Academic concessions & accommodations
If your academic courses are affected by illness, accident or family affliction, you may wish to request an academic concession.
Are you a student with a learning disability, ADHD, mental health issue or long-term recurring physical or sensory disability? Do you have chronic health issues? If you do, UVic provides academic accommodations to address barriers to your education.
Academic concessions & deferrals
In cases of illness, accident or a family emergency, you can apply for an academic concession.
You must submit your request for academic concession within 10 working days of the end of the examination period of the term you took the course in. If you submit your request after this date, you may need to provide additional documentation to support the delay in submitting your request.
The ombudsperson explains UVic academic concessions through real student examples.
Medical documentation for absences
If you need to take time away from class because of injury, family or personal affliction, or illness, let your instructor know right away. If your academic performance is affected, you can ask your instructor for a deferral or substitution of a mid-term test or exam, or of other work due during the term.
Normally requests for deferrals and substitutions must be accompanied by a medical note. For the Summer 2021 session, you do not need to provide a note to your instructor as proof of illness, regardless of the length of the illness. This will help to contain and prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19.
Academic accommodations
The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) arranges for academic accommodations to help reduce barriers. They provide different ways of meeting essential course or program requirements. Fulfilling these requirements remains your responsibility.
Accommodation examples:
- note takers
- sign language interpreters
- extensions of exam writing times
- distraction-reduced exam environments
- classes in accessible locations
- adaptive technology
We need extra time to put some services in place. The services that need extra time include:
- course materials in an alternative format
- sign language interpreting or transcribing
- adaptations to a physical learning environment
Appeals
Undergraduate students
- If you believe an administrative error occurred or have extenuating circumstances, you can request a retroactive course drop and fee reduction.
- If you were denied admission or reregistration to the University and feel that you have extenuating circumstances or can provide additional information, you can appeal the decision.
Graduate students
- Academic appeals at the graduate level should be launched within your academic unit. Contact your graduate secretary for assistance.
- If your appeal within your academic unit is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the Faculty of Graduate Studies on any matter within its jurisdiction.
Contact the ombudsperson
The Ombudsperson office is an independent, impartial, and confidential resource to help undergraduate and graduate students resolve problems or disputes fairly. You can contact the ombudsperson at any time to:
- understand your options, rights and responsibilities
- receive coaching on how to raise an issue or complaint
- facilitate communication or problem solve
- get assistance in the use of appeal procedures
- investigate and make recommendations