5.7 DEFERRAL OF FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND/OR TERM WORK

5.7.1 GROUNDS FOR DEFERRAL

Extensions of deadlines for completion of assignments or writing of final examinations may be granted to students on the basis of illness, or accident, or other extreme and legitimate circumstances beyond their control.  In special cases of classes that require submission of the final draft of an honours paper, deferrals may be granted if students have been managing their time responsibly and making good progress.

5.7.2 WITHDRAWAL OPTION

If students become very ill or encounter other serious difficulties early in the semester or when little or no coursework has yet been completed, withdrawal may be a better option (see §3.7 and §4.13). If in doubt, students may consult their faculty or college office for advice.

5.7.3 AUTHORITY TO APPROVE DEFERRALS

The authority to approve deferrals of term work (assignments and mid-term examinations) within the semester belongs to the instructor of the course.  All deferred work must be completed by the date of the final examination (or, if there is no final examination, by five days after the end of lectures) in order to allow the instructor to submit grades promptly.

In the case of mid-term examinations, the instructor may assign a make-up examination or may transfer the weight of the examination to another examination or assignment, including the final examination. Some faculties have regulations governing this process.

The authority to approve deferrals of final examinations and/or term work beyond the date of the final examination belongs to the dean of the faculty in which the student is enrolled. In practice, this authority is normally delegated by the dean to the faculty office (or, for students registered through a federated college, to the college’s academic or registrar’s office). Special students (accelerated, and casual) should apply to the Centre for Continuing Education. Visiting students should apply to the University Registrar.

5.7.4 APPLYING FOR A DEFERRAL BEYOND THE END OF THE SEMESTER

Students should notify their faculty or college and their instructor as quickly as possible if they are unable to write the final examination or otherwise complete the course. Communication by telephone or email is acceptable. Requests for deferral received more than two weeks after the final day of the examination period will be denied.

5.7.5 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Students should expect that supporting documentation will be required and must be submitted before a deferral is approved.  For illness or accident, supporting documentation will take the form of a certificate or letter from the attending physician clearly indicating the start and end dates of the illness and the student’s inability to write an examination, to complete assignments, and/or to attend classes, as relevant to the particular request. The University’s recommended medical certificate form is available from faculty and college offices and the Registrar’s Office, or may be printed from the web at www.uregina.ca. For other circumstances, students should consult their faculty or college office about acceptable forms of documentation.