Important Information!
Questions about the MSAF? Contact your Faculty/Program Office.
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Use the MSAF for Extenuating Circumstances
The MSAF is to be used for extenuating circumstances: when a student is unable to meet their academic obligations due to a situation that is outside of their control, such as an illness, medical event, or other situation.
Students who have Academic Accommodations Student Accessibility Services (SAS) webpage
If your absence is directly related to a matter for which you have academic accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to seek assistance, and you should not submit an MSAF.
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The MSAF Policy cannot be used:
- for the purpose of time-management;
- for academic work such as online assessments (e.g., quizzes, tests, etc.), where the student has already completed the work, or has attempted to complete the work. This includes the viewing and/or partial completion of online assessments (e.g., quizzes, tests, etc.);
- to apply for relief for any final examination or its equivalent (refer to Petitions for Special Consideration: Request for Deferred Examination, in the Undergraduate Calendar);
- for absences in a student’s clinical placement, co-op placement, or internship; and
- for McMaster Continuing Education (MCE) programs and courses. MCE students are directed to contact their course instructor.
Types of Absences Referred to Other Policies / Processes
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. These offices will use the MSAF tool for communications.
Policy on Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances (RISO) Link to the Policy Homepage
The Policy on Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances (RISO) is to be used by students requesting academic accommodation for religious, Indigenous and/or spiritual Observances.
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;
and employment matters, including teaching assistantships.
Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Link to the Policy Homepage
Students seeking accommodations related to a disability or retroactive accommodation are directed to use this policy.
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.
MSAF (Self-Report)
The MSAF (Self-Report) should be submitted when the student is ready and able to return to their academic studies/duties.
If your absence is directly related to a matter for which you have academic accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to seek assistance, and you should not submit an MSAF.
Questions about the MSAF?
All questions should be directed to your Faculty/Program Office.
Go to the “Faculty & Program Contacts” tab to find the contact information for your Faculty/Program Office.
Check the Course Outline!
Before submitting your MSAF you should review the course outline(s).
Some course outlines have instructions on how requests will be addressed. (e.g., how missed academic work will be accommodated) and further communication expectations.
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Requirements
The MSAF (Self-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 (Self-Report) requests for relief shall meet all three of the requirements below:
- the piece of work is worth less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the final grade;
- is resulting from extenuating circumstances (refer to the definitions in Section A); and
- the absence (time period covered by the request) lasts up to three (3) calendar days.
Regulations
Students must submit their MSAF (Self-Report) within one (1) calendar day of the end of the three (3) calendar day period, and failure to do so may negate the opportunity for relief.
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.
The MSAF (Self-Report) may only be submitted once per Term, not per course.
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%).
Important Information!
Submitting an MSAF
Students shall use MOSAIC to make an MSAF (Self-Report) request, in compliance with the regulations listed above. Students shall not submit accompanying documentation with the MSAF (Self-Report) request.
Once submitted, if the request meets the criteria of the MSAF Policy, students should consider their request to be approved. An automated email will be sent to the course instructor(s) to inform them of the request.
Students are Required to Contact their Instructor
Students must contact their instructor(s) no later than one (1) calendar day after submitting the request 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.
Absences Longer Than 3 Calendar Days
For absences that exceed three (3) calendar days, students are directed to the MSAF (Administrative Report).
Required 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.
MSAF (Administrative Report)
If your absence is directly related to a matter for which you have academic accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to seek assistance, and you should not submit an MSAF.