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Students (Accommodations, Appeals & Petitions)

Academic Accommodations & Petitions

Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances Learn more

Students who require accommodations to meet religious, Indigenous or Spiritual Observances are expected to read the Policy on Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances (RISO).

Students must make their requests within ten (10) working days from the beginning of the start of term to their Faculty/Program Office.

This Policy does NOT apply to the following:

  • general course or program requirements;
  • co-op; clinical and other experiential placements; residence; athletics
  • dietary restrictions; access to space, use of space; ablution
  • employment matters, including teaching assistantships

Absences for Other Known Obligations

Students are directed to contact their Faculty/Program Office to seek guidance on absences for obligations that are known about in advance (“known obligations”).

Known obligations may include the following:

  • mandatory legal obligations (e.g., jury duty, court dates);
  • planned surgeries; and
  • mandatory military obligations.

The granting of relief for known obligations is at the discretion of the Faculty/Program Office and are not appealable.

Faculty/Program Offices will use the MSAF tool for communications with undergraduate students.

Relief for Missed Academic Term Work (Undergraduate Students) Learn more

Students seeking relief for missed academic term work due to extenuating circumstances are expected to read the McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) Policy before submitting an MSAF Self-Report or MSAF Administrative Report.

The MSAF Policy supports the management of MSAF Self-Report and MSAF Administrative Report requests by reducing the requirement for documentation from a healthcare practitioner for short-term absences, while considering the needs and obligations of undergraduate students, instructors, and administrators.

Students should contact their respective Faculty/Program Office with any questions about the MSAF.

Permanent or Temporary Disability, & Retroactive Accommodation Learn more

Requests for accommodations related to a disability or retroactive accommodation should be directed to Student Accessibility Services or the Faculty Office.

Students should NOT seek accommodation directly from their professors, instructors, and/or teaching assistants.

  • Temporary Disability – a short-term injury or illness (e.g. broken limb or concussion) or an episodic condition where a functional limitation generally occurs within one academic term or less.
  • Permanent Disability – where a functional limitation will occur for more than one academic term.
  • Retroactive Accommodation – when the request is made after-the-fact (e.g. after a course has been completed), as the result of the discovery or diagnosis of an existing disability of which the student was previously unaware.

Requesting an Exception to the Regulations

A Petition for Special Consideration is for those instances where a student acknowledges that the rules and regulations of the University have been applied fairly but is requesting:

  • special consideration (e.g., permission to take courses at another university, deferred examination privileges or leave of absence), or
  • that the application of a particular University or Faculty regulation be waived because of compelling medical, personal or family reasons,.

Requests related to temporary or permanent disabilities, or for retroactive accommodations related to a disability are excluded from petitions.  Decisions made on Petitions for Special Consideration cannot be appealed to the Senate Board for Student Appeals.

Refer to the Undergraduate Calendar, General Academic Regulations (Form A), or Graduate Calendar, 5.2.4 Petitions for Special Consideration.

Request for Deferred Examination (Undergraduate Students) Undergraduate Calendar

When an undergraduate student misses a final examination or its equivalent because of compelling medical or personal reasons they are to use the Petition for Special Consideration: Request for Deferred Examination (Form B).

Please refer to the Undergraduate Calendar, General Academic Regulations for more information.

Requests related to temporary or permanent disabilities, or for retroactive accommodations related to a disability are excluded from petitions and must be processed under the Academic
Accommodation of Students with Disabilities policy

Decisions made on Petitions for Special Consideration cannot be appealed to the Senate Board for Student Appeals.

Graduate Students: Relief for Missed Academic Term Work / Deferred Examinations

The McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) Policy and Requests for Deferred Examination only apply to undergraduate students.

For information related to missed work and examinations graduate students should consult their program handbooks and/or contact their Program Office.

Appeals

Student complaints of alleged injustices arising out of University regulations, policies and actions that affect students directly, may be appealed under the Student Appeal Procedures.

Form A: Re-Read / Re-Assessment

A re-read/re-assessment is when a student questions their grade or the assessment of their performance on a piece of work or a program component and alleges error in the academic assessment of their work on the part of an instructor or a committee.

Form B: Formal Inquiry

A student questions their grade or the assessment of their performance on a piece of work or in a course, or their academic standing or status in a program, and alleges error or injustice on grounds other than the academic assessment of their work.

Form C: Appeal to the Senate Board for Student Appeals

The final step a student may take within the University to appeal a:

  • Form B decision
  • decision made by a Faculty Adjudicator under the Academic Integrity Policy
  • certain decisions (suspension/expulsion) made under the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Appeal Procedures homepage

Other Offices / Resources for Students

Academic Integrity Office website

The Office of Academic Integrity strives to assist instructors and students with issues of academic integrity. The main purpose of a university is to encourage and facilitate the pursuit of knowledge and scholarship.

Ombuds Office website

The Ombuds Office provides advice and assistance in the resolution of concerns and complaints.

The Ombuds Office assists with student-related academic and non-academic issues.

Office of Respectful Conduct in Clinical and Academic Environments (ORCCA) website

ORCCA functions as a community resource for all Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) members to educate, promote, support and address respectful conduct and behaviour across academic and clinical environments.

Student Case Management Office website

The Student Case Management Office (SCM) provides support to students throughout their time at university, providing resources to manage issues as well as crisis prevention and intervention for students who may be experiencing difficulty on campus.