We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience.
By selecting “Accept” and continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies.
Effective May 2022
It is the FSW’s responsibility to ensure that students understand course requirements, due dates, and expectations for each course via the course syllabus. To maximize student learning and development, students are expected to actively engage with their peers and the course material through readings, assignments, reflections, weekly discussions, and group work. When making accommodation requests, students have a responsibility to give education providers ample time to ensure that accommodations will be available when needed. As outlined in the MSW program brochure, it is expected that students budget a minimum of 15 hours per course per week in order to meet these demands. All courses in the program are 6 or 12 weeks in length.
Under rare and exceptional circumstances, a student may be unable to complete their course work within the term limits as expected. As such, students can request an extension to complete coursework from their instructor, who will subsequently determine eligibility. Factors to consider when determining eligibility include the grounds for eligibility listed below, as well as the nature of the coursework that is outstanding (e.g. for some courses, course requirements such as participation, group work, or presentations, may not lend themselves well to independent work that is typical of course work extensions and which are integral learning experiences for many courses in the MSW program).
To qualify for a coursework extension, the student must demonstrate active engagement in the requirements of the course and prior communication with the course instructor. Depending on the course, this may include: completion of previous assignments and engagement with peers in discussions and/or other pedagogical methods as per the course design.
If the coursework extension is approved, the instructor will determine with the student, an appropriate, equitable coursework completion plan and a timeline for completion.
If, for whatever reason, the petition and plan for coursework completion is not honored (i.e. the student has not completed the coursework within the specified timeframe), and the student has evidence to support a rationale for a second extension, they can choose to submit a petition to the Graduate Student Appeals Committee.
This appeal must be initiated no later than the last day of the existing extension and requires comment from the course instructor and Associate Dean. See Graduate Student Academic Appeals for information and details of the appeals process and timelines.
In order to ensure a fair and equitable process for all students and to set students up for successful completion of the course and the program, the Associate Dean will consider the following grounds when determining support for an additional request for extension
Exceptions due to accommodation needs not identified over the duration of the course will be considered.
Should the student be successful in their request for additional time, registration in future terms may be limited to one 0.5 credit course in order to provide the student with sufficient time to complete the outstanding course work.
Coursework extensions may not be supported by the MSW Associate Dean if the student has requested more than 2 coursework extensions in the course or if the student has more than 2 outstanding coursework completion plans in any given semester. In these circumstances, the FSW may recommend that the student retake the course in a future term.