Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know
Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know will be a regular series of short reminders of academic facts, issues, and regulations - things that you need to know, that will help you greatly if you do know them.
This program is being put together by the student advocate in the Office of Student Affairs and Services, in cooperation with the VP Academic of the UNB Student Union.
Thing #12: Today, I write about final exam deferral.
Final exam deferral regulations as outlined in the UNB Calendar are again in place for the final examination period for all winter 2010 courses.
The university moved to a self-declaration in the fall 2009 final examination period for flu-like illness, including H1N1. Because the threat of H1N1 is minimal and the incidence of individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms is below average for this flu season, standard procedures for requests for a deferral of a final examination will be in effect for the winter 2010 final examination period.
Final examination deferrals are under the auspices of the Registrar's office. Students need to apply for exam deferrals on a course by course basis, and professional support documentation for the grounds for exam deferral (i.e. illness, death in the family) is required.
The contact is regstrar@unb.ca or 453-4864
The deferred examination regulations as outlined in the UNB web Calendar can be reviewed by using the following link:
https://eservices.unb.ca/calendar/undergraduate/display.cgi?tables=regulationsSubLevel1&id=33
With respect to when a deferred exam would be written if the Registrar approved the deferral, that is something you would work out with each professor AFTER the Registrar’s office approves your deferral request.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #11:The single-most important person that you should consult for academic advice is, as their title suggests, your ACADEMIC ADVISOR. Every undergraduate student has an academic advisor. This faculty member has expertise in their field of study, as well as a special interest in advising students appropriately. Consult others for advice, to be sure – fellow students, educational proctors, people in Student Affairs and Services, for example. However, please do not make decisions about course drops, course adds, or other aspects of your program without first consulting with you Academic Advisor. They know your program in the big picture, and want to know you as an individual student. They are the people best positioned to help you make crucial academic decisions.
If you do not know the name of your academic advisor, check out this link …
http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/academics/advisors.html
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #10: Petitioning for a late Withdrawal
Today, I remind you that students who have missed the March 1 deadline for withdrawing from a course without academic penalty can petition for late withdrawals until the last day of classes — Monday, April 12, 2010.
Students may petition, in writing, for such relief to the Chair, or in the case of non- departmentalized faculties to the Dean or Dean's designate, of the Department or Faculty which offers the course.
However, students applying for a late withdrawal need to provide documentation to validate their “grounds” for late W.
A professional letter is needed (i.e. from a doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist, or whoever would apply to the particular case) to validate these grounds. Grounds are a solid reason which is something beyond your control and can be validated by a doctor or a counsellor, or other such professional. Such documentation is required to have such a petition for late W considered.
While I as the Student Advocate can guide you through this process if needed, including giving the name of the person to whom you would send this petition, you should first consult with your academic advisor to see if this is the best thing for you to and a valid thing for you to do.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #9:Withdraw without Academic Penalty
Today, I remind you that the last date that a student can withdraw from a winter 2010 course without academic penalty is this coming Monday – March 1, 2010. If you “drop” a course on or before that date, a W will appear beside that course on your transcript of record, and the course will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).
If you drop the course after March 1, you will receive a WF (withdrawn with failure), and that course will drag down your GPA just as much as would happen if you stayed in the course and ended up failing it.
If you are thinking about dropping a course, I highly recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor. If the decision is made to drop a course, please be sure that you do so by Monday, March 1.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #8: Withdrawal Dates
Today, I remind you that the last date that a student can receive a W in a winter 2010 course -- withdrawn from a course without academic penalty –- and receive a pro-rated refund (if applicable) -- is this coming Friday – February 19, 2010.
If you “drop” a course on or before that date, a W will appear beside that course on your transcript of record, the course will not factor into your grade point average (GPA), and in certain circumstances a prorated refund results.
If you drop the course after February 19 but on or before March 1, you will still receive a W.
If you drop the course after March 1, you will receive a WF (withdrawn with failure), and that course will drag down your GPA just as much as would happen if you stayed in the course and ended up failing it.
As always, if you are thinking about dropping a course, I highly recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #7: Go to Class
Today, I give you the same advice that give to my students every semester in my role as a Sessional Lecturer.
The single most important thing you can do to succeed in your courses is to attend lectures and make your OWN set of notes. I cannot emphasize this strongly enough. Coming to lecture faithfully is the best thing you can do to succeed in your courses.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #6: Course Adds, Drops and Student Loan Implications
Welcome back to a new semester! “Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know” is a regular series of short reminders of academic facts, issues, and regulations – things that you need to know – things that will help you greatly if you do know them.
As I pointed out last week, Monday, January 18 is a big date academically for three reasons:
1) It is the last date that you can withdraw from a full-year course without academic penalty. If you “drop” a full-year course on or before that date, a W will appear beside that course on your transcript of record, and the course will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).
2) It is the last date that you can add a winter semester course.
3) It is the last date that you can drop a winter 2010 course without showing as a course with W on your transcript. (You can certainly still drop a winter semester course between January 19 and March 1, but a W will then appear beside the course.)
As always, I highly recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor before making any of these decisions.
I have EXTRA advice today, though.
The reality is that many students have government student loans.
If you are accessing the full-time Government Student Loan Program to fund your post-secondary education, please consult the Financial Aid Office to ensure that adding and dropping courses DOES NOT affect your student loan eligibility.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #5: Adding and Dropping Courses
Today, I remind you that Monday, January 18 is a big date academically for three reasons:
1) It is the last date that you can withdraw from a full-year course without academic penalty. If you “drop” a full-year course on or before that date, a W will appear beside that course on your transcript of record, and the course will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).
If you drop a full-year course after January 18, you will receive a WF (withdrawn with failure), and that course will drag down your GPA just as much as would happen if you stayed in the course and ended up failing it.
2) It is the last date that you can add a winter semester course.
3) It is the last date that you can drop a winter 2010 course and have that course not show as a course with W on your transcript. (You can certainly still drop a winter semester course between January 19 and March 1, but a W will then appear beside the course.)
As always, I highly recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor before making any of these decisions.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #4: Exam Deferral
It is the Registrar and his officials who would determine if you have valid grounds for exam deferral.
The application process for deferred examinations is found in the 2009-10 undergraduate calendar (V. Examination, Standing and Promotion, Item C. Deferred Examinations, page 36).
Here is the link from the UNB website…
http://eservices.unb.ca/calendar/undergraduate/display.cgi?tables=regulationsSubLevel1&id=33
You will need to arrange for supporting documentation of your grounds for exam deferral to be in the Registrar’s office’s possession -- something from a doctor or a counsellor, for instance.
Their email is
regstrar@unb.ca
With respect to when a deferred exam would be written if the Registrar approved the deferral, that is something you would work out with each professor AFTER the Registrar’s office approves your deferral request.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #3: Late W's
Today, I remind you that students who have missed the November 3 deadline for withdrawing from a course without academic penalty can petition for late withdrawals until the last day of classes — Monday, December 7, 2009.
Students may petition, in writing, for such relief to the Chair, or in the case of non- departmentalized faculties to the Dean or Dean's designate, of the Department or Faculty which offers the course.
However, students applying for a late withdrawal need to provide documentation to validate their “grounds” for late W.
A professional letter is needed (i.e. from a doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist, or whoever would apply to the particular case) to validate these grounds. Grounds are a solid reason which is something beyond your control and can be validated by a doctor or a counsellor, or other such professional. Such documentation is required to have such a petition for late W considered.
While I as the Student Advocate can guide you through this process if needed, including giving the name of the person to whom you would send this petition, you should first consult with your academic advisor to see if this is the best thing for you to and a valid thing for you to do.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #2: Withdrawal Date
Today, I remind you that the last date that a student can withdraw from a course without academic penalty this semester is this coming Tuesday -- November 3, 2009. If you “drop” a course on or before that date, a W will appear beside that course on your transcript of record, and the course will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).
If you drop the course after November 3, you will receive a WF (withdrawn with failure), and that course will drag down your GPA just as much as would happen if you stayed in the course and ended up failing it.
If you are thinking about dropping a course, I highly recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor. If the decision is made to drop a course, please be sure that you do so by Tuesday, November 3.
Sapere aude. Dare to be wise.
Thing #1: Academic Advisor
The single-most important person that you should consult for academic advice is, as their title suggests, your academic advisor. Every undergraduate student has an academic advisor. This faculty member has expertise in their field of study, as well as a special interest in advising students appropriately.
Make sure to consult other people for advice as well - fellow students, educational proctors, people at Student Affairs and Services, for example, are great resources. Be careful not to make decisions about dropping/adding courses, or other aspects of your program, without first consulting with your Academic Advisor. They know your program in the big picture, and want to know you as an individual student. They are the people best positioned to help you make crucial academic decisions.
If you do not know the name of your academic advisor, check here
