have prevented placement on the Honours List, should consult the appropriate office about eligibility for the Honours List.

Students with a high level of academic achievement on exchange programs will be considered for the Honours List based on a recommendation to the appropriate Dean or Director from the exchange coordinator.

Note: The calculation of full-time and part-time status for students includes courses with credit (CRD) standing or pass (P) standing. These courses do not affect the calculation of the averages used to determine Honours. Within each period of consideration there must be at least one course with a numeric grade for a student to qualify for the Honours List unless the student has been on exchange for that period.

When students do not write a required final examination, complete a final assignment, or complete a work term report by the deadline, they may be eligible for a deferred privilege. A deferred privilege is the opportunity to complete the final course requirements after the end of the semester. The nature of the deferred privilege may take the form of either a deferred condition or a deferred examination. The Academic Review Sub-Committee grants deferred privileges on the basis of medical, psychological, or compassionate consideration (see Academic Consideration and Appeals).

Deferred privileges are normally completed early in the semester immediately following the semester in which the course was taken.

If the Academic Review Sub-Committee assigns a passing grade or credit standing (CRD) on the basis of medical, psychological, or compassionate consideration, a student may request a deferred privilege instead. The student must make the request in writing within 10 days of the release of the grades. The grade resulting from the deferred privilege will become part of the student's official academic record.

Instructors do not grant deferred privileges. They can only grant academic consideration for work that is due during the semester and cannot grant extensions beyond their deadline for submission of final grades. The instructor should note on the "Instructor's Recommendation" form any special circumstances relating either to the student or to the way the course was conducted (see Final Grades).

All course drops from a student's program for a particular semester are to be completed by the dates specified in the Schedule of Dates (refer to Section III). Courses that are one semester long must be dropped by the end of the fortieth class day; whereas, two semester courses must be dropped by the last day of the add period in the second semester. The dropping of a course after the deadline is allowed only in exceptional circumstances and requires the approval of the program counsellor of the program in which the student is registered.

Deadline Dates

In all cases, if course changes are made, the "Undergraduate Course Request" form with appropriate approvals must be returned to Academic Records, Office of Registrarial Services by the drop deadline. Refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees for the refund schedule.

The deadline dates for dropping courses (i.e. the fortieth class day) are noted in Section III--Schedule of Dates.

Instructor Notification

In some cases the instructor must be notified when a student is dropping a courses, for example, where students care for laboratory animals, or where supplies or books on loan must be returned. If instructor notification is required to drop the course, this will be specified on the course outline and announced in the first class meeting.

Refunds

Refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees for refund schedule. Normally, changes to the effective date of dropped courses are only allowed for documented medical or compassionate reasons and require the approval of the program counsellor.

Regular Courses

Regular courses may be dropped from the start of the add period to the fortieth class day without approval except where instructor notification is required (see Instructor Notification above).

Two-Semester Courses

When dropping two-semester courses, both semesters of the course must be dropped. Students who wish to re-take a two-semester course must re-take both parts of the course. The drop deadline for a two-semester course is the last day of the add period in the second semester.

During the examination period, Saturday is considered a regular day. Examinations may be scheduled on public holidays. Students are advised to note Section III--Schedule of Dates. Students who encounter a conflict between a scheduled mid-term or final examination and a religious obligation must contact the instructor-in-charge to request that alternate arrangements be made. A listing of major religious holidays is available from the Office of Student Affairs. If alternate arrangements cannot be made the student may submit a "Request for Academic Consideration" form and obtain approval for a deferred privilege from the Academic Review Sub-Committee prior to the scheduled examination. Verifying documentation must be presented and the granting of consideration is at the discretion of the University.

Mid-Term Examinations and Term Tests

The following is the University policy as approved by the Senate on November 21, 1972.

Term tests must not be scheduled during the last five class days prior to the final examination period.

Departments are urged by the Board of Undergraduate Studies to make every effort to schedule term tests and examinations in regularly scheduled class time. The Board recommends that faculty make every effort to accommodate students representing the University in extra-curricular activities when there is a conflict between those activities and scheduled tests or examinations held outside regularly scheduled classes.

The directors of schools and department chairs must apply the policy having due regard to the special needs of courses over which they have jurisdiction.

In addition, mid-term examinations should be scheduled such that no conflicts occur with a regularly scheduled class or section. In the event of a conflict the scheduled meeting holds priority.

The Board of Undergraduate Studies has reaffirmed the commitment to maintain the 17:20 to 19:00 time slot free of academic activities. Request for scheduling out-of-class mid-term examinations should therefore be restricted to normal academic hours (8:30-17:20 and 19:00-22:00). In the event that appropriate space is not available during normal hours, the use of the 17:20-19:00 time slot may be approved.

Students who encounter a conflict between a scheduled term test or mid-term examination and a religious obligation must contact the instructor-in-charge to request that alternate arrangements be made. A listing of major religious holidays is available from the Office of Student Affairs.

Final Examinations

Final examinations will be held at the conclusion of each semester in which the course is offered.

The following is the University policy as approved by the Senate on November 21, 1972.

Where final tests or final examinations are to be given they must be given during the examination period.

All final examinations shall be two hours in duration.

The following guidelines for conducting final examinations have been approved by the Board of Undergraduate Studies:

1. The final examination period should be scheduled so as to provide a two day break between the last day of classes and the first day of examinations.

2. The final examination period consists of ten days, except in the Spring semester, where it is seven days.

3. The periods scheduled for final examinations which are to be written in examination halls shall be all of two hours in duration. No examination held during the final dates scheduled for final examination periods shall be longer than two hours.

4. Where final tests or final examinations are to be given, they are to be given during the final examination period. Term tests are not to be scheduled during the last week of classes prior to the final examination period. Directors of schools and department chairs are to apply these policies, having due regard to the special needs of courses over which they have jurisdiction.

The Office of Registrarial Services of the University is the final arbiter of the manner of conducting examinations and he/she receives general directives on policy from the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), and the Board of Undergraduate Studies.

Policy on Student Access to Final Examination Materials

Final examination papers and term papers are to be retained by faculty members for a period of one semester.

Printed or written materials directly related to examinations conducted in the final examination time period , or related to final assignments shall be made available to a student, upon submission of a written request to the department chair. The request shall be submitted by the fifth class day of the next semester.

Printed or written materials to be made available include the examination question paper, the marking scheme keyed to desired responses to questions, where appropriate; the student's response to the examination questions; and records taken by examiners during oral or any other examination. Faculty members are encouraged to discuss openly with the student any questions raised. The department chair will make the necessary arrangements for student access to the material. When a large number of requests are received in connection with a specific course or when a faculty member is on leave it may be necessary for the department chair to delay access and make special arrangements, e.g., the posting of the marking scheme on a bulletin board, the scheduling of a special meeting at which the faculty member will review the examination, etc.

Exchange programs between the University of Guelph and other institutions are defined by the terms of formal exchange agreements. A copy of each agreement must be approved by the Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Registrar and registered with the Assistant Director, Undergraduate Program Services.

Students participating in exchange programs pay full-time tuition fees at their home university, but select their courses at the university they will be visiting. The grades are recorded there and forwarded to the home institution at the end of the semester or academic year. Each institution participating in an exchange program designates a coordinator who will be responsible for arranging the details of the exchange. Students are advised not to leave on exchange without the written approval of the receiving university (refer to Section V- International Study).

Courses taken on exchange will appear on the transcript as non-specific University of Guelph courses and will be graded using the Outstanding/Pass/Fail format. Grades will be determined by the exchange coordinator using an official transcript submitted by the host institution.

Informal exchange programs where a formal agreement does not exist must be conducted by means of a letter of permission and tuition fees will be paid to the receiving institution (refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees).

A student who is eligible for continuation of study but has failed to gain pass standing in 1 or more of the courses attempted, shall be informed by the Academic Review Sub-Committee of the steps necessary to make up the deficiency. The Sub-Committee shall also decide upon the number of opportunities a student may be given to obtain pass standing in a failed course.

In general, a student who is eligible for continuation of study in the program but has failed to gain standing in one or more of the courses attempted will be required to repeat the course(s) or take an alternative credit. However, the University recognizes that there may be cases where it is unreasonable for the student to repeat the course to make up for the lost credit.

Therefore, the Academic Review Sub-Committee may, if appropriate and feasible, and only under special circumstances, allow a student the opportunity to gain credit standing in a failed course by granting a supplemental privilege. It is unlikely that any student with a final grade of less than 40% would meet the requirements of the granting of a supplemental privilege. The decision to grant the privilege will normally be made in consultation with the instructor and a review of the student's course performance during the semester.

At the discretion of the Academic Review Sub-Committee, one of the following will be granted to the student:

1. Repeated Course or Permissible Substitute

A repeated course or a permissible substitute course is normally taken as part of the regular course load for the program. If the repeated course is to be taken as an additional course, the approval of the director must be obtained. A repeated course is considered as an additional course attempt.

2. Supplemental Condition

a) the course is failed in the graduating semester (if a supplemental privilege is granted and successfully completed, convocation will most likely be deferred until the following semester);

b) the failed course is not available to the student within the following three semesters, or within a time period that includes the graduating semester;

c) the course is of such a nature that there is no permissible substitute or alternative available to the student within the following three semesters, or within a time period that includes the graduating semester

Credit standing will be awarded to the student who successfully completes a supplemental privilege. The original failing grade will remain on the student's academic record.

Supplemental Privilege Procedures

A student must apply to the Academic Review Sub-Committee for a supplemental privilege no later than the fifth day of classes of the semester following the failure. In considering the request, the Academic Review Sub-Committee will consult with the course instructor to obtain information on the student's performance during the course, the instructor's recommendation concerning the appropriateness and feasibility of a supplemental privilege, and the nature of the supplemental privilege. If the Academic Review Sub-Committee approves the request, the department (instructor) responsible for the course will determine the nature of the privilege, which could be a written exam, an oral exam, an assignment, a laboratory practical, or any other method or combination of methods of evaluation.

Grading System

A refined grading system was approved by Senate on May 21, 1991 effective Spring 1992 as follows:

Courses taken on exchange are graded using the Outstanding /Pass /Fail alternate grading system. In addition, selected University of Guelph courses, approved by the Board of Undergraduate Studies, will use this alternate grading system.

Alternate Grading System

Other Grade Notations

Grading Procedures

On May 1, 1976, the University Senate endorsed the following resolutions:

Resolution 1

That the assignment of grades at the University of Guelph be based on clearly defined standards, which are to be published in the Undergraduate Calendar for the benefit of faculty and students and that the definitions for each of the numerical grade range (letter grades) be as follows:

080-100 (A) Excellent. An outstanding performance in which the student demonstrates a superior grasp of the subject matter, and an ability to go beyond the given material in a critical and constructive manner. The student demonstrates a high degree of creative and/or logical thinking, a superior ability to organize, to analyze, and to integrate ideas, and a thorough familiarity with the appropriate literature and techniques.

070-079 (B) Good. A more than adequate performance in which the student demonstrates a thorough grasp of the subject matter, and an ability to organize and examine the material in a critical and constructive manner. The student demonstrates a good understanding of the relevant issues and a familiarity with the appropriate literature and techniques.

060-069 (C) Acceptable. An adequate performance in which the student demonstrates a generally adequate grasp of the subject matter and a moderate ability to examine the material in a critical and constructive manner. The student displays an adequate understanding of the relevant issues, and a general familiarity with the appropriate literature and techniques.

050-059 (D) Minimally Acceptable. A barely adequate performance in which the student demonstrates a familiarity with the subject matter, but whose attempts to examine the material in a critical and constructive manner are only partially successful. The student displays some understanding of the relevant issues, and some familiarity with the appropriate literature and techniques.

000-049 (F) Fail. An inadequate performance.

Resolution 2

That instructors must use evaluation criteria which measure quality of performance and not merely activity.

Resolution 3

That instructors are not to use predetermined, arbitrary distributions in the assignment of grades in individual courses.

Resolution 4

Part A

That, by the start of the course selection period for the semester in which the course will be offered, instructors will provide a course description for posting to the department web site. This course description shall include a brief summary of the course topics and requirements, the general format of the course, and the methods of evaluation.

Part B

That, by the first class meeting of the course (by the end of the first week of classes for distance education courses), the instructor must provide students with a written course outline that is a detailed description of course requirements, the methods of evaluation, and the timing of the evaluations.

Resolution 5

That the methods of evaluation are not to be changed after the first week of the semester without the unanimous consent of the students in attendance at a scheduled class. Notice of proposed change and of the class at which consent is to be sought, must be given at a previous scheduled class. In a case where making a change is unavoidable but unanimous consent of the students has not been obtained to a proposed change, the instructor must receive the approval of the chair of the department before making the change.

Resolution 6

That all term tests, assignments, laboratory reports, etc., should be returned to, or discussed with students, without undue delay, and in any case, by the final class day.

Resolution 7

That departments must coordinate multiple section courses in terms of course content, evaluation procedures and final grades.

Department also refers to schools and to colleges (where multiple section courses are offered by, or coordinated by the Office of a College Dean).

Resolution 8

That each department must keep under continual review its grading procedures and matters that relate to academic standards to make sure the University's policies are being applied.

Resolution 9

That normally all courses at the 1000 and 2000 levels shall have final examinations and that exceptions require the approval of the Board of Undergraduate Studies.

To specify clearly the administrative responsibility of chairs with respect to the methods of evaluation, the setting of examinations and the determining of grades in courses in their departments.

The Board of Undergraduate Studies has by formal resolution undertaken to do as follows:

• To review the effects of the pass by course system on the academic standards of the University.
• To request each program to review its overall academic standards and, in particular, its requirements for graduation.
• To examine whether the prerequisites at the O.A.C. level required for admission to the University of Guelph are adequate.
• From time to time, to review and monitor the academic standards across the University to ensure that there is consistency and that the regulations of the University are being adhered to.

Resolution 10

Senate resolved on June 21, 1977 that in determining grades for written assignments the instructor should take into consideration the student's ability to use correctly and effectively the language appropriate to the assignment.

Resolution 11

Senate resolved on March 21, 1978 that the chair should review, prior to the commencement of classes, the manner in which a faculty member intends to conduct a course and to determine final grades. If the chair disagrees with the faculty member's intention or subsequently with the implementation of the stated intentions, the chair will discuss his/her concerns with the faculty member. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter will be referred to an appropriate department committee which will advise the chair in reaching his/her decision. The advice may include a recommendation on examination procedures.

Release of Final Grades

University grades are official on the day that they are mailed to students (refer to Section III--Schedule of Dates).

All grade reports are released by mail. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that correct address information is reported. Duplicate copies are not released until the first day of classes of the subsequent semester. Students who require confirmation before that date may request an official transcript upon payment of the transcript fee.

Grade re-assessment is the process of reviewing the calculation of grades, or the methods and criteria used to establish final grades for a student in a course or misapplication of an academic regulation. The outcome of a grade re-assessment may be a grade increase, a grade decrease, or no change to the grade. The detection of errors or omissions in the calculation of final grades will result in the assignment of a revised grade. Students normally initiate grade re-assessments, but instructors may initiate this process. However, instructors must NOT use the grade re-assessment process to:

• grant extensions for submission of work beyond the end of the semester (see Academic Consideration and Appeals);
• change the student's continuation of study status;
• improve the student's program average or
• submit late grades (see Final Grades).

Calculation Errors or Omissions

Students who believe there have been errors or omissions in the calculation of their final grade for a course may request a grade reassessment. They must submit a request in writing to the chair of the department offering the course no later than the 10th class day of the succeeding semester. The request must pertain to work completed during the semester and must contain a statement of the specific reasons why the grade does not adequately reflect academic performance in the course. Students must also submit relevant assignments or tests that have been returned to them.

Where there is a change in the grade the student will be advised in writing. If there is no change to the grade, it is the chair's responsibility to inform the student in writing.

Conditions for Graduation

Students in all 5 Associate Diploma programs require a minimum of 12.00 credits to graduate. A minimum of 6.00 credits must be earned in the specific diploma program at the University or one of the Colleges; a maximum of 6.00 transfer credits for approved equivalent courses will be allowed.

The following are the specific requirements for the individual Diploma programs:

1. in the Agriculture, Horticulture and Equine Studies Diploma programs, a minimum of 9.00 credits must be related to the program of study. A maximum of 3.00 transfer credits from the Independent Study program may be allowed with program approval.

2. in the Food and Nutrition Management Diploma program, a minimum of 10.00 credits must be related to the program of study.

3. in the Veterinary Technology Diploma program, a minimum of 12.00 credits must be related to the program of study.

Students completing a second University of Guelph diploma may transfer, with approval, a maximum of 6.00 credits from their first diploma.

Application for Graduation

An "Application for Graduation" will be forwarded to each student registered in semester 4. If the student plans to graduate at the end of that semester, the application is to be returned by the date noted on the form.

Students who have not received an "Application for Graduation" form one week before the final date for submission of applications should contact the convocation clerk. It is the responsibility of the student to submit the completed form prior to the deadline date.

Applications for each convocation ceremony must be submitted by the deadline dates specified in Section III--Schedule of Dates. Late applications will be accepted for up to 10 working days after the due date with the submission of a late fee (refer to Section VI--Schedule of Fees). After 10 working days late applications will not be accepted but will be held for a subsequent ceremony.

Graduation Fee

The diploma graduation fee will be assessed when the student registers in the fourth semester.

Calendar

Students must satisfy the schedule of studies requirements for the Associate Diploma Calendar in effect at the time of their last admission to the program if possible.

Time Limitations

The approved program must be completed within five consecutive calendar years from the time of initial registration at the University. This applies to part-time as well as full-time students.

Students, regardless of program, who do not register in their program of studies for 6 or more consecutive semesters are required to apply for readmission. Students who are studying on exchange programs, study abroad, or work terms are considered to be registered at the University.

Academic Residence Requirements

The academic residence requirement is registration as a full-time student for four semesters, or the equivalent as a part-time student. A student registered as part-time may count a semester of residence credit when the total courses taken equal the normal semester course load of a full-time student in the program.

University of Guelph courses include courses taken on exchange and on study abroad programs. Letter of permission courses are not included.

Students who complete the procedure for registration by mail and who subsequently decide not to attend that semester may cancel their registration by notifying Student Financial Services up to but not including the first class day. Student Financial Services will arrange for the appropriate refund of fees paid. Commencing with the first day of regular classes the formal withdrawal procedure from the University is required and outlined below.

A student intending to withdraw from the University must notify the appropriate office in writing and complete the withdrawal procedure. A student receiving financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program is strongly advised to contact Student Financial Services, regarding the status of that award on withdrawal.

A student who withdraws after the fortieth class day of the semester, other than for illness or compassionate reasons will be considered to have failed the courses for which the student is registered at the time of withdrawal. Documented evidence relating to illness or compassionate reasons must be supplied within thirty days of the withdrawal.

Students who withdraw without academic penalty after the termination of the official drop period for medical or psychological reasons must clear their re-entry in a subsequent semester through the dean or director of the college concerned. Students who withdraw on more than two occasions may be required to meet with the dean or director in order to clear their re-entry into a subsequent semester. At the discretion of the dean or director, the condition of re-entry may be a recommendation of either Student Health Services or the Counselling Unit of the Counselling and Student Resource Centre that re-entry is advisable.

Students who wish to appeal the decision of the dean or director have recourse to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions.

Do not put a stop payment on any cheque that has been presented to Student Financial Services as settlement for tuition fees. This does not constitute notification of your intention to cancel/withdraw from the semester and results in the assessment of a cheque refusal fee

A student who withdraws from the University must return all outstanding loans from the Library immediately upon withdrawal regardless of the original due date. Any items not returned will be declared "lost" and charged to the student's account.

A student at the University of Guelph who wishes to enrol in a course for credit at another institution and have that course considered as a credit toward a University of Guelph degree or diploma , must complete a "Request for Letter of Permission" form, available from the program counsellor, and obtain the appropriate approvals as indicated on the request form, prior to applying for admission to the other institution.

Credit for successful completion of such courses will be granted at the University of Guelph if a letter of permission has been presented prior to the student's enrolment at the other institution. A student taking a course on a letter of permission is responsible for ensuring that the other institution forwards the official transcripts to the appropriate office. If the transcript for the course taken on a letter of permission is not received by the 20th class day of the semester following completion of the course, a grade of "000" will be entered on the student's internal academic record.

All courses for which a letter of permission has been granted (and the grades attained), will be included in all internal academic records, but not in the official transcript of the University of Guelph. These courses will count as course attempts under the continuation of study regulations. Courses taken on a Letter of Permission will not count in the semester average or the overall academic average.

Students do not normally qualify for a letter of permission in the final semester of their diploma program.

In cases where enrolment demand habitually exceeds course capacity and there is demonstrated need to restrict access to a particular cohort of students on a priority basis, departments may request the implementation of course restriction rules to ensure priority access to the appropriate student group(s) during the course selection process. The system will provide a message at the time of course selection for students who do not meet the enrolment criteria. In special cases the department may override the restriction by authorizing entry to the course with a signature on an "Course Requisite/Restriction Waiver" form.

Departmental requests for course restriction rules must be directed to the Co-ordinator of Undergraduate Curriculum who will determine if the request is acceptable and will then work with the department or school to develop the appropriate enrolment criteria and confirm that the restriction can be monitored. In general, course restrictions should be clearly defined in the calendar course listings so that students are advised in advance of the intended audience for the course.

New restrictions or changes to existing restrictions must be approved prior to the course selection period in which they are to be implemented.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a mechanism whereby students who have acquired substantial experience in a non-traditional environment have an opportunity to "challenge" whether such learning is equivalent to a course(s) offered at the University. Note: PLA will only be available to a student if sufficient evidence is provided that the course material was acquired outside a degree program at a University. A request to challenge a course that has already been attempted at university will not normally be granted.

PLA is not open to students who simply wish to "challenge" a course. Students will be required to sign a contract stating that the learning occurred other than in a university course. Not all courses are appropriate for challenge. Each departments has the responsibility of determining which of its courses may be subject to a PLA challenge. The challenge process could include one or more assessment methods, including standardized tests, written and/or oral examinations, performance evaluations, interviews, and portfolio assessment. All these assessments require that the individual demonstrate, to a qualified faculty member, that pre-determined knowledge and skills have been acquired.

The maximum number of credits a student can challenge is 1.50 for diploma programs, or 30% of the certificate requirement for open learners. Credits acquired through PLA will be assigned credit status (CRD) (and will be recorded on the official transcript).

Students wishing to challenge a course(s) must submit a request for PLA to the appropriate Academic Review Committee which includes a clear statement as to the course(s) you wish to challenge, an explanation of how you gained the knowledge necessary for the course, and any relevant supporting documentation to validate the claim. If the Committee determines that there is no basis for the request the request will be denied; if approved, it will forward the request to the appropriate department(s) for evaluation. The request will be reviewed by the Department and a decision submitted to the Academic Review Committee. Upon receipt of the response from all the departments, the Academic Review Committee will inform the student which, if any, courses have been approved for challenge.

If a challenge has been granted, the student will be required to contact the department to determine the nature of the assessment and the deadline by which time the work must be complete. Upon completion of the assigned task, the Department will inform the Office of Registrarial Services as to the student's success or failure of the challenge.

Those students (a) whose application for a challenge is reviewed by the faculty members of the department concerned, and who are subsequently denied the opportunity to challenge, or (b) who fail a challenge examination, may appeal the decision first to the chair of the department, and subsequently, if necessary, to the dean of the college.

Previously registered students must apply to Admission Services for readmission under any of the following conditions:

1. If they were required to withdraw from their program for a period of 2 or more semesters.

2. If they were suspended from the University for academic misconduct.

3. If they received an undergraduate degree from this University and wish to register as a continuing student.

4. If they registered in a program at another post-secondary institution and wish to return to the University of Guelph.

5. If they have not registered at the University of Guelph for 6 or more consecutive semesters.

6. If they are attending the University of Guelph on a letter of permission and wish to continue past the term of the letter of permission agreement.

Readmission to a program at the University of Guelph is not automatic. Students who are required to withdraw must apply for readmission to the University after completing the minimum two semesters of rustication. Students should consult Section IV - Admission Information regarding appropriate admission requirements and deadline dates. Applications for readmission should include a statement which outlines the basis for readmission. Criteria used for readmission may differ by academic program. Students considering readmission should consult with the appropriate program counsellor regarding procedures and criteria for readmission to that program.

Students requiring readmission must apply to Admission Services, Office of Registrarial Services, University Centre, Level 3. Applications for readmission must be submitted by the deadline date established for each semester (see Section III--Schedule of Dates). An application fee is payable at the time the application is submitted (see Section VI--Schedule of Fees).

On December 19, 1995, the University Senate approved the following policy for the granting of credit while on rustication:

1. Students who have been required to withdraw, and who take university credit courses during their rustication period, will be eligible for up to 1.00 credit provided they meet the criteria for readmission and the criteria for the transfer of credit.

2. Students who take courses after the two-semester rustication period will be eligible for transfer of all these courses provided the student meets the criteria for readmission and the criteria for the transfer of credit.

3. Students who have been debarred for academic misconduct will not receive any credit for courses taken during the debarral period.

Note: This policy applies to any credit course taken during the rustication period, be it distance or on-campus, taken in open learning programs from either our university or at another university.

Students who do not require readmission to their program register under the normal regulations as an in-course student.

A student is considered as registered for a particular semester only when courses to be attempted for that semester have been reported to the Registrar no later than the third class day and financial arrangements, satisfactory to Student Financial Services, have been made for the associated tuition and other fees. Coincident with the registration process, students may complete other business arrangements with the University such as reporting of address information, receipt of post office box keys, residence payments, meal card contracts, parking permits, and receipt of identification cards.

New Students--A day is set aside for the registration of new students prior to the commencement of classes, and it is the student's responsibility to attend at the appropriate time.

In-Course Students--All in-course students must complete the registration procedures prior to the deadline dates as published in Section III--Schedule of Dates.

Students who are readmitted will be advised of registration procedures.

MAIL MUST BE POST-MARKED ON THE DEADLINE DATE OR EARLIER TO AVOID THE ASSESSMENT OF A LATE REGISTRATION FEE.

Note: In-course students who complete the registration procedures are advised that this registration is conditional on their eligibility for continuation of study into that semester. A student who is required to withdraw is advised not to attend classes as the registration will be cancelled and an appropriate adjustment automatically will be applied to the student's account (see also--Hiatus).

Cancellation/Withdrawal Procedure

If you have paid and wish to cancel your registration before classes begin please call and a full refund will be arranged. Students are advised that there is a withdrawal procedure as of the first day of classes. (see Withdrawal).

Late Registration

Students who do not register by the time designated as the registration deadline for the semester in question are subject to additional fee adjustments. Exceptions will only be made for acceptable reasons with documented evidence. Appeals against the additional fee adjustments must be made in writing within 10 class days of the commencement of classes.

Students must satisfy the requirements in effect at the time of the initial declaration of a schedule of studies or at the time of any subsequent change in declarations. If a student has not declared a schedule of studies the requirements in effect at the time of entry to the program will apply. When program requirements or schedule of studies are altered by the University, a student may elect to satisfy the requirements in effect when the student entered the program, or its equivalent, or a subsequent schedule within a program if the student finds it more favourable. Students wishing to alter the schedule used to monitor their progress should seek assistance from a program counsellor or Associate Director.

Students participating in study abroad programs are subject to the normal rules and regulations of the University of Guelph. This includes dates and procedures associated with registration, academic conduct, academic consideration, and grades. Students who are contemplating participation in a study abroad program should contact the coordinator for the program. The coordinator will arrange to enrol the participating students at the colleges.

Students must pay their fees and select their courses prior to leaving for the study abroad program. Details on specific study abroad programs can be found in Section V--International Study Opportunities.

An official transcript may be ordered by submitting the "Request for Transcript" form along with payment to the appropriate office. Students must have met all financial obligation to the University before official transcripts can be released for any purpose. Official transcripts from the University of Guelph will show that a diploma has been awarded only after the convocation ceremony.

Note: Individuals seeking an official transcript for academic work completed at a college run by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) which is no longer in operation should contact the Registrar's Office at Ridgetown College for assistance.

Students wishing to transfer from one diploma program to another are required to submit an application form to Admission Services at the University of Guelph or to the Registrar's Office at the Colleges. To clarify possible conditions or requirements for transfer, students are encouraged to consult with the admission counsellor for the program to which they wish to transfer before submitting their application. In cases where the student's performance has been inconsistent, the applicant must also submit a comprehensive support letter outlining the reasons for transfer as well as any factors contributing to the previous academic performance.

Note: Students who wish to transfer from one specialization to another in the same program are not required to apply. Such students should contact the departmental advisor for the specialization in which they wish to register.

Transfer between University of Guelph Colleges

Students wishing to transfer to another College of the University for a semester or more may do so by applying to their Associate Director (the Director at O.A.C.) for approval. Entry to certain restricted enrolment programs may not be approved. Transfer into the same diploma program at another University of Guelph College location is encouraged, where space allows.

Admission inquiries: Admission Services ~ ~ ~ General calendar inquiries: U.P.S.
Last revised: 01 March 2002
© 2001 Office of Registrarial Services, University of Guelph