ACADEMIC APPEALS AND SCHOLASTIC OFFENCES

APPEALS

You may request that a grade on a particular piece of work, or a final standing in a course or program, be changed. The grounds for a request for relief may be one or more of: medical or compassionate circumstances, extenuating circumstances beyond the appellant's control, bias, inaccuracy, or unfairness. All grounds must be supported by a clear and detailed explanation of the reasons for the request together with all supporting documentation. Ignorance of Senate regulations and policies, and particular program requirements and policies, as set out in the University Calendar, does not constitute grounds for an appeal.

The procedure for any requests for relief is addressed to the Department and Dean in which the course is offered and proceed in this order:

  • Course instructor (informal consultation)*
  • Department Chair (submission of written request)
  • Faculty Dean (submission of written request)

A request for relief against a mark or grade must be initiated with the instructor as soon as possible after the mark is issued. In the event that the instructor is not available, or fails to act, or if the matter is not resolved satisfactorily with the instructor, a written request for relief may be submitted to the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program Director three weeks from the date that the mark was issued. In the case of a final grade in a course, the written request for relief must be submitted to the Chair of the relevant department or Kinesiology Undergraduate Program Director by the following dates (if the deadline falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, it will be extended to the next working day):

January Marks

  • January 31

April/May Marks

  • June 30

Intersession

  • July 31

Summer Evening

  • August 31

Summer Day

  • September 15

Requests for relief on matters not relating to marks, grades, appropriateness of assignments or examinations, or grading practices should be initiated in the office having immediate jurisdiction for the particular requirement or regulation in question. Students in doubt as to the appropriate level at which to initiate such requests should consult their Academic Counsellor.

A request for relief against a decision of the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program Director must be made to the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences in writing not later than three weeks after the Director’s decision is issued. All relevant information and documentation must be provided to the Associate Dean with the request for relief.

A request for relief against a decision concerning program eligibility must be made to the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program Director in writing by June 30. A request against this decision must be made to the Dean in writing within three weeks of the Chair's decision being issued.

A written request need not be lengthy, but should indicate clearly the detailed reasons for the request and the
relief requested. All relevant supporting documentation must be attached.

A student may appeal the decision of a Dean to the Senate Review Board Academic (SRBA) only if the decision falls within the jurisdiction of SRBA (http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf). A Dean's decision which is appealed to SRBA remains in effect unless overturned or modified by SRBA.

Students requesting a Waiver of Progression Requirements must do so in writing to the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences by June 30 (if required to withdraw at the end of April), or within 30 days of the posting of grades on the Student Services website by the Office of the Registrar (if required to withdraw following any other session).

SCHOLASTIC OFFENCES

Members of the University Community accept a commitment to maintain and uphold the purposes of the University and, in particular, its standards of scholarship. Any form of academic dishonesty that undermines the evaluation process, also undermines the integrity of the University’s degrees. Scholastic Offences include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Plagiarism, which may be defined as “The act or an instance of copying or stealing another’s words or ideas and attributing them as one’s own.” Excerpted from Black’s Law Dictionary, West Group, 1999, 7th ed., p. 1170. This concept applies with equal force to all assignments, laboratory reports, diagrams, and computer projects.
  • Cheating on an examination or falsifying material subject to academic evaluation.
  • Submitting false or fraudulent assignments or credentials; or falsifying records, transcripts or other academic documents.
  • Submitting a false medical or other such certificate under false pretences.
  • Improperly obtaining, through theft, bribery, collusion or otherwise, an examination paper prior to the date and time for writing such an examination. Unauthorized possession of an examination paper, however obtained, prior to the date and time for writing such an examination, unless the student reports the matter to the instructor, the relevant Department, or the Registrar as soon as possible after receiving the paper in question.
  • Impersonating a candidate at an examination or availing oneself of the results of such an impersonation.
  • Intentionally interfering in any way with any person's scholastic work.
  • Submitting for credit in any course or program of study, without the knowledge and written approval of the instructor to whom it is submitted, any academic work for which credit has been obtained previously or is being sought in another course or program of study in the University or elsewhere.
  • Aiding or abetting any such offence.

In addition to any proceedings within the University, evidence of wrongdoing may result in criminal prosecution.

If a student is suspected of cheating, plagiarism or other scholastic offence, the University will investigate and if it is satisfied that the student has committed a scholastic offence it may impose sanctions, up to and including expulsion from the University. If the instructor has evidence which calls into question whether or not a scholastic offence such as cheating has been committed, the instructor will meet with the students involved if appropriate. In Kinesiology courses, if the instructor determines that there is sufficient evidence of a scholastic offence, the instructor will advise the Director of the Program. The Director will let the student know of the allegation and the evidence usually within a week of receiving the information. The student is given an opportunity to meet with the Director prior to a decision being made on the matter. The student will receive a letter from the Director which will explain the decision, the penalty and outline the appeal process to the Dean. (The Dean may impose additional penalties, particularly if there is evidence of previous offences.)

A copy of the communication to the student and the evidence will be kept on file in the Office of the Dean. For further details, please see the current Western Academic Calendar.

OMBUDSPERSON

Their office is located in UCC room 251 or you may reach them by phone at 519-661-3573 or email at ombuds@uwo.ca. You can get more information and useful guides from their website at www.uwo.ca/ombuds.

What does the office of the Ombudsperson do?

  • Provides a safe, confidential environment in which students can discuss a University related problem or concern.
  • Suggests approaches and strategies for addressing and managing conflicts.
  • Provides general information about University resources, procedures, rules and students' rights and responsibilities.
  • Works with students to identify problem-solving strategies for resolving their concerns.
  • In situations where there is no further recourse, the Ombudsperson may investigate or review a decision, and may recommend a remedy.  (Recommendations of the Ombudsperson are not binding.)

How does it work?

  • The service is available to all Western students and to all students of Brescia, Huron and King's University Colleges.
  • The service is free, confidential and impartial.
  • The Office of the Ombudsperson is independent of all other departments and offices.

Western provides the best student experience among Canada's leading research-intensive universities.