There are a number of common policies and guidelines that apply to the laboratories associated with courses in the Department of Biology. These include policies on attendance, lateness, plagiarism, cheating, appeals, and accommodation are outlined below in parts 1 to 6. Specific policies and guidelines for this laboratory course follow in part 7.
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) requires that the University validate each person’s identity before providing them with requested personal information. Carleton policy is that information requests concerning registration or grades may only be answered if the request originates from the student’s MyCarleton (Connect) email account or in person upon presentation of their Carleton Campus Card. Other requests (i.e., originating from another email account or from a relative) will not be answered.
- Attendance
I. Laboratories are an important part of the course. Students are required to attend all lab sessions. Attendance will be taken by the demonstrators at the beginning of each lab session. Students can be excused attendance at lab sessions for medical reasons or for other reasons judged appropriate, at the discretion of the department. In either case, students must provide documentary evidence to justify their non-attendance (e.g., an original medical certificate; see 1.3 below) within one week of their return to the course. Failure to attend 25% or more of the laboratory sessions in a course will result in an F grade no matter what the circumstances. Reports, or assignments, may not be submitted if you did not attend the lab session and/or did not perform the work.
II. You must complete the lab during the week specified in the lab manual. Materials and supervision cannot be provided for a particular laboratory after the week during which it is scheduled. Students who miss a lab, and have a valid reason, may attend another section only with the permission of the lab coordinator.
III. If you are unable to write a term test, or complete any other assignment (e.g., a lab report) due to illness or other circumstances beyond your control, you may upon application to the instructor be granted permission to write either a deferred test or some alternate arrangement. Such application must be made, in writing, to the instructor within one week after the test or assignment due date, and the application must be accompanied by an original medical certificate (or other acceptable documentation). Students who miss a assignment deadline or exam must bring:- a medical certificate verifying that the student was seen by a doctor either on, or prior to, the assignment due date/exam date and that the student was incapable of completing the assignment/writing the exam at the appointed time. This form is available at www.carleton.ca/registrar/forms.htm. Medical certificates presented on other forms of letterhead will be accepted providing all information required on the University’s Medical Certificate is stated; or,
- other official documents clearly indicating that the student’s absence was due to circumstances beyond their control. A medical certificate issued by a doctor after the test or due date, and based solely on hearsay by the student, is not acceptable. The original medical certificate must be presented. Photocopies are not acceptable.
IV. The last dates for withdrawal from Fall, Winter or Spring term courses are listed in the Undergraduate Calendar in the section entitled The Academic Year. Make note of these dates.
[top] - Lateness
I. Lab Reports are due as scheduled in the laboratory manual. Reports are collected by the demonstrators at the beginning of the lab period; any report handed in after this is considered late. No responsibility is assumed for reports not given directly to a demonstrator. In some courses, late reports will not be accepted for a grade. In other course’s marks will be deducted for handing in a laboratory late. Consult the specific policies for your laboratory course below. The only valid reason for a late or missing report is for a circumstance beyond your control or a verifiable medical reason and must be accompanied by an original medical certificate explaining the absence (see 1.3 above).
II. Laboratory sessions begin at the time specified in the course outline. Students who arrive more than fifteen (15) minutes late for a laboratory session may not be admitted to the laboratory. Extra time will not be allowed for persons arriving late (see 1.2 above). - Plagiarism
I. Plagiarism is the presentation, in any form, of another person’s writings, images or ideas as your own work, without expressly giving credit to that person. Placing a sentence or paragraph from another person’s work into the text of your laboratory report, without a proper reference, is plagiarism. Using a diagram photocopied or scanned from a book or downloaded from the Web, without a proper reference, is plagiarism. This is a serious offence and is subject to University policy regarding Instructional Offenses (section 14, Academic Standing and Conduct in the Undergraduate Calendar). As a rule and in the first instance, cases of suspected plagiarism are brought to the Instructor and the Chair of the Department. If, in the opinion of the Laboratory Coordinator, the Instructor and the Chair, there is evidence of plagiarism, then a mark of F is given for the report. If the act of plagiarism involves copying material from another student in the course, then both students may be penalized. Instances of plagiarism will be referred to the Chair of the Department and the Dean of Science for formal investigation as outlined in the section of the Undergraduate Calendar under Instructional Offences.
II. All submissions should be in your own words. Quotations should not be used. Reports or assignments containing significant amounts of quoted work will have some or all marks deducted.
[top] - Cheating
I. Cheating on an examination, test or assignment is the act of obtaining or producing an answer by deceit, fraud or trickery or by an act contrary to the rules of the examination or test. Cheating is dealt with in the same way as plagiarism, as described in part 3.1, above, and the section on Academic Standing and Conduct in the front of the Undergraduate Calendar. - Appeals
I. Requests for a reevaluation of marks for specific tests, laboratory reports or other assignments will be accepted up to one week from the date of return of the marked work to the student. Note that a reevaluation may be done for simple errors such as addition of marks, or the whole test or report may be remarked. The mark may remain the same, increase or decrease. The request for appeal should include a written description of the reason and clearly indicate the location of the material in question.
II. Formal applications for review of course work or final grades are governed by the Undergraduate Calendar (see ‘Academic Standing and Conduct’). The Appeal of Grade form is available at www.carleton.ca/registrar/forms.htm. This form is used by undergraduate and special students who wish to appeal a grade for term work or final course grade. An application for review must be received by the student’s Faculty Registrar by the date specified in the Undergraduate Calendar (see ‘The Academic Year’).
Note: Students are encouraged to speak directly with the Instructor, or the person who marked the assignment, regarding their grade prior to submitting a formal appeal. - Rights, Responsibilities & Disabilities
I. The Carleton University Undergraduate Calendar details the rights and responsibilities of students registered at the University. Each student should be familiar with this calendar, particularly the sections dealing with academic conduct and deadlines in the academic year.Non-academic Misconduct: In order to maintain an effective learning environment, students are expected to fully comply with all policies and procedures as published. Disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated. When students are admitted to Carleton University, they are subject to the jurisdiction of the University during their enrollment. As members of the university community, students are expected to act responsibly in all areas of personal and social conduct. It is the responsibility of each student to read and become familiar with all applicable university policies.
II. Students with disabilities who have need for accommodation, must contact the Paul Menton Centre (Room 500 UC, 520-6608, or TTY 520-3937), and should discuss this with their instructors early in the academic term. Students who have need of accommodation must submit a written request for special arrangements (available from the Paul Menton Centre) to the instructor, at least two weeks before the date of each test. It is the responsibility of the student to request accommodation.
III. Students who are required to be absent because of religious reason must notify the instructor of the specific dates within the first two weeks of classes. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor of each specific date.
This policy was last updated May 28, 2008
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