This page summarizes Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, which should be reviewed in its entirety before submitting a petition or grievance.
At the informal and formal levels, students are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from the associate dean, undergraduate studies, faculty undergraduate coordinator, or their academic advisor.
Petitions
A petition involves instances where a student seeks relief from Faculty or University academic rules and regulations. Normally, the approval of a petition requires that the student can show that extenuating circumstances were experienced. Extenuating circumstances are issues beyond the student's control that had significant negative impacts on the student's ability to be successful within a defined period of time. Appropriate supporting documentation, such as notes from medical doctors or counselors, should be obtained as near as possible to the time when the student experienced the extenuating circumstances. All supporting documentation should be submitted along with the Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations (Form 70A).
Grievances
A student who believes that an error in academic judgment or procedure has occurred may initiate a grievance by communicating directly with the individual whose action or decision is being questioned within one month of the event. A student who wishes to proceed to the challenge stage must deliver a Notice of Challenge (Form 70B) to the Faculty’s associate dean, undergraduate studies within 10 working days of receiving the response to the request or, if there was no timely response, within 10 working days of when the response was due (20 working days from the request).
A student who believes that the grade received in an examination, essay, or other piece of academic work is unreasonable can initiate a request for reassessment. The first step in this process is for the student to approach the course instructor and attempt to resolve the matter informally. This step must take place within one month of the notification of the grade. If the problem cannot be resolved, the student may submit a Notice of Reassessment Challenge (Form 70C) to the unit head of the academic unit offering the course or, for courses with ENVS subject code, to the associate dean, undergraduate studies. Submission of the notice is due within 10 working days of receiving the decision from the instructor or within 10 working days of when the response was due (20 working days from the request).