VII. Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures

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Academic Consideration

Academic Consideration and Appeals

General Information for Academic Consideration and Appeals

The University of Guelph-Humber is committed to supporting students in their learning experiences and responding to their individual needs. To this end a broad network of advising, 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 Advisor, and immediate provision of any required documentation will facilitate a prompt, coordinated institutional response.

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 faculty member, the Program Advisor, or the Admissions and Academic Review Sub-Committee.

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 and results 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 Advisor should be contacted regarding appropriate procedures and documentation.

Student’s Responsibilities

If due to medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances a student is unable to complete any portion of the semester’s work the student should:

Inform the faculty-in-charge of the course in writing and in person if possible.
If the faculty member requests it, the student must supply documentation.
If documentation is unavailable, the student should consult their Programs Advisor.
Complete and submit missed work by the new deadline established by the faculty member, before the last scheduled day of classes.
If the medical, psychological or compassionate circumstance is such that it could affect overall semester performance or the ability to meet the final class day deadline, the Program Advisor should be consulted regarding an appropriate course of action.
If for any reason, a student is unable to complete a final examination or final assignment, the student should inform the faculty in charge of the course(s) AND should consult with their Program Advisor about submitting an application for Academic Consideration.

Faculty’s Responsibilities

Faculty members should exercise discretion when requiring documentation, particularly when the assessment in question constitutes a small proportion of the course grade, or when alternative means for carrying out the assessment are available. During the semester (up until the last official day of class), the faculty in charge of a course(s) can make arrangements when appropriate with students to have missed course work, test(s) or assignment(s) completed beyond the regularly scheduled deadline AND/OR, faculty have the discretion to apply the weighting of a missed assignment or term test to the weighting of the final examination, if appropriate and if agreed by the faculty and the student. The faculty member cannot however grant extensions for semester work (tests or assignments) beyond the final date for submission of final grades. In the event that a student misses a final examination and/or final assignment, the faculty member should instruct the student to consult with their Program Advisor about making an application for Academic Consideration.

Program Advisor Responsibilities

During the semester, if the student and the faculty member cannot arrive at a mutually agreeable accommodation, the Program Advisor may act as a mediator. In the event that medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances are affecting the student’s overall performance, the Program Advisor will ensure that the student’s faculty are advised that academic consideration based on medical or compassionate grounds is warranted. Following the last official day of class, requests for Academic Consideration made by students (typically for missed final examinations or incomplete final assignment), will be channelled through the Program Advisor to the Academic Review Sub-Committee.

2007-2008 University of Guelph-Humber Calendar