Beginning with the upcoming Fall 2016 exam season, Carleton will be implementing a new policy around early exam departures for health-related reasons. Please make note of the important information on this page, including changes to our current policies and procedures going forward.
Requests for Early Exam Departure Due to Significant Deterioration of Health
- There is no longer a formal exam cancellation process as students are ineligible to apply for a deferral once an examination has begun. Per Section 2.5.1 of the Undergraduate Calendar, students are expected to assess their medical situation/ability to write an examination prior to entering the examination room. Students who do not write a final examination because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control may apply to write a deferred examination. Section 2.5 of the Academic Calendar outlines the regulations governing deferral of final examinations. Students are expected to complete a final examination once begun. If the student experiences a significant deterioration of her/his health while the examination is in progress, it may be possible to submit a petition to apply to write a deferred examination.
- The information regarding a student’s early departure needs to be recorded on the Early Departure Incident Report (the Site Facilitator will provide copies in your package); in addition to giving the student an information page which contains the calendar language, petition deadlines and documentation requirements.
- Please note, a significant deterioration during an exam is a situation whereby the student requires immediate and/or emergency medical attention. In such circumstances, a student will be required to seek appropriate documentation to confirm that the medical situation caused significant, acute symptoms during the examination that completely prohibited the student from completing the exam, describing the specific impacts on the student’s ability to continue the exam. A student must then petition to the Registrar’s Office within three business days of the examination with appropriate supporting documentation. The student needs to be aware of this process. Should the student wish to continue writing after reading the information page, this is acceptable.
- As a result of the removal of the cancellation process and the new early departure process, the examination announcements and the Rules and Procedures for Writing Examinations will be changed to reflect this change in practice.
- Communication of this change will be extensive through various communication vehicles.