Category: Student Related
Approval: Senate
Responsibility: Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs.
Date initially approved: April 18, 2017
Table of Contents
A. Definitions
鈥渁cademic consideration鈥 means an action or actions taken by an educator or Faculty/School Office, in response to a student with an extenuating circumstance. Considerations include but are not limited to: an excused absence, a brief reprieve from coursework, an extended or deferred deadline, a modified schedule for assignments, labs, placements, projects, or comprehensive exams, a deferred exam or project, a medical leave of absence, an alternate assignment, a re-weighting of assigned marks, course withdrawal without penalty, or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Faculty or School office. Students receiving academic considerations must meet all essential academic requirements and standards of the program.
鈥渁cademic work鈥 means course work, research, labs, placements/fieldwork, professional internships, or any other program requirements
鈥渄别濒别驳补迟别鈥 means an individual acting on behalf of a student who is experiencing an extenuating circumstance. A delegate may assist the student with completing and submitting documentation, and communication with Faculty/ School offices and instructors. Written consent must be received from the student for the delegate to act on their behalf.
鈥渄辞肠耻尘别苍迟补迟颈辞苍鈥 means the independent verification of an extenuating circumstance provided by a student (or delegate) for the purposes of requesting academic consideration. Required documentation will differ depending on the extenuating circumstance and must be completed by an appropriate professional. Faculties / Schools have discretion to request documentation as they see fit to verify an extenuating circumstance. In cases where a confidential verification is provided, the student should not be asked for additional documentation specific to the extenuating circumstance.
鈥渆诲耻肠补迟辞谤蝉鈥 mean all individuals who participate in the creation, development or provision of materials, activities and assessments for learning for 皇冠体育鈥檚 students. Educators include academic faculty and non-academic staff involved in the delivery of academic curriculum as well as course directors and co-ordinators, instructors of record, adjunct staff, teaching fellows and teaching assistants, professional learning instructors, graduate supervisors and developers who work with staff, faculty, and other 皇冠体育's personnel.
鈥渆ssential academic requirements and standards鈥 means the knowledge and/or skill which must be acquired and/or demonstrated for a student to successfully meet the learning objectives or degree level requirements of a required academic activity (e.g. comprehensive exam), course, program, or professional certification.
鈥渆xtenuating circumstances鈥 means a personal circumstance beyond the student鈥檚 control that has a direct and substantial impact on the student鈥檚 ability to meet essential academic requirements or standards. Extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to a sudden or acute physical or mental illness, serious injury to self or significant others, bereavement, a traumatic event, or other serious personal/family crisis.
Extenuating circumstances may also include officially representing the university at a sanctioned varsity athletics event (provincial, national, international competitions) or through an invitation to showcase achievement or share an exceptional talent or ability on a provincial, national or international stage as a distinguished guest.
Please note extenuating circumstances do not include personal or family events (e.g. holidays, weddings), academic or exam stress, or transportation or technological difficulties.
鈥済ood faith鈥 is a general presumption that all involved are acting with honest and sincere intentions.
B. Purpose/Reason for Policy
To outline the university鈥檚 approach to providing consistent and fair academic considerations to students for a range of extenuating personal circumstances as defined above.
C. Scope of this Policy
This policy applies to full-time and part-time undergraduate, graduate and professional students who are enrolled in academic activities at 皇冠体育鈥檚 University, including students studying at 皇冠体育鈥檚 on exchange or through other international agreements.
Academic considerations for students who have experienced sexual violence fall under this policy, however in the case of differences in procedure, this policy defers to the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving 皇冠体育鈥檚 University Students.
NOTE: For those members of 皇冠体育鈥檚 community who are both employees and students (e.g. employees taking courses on a part-time basis, TAs, TFs, RAs) this poli