Student AffairsSteps to take if a student experiences a circumstance outside their control (e.g., health condition, family member death, challenge with housemates, etc.) and it is impacting their academics:
- Do you need medical or mental health care (i.e., need to connect with physician, counsellor, nurse, occupational therapist)? If yes, book an appointment at Student Wellness Services.
- Are you registered with Accessibility Services (QSAS) for the circumstance that is currently impacting your academics?
- If yes, email your course instructor(s) and copy your QSAS Advisor with your request for accommodation. If you are requesting a deferral for a centrally scheduled final exam, email the Exams Office (exams@queensu.ca) to cancel your exam accommodations. If you are uncertain about who your advisor is please email qsas.intake@queensu.ca.
- If no, how long do you think your circumstance will impact your academics?
- If 3 days or less – complete the Request for Academic Consideration Form. No medical documentation is required. If you have short-term COVID-19 symptoms and/or are missing only one deliverable, submit this request form within 4 days of the onset of your symptoms.
Follow instructions for your Faculty/School (in Section F). Students in Arts & Science, Commerce, and Engineering may need to complete the Formal Attestation Form as their supporting documentation (see Section F).
- If 3 days or more – you will need supporting documentation for your consideration request. Documentation needed may vary depending on the nature of your circumstance. Find details in “what supporting documentation do I need?” section below. If you are seeing a healthcare provider, be sure to ask for documentation.
- For respiratory illness symptoms only:
- follow and stay home
- Complete and submit the Request for Academic Consideration Form (Request for Academic Consideration Form)
- On the form, under section B. Documentation, select:
- 3 days or less
OR
- More than 3 days, and complete the self attestation form per your faculty process
- This will depend on the severity of your symptoms and your recovery time.
- 3 days or less
- Notify your instructor and follow your faculty website instructions regarding extenuating circumstances.
- If 3 days or less – complete the Request for Academic Consideration Form. No medical documentation is required. If you have short-term COVID-19 symptoms and/or are missing only one deliverable, submit this request form within 4 days of the onset of your symptoms.
If you have an ongoing disability or diagnosed health condition, we encourage you to consider registering with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) for ongoing accommodations, when you are able. Find out how to register with QSAS and documentation requirements.
Info for Students
Your studies may be impacted by illness or unexpected events during your time at Queen’s. The Academic Consideration for Students in Extenuating Circumstances Policy outlines the approach to providing students with extenuating circumstances with consistent and fair academic consideration.
Find additional supports & resources if you have a circumstance impacting your academics.
Do You Have an Extenuating Circumstance?
An extenuating circumstance is a personal circumstance beyond your control, (e.g., sudden or acute physical illness or mental distress, serious injury to yourself or significant others, bereavement, traumatic event, etc.) that has a direct and substantial impact on your ability to temporarily meet essential academic requirements or standards.
The Policy on Academic Considerations for Students in Extenuating Circumstances enables students with extenuating circumstances to request academic consideration in a fair, reasonable and consistent manner.
Academic Consideration vs Academic Accommodations
Academic Considerations
Academic consideration is an action taken by an educator in response to a student with an extenuating circumstance. Academic considerations are intended to minimize the impact of a serious or significant extenuating circumstance that is beyond a student’s control. Considerations may include but are not limited to: an excused absence, a brief reprieve from coursework, extended or deferred deadline, a modified schedule for assignments, labs, placements, projects, or comprehensive exams, a deferred exam or project, a medical leave of absence, an alternate assignment, a re-weighting of assigned marks, course withdrawal without penalty, or other considerations deemed appropriate by a Faculty or School Office.
Academic Accommodations
Academic accommodations are put in place to equalize learning opportunities and access to the academic environment for students with disabilities. A disability may include a temporary (e.g., a concussion or a broken arm) or permanent (e.g., a learning disability) condition. The functional limitations resulting from a disability can at times intersect with the academic environment in a way that creates a barrier for students. Some examples of accommodations include extra time on exams, permission to use assistive technology for exams, or permission to audio record lectures.
Supporting documentation can include the following:
- For COVID-19: Follow Faculty/School's established protocols for students with extenuating circumstances.
- Health Condition/Injury/Compassionate/Personal: Verification of Extenuating Circumstance Form, letter from a health care provider (i.e., doctor, nurse practitioner, social worker, counsellor, occupational therapist) or other professional who is familiar with the circumstance (e.g., Human Rights Advisor, Chaplain, etc.).
- Qualification/Invitation: Find out how to Request for an Excused Absence for a Significant Event/Activity. This may apply if you are participating in an event at the provincial, national, or international level that is either a Queen's Varsity Athletics event, or an event to which you were invited as a distinguished guest.
- Bereavement related circumstance: Obituary, death certificate.
- An accident report or police report.
- A court order.
Students who experience unforeseen technological or workspace disruptions that are beyond their control (e.g. hardware malfunction, unexpected internet connectivity issue, power outage, fire alarm, unexpected need to care for children, etc.) may be able apply for academic consideration. For more information about how to apply for this academic consideration, click on your individual Faculty/School website found in the section below.
Students who experience chronic technological difficulties or workspace disruptions (e.g. long-term hardware/software failure, prolonged poor internet coverage, lack of planning or knowledge of program software/onQ, missing notifications/reminders, use of unsupported/out-of-date software, etc.) would not qualify for academic consideration. Students requiring financial assistance to plan and mitigate against chronic disruptions are encouraged to apply for bursary funding from Student Awards.
- Faculty of Arts and Science (online portal for requests for academic consideration – paper requests not accepted)
- (go to the Commerce Portal for your program for additional information)
- School of Graduate Studies
- (if you are in concurrent-ed, contact your undergraduate faculty otherwise, contact the Associate Dean)
Info For Faculty and Staff
A student’s studies may be impacted by illness or unexpected events during their time at Queen’s University. The university has developed a policy to outline the approach to providing students with extenuating circumstances with consistent and fair academic consideration.
Academic Considerations
Academic consideration is an action taken by an educator in response to a student with an extenuating circumstance. Academic considerations are intended to minimize the impact of a serious or significant extenuating circumstance that is beyond a student’s control.
Considerations may include but are not limited to: an excused absence, a brief reprieve from coursework, extended or deferred deadline, a modified schedule for assignments, labs, placements, projects, or comprehensive exams, a deferred exam or project, a medical leave of absence, an alternate assignment, a re-weighting of assigned marks, course withdrawal without penalty, or other considerations deemed appropriate by a Faculty or School Office.
Academic considerations are determined based on a conversation between the student and their instructor. Students are advised to submit documentation and/or forms related to the Policy on Academic Considerations for Students in Extenuating Circumstances through the Faculty or School Office that is granting their degree. Students are responsible for contacting their individual instructors to discuss academic considerations once documentation is processed. The final decision regarding the academic considerations are made by the course instructor.
Academic Accommodations
Academic accommodations remove disability related barriers and enable students to access the academic environment. Students will either receive permanent or interim accommodations which are approved by Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) based on medical documentation that meets QSAS documentation criteria. Find some of the accommodations that may be approved as part of the accommodation process.
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Accommodations can be interim or permanent (accommodation expiry dates will be specified)
- If this student requests an assignment extension or exam deferral for reasons of a disability for which they are accommodated, please do not refer them to the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. Students are advised to email their instructor and copy their QSAS Advisor if they need an extension or deferral. If you have questions or concerns considering any requests, please contact the students QSAS Advisor.
Paperwork for Students Requesting Academic Consideration
Students must submit the Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances Form (with supporting documentation, if required) to their Faculty/School Office. Visit Section F of this form to understand this process for your Faculty/School. Most of the time forms are sent directly to Faculty and Staff.
Students who submit multiple “Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstance” forms without documentation
A student may have multiple extenuating circumstances throughout a term or academic year and need to use a Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances Form (without documentation). It is recommended that the instructor contact the student’s Faculty or School Office to determine the appropriate next steps, and ensure the student has the appropriate supports in place.
Some Faculties/Schools require students to provide documentation if they submit more than one request in a term, particularly during midterms or final exams. If documentation is not available (e.g., the student was at home and not seen by a health care provider), a Formal Attestation of Extenuating Circumstances Form, signed at the Faculty Office, may be submitted.
Students should submit a Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstance Form until they are able to submit the Formal Attestation. Please see Section F (page 3) of the Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstance Form and/or consult your Faculty or School website for more information.
Students who request an academic consideration and are registered with Accessibility Services (QSAS)
Students who experience functional impairments due to an ongoing health condition are encouraged to registered with Accessibility Services (QSAS). Despite having these accommodations, students may require additional support (beyond what it outlined in their accommodations plan). For example, a student with irritable bowel syndrome experiences worsening symptoms and need extension on assignment, absence from class, deferral of an exam/test/quiz).
In these situations, students are instructed to email their instructors and copy their QSAS Advisor. The student is NOT required to submit any documentation or forms from the Extenuating Circumstances Policy to support this request. The Accessibility Services Advisor will ensure the documentation on file at QSAS supports this request, and will follow-up with the instructor or student if they have any concerns.
Students who submit a Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances Form without documentation (i.e., 3 days or less) and request an additional day.
Students need to submit a new Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances Form to their Faculty/School Office, and provide supporting documentation to extend their request beyond 3 days.
Concern over legitimacy of an academic consideration request
The Academic Considerations for Students in Extenuating Circumstances Policy is based on the principle of “good faith.” Instructors, Faculty and School Offices are advised to presume that all involved are acting with honest and sincere intentions. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a request, you are welcome to consult with your Faculty or School Office. Students will submit a request for academic consideration to the Faculty/School Office that is granting their degree. The Faculty/School Office will review and verify the documentation provided (if required) and instructors will be advised of the expected duration of the student’s extenuating circumstance as well as the severity of the impact of this circumstance on the student’s ability to participate in academics.
Determining which academic considerations are appropriate based on the documentation
The documentation, provided from the Faculty/School Office, will likely outline whether a student is capable of completing any course work, and give some idea as to the amount of course work a student can complete (i.e., can the student attend classes and complete assignments?). The instructor should begin by considering the student’s progress in the course, the course requirements, and the severity of the impact of the extenuating circumstance.
In the event the individual completing the documentation suggests a student will be unable to complete any course work for several weeks, an instructor may advise the student to follow-up with the Faculty or School Office to investigate options for course withdrawal without penalty. If the student is unable to complete any work for up to a week, the instructor may consider providing the student with an extension or deferral on any evaluations and allow the student to be absent from tutorials or labs, where possible. If a student has completed all of the course work thus far, but has a final exam to complete, the instructor may allow the student to delay the exam until the student is able to write, based on the anticipated resolution of the extenuating circumstance.
In the event there is uncertainty about the appropriate academic consideration, please connect with the contact within your Faculty or School Office for guidance.
Note: Instructors should NOT provide informal academic accommodations to a student based on documentation received through the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. If a student requests academic accommodations (e.g., extra time on an exam, separate room to write an exam, computer to write an exam), direct the student to connect with Accessibility Services (QSAS)
Including academic consideration information in a course syllabi
Please first refer to your Faculty/School Office for a statement regarding the Policy on Academic Consideration for Students with Extenuating Circumstances. If a statement is not available, you are welcome to use the following statement:
Queen’s University is committed to providing academic consideration to students experiencing extenuating circumstances that are beyond their control and which have a direct and substantial impact on their ability to meet essential academic requirements (e.g., death of a family member, short-term illness). If you have an extenuating circumstance during this course, please go here for additional information regarding how to submit a request for academic consideration.
Physical or mental health supports for students with an extenuating circumstances
Find other supports and resources available on- and off-campus.
Contacts for Individual Faculty and School Offices
Faculty of Arts and Science
asc.consideration@queensu.ca
Faculty of Arts and Science (online portal for requests for academic consideration)
Smith Engineering
engineering.aac@queensu.ca
(613) 533-6000 x 78013
Smith School of Business (Queen’s Commerce)
commerce.aacc@queensu.ca
613.533.2324
(go to the Commerce Portal for your program for additional information)
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Law – JD Program
law.accommodations@queensu.ca
Faculty of Law – Certificate in Law
lawcertificate@queensu.ca
School of Medicine
Dr. Richard Van Wylick
3wrcv@queensu.ca
Faculty of Education
edudirector@queensu.ca
613.533.6000 X77811
(if you are in concurrent-ed, contact the Executive Program Director of Teacher Education, Professor Stephen Sliwa)
School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
programassistant.pt@queensu.ca
Bachelor of Health Sciences
bhsc@queensu.ca
613.533.2566
School of Nursing
Barbara Bolton
boltonb@queensu.ca
613.533.6000 X74751
School of Graduate Studies
Academic Accommodations
Students who require academic accommodations can find additional information about accessibility documentation requirements and forms.