Academic Consideration Policy: Information for Students
Table of Contents
Academic Consideration
As per the Academic Consideration Policy, if students encounter extenuating circumstances that temporarily hinder their capacity to fulfill in-class academic requirements for a period that is five days or less, they can request academic consideration.
NOTE:
As per the Policy, students are to speak with/contact their instructor before submitting a request for Academic Consideration. Requests are not automatically approved. Approving and determining the accommodation remains at the discretion of the instructor. Students should consult the course syllabus about the instructor’s policy or procedures for requesting academic consideration.
Students are to complete this form if instructed to do so by their instructor for short-term requests (not exceeding 5 days) as per Academic Consideration Policy. Review the Procedures for Students document (available in the downloads section of this page) to learn more. The complete policy is available via the Secretariat website.
Coursework is defined as academic work assigned to students not including formally scheduled final examinations and take-home examinations.
Faculty Information
Information and guidelines concerning the Academic Consideration Policy for faculty members can be found at the Registrar’s Office Intranet site. Please login using your MC1 credentials.
Short Term Requests
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“Short-term incapacitation” is illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances beyond your control that can disrupt your ability to meet your academic obligations for 5 or fewer days.
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Extenuating circumstances are circumstances that:
- are beyond your control;
- have a significant impact on your capacity to meet your academic obligations; and
- could not have reasonably been prevented.
Extenuating circumstances may include sudden illness or incapacitation, including mental health and compassionate circumstances.
Experiencing diverse challenges and stressors is considered typical within the university experience and are not considered extenuating circumstances; for example, managing workload, competing deadlines, inclement weather, amongst others.
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The first step is to read your course syllabus about the instructor’s policy or procedures for requesting academic consideration. Contact your instructor(s) as soon as possible and normally no later than 24 hours after the submission deadline. Approving and determining the accommodation remains at the discretion of the instructor.
If supporting documentation is required by the instructor, complete the online Academic Consideration for Coursework Form (cannot be used for formal exam deferrals).
The Academic Consideration for Coursework Form is only available for accommodations regarding course work. Requests for accommodations during the formal exam period must follow the official deferral process.
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You can make a request for any in-term course work (excluding formally scheduled exams and take-home examinations). For example, essays, quizzes, midterm examinations, etc.
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The online Academic Consideration for Coursework Form is available via the Registrar’s Office website.
The Academic Consideration for Coursework Form is only available for accommodations regarding course work. Requests for accommodations during the formal exam period must follow the official deferral process.
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The Academic Consideration Policy only applies to course work that is due during the term. Requests for accommodations during the formal exam period must follow the official deferral process.
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If you have concerns about your request for academic consideration, your first step is to initiate an informal appeal with your instructor and, as appropriate, the Chair or Director, within 3 days of the original decision.
If the informal process does not address your concerns, you may submit a formal appeal to the Faculty Dean of the Faculty offering the course within 3 working days of the completion of the informal appeal. The decision of the Dean is final.
Long Term Requests
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“Long-term incapacitation” is illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances beyond your control that temporarily hinder your capacity to fulfill academic requirements for a period that exceeds five days.
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The first step is to read your course syllabus about the instructor’s policy or procedures for requesting academic consideration. Contact your instructor(s) as soon as possible to discuss academic considerations. If it is determined that you must submit a request form, you can apply for long term academic consideration for course work by submitting the Long Term Academic Consideration Request Form.
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If supporting documentation is required, submit the document(s) via email to academicconsideration@carleton.ca from your Carleton email address (cmail).
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You can make a request for any in-term course work (excluding formally scheduled exams and take-home examinations). For example, essays, quizzes, midterm examinations, etc.
-
The Academic Consideration Policy only applies to course work that is due during the term. Requests for accommodations during the formal exam period must follow the official deferral process.
-
If you have concerns about your request for academic consideration, your first step is to initiate an informal appeal with your instructor and, as appropriate, the Chair or Director, within 3 days of the original decision.
If the informal process does not address your concerns, you may submit a formal appeal to the Faculty Dean of the Faculty offering the course within 3 working days of the completion of the informal appeal. The decision of the Dean is final.
Downloads
Procedures for Academic Consideration for Students (PDF 177KB)