The academic requirement I’m missing is in an Arts and Science class, but I am not an Arts and Science student (ie. Engineering, Commerce, Nursing, Health Sciences). Should I submit a request using the Arts and Science Portal?
No. If you are a student from another Faculty (i.e., Commerce, Engineering, Health Sciences or Nursing student, or a graduate student), please see the Academic Consideration departments across campus list under the “Info for Faculty and Staff” section and “Faculty/School Office Contacts for the Academic Considerations” drop down to find the appropriate contact for your Faculty.
Should I submit a request for Academic Consideration if I am not missing an academic requirement?
Generally, no. If you are not missing an assignment or other academic requirement and there are no marks for attending a class, tutorial or lab, you do not need to submit a request for Consideration.
Please double check your syllabi to ensure you aren't missing any deliverables (i.e: participation marks, etc.) before submitting.
If you need to add a course after submitting, please email our team (see “Who do I contact if I have questions?”) below.
I am experiencing high stress because of my studies or an upcoming exam. Should I make a request for Academic Consideration?
No. It is common to experience some degree of stress related to academic deadlines and/or exams. Academic Consideration is not intended to be used for situations where you are experiencing academic or exam-related stress. For more information, please see the “What circumstances do not qualify for Academic Consideration” section above.
I have an ongoing disability. Can I submit a request?
If you have an ongoing disability, your needs are likely best served by Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS). However, please refer to the specific points below to see what best fits the circumstance you are experiencing:
1. You have an ongoing disability, and you are not registered with QSAS: Please visit Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) website to begin the process of registering using the steps below:
- Please upload your documentation and complete the Student Intake Form in the secure Online Intake Portal on the QSAS webpage.
- For more information on the intake process, please contact the Intake Coordinator at qsas.intake@queensu.ca
2. You have an ongoing disability, are registered with QSAS, and you are experiencing an exacerbation of your disability:
- Often extenuating circumstances can exacerbate symptoms of an ongoing disability. Students can receive support for exacerbations of their ongoing disability through Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS). Please send an e-mail to your instructor regarding your specific accommodation needs and copy your accommodation advisor. This is the best means for you to receive the accommodation you require. If you are not sure if you are registered, or do not know your QSAS Advisors contact information, please contact qsas.intake@queensu.ca.
3. You have an ongoing disability, are registered with QSAS, and you are NOT experiencing an exacerbation of your disability:
- If your request is related to an extenuating circumstance (I.e., bereavement, illness, accident) that is not exacerbating your disability, please submit a request for Academic Consideration through the Academic Consideration Request Portal.
For more information, including a handy “Consideration and Accommodation” cheat sheet, please see the “Academic Consideration and Academic Accommodation” section above.
When should I use my one short term request without documentation per term?
If you have documentation that clearly states the duration and severity of the extenuating circumstance you are experiencing, it is always better to use this documentation to support your request. Please note that we can only validate dates that are clearly visible on supporting documentation.
If you do not have access to documentation, you should use your one short-term request per term without documentation before requesting an Attestation form.
What kinds of Academic Consideration can my instructor grant?
Academic consideration includes but is not limited to:
- an excused absence;
- a deferral;
- an extension;
- a modified schedule for assignments, projects, labs, or placements;
- an alternative assignment;
- a re-weighting of term marks;
- permission for an incomplete grade;
- course withdrawal without penalty (this requires an appeal to the Associate Dean of Studies)
Your instructor will determine which form of academic consideration is appropriate for your course based on the academic requirement(s) you may miss, and the essential requirements/learning outcomes of the course. All students who receive Academic Consideration must meet all essential academic requirements/learning outcomes and standards of the course. Academic Consideration does not guarantee academic achievement in a course/program.
Can I submit supporting documentation in a different language?
As an English language school, Queen’s does not have the capacity to translate supporting documentation from other languages. To be able to assess the severity and timeframe of an extenuating circumstance, we require documentation in English. Please review the “Supporting Documentation” section for more information regarding our required translation process.
How do I extend my request?
If your request for Academic Consideration needs to be extended beyond what has been previously verified, please simply submit a new request with updated documentation. Our team reviews your entire history of requests when evaluating all submissions, so we will take this into account when reviewing new information.
My need for Academic Consideration extends into next term. What should I do?
Students are expected to make decisions about their academics on a semesterly basis. This means that if you have an extenuating circumstance that spans two academic terms, the Faculty office expects you decide about your involvement in new course(s) based on your current abilities before the drop deadline, and adjust your course load as needed. Any requests which documentation supports a timeframe that extends into the new academic term will be validated up until the end of the current term only. The student then can submit a new consideration for the new term, if needed, using the same documentation. Please note that consideration using the same documentation will only consider the time remaining in the documentation not used in the previous term.
Does consideration need to be approved before my exam/deliverable deadline?
No, although requests should be submitted as soon as the need becomes apparent, which will send a notification to course instructors. This gives teaching staff ample notice to plan for possible Consideration options to assist you.
Due to the volume of requests we receive, it may take our team up to 6 business days to verify your request. Teaching staff are understanding that this process may take time. We do appreciate your patience and ask that you do not contact our staff for updates on the status of your request; this further slows down the process.
Can I submit a request for Consideration after the course has ended?
The Faculty Office generally does not accept requests for Academic Consideration once a course has closed/ended. In most cases, an academic petition is likely to be recommended; you can make an appointment with an Academic Advisor to discuss your options by calling 613-533-2470 or emailing asc.studentservices@queensu.ca to make an appointment.
Exceptional cases will be reviewed by our Academic Consideration Team on a case-by-case basis. To be eligible to submit a request for Academic Consideration after the course has ended, you must meet the following criteria:
- Your extenuating circumstance has impeded your ability to submit your consideration request in a timely manner
- You have supporting documentation clearly outlining the severity, timeline and duration of your extenuating circumstance.
- Your professor is in support of your request for academic consideration and is willing to accept work late.
- Exception: In cases where the student has disclosed sexual violence, the university has a legal obligation to provide consideration for the student. In these cases, the student only has to meet criteria 1 and 2 to be able to proceed with a request.
- If you need assistance, please see the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services website to Get Help Now.
If you believe you meet all these criteria, please reach out to our Academic Considerations Team at asc.consideration@queensu.ca.