Requirements

The MSAF (Administrative Report) is a single request which covers all of the student’s courses and applies only to the work due within the time period of the request.

MSAF (Administrative Report) requests for relief are for any of the three reasons below:

• extenuating circumstances (refer to definitions in Section A) lasting more than three (3) calendar days; and/or

• missed academic work worth twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the final grade; and/or

• any request for relief in a term where the MSAF (Self-Report) has already been used once.

Regulations

Students may only apply the MSAF Policy once to a single piece of work. A second MSAF submission for the same piece of work is not permitted.

Documentation

Students should not send documentation unless it has been requested by the Faculty/Program Office.

Supporting documentation may be required for an MSAF (Administrative Report). When requested by the Faculty/Program Office, students shall submit the McMaster University Student Health Certificate (completed by the licensed/registered health practitioner).

Requests for information and/or supporting documentation will, where possible, be limited to the nature of the limitation or restriction, in order to assess needs and determine whether the request for relief is granted, or if the request should be referred for processing under another policy or procedure.

Supporting documentation does not require the disclosure of a medical diagnosis but must be sufficient to allow the University to determine reasonable relief and/or explore reasonable alternatives.

Restrictions

Normally, relief for missed work will not be provided:

• where the cumulative value of missed work within a course, prior to the exam period, is greater than thirty-five percent (35%); or

• for more than two (2) MSAF (Administrative Report) requests within a single term.

Procedures

Students must contact their Faculty/Program Office to report their absence within one (1) calendar day after returning to their academic activities. Failure to contact and report an absence promptly will negate the opportunity for relief.

Students may or may not require an appointment to process the request and will be contacted by the Faculty/Program Office within normal business hours.

In some circumstances, students may be advised to submit a Petition for Special Consideration.

Meeting with an Academic Advisor

Students must arrange a meeting with an academic advisor for absences that last more than two weeks or relief may not be provided.

Students must meet with an advisor to discuss their options when:

• the cumulative value of missed work within a course is greater than thirty-five percent (35%); and/or

• they have exhausted their one MSAF (Self Report) and two MSAF (Administrative Reports), and further work is missed.

If the Request is Granted

If the request is granted, the Faculty/Program Office will process the relief request and notify the instructor(s) and the student.

Students Required to Contact Instructor

Students must contact their instructor(s) no later than one (1) calendar day after being notified that their request has been processed unless the course outline states otherwise. Failure to do so may negate the opportunity for relief.

Students are advised that instructors teaching large classes may require more time to respond.

Instructors

Instructor(s) will determine the reasonable relief for the request, in accordance with this Policy.

In the absence of a statement in their course outline on how requests will be addressed and communication expectations (e.g., posting information on A2L), instructors are expected to inform students of the relief in a reasonable timeframe.