Academic Petitions and Appeals

Most appeals are commenced by submitting the appropriate completed petition form to the office of the dean of the faculty in which you are registered. Students registered in double major programs across two faculties (e.g. Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts) will have a designated home faculty.

Exceptions:

• Grade appeals should be submitted to the chair of the department in question. Brantford campus students should use an online grade reassessment request form.
• The extension to course work petition is submitted to the petitions committee in the faculty that offers the course.
• Lazaridis School of Business and Economics students should submit all types of petitions to the petitions coordinator using the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations.
• Students registered in double degree programs (e.g. Honours BA Financial Mathematics/Bachelor of Business Administration or Honours BSc in Computer Science/Honours Bachelor of Business Administration) may submit the petition to either faculty for review by the double degree petitions and regulations committee.

Petitions should be filed within six weeks of the onset of the issue impacting your academic success. Faculties may waive this deadline in special circumstances, which you must justifiably account for in your petition. Petitions will not be considered for students who have graduated from the university or who have left their studies at Laurier for circumstances that occurred prior to the granting of their degree.

Where appropriate, submit relevant documentation with your petition. Supporting documents must be original (copies are not accepted), come from an official source, and be specific to the dates of the applicable term. All documentation is subject to confirmation. Any falsification or fabrication of documentation will be addressed through academic misconduct procedures.

Documentation may include, but is not limited to:

• Medical or mental health documents (e.g. letter from a physician, counsellor, social worker, etc. – see below for details).
• Documents for appeals on compassionate grounds (e.g. published obituary notice, original note from funeral home, etc.).
• Supporting letter from Laurier personnel (e.g. dean of students, disability consultant, residence life manager, instructor, etc.).
• Legal documents.

Redacting

Petition submissions should include a redacted version of documentation, in addition to a clean version.  In the redacted version, the student name and WLU student ID number should be redacted.  The redacted version of the documentation will be provided to the Petitions Committee, while the clean version will be reviewed by Petitions Committee Chairs and support staff to ensure validity.  In the event that a redacted version of documentation is not provided, the clean version of documentation will be shared with the Petitions Committee. 

Medical Documentation Expectations

Supporting medical documentation must contain the dates and reasons you were examined as well as the functional impact the illness has on learning and attending class.

Incomplete medical documentation will delay consideration of your petition or result in denial by the petitions committee. It is important to communicate these expectations to your medical professional(s) if your petition is being supported by medical documentation.

The Laurier Verification of Illness Form is preferred. Check with your faculty to see if alternate documentation, such as an original medical certificate, will be accepted. It is your responsibility to ensure that all requested information is included on your submitted medical documentation.

There is no guarantee that a filed petition will be approved. Each faculty's Petitions and Regulations Committee takes into account not only what is in the best academic interest of the student filing the petition, but also to what is fair and equitable for all students and what is allowable under university Senate regulations.

Fraudulent information and/or altered supporting documents provided on or with your petition submission is considered a serious academic offense and will result in immediate denial of your petition. Allegations of academic misconduct will also be considered by the associate dean of student services for possible further penalties.

The faculty petitions committee will consider and decide all petitions within six weeks of the filing of the petitions. All necessary documentation and information must be complete.

You will be advised of the decision in writing. This is often done by email to your MyLaurier account, which you are responsible for checking. Check with your faculty to ascertain the method of delivery.

Academic petition decisions may have financial implications (i.e. financial aid or scholarship eligibility). Financial issues are not taken into account in the academic decisions made by a faculty's Petitions and Regulations Committee. The committees will not be held responsible for any financial implications of their decisions. Contact Service Laurier for more information on how your tuition or funding may be affected.

You may use the tuition fee appeal process to apply for any reversal or adjustment of tuition costs associated with a change in academic record.

Step 1: Informal Resolution

The course instructor bears primary responsibility for assigning the final grade. Students who believe that the final grade received in a course does not reflect their academic performance should informally consult with the course instructor. The instructor may review the final examination with the student.

Step 2: Final Grade Reassessment

If the course instructor is unavailable or if the student remains dissatisfied, an official request for a grade reassessment may be submitted to the chair of the department or equivalent. In the case where the chair is the instructor, the dean of the faculty shall assume the functions of the chair.

The request shall be filed in writing and shall contain a statement of the specific reasons for the belief that the grade does not reflect the student's academic performance in the course and must be accompanied by any relevant assignment or test which has been returned to the student. The student may review the final examination in the department office in order to prepare the official request. The request for grade reassessment shall be filed no later than six weeks following the formal release of grades from Enrolment Services.

The chair (or equivalent) shall provide the student with a written decision regarding the request for grade reassessment within four weeks of receipt of the official request.

Notes

• In the event the course is part of an interdepartmental major and not offered by a particular department (e.g. Canadian Studies), the coordinator of the program will act in the place of the chair.
• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences and Faculty of Liberal Arts students should begin by completing the appropriate form below, which will be forwarded to the program coordinator or the associate dean, who may act in place of the chair. 
• Grade appeals for final exams pertaining to courses belonging to the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics can be requested by completing the Grade Appeal Request form.

Step 3: Faculty-Level Petitions

Students who remain dissatisfied with the department chair's decision may, after the release of the chair's decision, petition to the faculty petitions committee in which the course is owned.

For most faculties, a fee of $25 per course, refundable if the faculty petitions committee finds in the student's favour, must accompany the petition. Music students should see fee instructions on the Faculty of Music petition form.

For more information, see the Grade Reassessment section of the undergraduate academic calendar.

Final Grade Reassessment Forms

Faculty of Human and Social Sciences

• Community Health Grade Reassessment Form
• Criminology Grade Reassessment Form
• Game Design and Development Grade Reassessment Form
• Global Crime and Justice Grade Reassessment Form
• Leadership Grade Reassessment Form
• Policing Grade Reassessment Form
• Psychology (Brantford) Grade Reassessment Form
• Public Safety Grade Reassessment Form

Faculty of Liberal Arts

• Digital Media and Journalism Final Grade Reassessment Form
• English Final Grade Reassessment Form (Brantford)
• Foundations Final Grade Reassessment Form
• History Final Grade Reassessment Form (Brantford)
• Human Rights and Human Diversity Final Grade Reassessment Form 
• Indigenous Studies Final Grade Reassessment Form
• Law and Society Final Grade Reassessment Form
• Social and Environment Justice Final Reassessment Form
• User Experience Design Final Grade Reassessment Form
• Youth and Children's Studies Final Grade Reassessment Form

Note: Waterloo campus students should use the appropriate petition form for a faculty-level petition. For a department-level final grade reassessment request (which should come first), submit your request to the department chair in letter form along with any supporting documentation.

A 12-week course may normally be added no later than 12 calendar days from the beginning of term lectures. For students taking a six-week course, the add deadline is normally two business days from the beginning of lectures.

After the last day to add courses for the term has passed, you may file a petition to request registration in a course. In the petition, you are expected to clearly explain why an exception should be made.

A late course registration request will not be granted if the course instructor is not supportive of the request. You should therefore provide written evidence of instructor support for the late addition of the course.  Instructor support does not guarantee approval of a late add petition.

A late course registration request will not be granted if the course is at capacity or had a waitlist at the time of the add deadline.

It is your responsibility to monitor your LORIS account to ensure all student fees are paid on time. Tuition fees for a late add will be applied after your petition is deemed successful.

• See official academic and related dates in the academic calendar.

If you inadvertently withdraw from a course after the last day to add courses for the term, it may be possible under some circumstances to be readmitted without a petition. Contact your faculty for information. You may be required to submit validation from the professor that you have been actively participating in the course to date.

You may request withdrawal from a course(s) after the final day to drop without financial or academic penalty for the term if extenuating circumstances have impacted your ability to fully participate in the course(s). You are expected to clearly explain why an exception should be made. Original supporting documentation should be included with the petition, where applicable. You cannot request withdrawal from a course if the course has been completed and a final grade has been assigned.

If a late withdrawal appeal is granted, any tuition refund for the course(s) (if applicable) is based on the date and type of decision. Tuition refunds are not available for all course withdrawals. If you wish to be considered for a tuition refund, you must follow the tuition fee appeal process. The outcomes of academic and tuition appeals are not related.

• See official academic and related dates in the academic calendar.

The third attempt at a course petition is submitted to the petitions committee in the faculty that offers the course. In some cases this may mean petitioning a faculty headquartered on a campus other than your home campus.

University regulations state that no course may be attempted more than twice (including course exclusions). You may appeal for relief from this regulation in the circumstance that successful completion of the course is a requirement of the your desired program and/or if extenuating circumstances affected one of your first two attempts.

Successful petitions for a third attempt must include the support of the program coordinator, program advisor, or chair of the course.

The committee also needs to see a learning plan, which will outline why you will be successful this time when you were not before. The learning plan will help you develop an action plan for success and must be reviewed by a learning consultant.

Steps for completing your learning plan:

1. Download and complete the Learning Plan Reflection document.
2. Upload your completed learning plan to the Learning Plan Appointment Request Form.
3. You will be contacted by Student Success with your 30-minute appointment confirmation.
4. After completing your appointment with a learning consultant, you can submit your learning plan along with your petition.

Please note that it may take up to 5 business days to schedule a learning plan appointment.

You are expected to clearly explain why an exception should be made. A third attempt petition will not receive favourable consideration if you are on academic probation. Original supporting documentation should be included with the petition, where applicable.

“Not Accountable” refers to a student not being held responsible for their grades for one (or more) term(s), where extenuating circumstances have affected their ability to fully participate in courses.

“Not Accountable” may be applied only when you have completed the courses and final grades have been assigned. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, you may not select the courses you wish to have deemed “Not Accountable” as such status is applied to an entire term.

You are expected to clearly explain why a "not accountable" term should be granted. Original supporting documentation should be included with the petition, where applicable..

We recommend you include details regarding your personal plan and the supports you have in place to ensure future academic success.

If a “Not Accountable” petition is granted, the courses in that term remain on your transcript with the phrase "Not Accountable" noted beside each final grade. However, the grades will not be calculated into your overall cumulative (and major, if applicable) GPA and the credits will not be used toward the completion of your degree requirements.

Students who are deemed “Not Accountable” are responsible for 100% of all tuition and incidental fees. A tuition fee appeal will not be granted.

You may request an extension to the due date(s) for course work (e.g., final essay or culminating assignment) beyond the last date of the term where extenuating circumstances have impacted your ability to fully participate in the course. You are expected to clearly explain why an exception should be made.

The extension to course work petition is submitted to the petitions committee in the faculty that offers the course. In some cases this may mean petitioning a faculty headquartered on a campus other than your home campus.

Relevant course materials, including the syllabus, should be submitted with the petition. Original supporting documentation should be included with the petition, where applicable.

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information.

• To facilitate the processing of the petition/appeal and to assist the associate dean or committee in reaching a fair decision, extenuating circumstances and related details must be fully disclosed and documentary evidence must be presented where applicable. A typewritten statement must submitted in addition to the petition form and documentation. The committee will not consider any petition until all of these have been submitted.
• Medical certificates must include date(s) of illness, the date(s) the individual was examined, the nature of the illness and the expected time of convalescence where pertinent. The Verification of Illness Form can be used.
• The committee’s decision will be conveyed via your myLaurier email address only. If you are expecting a response from the Petitions Committee, you must check your Laurier account.
• Petitions must be submitted to the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Arts, Dr. Alvin Woods Building (DAWB 5-106), or by email to artspetitions@wlu.ca.

Form

• Faculty of Arts Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition.  Meeting with your Academic Advisor prior to completing this form is strongly recommended.

Form

• Faculty of Education Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition.  Meeting with your Academic Advisor prior to completing this form is strongly recommended.

Form

• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences Petition for Exemption to Academic Regulations

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition.  Meeting with your Academic Advisor prior to completing this form is strongly recommended.

Form

• Faculty of Liberal Arts Petition for Exemption to Academic Regulations

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information.

• All petitions shall be initiated by filing the appropriate forms and documentation not later than six weeks after the student has been advised of the decision to be appealed. The Faculty of Music petitions committee will consider and decide all petitions within six weeks from the date that the completed petition and documentation was received.
• Students are fully accountable for all course work until notified of the outcome of the petition.
• This form can be used to either petition for an academic regulation to be waived or to petition for an examination deferral due to extenuating circumstances.

Form

• Faculty of Music Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information.

• Students registered in programs offered by the Faculty of Science (including Water Science and Environmental Health, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Honours Science and General BA/BSc) must submit their online petition form and supporting documentation (if applicable) to the Office of the Vice Dean: Faculty of Science. 
• You must seek academic guidance through the Science Academic Advising Office in advance of filing a petition to ensure that you understand the petition process and implications of possible outcomes. You may set an appointment with an Academic Advisor through the online booking calendar found on the Science Academic Advising webpage connect with an Academic Advisor or the Petitions Coordinator through email (scienceadvising@wlu.ca).
• General inquiries for which an appointment is not necessary should be sent by email to scienceadvising@wlu.ca.
• The decision of the Faculty of Science Petitions and Regulations Committee and any related correspondence will be conveyed via your myLaurier email address only.
• Fraudulent or misleading information and/or altered supporting documents provided on or with your petition submission is considered a serious academic offense and will result in immediate denial of your petition.  Allegations of academic misconduct will also be considered by the Vice Dean for possible further penalties.
• Most types of petitions require supporting documentation. If you are filing a petition on the grounds that an extenuating personal circumstance influenced your ability to meet course expectations, an academic deadline or academic standards, relevant documentation, specific to the term identified in the petition, is expected to be submitted with your petition form. An extenuating personal circumstance is a circumstance beyond your control, that is unique to you, and due to no fault of your own (e.g., acute physical illness, mental health condition, serious injury, bereavement, traumatic event). Incomplete documentation will delay consideration of your petition. A lack of supporting documentation increases the likelihood that your petition will be denied by the Petitions & Regulations Committee. Please see the “Documentation” section above for further information. If you need additional clarification on the type of supporting documentation for your specific personal circumstances, you may connect with your Academic Advisor or the Petitions Coordinator through email (scienceadvising@wlu.ca).

Form

• Complete the online Faculty of Science Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations form and upload/attach clearly scanned supporting documentation as necessary

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. This form can be used to either petition for an academic regulation to be waived or to petition for an examination deferral due to extenuating circumstances.  Meeting with your Academic Advisor prior to completing this form is strongly recommended.

Form

• Faculty of Social Work (Brantford) Petition for Exemption to Academic Regulations

At Laurier, we are committed to helping you reach your goals. We understand that sometimes regulations meant for all students will not be appropriate for every student. If the reasons you wish to petition are not covered below, or for general questions pertaining to your petition, contact the appropratie email address depending if you are a single degree or double degree student, Lazaridis Petitions, LazaridisPetitions@wlu.ca or Lazaridis Double Degree Petitions, LazaridisDDpetitions@wlu.ca. For general questions pertaining to your grade appeal request, contact Hillary Beaudry.

Grade Appeal Request

Please thoroughly review Grade Appeals information above before completing the Grade Appeal Request form. This form is used to appeal your final grade in a course and includes regrading all of the course work done in the course (not just the final exam). There is no formal mechanism to regrade just the final exam.

Petitions

The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. As noted above on this web page related to documentation, in addition to the signed petition form itself, you must provide a personal statement explaining why you are submitting the petition and if appropriate to the context, medical documentation. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information below related to each petition type.

Late Add Of A Course

Petitions for a late add must include the reason for the late add and a letter/printed email of support from the instructor of the class which you wish to add. The instructor’s support should explicitly state that they agree to allow you into the class late, and ideally, that you have been attending the class. We do not favourably consider requests for late registration in classes with wait lists.

Late Drop Of A Course

Successful petitions for a late drop must include the reason for the late drop and either a letter/printed email from the instructor noting you have not participated in the class or medical documentation (see below) demonstrating a change in circumstance that prevented success in the class.

Final Exam Deferral

Deferred final exam petitions for courses offered by the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics are submitted to the petitions coordinator using Lazaridis Deferrals, Lazaridisdeferrals@wlu.ca. The petition form should be submitted with all supporting documentation included. For more information, see deferred exams.

Having A Semester Deemed Not Accountable

A petition to have a semester deemed not accountable require supporting documentation clearly dated by a professional and covering the timeframe in question. Your petition must include your plan to ensure academic success, such as the learning plan offered by the Centre for Student Success.

Third Attempt Of A Class

Petitions for a third course attempt must include the support of the instructor and academic advisor. The committee also needs to see a learning plan, which will outline why you will be successful this time when you were not before. These requests are seldom approved.

Form

• Lazaridis School of Business and Economics Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations

Use the form below to petition academic decisions at Martin Luther University College, formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your petition. You must carefully review all the information on this page and on the form itself before proceeding with your petition.

Form

• Martin Luther University College Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations