Passed Courses May Not Be Repeated

Students may not repeat any course in which they have already obtained a mark of 50% or higher.

Notice of Collection of Personal Information - Freedom of Information and Privacy Act

The University of Toronto respects your privacy. Personal information that you provide to the University is collected pursuant to section 2(14) of the University of Toronto Act, 1971. It is collected for the purpose of administering admissions, registration, academic programs, university-related student activities, activities of student societies, safety, financial assistance and awards, graduation and university advancement, and reporting to government. In addition, the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities has asked that we notify you of the following: The University of Toronto is required to disclose personal information such as Ontario Education Numbers, student characteristics and educational outcomes to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities under s. 15 of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.19, as amended. The ministry collects this data for purposes such as planning, allocating and administering public funding to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational and training institutions and to conduct research and analysis, including longitudinal studies, and statistical activities conducted by or on behalf of the ministry for purposes that relate to post-secondary education and training. Further information on how the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities uses this personal information is available on the ministry’s website.
At all times it will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If you have questions, please refer to www.utoronto.ca/privacy or contact the University Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator at McMurrich Building, Room 104, 12 Queen's Park Crescent West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8.

Course Enrolment

Course Enrolment – Consult the Schedule of Dates to ascertain the dates by which courses may be added or dropped. Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites & corequisites and abstaining from exclusions. Students enrolled in courses for which they do not have prerequisites and co-requisites or are exclusions may have their registration in those courses cancelled at any time without notice.

Course Loads
Students in the degree program at the Faculty of Music are required to be registered in a full-time course load in all four years of study. 4.0 credits is the minimum required course load for the fall-winter session. The maximum permitted load is 6.0 credits. Those with a “B” standing or higher may petition to take up to 6.5 credits. Students who have completed four years of full-time study have the option of being part-time in additional years required to complete their outstanding degree requirements. For those admitted prior to the 2017-18 academic year, the maximum permitted load is 7.0 credits. Those with a “B” standing or higher may petition to exceed 7.0 credits.

Students in the Artist Diploma at the Faculty are required to be registered in a full-time course in all three years of study. 4.0 credits is the minimum required course load.

Students have the option of enrolling in more courses than what is required for fulfilling degree requirements. The grades achieved in these courses will be factored into the GPA. Therefore, it is important to realistically assess your ability to handle the extra courses, and remove them from your record by the appropriate deadlines. No special consideration will be given to students because of their “extra” course load.

Prerequisites, Co-requisites, and Exclusions
Prerequisites and co-requisites are established by the divisions/departments to ensure that students enrolling in a course have the necessary academic preparation to be successful.  Students are responsible for fulfilling prerequisites and co-requisites, and if they enroll in a course for which they do not have the published prerequisites or co-requisites, it is at the discretion of the division/department to cancel their enrolment in the course at any time during the enrolment period.  If students withdraw from a course, they must also withdraw from any course for which it is a co-requisite unless the department/division offering the latter course agrees to waive the co-requisite. 

An exclusion is a course that is deemed to have content that significantly overlaps with another course.  Prerequisites, co-requisites, and exclusions will be listed below the course description. 

Prerequisite
A course (or other qualification) required as preparation for enrolment in another course.  Prerequisites must be completed in advance of enrolment in a course.

Co-requisite
A course to be undertaken concurrently with another course.  If a student has previously passed the co-requisite course, the division/department will waive the co-requisite.

Recommended Preparation
Background material or courses that may enhance a student's understanding of a course, but that are not required for enrolment in the course.

Exclusions
Students may not receive degree credit for a course that lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed.  If they enrol in such a course, they may be removed at any time during the enrolment period at the discretion of the department/division.  If allowed to remain enrolled in an excluded course, the second course taken will be designated Extra, and it will not count towards degree requirements. 

Canceling Courses
Students who do not intend to complete a course or courses (with the exception of the Basic Music Courses) must use the Student Web Service to cancel the course before or by the final date to cancel courses from the academic record (refer to Schedule of Dates). Students still enrolled in a course after the final date to cancel the course will receive a grade for that course. Not attending classes or ceasing to complete further course work or not writing the examination do not constitute grounds for cancellation without academic penalty from a course; the course remains on the record with the grade earned.
Students are not permitted to cancel or withdraw from a course in which an allegation of academic misconduct is pending from the of the alleged offence until the final disposition of the accusation.

Taking Courses Outside the Faculty of Music
Courses at the Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

Students registered in the Faculty of Music may enrol in courses offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science, UTM, UTSC, and Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, provided that they meet the enrolment controls and prerequisites established by those divisions.  Courses taken in excess of the degree requirements will be included in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation. Although academic and course refund deadlines may be different for students of those Divisions, as a Faculty of Music student, they must adhere to all Faculty of Music deadlines (e.g. enrolment, cancellation, refund, etc) with the exception of the start and end dates.  Note that the Faculty of Music does not extend the option of electing CR/NCR as the final mark in the courses.

Non-degree students in the Faculty of Music may enrol in Arts & Science, UTM, UTSC, and Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design courses, provided that they meet the enrolment controls and prerequisites established by those divisions.  

Courses at Other Universities (Letter of Permission)
Students wishing to complete one or more courses at another university, for credit towards a Faculty of Music degree or diploma, must apply in advance to the Registrar. Calendar descriptions and course outlines must be provided. An official Letter of Permission will be issued only for courses relevant to the student’s program and deemed to be fully equivalent to an appropriate University of Toronto course. A letter of permission will only be given to a student in good standing, with a minimum CGPA of at least 1.5 in the session prior to studies at the host institution and with no financial obligations to the University. Students who are on academic suspension will not be eligible for a letter of permission for that academic session. Students can complete a maximum of 5.0 credits on a letter of permission. Students admitted with transfer credits may be limited in the number of credits they may attempt on a letter of permission. For those admitted into Year 2, the sum of on-admission transfer credits (maximum 8.0 credits) and letter of permission transfer credits cannot exceed 10.0 credits; for those admitted into Year 3, the sum of on-admission transfer credits (maximum 10 credits) and letter of permission transfer credits cannot exceed 10.0 credits.
Credit will not be given for courses taken elsewhere without a Letter of Permission from the Faculty of Music. A fee of $41 is levied for applications.

Term Work, Final Exams, and Academic Standing

The following regulations summarize the Faculty’s implementation of the University’s Grading Practices Policy.

Marking Schemes
One form of evaluation cannot count for the final mark in a course.
Self-evaluation by individual students or by groups of students is not permissible.
As early as possible in each course, and no later than the last date to enroll in courses, the instructor must make available the Course Grading Scheme & Syllabus at a regularly scheduled class. The Grading schemes must indicate the methods by which the student performance will be evaluated, their relative weights in the final mark, due dates and penalties for lateness. Instructors are also required to submit a copy of these documents with the Registrar’s Office for Music courses and Departmental Offices for Arts and Science Courses.
Once announced, the instructor may not change the form of assessments or their relative weight without the consent of a simple majority of students attending the class, provided the vote is announced no later than in the previous class. Any changes must be reported to the Registrar’s Office. The only exception to this is in the case of the declaration of a disruption. (Please see the University Policy on Academic Continuity).

Term Work
Instructors MUST assign, grade and return at least one significant assignment as early as possible, and at the latest before the final date to cancel a course without academic penalty. The only exception is that for “Y” courses; the deadline in these cases, is the last regularly scheduled class during the first week of classes in January. Even though the Basic Music courses cannot be dropped, instructors are required to comply with this policy. Instructors must return by the deadline one or more marked assignments/performance evaluations worth a combined total of at least 10% of the final mark for “F/S” courses and 20% for “Y” courses. Note that this regulation applies to courses that are performance-based as well.

All term work must be submitted on or before the last day of classes in the course concerned, unless a later date is specified by the instructor. Students who are unable to meet the deadline due to extenuating circumstances must obtain approval from the instructor for an extension. This extension may be for no longer than five business days after the end of the final examination period. If additional time is needed, the student must petition through the Registrar’s Office.

Students are strongly advised to retain rough and draft work as well as copies of their essays and assignments as they may be required by the instructor.
All written work that has been evaluated should be returned with comments as the instructor considers appropriate, and time made available for discussing it. Any inquiries pertaining to the grade must be done within one month of the return date of the work. Instructors must retain unclaimed term work for at least six months beyond the end of the course.

Missed Term Tests/Performances
Students who miss a term test/performance will be assigned a mark of zero for the test unless they satisfy the following conditions:
Students who miss a term test/performance due to extenuating circumstances may within a week, submit to the instructor a written request for special consideration explaining the reason and providing appropriate documentation. A U of T Verification of Student Illness or Injury Form must be submitted for absences relating to medical reasons.

A student whose explanation is accepted by the instructor/department will be entitled to one of the following considerations:

1. In courses where there is no other term work as part of the evaluation scheme, a makeup test/performance must be given.
2. In other courses, a makeup test OR increase in the weighting of other graded work by the amount of the missed test/performance.

If the student is granted permission to take a makeup test/performance and misses it, then a mark of zero is assigned for the test/performance unless the instructor/department is satisfied that missing the makeup test was unavoidable. No student is automatically entitled to a second makeup test/performance.

A student who misses a term test/performance cannot subsequently petition for late withdrawal from the course without academic penalty on the grounds that there was no term work returned before the drop date.

Performance Courses

Major Ensemble: Students who require a Major Ensemble in a given year are required to do a placement audition during Registration Week. Audition date/time will be available at https://performance.music.utoronto.ca/ in ealry July. The required repertoire will also be posted here in early July. This audition determines the student’s assignment to a major ensemble for the given academic year. These assignments are at the discretion of the Performance Division.

Harp and Guitar majors are not required to audition. Keyboard majors are required to audition for a vocal major ensemble. Alternatively, any keyboard major who is proficient on another instrument is eligible to audition for one of the instrumental major ensembles. If successful, the instrumental major ensemble would fulfil the ensemble requirement for the given academic year.

All other instrument majors are required to audition on their major performance medium.

All rehearsals including the extra ones planned the week before each concert are mandatory. Students who are unable to perform/sing due to physical problems are required to attend and observe rehearsals.

Applied Music: Students receive 24 one-hour individual instruction in their major performance medium.
Applied music teacher assignments are at the discretion of the Performance Coordinator.

Guidelines for Term Work Evaluation in Applied Music

Guidelines for Jury & Recital Evaluation

Recital: Students are required to perform as scheduled by the Performance Office. Recitals constitute 40% of the work in PMU385Y1 and PMU485Y1 (JMU385Y1 and JMU485Y1 for Jazz majors).

Chamber Music: The formation of the chamber groups happens during Orientation week. While specific requests for chamber groups can be brought to the relevant Chamber Music Coordinator or the Performance Office for consideration, it should be noted the that the final decision is at the discretion of the Chamber Music Coordinators and the Performance Division. Priority will be given to those students who are required to complete chamber music as part of their program requirements.

Performing Engagements: During the academic year many students wish to take advantage of performing opportunities that may enhance and complement their studies in the Faculty of Music. Should a scheduling conflict arise because of a performing opportunity, this must be reported to the Performance Division, where an attempt will be made to resolve the problem. Students must realize, however, that academic obligations take priority over any outside engagement.

Final Examinations

Final examinations are held at the end of each session or subsession. The dates of each exam period are printed on the Schedule of Dates. Students taking courses during the day may be required to write evening examinations, and students taking evening courses may be required to write examinations during the day. Examinations may be held on Saturdays. Students who make personal commitments during the examination period do so at their own risk. No special consideration is given and no special arrangements are made in the event of conflicts. Misreading of the examination timetables will not be accepted as grounds for petition or academic appeal.

Students who are unable to write/perform their examinations due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control should contact the Registrar (See “Petitions”). Students who have three consecutive written final examinations (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening; or afternoon, evening, next morning) should contact the Registrar, by the deadline indicated on the exam schedule. Students who cannot write a final exam at the scheduled time due to a religious obligation should report this conflict to the Registrar as soon as the conflict is known, and no later than the deadline indicated on the exam schedule. Information regarding dates, times and locations of examinations will not be given by telephone; for the most up to date examination timetable consult the Faculty of Music Website (www.music.utoronto.ca).

Rules for the Conduct of Examinations

1. No person will be allowed in an examination room during an examination except the candidates concerned and those supervising/adjudicating the examination.
2. Candidates must appear at the examination room at least twenty minutes before the commencement of the examination.
3. Candidates shall bring their photo identification (signed Photo ID) and place it in a conspicuous place on their desks. Photo identification may include any one of the following, as long as it contains a photo and a signature: current University of Toronto Photo ID (TCard) OR up-to-date Passport (any country) OR current Driver’s License (any country) OR current Canadian health card (any province or territory).
4. Bags and books are to be deposited in areas designated by the instructor/invigilator and are not to be taken to the examination desk. Students may place their purses on the floor under their chairs.
5. The instructor/invigilator has authority to assign seats to candidates.
6. Candidates shall not communicate with one another in any manner whatsoever during the examination.
7. No materials or electronic devices shall be brought into the room or used at an examination except those authorized by the Instructor. Unauthorized materials include, but are not limited to: books, class notes, or aid sheets. Unauthorized electronic devices include, but are not limited to: cellular telephones, laptop computers, calculators, MP3 players (such as an iPod), Personal Digital Assistants (such as a smartphone), pagers, electronic dictionaries, Compact Disc Players, and Mini Disc Players, or any electronic recording device.
8. In general, candidates will not be permitted to enter an examination room later than fifteen minutes after the commencement of the examination, nor to leave except under supervision until at least half an hour after the examination has commenced.
9. Candidates shall remain seated at their desks during the final ten minutes of each examination.
10. At the conclusion of an examination, all writing shall cease. The instructor/invigilator may seize the papers of candidates who fail to observe this requirement, and a penalty may be imposed at the discretion of the instructor.
11. Examination books and other material issued for the examination shall not be removed from the examination room except with permission of the instructor/invigilator.

Academic Standing & Grading Regulations

Standing in a Course
Standing in a course requires a final mark of 50% or higher. The Faculty of Music uses the following grading system, except courses for which CR (Credit) or NCR (No Credit) apply:

The above grade point values apply to marks earned in individual courses; grade point averages are weighted sums of grade points earned, and therefore, do not necessarily correspond exactly to the scale above.
Other notations, which have no grade point values, and which may be authorized only by petition, are:

• AEG: Aegrotat standing, on the basis of term work and medical evidence.
• CR/NCR: Credit/No-credit
• GWR: Grade withheld pending review
• SDF: standing deferred; granted by petition only
• WDR: withdrawal without academic penalty after the relevant deadline, or withdrawal from a Basic Music course at any time during the academic year; granted by petition only

Grade Point Average (GPA)
The Grade Point Average is the weighted sum of the grade points earned divided by the total course weights. Courses with CR/NCR, or AEG grades are not included in the GPA; nor are transfer credits and courses taken on a letter of permission. The above table represents standing in an individual course and should not be used to interpret sessional, annual or cumulative GPA.

Three types of grade point averages are used:

1. The Sessional GPA is based on courses taken in a single session (Fall, Winter or Summer);
2. The Annual GPA is based on courses taken in the Fall-Winter Sessions;
3. The Cumulative GPA takes into account all courses you have attempted.

Academic Standing is assessed twice a year:

1. At the end of the Winter Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the Annual and the Cumulative GPA in addition to the rule of failure of same music course twice. Students who have a standing deferred in at least one course will have the academic standing assessed after the deferred course has been completed.
2. At the end of the Summer Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the Sessional and the Cumulative GPAs.

“The Two Strikes Rule” - Failure of Same Music Course Twice
Any music course that is failed by a student can be repeated only once. Failure on a second attempt results in an automatic suspension for a period of twelve months, regardless of the student's standing in the year. Upon re-admission, the student has one opportunity to successfully complete the previously failed music course. Failure to do so will result in a suspension at the end of the academic year (i.e. April) and refusal of further registration in the Faculty of Music.

Standing in a Year
Students are described as “In Good Standing” if they are neither on probation nor suspended. A graduating student who obtains a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher will graduate “With Honours”.

Failure in First Year
To receive standing in first year, a student must obtain an annual GPA of 1.5 or higher, based on the above scale. A student who fails their first year at the Faculty of Music will be suspended for a minimum of one year.  A student repeating first year must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 1.5 in the second attempt. Failure to do so will result in a one year suspension from the Faculty.

Probationary Status
A student continuing beyond first year whose cumulative GPA is in the 0.9-1.5 range, will be placed on probation. A student with a CGPA below 0.9 may be suspended from the Faculty of Music. Failure to achieve a cumulative GPA of 1.5 or better at the end of the probationary year will result in a suspension from the Faculty for at least one year. A degree or diploma will not be granted if the cumulative GPA is below 1.5.

Re-applying to the Faculty of Music after a one year suspension
In order to be considered for re-entry to the Faculty of Music, the student must submit a Music Questionnaire by the January deadline for re-entry the following September. The Music Questionnaire will be available at www.music.utoronto.ca beginning December.  As part of the re-application process to the Faculty of Music, the student will be required to write a statement indicating why they should be permitted to return to the program.  They should address the problems that contributed to their previous poor performance, and the measures they have taken/are taking to rectify them.  Appropriate supporting documentation should also accompany the statement.  Letters of references (recommended are three of them), are also important to complement the package.  Once your application is processed, the student will be assigned an audition/interview date in February/March.  The Admissions Committee makes the final decision, taking into consideration the statement, supporting documentation, references, and the outcome of the audttion/interview.  Re-admission is not automatic and must be approved by the Admissions Committee. 

Bachelor of Music in Performance Stay-In Requirement
Students in the Mus.Bac. Performance and Artist Diploma programs who do not receive a passing grade on either the juried examination or the term mark for PMU185Y1 or PMU285Y1 will not be permitted to continue in the Performance Program. Students may petition to repeat their jury in the event of a failed mark.

Students registered in the Bachelor of Music in Performance who do not achieve a final mark of at least 70% in PMU285Y1 Applied Lessons, will be required to transfer into the Comprehensive stream within the Bachelor of Music. Transfer into other streams within the Bachelor of Music will require the approval of the respective Divisional Coordinator.

Grades Review Procedure
The committee on Academic Standing examines course grades submitted by the instructors and determines the academic standing of each student. Final marks are considered official only after the review has taken place. The final grades are then conveyed to the students by the Faculty Registrar. Grades will not be determined by any system of quotas. The committee on Academic Standing has the right, in consultation with the instructor of the course, to adjust marks when there is an obvious and unexplained discrepancy between the grades submitted and the perceived standards of the faculty.

Re-Reading of Final Exams
Students have the right to view their final exams in the Registrar’s office for a period of six months beyond the relevant exam period. A student who believes that a final examination has been incorrectly marked in its content, may request a “reread.” The student must first purchase a photocopy of the final examination from the Registrar, for a fee of $15.00 per course. The student must then complete a “Request for Reread of Final Examination” form, which is available in the Registrar’s Office. (If the course in question is an Arts & Science one, the student would have to follow the same procedure at the Office of the Registrar of the Faculty of Arts & Science.) The student must demonstrate that the answers are substantially correct by citing specific instances of disagreement, supported by such documentary evidence as course handouts, textbooks, lecture notes, etc. The Instructor concerned will reread the examination in light of the arguments presented. There is a $36.00 fee for this procedure, which is in addition to the fee of $15.00. If the mark is changed as a result of this review both the photocopy and reread fees will be refunded. A reread may result in a raised mark, lowered mark or no change. It should be noted that when a course is failed, the examination must be reread before the mark is reported. The re-reading can be requested up to six months from the end of the relevant examination period.

Corrections to the Academic Record: The Faculty will accept requests in writing for corrections to an academic record of the Fall-Winter session up to the following November 15th, and correction to the their Summer Session up to the following February 28th.

Transcripts: The University of Toronto issues only a consolidated transcript that includes a student’s total academic record at the University. The transcript of a student’s record reports courses in progress and the standing in all courses attempted, information about the student’s academic status including record of suspension, current academic sanctions, and completion of degree requirements.

Final course results are added to each student’s record at the end of each session. GPAs are calculated at the end of each session. Individual courses that a student cancels by the deadline are not listed on the transcript.

University of Toronto Transcript Centre
Enrolment Services
172 St. George Street
Toronto Ontario M5R 0A3

A fee of $18.00 (subject to change) is charged for each transcript. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to the University of Toronto. Students must indicate at the time of the request if the purpose of the transcript is for enclosure in a self-administered application. Such transcripts are issued in specially sealed envelopes. The University of Toronto cannot be responsible for transcripts lost or delayed in the mail. Transcripts are not issued for students who have outstanding financial obligations with the University.

Graduation

There are two graduation periods for students of the Faculty of Music; June and November.  Faculty of Music students must graduate at the first Convocation following the successful completion of their degree requirements.

For students graduating in June, only courses completed by the end of the preceding Winter term (ending in April) will be included in the assessment of the student's eligibility to graduate.  For students graduating in November, only courses completed by the end of the preceding Summer Session (ending in August) will be included in the assessment of the student's eligibility to graduate. 

Prospective graduands receive an email from the Office of Convocation in March (for June graduation) or in October (for November graduation) providing details of the convocation ceremony.  The Registrar's Office will contact students at least two weeks in advance of the relevant convocation ceremony to confirm their eligibility to graduate. 

A graduating student who obtains a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher will graduate "With Honours".  A degree or diploma will not be granted if the cumulative GPA is below 1.5. 

Petitions and Appeals

A student seeking exemption or other variations from degree requirements, academic regulations, examinations, and administrative rules should petition to the Committee on Academic Standing through the Registrar by specified deadlines. The Faculty recognizes that an exception may be required in the face of unpredictable, exceptional circumstances.  In submitting a petition to have regulations waived or varied, students must present compelling reasons and relevant documentation. The Committee has the authority to grant exceptions and to attach conditions to its decisions. Students must consult with the Registrar to ensure that a petition is clearly worded and appropriate.

1. The student prepares a written statement:
   • stating clearly the special consideration requested;
   • stating clearly the reason(s) why the student believes an exception to regulations is appropriate;
   • and appending supporting documents (letters, medical certificates, etc.)

Documentation in Support of Petitions
The Faculty requires documentation that provides pertinent evidence for an exception that should be made to the rules and regulations that are designed to ensure equitable treatment for all students. The only medical documentation acceptable at the University of Toronto is the University's Verification of Illness or Injury Form.  This form may only be completed by a Dentist, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Physician/Surgeon, Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Social Worker registered and licensed to practice in Ontario and can be found at www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca.

If illness is being presented as the reason for the request for an exception or an accommodation, the claim of illness itself is not necessarily sufficient grounds to guarantee approval of the request. All cases are examined in their entirety before a decision is made:  an illness or injury’s duration and resulting incapacitation are taken into account along with other relevant factors in the context of the course at issue.  Note that the physician’s report must establish that the patient was examined and diagnosed at the time of illness, not after the fact. The Faculty will not accept a statement that merely confirms a later report of illness made by the student to a physician. Students with chronic illnesses must provide medical documentation for the specific date on which the illness was acute, or a letter from Accessibility Services for those registered with them, confirming that they were seen at the time of the flare-up.

In some situations, non-medical supporting documentation may be relevant. The Faculty has provided guidelines and a form (available on Sharepoint) that may be useful to those providing such documentation.

The petition, along with the supporting documentation should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar, acting as Secretary of the Committee on Academic Standing, shl rule on undergraduate student petitions with the exception of those dealing with Final Marks and Academic Standing. All petitions relating to Final Marks & Academic Standing are ruled on by the Committee on Academic Standing. Students are notified in writing of the decision. A negative ruling by the Secretary or the Committee on Academic Standing can be appealed to the Committee on Academic Standing within 30 days of the first decision on submission of further evidence, and in the event that the original decision is upheld, it may be appealed further within 30 days of the second decision to the Academic Appeals Committee.

Petition Deadlines

• Extensions on Term Work – five working days after the last day of the examination period for the term in question (for term work during the Fall term, the deadline is five working days after the University reopens in January).
• Missed Examinations – five working days after the last day of the examination period for the term in question (for December examinations, the deadline is five working days after the University reopens in January).
• Withdrawal from course – Last day of the relevant exam period.
• Final Mark/Academic Standing – Within 30 days of the release of final grades for the session.

The deadlines for petitions are strictly enforced. If there are compelling reasons why a petition is being filed after the deadline, a covering letter explaining the reasons and requesting late consideration must accompany the petition.

Notes:

1. Students in Year 1 of the program who are granted Deferred Standing (i.e., the notation of “SDF”) in a course, and who have earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average of less than 1.50, will not be permitted to enrol in any further courses until the outstanding coursework/performance has been completed and a final cumulative and sessional GPAs and status for the session have been assessed.
2. Students who are not feeling well at the time of an examination must decide whether they are too ill to write. If unsure, they should seek medical advice. Students who become ill during an examination and cannot complete it, must notify the Instructor of the reasons for their leaving prior to doing so. If students decide to write an examination which does not go well, they may not petition for a rewrite. Arguments after the fact claiming an inability to function at full potential or to exhibit full knowledge of the subject matter will not be accepted as grounds for consideration of a petition concerning poor performance on an examination.
3. Students who choose to write an examination against medical advice should do so knowing that they will not be given consideration after the examination has been written. Students must not only take responsibility for making appropriate judgments about their fitness to attend examinations, but also must accept the outcome of their choices.

Types of Petitions

1. Petitions for Term Work Extension(s)
   Matters concerning term work normally fall within the authority of the instructor.  Students unable to comply with given deadlines must contact their instructor prior to the deadline if an extension is being requested.  Students should expect no consideration if an issue is raised after the assignment deadline. 

   Normally all term work must be submitted by the last day of classes, unless an earlier date has been specified by the instructor.  Instructors may grant extensions beyond their own deadlines or beyond the last day of classes up until five working days after the end of the examination period, provided that a student presents legitimate reasons with appropriate documentation as determined by the instructor. 

   Extensions beyond five business days after the end of the examination period can be approved only through a petition.  Such petitions for an extension of time for term work must also be initiated within five business days after the end of the relevant examination period.  Late requests will not be considered. Students must file the petition after consultation with the instructor regarding a suitable extension date.  Students seeking an extension of time for term work are expected to have been in contact with their instructor before the initial deadline and must continue working on the outstanding assignments while they await a decision. 

   Note that when a term work extension petition has been granted in a course, a notation of "SDF" (standing deferred) will be indicated in place of a course grade.  Students who have the notation of SDF on a course and who have earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of less than 1.50 are strongly encouraged by the Faculty to seek academic advising from the Registrar's Office.

2. Petitions for Late Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty
   A student may petition for a late withdrawal without academic penalty when they feel that they were unable to complete a course due to circumstances outside their control. Typically, a late withdrawal petition is pursued when no other kind of petition request or special option (like term work extension, or a deferred final exam) will remedy the situation.  These petitions must be submitted by the last day of the relevant exam period. 

   It is important to note that students who intend to finish a course, and who therefore do not drop the course themselves do take on a risk.  The Faculty assumes that students who persist in a course right to the end have assessed their progress and marks and decided to take the course to completion, regardless of any circumstances. Therefore, a late withdrawal without academic penalty petition has a much lower chance of success when a student has taken the course to completion - which means they have written the final exam or final piece of term work (in courses without a final exam). 

   If a late withdrawal without academic penalty petition is granted, the course is not removed from the transcript, but the notation "WDR" is placed on the transcript in the place of a final mark.  This will have no impact on the GPA. 

   Please note that a granted WDR does not have any impact on fees.  As a WDR is likely granted beyond any fee refund deadlines, students are still responsible for any tuition or other fees incurred. 

3. Petitions for Deferred Examinations
   Students are expected to write/perform their examinations as scheduled.  Only in cases of documented debilitating illness or legitimate conflict should a student request a deferral of a final examination.  Students who are too ill and/or incapacitated at the time of the examinations should petition to defer the examination they are unable to attend due to their medical condition.  Petitions based on travel, employment, or personal plans will not be considered as students are expected to make themselves available during the published Examination Period to write/perform final examinations.  Satisfactory documentation must be provided to corroborate illness to show that the student was examined at the time of the illness. 

   In response to a petition for a deferred examination, a student may be granted the opportunity to write a special examination at a subsequent examination period or the regular examination in the next offering of the course. Written deferred exams from the fall term for Music courses are usually written during the following February reading week.

   There is a fee of $72.00 per deferred written examination (maximum $144.00 for multiple deferral requests in the same petition). 

   In the petition decision, students are notified of the examination period in which the deferred examination will take place, and if the examination will be a regular or special examination.  They must pay the fee by the deadline given, so that the deferred examination can be scheduled appropriately. 

   Juries/Recitals deferred from the April/May exam period/term are required to be completed in the fall and by the 31st of October of the next academic session as scheduled by the Performance Office. If the deferral was based on a medical disability that persists beyond this date, the student may not remain registered in any courses requiring performance(for example: Applied Music, Ensembles etc), but may petition for special consideration and/or part-time status, after discussion with the Performance Division and the Registrar.

   Note that when a deferred examination has been granted in a course, a notation of "SDF" (standing deferred) will be indicated in place of a course grade. A further deferral of an examination is only granted in very exceptional circumstances.  Students are charged a further fee of $72 for each subsequent deferred examination.  If the student does not write the deferred examination, the "SDF" notation will be replaced by the original grade with a grade of "0" for the final examination in the calculation of the final grade. 

   Students who have the notation of SDF on a course and who have earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) of less than 1.50 are strongly encouraged by the Faculty to seek academic advising from the Registrar's Office. 

4. Petitions relating to final marks and academic standing
   Students may petition their final grade and other matters concerning academic standing, such as a suspension from the Faculty of Music.  Issues arising within a course that concern the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as essays, term work, term tests, grading practices, or conduct of instructors, can also be petitioned. Students have 30 days from the release of the final grades to submit the petition.  Students are strongly advised to consult with the Registrar around the feasibility of filing a petition.  All petitions require supporting documentation. 

Academic Appeals

The Academic Appeals Committee hears and rules on petitions/appeals that have been denied by the Committee on Academic Standing. Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the second decision by the Committee on Academic Standing. The rulings of the Academic Appeals Committee are binding and final as far as this Faculty is concerned.