Appeals and exceptions

Description

Withdrawing from a course can affect whether you meet all your program requirements. Learn more about withdrawing from a course and consider the consequences carefully.

Important dates

You must submit your request to withdraw from a course as soon as possible, once you have identified the exceptional situation prompting the request.

How to make a request

We recommend that you meet with a member of the Academic Office (Undergraduate Studies) team, who can help you determine if you can appeal or benefit from an exception. Contact the office by joining the office virtual line or sending an Academic Office request.

Prepare a letter of request that explains your reasons for the retroactive withdrawal. See our sample appeal letter to make sure you include all relevant details.

Retroactive withdrawal usually applies to all courses you take in a given term. If you’re asking to withdraw from just some courses, you must provide a detailed explanation why your other courses should be kept on your transcript. Doing well in some courses but not in others isn’t a valid reason. Explain what limited you in some courses but not others.

If you were withdrawn from a program or the Faculty and the reason for your retroactive withdrawal request is to reintegrate the program or Faculty, you must appeal the mandatory withdrawal. Any retroactive course withdrawal request will be processed as part of the mandatory withdrawal appeal. See “Appealing a mandatory withdrawal from the program or Faculty” below.

At any point during this process, you can consult the Student Rights Centre for guidance, including reviewing your letter. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Create your UOSU profile.
2. Go to "Student Rights Centre" at the top left and select “Submit a new request.”
3. Submit your case.

Obtain the necessary documentation to support the request. Letters submitted without any supporting documents are not considered.

Complete the Appeal request form and submit it. All documentation should be submitted in PDF format. 

Description

You may be required to withdraw from your academic program in a variety of situations. See section B-6.3 of Academic Regulation B-6 — Academic Standing, Probation and Mandatory Withdrawal for Undergraduate Programs.

Note: Following the fall academic standing evaluation, if you are required to withdraw from the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing or the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, your enrolment in practicum/clinical courses and their corequisites for the winter term is also cancelled.

Important dates

You must submit your appeal in writing within ten working days of the date you receive your mandatory withdrawal notification.

How to appeal

We recommend that you meet with a member of the Academic Office (Undergraduate Studies) team, who can help you determine if you can appeal or benefit from an exception. Contact the office by joining the office virtual line or sending an Academic Office request.

Prepare a letter of request that explains your reasons for the retroactive withdrawal. See our sample appeal letter to make sure you include all relevant details.

At any point during this process, you can consult the Student Rights Centre for guidance, including reviewing your letter. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Create your UOSU profile.
2. Go to "Student Rights Centre" at the top left and select “Submit a new request.”
3. Submit your case.

Obtain the necessary documentation to support the request. Letters submitted without any supporting documents are not considered.

Complete the Appeal request form and submit it. All documentation should be submitted in PDF format. 

Description

You have the right to see, on request after grading, all documents used to determine your grade. See Academic Regulation A-9 — Revision of Grades and Appeal.

Important dates

When the grade in question is received on or before the last day of classes, you must submit your request within 10 working days of receiving the contested grade. For grades received after the last day of classes, the request must be submitted within 10 working days after the grade in question has become official (see the Important academic dates and deadlines for the exact date).

How to make a request for a grade revision

If you question a grade, you must contact your professor or practicum supervisor for clarifications or for the reasoning behind the grade.

If you still question the grade despite the explanations you receive, you can ask for a grade review, as set out in this regulation.

In all cases where the mandatory preliminary meeting with the professor could not be held or would prevent you from respecting the prescribed deadlines, you must provide written evidence that you attempted to reach the professor regarding the grade.

Submit your request for a grade review in writing to the assistant director responsible for undergraduate studies of the school offering the course in question. Your request must include:

• the course title, course syllabus, grade assigned and name of the professor who assigned it
• the detailed grounds for the appeal
• the assignment or test corrected by the professor, if applicable, and other relevant documents

To submit your request for a grade reviews, email the assistant director responsible for undergraduate studies in the school offering the course. Here are the email addresses:

• School of Nursing
• School of Human Kinetics
• Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences
• School of Nutrition

If you miss a final exam due to medical reasons or exceptional circumstances, as described in section A-8.6 of Academic Regulation A-8 — Evaluation of Student Learning, you might be allowed to write a deferred examination. Note that you must complete the Declaration of Absence from an Examination form.

Students in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing

If you’re a student in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing offered in collaboration with Algonquin College (whether enrolled at the University of Ottawa or Algonquin College), you don’t have to complete the Declaration of Absence from Examination for absences in NSG or SAI courses nor for any courses offered by Algonquin College. Instead, you must follow the School of Nursing guidelines and contact your professor to inform them of their absence.

For all other courses taken at the University of Ottawa campus (either in person or by distance learning), students in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program must complete the Declaration of Absence from an Examination form.

Note: If you don’t meet the course requirements of a deferred course prior to the date when official final grades for the term are posted, your enrolment in courses for which this course is a prerequisite will be canceled.

Faculty of Health Sciences Guidelines for Students Participating in Competitions

Description

See section C 3.2 of Academic Regulation C-3 on graduate enrolment and leaves of absence.

Important dates

You must submit your request in advance of the applicable dates in the Important academic dates and deadlines calendar for enrolment and tuition fee payment of the term for which you’re requesting the leave of absence.

We recommend that you meet with a member of the Academic Office (Graduate Studies) team, who can help you determine if you can appeal or benefit from an exception. Contact the office by joining the office virtual line or sending an Academic Office request.

How to make the request

Complete your leave of absence request using the uoZone portal. Be sure to attach the letter of request (see our sample appeal letter) and documentation supporting your request. Letters submitted without any supporting documents are not considered.

Description

Withdrawing from a course can affect whether you meet all your program requirements. Learn more about withdrawing from a course and consider the consequences carefully.

Important dates

You must submit your request to withdraw from a course as soon as possible, once you have identified the exceptional situation prompting the request.

We recommend that you meet with a member of the Academic Office (Graduate Studies) team, who can help you determine if you can appeal or benefit from an exception. Contact the office by joining the office virtual line or sending an Academic Office request.

How to make a request

Prepare a letter of request that explains your reasons for the retroactive withdrawal. See our sample appeal letter to make sure you include all relevant details.

Retroactive withdrawal usually applies to all courses you take in a given term. If you’re asking to withdraw from just some courses, you must provide a detailed explanation why your other courses should be kept on your transcript. Doing well in some courses but not in others isn’t a valid reason. Explain what limited you in some courses but not others.

Obtain the necessary documentation to support the request. Letters submitted without any supporting documents are not considered.

At any point during this process, you can consult the Office of the Ombudsperson or your student union (GSAÉD) for guidance, including reviewing your letter.

Complete the Appeal request form and submit it. All documentation should be submitted in PDF format. 

Description

You can be required to withdraw from your academic program in a variety of situations. See  Academic Regulation C-4 — Academic Standing for Graduate Studies as well as  Academic Regulation C-7 — Theses.

Important dates

You must submit your appeal in writing within 10 working days of receiving the withdrawal notification.

How to make an appeal

Visit the Academic Office of the Faculty of Health Sciences to consult an academic development and student retention specialist for graduate programs, who can assist you in determining whether your situation merits an appeal. To book an appointment email the Academic Office.

Prepare a letter that explains the reason for the appeal; refer to our sample appeal letter to ensure you include all relevant details.

At any point during this process, you can consult the Office of the Ombudsperson or your representing student union (GSAÉD) for guidance, including reviewing your letter.

Obtain the necessary documentation to support the request. Letters submitted without any supporting documents are not considered.

Complete the Appeal request form and submit it. All documentation should be submitted in PDF format. 

Description

You have the right to see, on request after grading, all documents used to establish your grade. See Academic Regulation A-9 — Revision of Grades and Appeal.

Important dates

When the grade in question is received on or before the last day of classes, you must submit your request within 10 working days of receiving the contested grade. For grades received after the last day of classes, the request must be submitted within 10 working days after the grade in question has become official (see the Important academic dates and deadlines for the exact date).

How to make a request for a grade revision

If you question a grade, you must contact your professor or practicum supervisor for clarifications or for the reasoning behind the grade.

If you still question the grade despite the explanations you receive, you can ask for a grade review, as set out in this regulation.

In all cases where the mandatory preliminary meeting with the professor could not be held or would prevent you from respecting the prescribed deadlines, you must provide written evidence that you attempted to reach the professor regarding the grade.

Submit your request for a grade review in writing to the assistant director responsible for graduate studies of the school offering the course in question. Your request must include:

• the course title, course syllabus, grade assigned and name of the professor who assigned it
• the detailed grounds for the appeal
• the assignment or test corrected by the professor, if applicable, and other relevant documents

To submit your request for a grade reviews, email the assistant director responsible for graduate studies in the school offering the course. Here are the email addresses:

• School of Nursing
• School of Human Kinetics
• Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences
• School of Rehabilitation Sciences