Departmental Policies and Procedures

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education does not round or "bump" final grades at the request of students. Requests for discretionary grade increases will not receive a response. MyLS automatically rounds grades as applicable (e.g., 79.6 becomes 80); no further rounding will be applied.

Students who believe their final grade does not accurately reflect their academic performance should first consult with the course instructor. If the concern remains unresolved, a formal grade reassessment request may be submitted to the Chair of the department offering the course within six weeks of the official release of grades. Further appeals may be made through the University's petition process in accordance with the Academic Calendar.

Academic Regulations: Petitions. A fee of $25.00 per course, refundable if the faculty petitions committee finds in the student's favour, must accompany the petition.

Assignment deadlines established by instructors (e.g., in the course outline, MyLS, or assignment dropbox) will be strictly enforced. Any submission received after the stated deadline, whether by seconds, minutes, or hours, will be considered late and subject to the applicable penalty, including grade deductions or non-acceptance of the assignment. Students are strongly encouraged to submit work well in advance of deadlines to avoid issues related to technology or internet connectivity.

Students must wait at least 48 hours after a graded assessment has been returned before contacting the instructor with questions or requesting a reassessment. Any concerns regarding a grade must be raised within 14 calendar days (10 working days) of the grade being released. Requests submitted after this period will not be considered. This policy does not apply to formal final grade reassessment requests, which follow the University's established procedures.

1. Use and apply features of the Microsoft office suite of programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive).
2. Apply citation and reference styles and identify the importance of citing and referencing.
3. Use and effectively navigate the library web system including, Omni. Demonstrate how to search for different types of sources including research articles.
4. Demonstrate how to read a research article and extract critical information.
5. Identify and explain what learning outcomes are and how they are used in courses.
6. Engage with and navigate the course management system at Laurier (MyLS).
7. Explain the broad spectrum of what the study of Kinesiology means.
8. Demonstrate working effectively in groups and collaborate on different types of assessments.
9. Demonstrate following diverse sets of written and oral instructions provided by instructors.
10. Demonstrate effective note taking skills for success in university and how this is related to a course’s learning outcomes.
11. Identify the structure of the University, the work done by university professors, and the rules and regulations of the University.
12. Identify what a course outline is and its importance. Engage with and navigate course outlines effectively.
13. Demonstrate how to actively engage and be accountable for your own success in one’s courses and program.

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education is committed to fostering a culture of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage in all academic activities. Academic integrity is a fundamental expectation of every student and is essential to maintaining the value of a Laurier degree.

Students are expected to familiarize themselves with all applicable university policies, including the Student Code of Conduct and Academic Misconduct Procedures. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism.
• Unauthorized collaboration.
• Cheating on assessments.
• Contract cheating.
• Falsification or fabrication of data.
• Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
• Any other violation of university academic integrity policies.

All suspected cases of academic misconduct will be addressed in accordance with university procedures.

Departmental Response to Academic Misconduct

First Offence

Students found responsible for academic misconduct can expect:

• A formal academic penalty consistent with university policy.
• Documentation of the offence in accordance with university policy.
• Completion of the University's Academic Integrity module, or other designated learning activities.

Subsequent Offences

Repeated violations demonstrate a serious disregard for academic integrity and will be treated accordingly. Students found responsible for a second or subsequent offence should expect significantly more severe penalties, which may include failure in the course and other sanctions available under university policy.

Student Responsibility

Students are encouraged to seek guidance from their instructor, academic advisor, the Writing Centre, or other campus supports if they are uncertain about appropriate academic practices. Maintaining academic integrity is a shared responsibility and an essential component of professional preparation in kinesiology, physical education, and related fields.

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education expects all students to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct undermines the integrity of our programs, diminishes the achievements of fellow students, and is inconsistent with the professional and ethical standards expected of future professionals in the field.

The Department of Kinesiology takes all midterm and test deferral requests seriously and expects students to do the same. Deferrals are not automatic and will only be considered in cases of documented extenuating circumstances that significantly impact a student's ability to complete an assessment as scheduled.

Valid reasons may include:

• Significant illness.
• Emergency situations.
• Religious observances.
• Other unavoidable and exceptional circumstances.

Requests that do not meet these criteria will not be approved. Additional guidance regarding acceptable reasons may be outlined in individual course syllabi.

All deferral requests are carefully reviewed to ensure fairness, consistency, and academic integrity across the department.

Request Process

Students enrolled in Kinesiology or cross-listed Kinesiology courses must:

• Submit the Departmental Midterm/Test Deferral Request Form for illness, emergencies or other exceptional circumstances.
• Include the Illness Declaration Form when requesting a deferral due to illness.
• Submit the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances Form when requesting a religious accommodation. Requests for religious accommodations must be submitted within the timelines established by the University.
• Provide additional documentation if requested.
• Use the departmental form, as requests submitted through other means will not be considered.

The department recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may serve as valuable resources for learning, exploration, and skill development. However, their use must be guided by clear expectations that preserve academic integrity, ensure fairness, and support authentic student learning.

All students should review the Gen AI Student Resource Hub for more information.

General Principle

The use of AI is neither universally permitted nor universally prohibited. Instead, it is context-dependent and must align with the specific objectives and instructions of each course, assignment, or assessment.

Premitted Use

AI tools may be used when explicitly authorized by the instructor. Examples of permitted use may include:

• Brainstorming ideas or generating outlines.
• Supporting revision of drafts (e.g., grammar, clarity).
• Assisting with research exploration or explanation of concepts.
• Completing specific assignments where AI use is clearly stated as allowable.

When AI is permitted, students are expected to:

• Use it as a support tool, not a substitute for their own work.
• Critically evaluate and verify any AI-generated content.
• Acknowledge its use when required by the instructor.

Prohibited Use

AI use is strictly prohibited in situations where it has not been explicitly authorized. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Midterm and final examinations (including take-home or timed assessments unless otherwise specified).
• Quizzes or tests intended to assess individual understanding.
• Any assignment where AI use is explicitly disallowed.

Unauthorized use of AI in these contexts will be treated as a breach of academic integrity and subject to departmental and institutional procedures.

Responsibility of Students

Students are responsible for:

• Understanding the AI policy for each course and assignment.
• Seeking clarification from instructors if unsure about permitted use.
• Ensuring that all submitted work reflects their own understanding and effort.

Responsibility of Instructors

Instructors will:

• Clearly communicate when and how AI tools may be used in their courses.
• Define expectations for disclosure or citation of AI-assisted work.
• Apply consistent standards when evaluating student work.

To maintain a fair and secure testing environment, the use of phones and all internet-connecting and/or Bluetooth-enabled devices during midterm assessments is strictly prohibited.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Mobile phones.
• Smart watches.
• Smart glasses.
• Wireless earbuds or headphones.
• Any other Bluetooth-connected or wearable smart devices.

All such devices must be removed from the person and stored in an approved location (e.g., bags or designated storage area) prior to the start of the assessment. Devices may not be kept in pockets, on wrists, or otherwise accessible during the exam. Possession of any prohibited device on the person during a midterm may be considered an academic integrity violation and will be addressed accordingly.