Laurier Holiday Closure Advising Resources

We know that many students have time during the holiday break to plan for the Winter term. The Science Academic Advising team has prepared this resource page with answers to some frequently asked questions to assist you during the university closure.

Laurier Closure During Break: Dec. 21, 2023 to Jan. 2, 2024

Laurier will close for the holiday season as of Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

The Science Advising Inquiry webform is not available during the university closure. Additionally, emails sent to scienceadvising@wlu.ca will not be monitored, or responded to, during the closure as staff are unavailable.

If you still have questions after reviewing available resources, you may connect with us by webform, in-person or phone when the university reopens on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Registering for Winter Term Courses

For information on course registration, including adding/dropping courses and registration videos, check out the detailed Course Registration Guide.

Program specific requirements, as well as minor / option requirements, are found in the official university academic calendar or through MyDegree.

The most common registration questions relate to registration restrictions. The linked document will help you understand registration restrictions that may give rise to LORIS error messages. It also includes detailed information regarding over-ride appeals.

Repeating a Course

If you did not earn credit for a course in the Fall 2023 (or previous) term, you may repeat the course in the Winter 2024 term if: 1) the course is offered, 2) the course is not at capacity, and 3) it is your second attempt. Based on university regulations, no course may be attempted more than twice.

• If you are unable to register for the course of interest for the Winter 2024 term, you will need to repeat the course in a future term if it is required for your program.
• It is also important to drop any Winter term course, for which the failed course is a pre-requisite (e.g., CP164 requires credit in CP104; CH111 requires credit in CH110).

Course of Interest at Capacity

Many popular courses are at capacity. Do not become discouraged! You have until January 19, 2024, to add a course for the Winter 2024 term.

• For courses with a waitlist, you can add your name (if there are openings on the waitlist) and check your waitlist position using LORIS.
• If the course does not have a waitlist, we recommend that you check LORIS frequently to watch for an opening in the course so that you may register yourself. Registration numbers continuously fluctuate, especially during the winter closure and early January.

Capacity overrides for Faculty of Science courses are not provided. If you are unable to register for the course of interest for the Winter 2024 term, you will need to register for the course in a future term. Spring course registration opens Feb. 23, 2024.

Selecting Electives

Selecting electives is a personal choice, based on disciplines of strength and interest and perhaps future aspirations. An Academic Advisor cannot select electives for you.

You may consider working towards a minor / option, but you are not required to do so. Interest in a minor / option may assist you in picking elective courses.

• You may browse by minor / option on the academic programspage (using the filter) or by using the general list of available minors and options.
• For detailed requirements of an option or minor, you should refer to the 2023-2024academic calendar. Select a Faculty, then the department offering the minor (MI) or option (OP) of interest. Links to specific minors and options will be listed under the “Program information” section.

Academic Progression Decisions

For year 1 students, academic progression decisions are made upon the completion of a minimum of 4.0 credit attempts (typically 8 x 0.5 credit courses). For most full-time students, academic decisions will occur following completion of the Winter term in mid-May.

• Most students in the Faculty of Science may progress from Year 1 to Year 2 in an Honours program if they achieve a minimum GPA of 4.00 (C-) overall, and complete of all mandatory junior foundation courses noted within individual program requirements with a minimum GPA of 5.0 (C). Consult the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for specific program progression requirements.

For senior students, academic progression decisions are made upon the completion of a minimum of 4.0 credit attempts (typically 8 x 0.5 credit courses) since the previous decision. For the majority of full-time students, academic decisions will occur following completion of each Winter term in mid-May. Consult the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for specific program progression requirements.

Final Examination Deferrals

The Fall 2023 final examination period ended on December 20, 2023. If you missed an examination due to unforeseen extraordinary personal circumstances, the Faculty-specific deferral appeal form should be submitted no later than three business days after the scheduled date of the examination. Delayed filing may result in a denial of your appeal.

The processing of deferred examination appeals will continue through to mid-January. Inquiries about the status of a deferred examination appeal form will not be responded to unless a minimum of fifteen business days has passed since the appeal form and original supporting documentation (if applicable) was submitted.

Advising Appointments

In-person drop-in advising appointments are available January 8-11, 2024. These drop-in appointments with a Faculty of Science Academic Advisor (N1054) are intended for brief, time sensitive Winter 2024 registration inquiries (10 minutes maximum).

Appointments are available:

• Monday, Jan. 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 9, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m., and
• Thursday, Jan. 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Booked appointments will not be an option prior to the week of January 18 as we will be supporting students at the beginning of the term via webform and drop-in appointments.