Academic Difficulties

Late Assignments

Advise the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment if you are having problems completing the assignment on time.
Be prepared to provide documentation, if requested by the instructor.
If you are granted an extension, establish a due date. The approval of the Dean or Dean’s representative (academic counsellor) is not required if assignments will be completed prior to the last day of classes.
Extensions beyond the end of classes must have the consent of the instructor, the Department Chair and Dean. Documentation is mandatory. In these instances, please follow the procedure for Final Examinations below. A Recommendation of Incomplete form must be filled out indicating the work to be completed and the date by which it is due. This form must be signed by the student, the instructor, the Department Chair, and the Dean’s representative in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program Office (Academic Counsellor).

Short Absences

If you miss a class due to a minor illness or other problems, check your course outlines for information regarding attendance requirements and make sure you are not missing a test or assignment. Cover any readings and arrange to borrow notes from a classmate.

Extended Absences

If you are absent more than approximately two weeks or if you get too far behind to catch up, you should consider reducing your workload by dropping one or more courses. This must be done by the appropriate deadlines. The Academic Counsellors can help you to consider the alternatives. At your request, they can also keep your instructors informed of your difficulties.

Missed Test and Examinations

If, on medical or compassionate grounds, you are unable to write term tests or final examinations or complete course work by the due date, you should follow the instructions listed below. You should understand that academic accommodation will not be granted automatically on request. You must demonstrate to your instructor that there are compelling medical or compassionate grounds that can be documented before academic accommodation will be considered. Different regulations apply to term tests, final examinations and late assignments. Read the instructions carefully. In all cases, action must be taken at the earliest possible opportunity, preferably prior to the scheduled examination, test or assignment.

Check the course outline to see if the instructor has a policy for missed tests, examinations, late assignments or attendance.
Bring your request for academic accommodation to the attention of the instructor prior to the scheduled time of the test or examination or due date of the assignment. If you are unable to contact the instructor, leave a message for him/her at the department office or advise the academic counsellor in the School of Health Studies Office (telephone 519-661-4119).
If you decide to write a test or an examination you should be prepared to accept the mark you earn. Rewriting tests or examinations or having the value of the test or examination reweighted on a retroactive basis is not permitted.

Term Tests

If you are unable to write a term test, inform your instructor (preferably prior to the scheduled date of the test). If the instructor is not available, leave a message for him/her at the department office.
Be prepared, if requested by the instructor, to provide supporting documentation. The instructor may also refer you to the Academic Counsellor.
Discuss with the instructor if and when the test can be rescheduled.

Final Examinations

You require the permission of the Dean (see the Academic Counsellor in the School of Health Studes), the instructor, and the Chair of the department in question to write a special final examination.
If you are unable to write a final examination, contact the School of Health Studies Academic Counsellor in the first instance to request permission to write a special final examination and to obtain the necessary form. You should also contact your instructor at this time. If your instructor is not available, leave a message for him/her at the department office.
Be prepared to provide the Academic Counsellor with supporting documentation
You must ensure that the Special Examination form has been signed by the instructor and that the form is returned to the Academic Counsellor for approval.

Make sure you know the date, time, and location of the makeup examination.

Documentation

Forged notes and certificates will be dealt with severely. To submit a forged document is a scholastic offence and you will be subject to academic sanctions.

Personal Illness: If you consulted Student Health Services, walk-in clinic, or your family doctor regarding your illness or personal problem, you should submit your "medical Abasence" from to your Faculty Academic Counsellor. At your request, the Academic Counsellor will send confirmation to your instructor(s). The doctor should provide verification of the severity of the illness for the period in question. Notes stating "For Medical Reasons" or that you “were seen” are not sufficient. The note must state that you were too ill to perform your academic responsibilities for which academic accommodation is requested. Frequent requests for accommodation may require additional medical follow-up in order to be approved.

In Case of Serious Illness of a Family Member: Obtain a medical certificate from the family member's physician.

In Case of a Death: Obtain a copy of the newspaper notice, death certificate, or documentation provided by the funeral director.

Wedding: A copy of the invitation and the relationship of the celebrants to the student is required.

University Sports Team: Obtain a note from the coach.

Club Activities: Consideration will depend on the person’s level of involvement with the event and that your participation is absolutely necessary for its success. These types of excuses are not always sufficient reasons to miss a test or examination or to grant extensions to assignments. You should consult your Academic Counsellor prior to missing any course work because the University requires you to put your academics first. Please note that you should clarify your options with your Academic Counsellor before volunteering.

For Other Extenuating Circumstances: If you are not sure what documentation to provide, ask your instructor or an Academic Counsellor.

Academic Concerns

You need to know if your instructor has a policy on late penalties, missed tests, etc. This information may be included on the course outline. If not, ask your instructor.

You should also be aware of attendance requirements in courses such as Business and English. You can be debarred from writing the final examination if your attendance is not satisfactory.

If you are in academic difficulty, check the minimum requirements for progression in your program. If in doubt, see your Academic Counsellor. If you are registered in Health Science courses but registered in another faculty (i.e., Arts or Science or Social Science), you should immediately consult the Academic Counselling Office in your home faculty for instructions.

Calendar References

Check these regulations in your Western Calendar under “Academic Information” or “Student Services”: