academic accommodation

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There are some fairly clear rules of operation in effect at the School of Architecture that need to be respected in order to keep things running smoothly. Some are policies. Some are simply good practices.

EXTENSIONS, ILLNESSES AND ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION
It is typical in this Architecture program for students to work very hard and this can be bad for your physical health. You don’t tend to get as much rest, eat properly, and hence catch bugs and get sick. When you are overloaded, it is also the time when family problems that you may have been able to keep “under control,” tend to cause troubles with the completion of your final projects, assignments and exams.

It is important that if you have a problem, medical, family, stress related, whatever – and it is causing you grief in having the suitable mental framework for completing your assignments – that you inform your professor, the Undergraduate Officer, Donna Woolcott and if stress related or extremely private in nature, the Counsellor, as the problem arises. The information will be kept confidential.

If you need academic accommodation or extensions you MUST have a Verification of Illness form (pdf) or a Verification of Counselling Form completed and given to Donna for your file. Academic accommodations will not be made without adequate documentation. This is against University Policy. Academic accommodations that require extensions MUST go through Donna as extending time in one course invariably results in a domino effect that must be properly coordinated. An Extension Agreement will be completed and put in your file folder in the Front Office that notes the new deadline(s). Academic accommodations include, but are not limited to: missing a test/quiz; missing a presentation; missing a field trip; moving the hand in for an essay or project; rescheduling a review; requiring extra time to complete any work.

If you feel the need for academic accommodation due to illness or stress related manifestations you are NOT to write a test. Poor performance cannot be fixed after the fact. It is necessary to perform “damage control” ahead of time. If it is not going to be “too personal” when you receive the F, it shouldn’t be seen as too personal to speak privately about the matter when arrangements can be made.

If you feel too ill to write a test or exam, do not write it. We cannot undo a bad performance after the fact.

The best preventative advice is to get sleep every night, eat well, and kick back every once in a while for a mental break. All-nighters are completely ineffective ways of time management!!! They undermine your ability to function. Skipping classes is also a bad habit. You miss information and it takes longer to catch up than sitting there and listening. If you are having time management issues, please take the time to see the Counsellor.

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term. Once registered with OPD, please meet with the professor, in confidence, to discuss your needs. Letters are sent to the course professors regarding your accommodation. The Disability letter will be placed in your file. It is important to note that you must visit OPD at the beginning of every academic term to renew your accommodations. This might seem onerous, but it is the policy as not all disabilities are permanent and things may either get better or worsen.

It takes time for these letters to be processed so please visit OPD early in the term if not in the week before classes start.

If your accommodation includes extra time to write tests and exams, please query them as to appropriate accommodation for essays and project based work as these are not normally accommodated by the regular letter. Accommodation that requires special equipment will take some time to be put into place.

 

AVOIDANCE OF ACADEMIC OFFENSES
Academic Integrity:To create and promote a culture of academic integrity, the behaviour of all members of the University of Waterloo is based on honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.

Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm

Appeals:A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm

Note for students with disabilities: The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term. Once registered with OPD, please meet with the professor, in confidence, during my office hours to discuss your needs.