Academic Consideration
We understand there may be times when you are unable to complete your academic responsibilities.
You may be able to avoid academic penalty by knowing your options when these situations
arise. To learn more, you can visit the Office of the Registrar website at What is Academic Consideration?
Before requesting academic consideration, review your course outline(s) to know the
dates, deadlines, the value of the work toward your final grade. Check the syllabus
to see if the course instructor has made any provisions for extensions, or make-up
tests and exams. Once you have confirmed this information, you can decide which reporting
method from the options below is best for your situation.
Documentation for Academic Consideration
Absences longer than 48-hours, course work worth more than 30% of the final grade,
religious/spiritual accommodations, varsity commitments, and final exams must be approved
by Brescia Academic Advisors. Documentation requirements will be determined based
on the reason for your request. Please see the chart below for more information about
what documentation is required.
In the Case of COVID symptoms and/or isolation, most students will not be able to
obtain a test to determine the nature of their illness. The Provincial Self-Assessment Tool directs suchs students to self-isolate (and therefore to not seek a COVID test).
If your absence is related to COVID, you may submit your academic consideration request
for medical reasons without official documetnation but please make note in the "Other
Reason" category on the "Request for Academic Consideration form" that your request
is COVID related.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in
all your courses, we strongly encourage you to connect with Accessible Education for more information.
Step 1 in the process to request academic consideration is to complete the below Request
for Academic Consideration form and submit it along with your supporting documentation
to the Hive at Brescia or by email at brescia@uwo.ca.
Request for Academic Consideration Form
Whenever possible, students who require academic consideration should provide notification
and documentation in advance of due dates, examinations, etc. Upon approval of the
academic consideration (Notification will be sent by email to your Western Email account),
students must follow up with their professors and their Academic Advisor in a timely
manner.
Our Academic Advisors require documetnation from the treating physician or licensed
health care provider before considering requests based on physical and mental health.
Academic consideration is available to students who are seriously affected by their
health, and as a result, are unable to meet their academic responsibilities.
Options for medical documentation include:
A Western Student Medical Certificate Form.
Supporting documentation from Student Health Services.
Emergency and Urgent Care notes may be accepted if sufficient information is provided,
e.g. duration and severity of the illness or injury, and the impact on academic participation.
Documentation should be submitted within 48-hours of receiving it from your physician
or licensed health care provider. Do not wait to advise your course instructor(s)
of any absence and your intention to request academic consideration.
Religious/Spiritual
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If your course requirements fall on a religious day or conflict with a spiritual ceremony,
you may be eligible for academic consideration. Make sure you contact the Hive as
soon as you are aware of the conflict.
Varsity Athletic Commitments
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Students who will miss academic responsibilities due to varsity commitments are eligible
for academic consideration if appropriate documentation is submitted in a timely manner.
Athletes must submit the Intercollegiate Athletics Program Commitment Verification Form with the appropriate signatures, along with the Request for Academic Consideration
form.
Compassionate Reasons
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We understand that life happens outside your student experiene. We also know that
an unfortunate event can disrupt your life without warning, brining with it extreme
consequences. We are here to support you as best we can, but we ask that you remember
these considerations are not granted automatically and documentation must be provided.
Documentation must include dates and support your connection to the event. Some examples
include:
For bereavement: funeral or visitation notices, a death certificate or obituary.
For weddings: an invitation and your relationship to the wedding party.
For non-varsity athletic commitments and non-Western academic events: proof of date,
time and duration, along with evidence that you are required to attend.
We advise that you submit your request as soon as possible, and avoid committing to
any event prior to finding out if your absence will be supported. Taking action early
will help to mitigate academic penalties. If you are unsure about your situtation,
or you are having difficulty getting the required documentation, please contact the
Hive for help.
