REPORTING OF ABSENCES – INFORMATION

The student portal contains a mechanism for recording your absence from class. You must use this method of recording your absence If you will not be present for scheduled assignments, tests, exams, labs, quizzes, practical skill evaluations, or any other work that contributes toward your final mark in the course, as indicated by your professor. You will be asked to indicate if your absence is due to illness or due to other reasons.

For your own reference, you may also record your absence when there is no evaluation. Your student portal would then provide a list of all absences from scheduled classes. However, please note that only an absence from a scheduled evaluation contributing to a final course grade is required.

For instructions on how to use the portal see Notification Procedure for Absence from Evaluations – Process. If you are unable to record your absence on the portal, you must phone the professor or your School, PRIOR to the start of the assessed activity.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When do I need to let my professor know if I am going to be absent from an evaluation (theory test, quiz, examination, major lab or practical skills evaluation, group presentation) or I am not going to be able to meet a submission deadline for an assignment?

You must notify your professor/instructor PRIOR to the start of the scheduled time, in which the assessed activity is due or taking place. Failure to provide prior notice regarding your absence will result in a mark of "0" for that assessed activity.

What documentation do I need to provide when I am absent for an evaluation?

PROGRAM SPECIFIC PROCEDURES: The documentation required varies among the different programs at Conestoga. This may be due to industry and/or professional requirements. Your Program Coordinator or Professor will inform you of your individual program requirements if you are absent for an evaluation. In addition, you should also speak with your Program Coordinator about what is expected if you will be absent for more than five days even if no evaluations are involved.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure he or she understands what is required when absent from class.

Dec 2012

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE FOR ABSENCES FROM EVALUATIONS – PROCESS

To record your absence, Log into the student portal and click on the Absences tab. Review the instructions and answer the question that indicates you will be absent from class on a day that has an evaluation. Continue to follow the on-line process.

Once you have agreed to the conditions, you will receive a confirmation email that your absence has been recorded.

Your professor will be aware of your absence from an evaluation by your lack of attendance in class, and because you have entered your absence using the online Absence Recording System on the student portal.

You must record your absence PRIOR to the start of class in which the evaluation occurs. Failure to do so may result in you being denied the opportunity to complete the task being evaluated.

You must notify your professor/instructor PRIOR to the start of the scheduled time, in which the assessed activity is due or taking place. Failure to provide prior notice regarding your absence will result in a mark of "0" for that assessed activity.

The Absence Reporting System shows you as being absent for the day, starting from the time that you record your absence. (For example if you record your absence for that day at 11:00 AM the system will show you as being absent for all classes starting after 11:00 AM that day. If you are then going to be present again for some later class, you will need to bring your presence to the attention of your Professor in that later class.)

The earliest that you may record your absence for a particular day is after 8:00 PM on the preceding day.

Failure to report your absence from an Evaluation on the portal will result in a mark of zero being assigned for that Evaluation.

Dec 2012

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Honesty and integrity are two important aspects in the conduct of business in Canada and around the world. In recent years there have been many high-profile episodes where honesty has been lacking. At the Business and Hospitality School we endeavour to reinforce the need for honesty in Business and in life. For that reason, we take a strict approach to academic dishonesty in whatever form it appears. The Conestoga College Student Guide provides a definition of academic dishonesty, gives examples, and details the practices and penalties for dealing with cases of dishonesty.

In the School of Business and Hospitality, in keeping with the provisions of the Student Guide and College Practice, the penalty for any first occurrence of academic dishonesty is, at the discretion of the instructor, either a zero for the assessment, or a failing grade in the course in which the incident occurred. Subsequent instances will attract more serious penalties. Below are the links to the information in the Student Guide:

1. Rights and Responsibilities
2. Student Responsibilities

Dec 2012

CLASS CANCELLATION PROCESS FOR FACULTY

A new feature to the absence management system is the reporting of class cancellation. This important feature will provide notice to students on their portal or immediately if they sign up for sms/email messaging. There is no longer a need for an intermediary between the professor canceling class and the student being informed, which will result in improved communication. When you cancel a class it is automatically posted within the opening page of the student portal and students who register for the class cancellation notification service will receive an email/text (students have been informed of this and must register for this notification service).

For professors to report their absence (prior to the start of a class):

1. go to the portal
2. click on faculty tab
3. at the same location where you find class lists and timetables is a button called absence/cancellation
4. click on the button and a list of classes to be cancelled appears
5. click on cancel selected classes

NOTE 1 – the absence is automatically recorded on the HR attendance reporting. If the absence is for a reason other than illness, you will need to modify the attendance reporting system. Part-time or contract faculty must manually record their absence in the system.

NOTE 2 – the Chair will receive an email indicating the absence from class

NOTE 3 – the student will receive a notice on the opening page of the portal, and if he/she subscribes an email/sms alert

NOTE 4 – once an absence is recorded it can't be changed by the professor

NOTE 5 – recording for the next day begins at 8 pm the evening before

NOTE 6 – if the professor does not have access to the internet to record their absence at that time, please call Jen at x3402 and leave a message.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS

College Closure due to inclement weather

In the event of inclement weather severe enough to close the college, announcements are made over the local radio stations and posted on the Conestoga College website. Please view the website or listen for radio announcements as there are no practices for staff members to be called!

Inclement Weather – No College Closure

In the event that road conditions prevent you from attending classes, please change your voicemail greeting from home to reflect your absence.

Dec 2012

CLASS SIZE

Guideline

Although there will be some variation, for planning purposes and within budget constraints, the number of sections to staff for will be determined by these section sizes:

• Normal maximum class size is 50 students.

These section sizes reflect the anticipated number of students as of the official count dates (November 1, March 1, July 1). The number of planned sections for the Winter semester may be adjusted subsequent to receipt of the November 1st official counts for each program.

Where computer labs are required, students should be re-sectioned into class sizes equivalent to the number of stations in the lab.

Smaller section sizes are used as students progress through their programs to reflect the need for increased interaction with professors/instructors arising from:

• curriculum with more depth and difficult concepts
• more critical thinking required of students
• assessments that requires more class time (i.e. longer oral presentations)

Dec 2012

CLASSES TIMES

Classes are 50-minute periods, beginning on the hour. Two 50-minute periods may have either a 10-minute break in the middle or run straight through for 100 minutes and finish 10 minutes after the hour instead of 20 minutes after. Similarly, the 3 'hour' blocks may be broken up at the faculty member's discretion. Please end classes promptly, clean off the boards and return furniture to its original position for the next teacher.

Dec 2012

COMMON ASSESSMENTS

Practice

To ensure that students taking the same course are evaluated on the same basis, common tests/examinations must be written by all students taking the same course. The structure of the exam must be the same (i.e. the distribution of marks and level of difficulty).

A common test/examination means that at least 75% of the marks allocated must be the same. This allows for some customization of tests/examinations by professors who wish to tailor the test to meet the specific needs of the program the students are in. This will require that all professors teaching the same course in a given semester collaborate in setting tests/examinations to ensure that they are consistent in their approach and level of difficulty. A course lead will be identified where their primary role is to ensure collaboration occurs. In order to accommodate situations where tests/examinations are written at different times, several versions should be prepared to help prevent the inappropriate sharing of information. In these instances, it can be useful to use different colored paper to identify the different versions. All first year common courses will have a course lead assigned as well any course with three or more faculty teaching (includes scenarios where all three faculty are full time).

Dec 2012

COMMON TESTING PRACTICES

• I.D. cards must be placed and clearly visible on the desk
• An exam invigilator will circulate (walk around with) a "sign-in attendance sheet" checking the I.D. cards (as soon as the exam begins)
• Any completed exams should be numbered by the invigilator as they are handed in (or checked against the attendance sheet)
• Students may not be permitted to enter the exam room after 30 minutes have passed since the exam began.
• Students may not leave the exam room until 30 minutes have passed since the start of the exam.
• At the end of the time limit, students remain seated. The papers of students who finish in the last 5 minutes should be collected by the invigilator to avoid "crowding" the invigilator's desk. All remaining students will be dismissed once all papers have been collected.
• A count of the exam papers should be compared with the number of students on the attendance list prior to the invigilator leaving the exam room. Any discrepancies should be noted immediately.

Dec 2012

COURSE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO STUDENTS

Practice

At the start of each course, students will be informed as to what the course content is, who their professor/instructor is, how the professor/instructor can be contacted, the resources required and how students will be evaluated.

1. Within one week of the start of a course, all students must receive a copy of the Course Outline - either electronically or paper copy .
2. Within two weeks of the start of a course, all students must receive a Course Requirements Sheet that includes the following information:
   1. Course name, number, semester, year, name of program.
   2. Name of professor/instructor.
   3. Contact information: office hours, e-mail and Practice regarding its use, phone numbers (and when they may be used if home numbers given), mailboxes, etc.
   4. Caveat Emptor clause: "It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand this Course Requirements Sheet (or Syllabus)."
      1. Optional: provide for signatures, both teacher's and student's, on the form and/or have a sign off sheet indicating that the student has received the sheet.
   5. Resources:
      1. Any required or recommended books, articles, materials, equipment and websites etc which are not included in the course outline. Indicate which are mandatory and which are optional.
      2. An indication if other editions of the required textbook are acceptable, and what accommodations are needed, if any.
      3. Information on materials on reserve in the LRC.
   6. Practices for the use of lab materials, equipment, or facilities
   7. Course requirements (including evaluation methods/grading schemes):
      1. a list and explanation of all the activities, written assignments, tests, projects, presentations, exams in the course etc and details on them. Be as detailed as possible.
      2. include all criteria to be used, minimum grades for successful completion, links to other projects/parts of the course, etc. e.g. independent work or group, drafts required or not, computer models accepted/not accepted, software applications accepted/not accepted, hard copy, disk, or both required, rubrics to be used for grading qualitative assessments, formats for assignments/assessment instruments, units to be covered by each test, etc.
      3. any requirement to have an average =55% on exams, projects, etc. in order to pass the course; it is recommended to include an example of how that is calculated.
   8. Course calendar: due dates for everything including times! Clarify Practices regarding late assignments, if late assignments will be accepted, if they can be emailed, etc. e.g. is a computer crash an acceptable excuse?
   9. Test and exam Practices. Include the following statements and any others that are pertinent to the course:
      1. All tests and examinations must be written on the dates and at the times scheduled. Students who miss these tests or examinations will automatically be given zero grades unless they can defend their absences with medical certificates, death certificates or court documents. Students are responsible for keeping all returned assignments and tests in the event of disputes over recorded marks. A student who misses a class is responsible for obtaining any handouts and information on course contest, assignments, due dates, test dates, etc.
      2. Scheduled examinations and inclement severe weather conditions – if all school buses have been cancelled for the public and separate school boards in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County, a test scheduled to be administered during a regularly scheduled class will automatically be postponed until the next class. Classes will not be cancelled; lectures for the next unit will start. If the College has to be closed in an examination week, the examinations scheduled for that day will be added to the end of the examination schedule which will be extended by an additional day. Students living outside the Waterloo Region and Wellington County who cannot travel to the College due to bad weather are responsible for notifying their faculty either by email or telephone of their inability to write on the day of the test. Students who fail to provide this notice to their faculty will receive a grade of zero on the test. Students must make arrangements to write the test immediately upon their return to the College. Acceptable conditions for missing a test are defined as the cancellation of school buses or classes in the student's local area.
   10. A specific statement on academic honesty and plagiarism and the consequences of violation of these principles. You may have to explain the difference between plagiarism and quoting sources, or between collaboration and using someone else's work, provide examples of cheating and/or plagiarism that have occurred in this course in prior years.
   11. An indication of anything that is tentative and may be changed later at the teacher's discretion and how and when the students will be notified if that happens.
3. Professors/instructors must ensure that all of the students registered have received the Course Outline and the Course Requirements Sheet

Dec 2012

COURSE OUTLINE REQUIREMENTS

Practice

In addition to the meeting the standards of the College as they relate to course outlines, School of Business and Hospitality course outlines will include the following:

Evaluation Section

A. Where students are required to meet particular conditions in addition to achieving an overall passing grade:

1. Insert the phrase:
   In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:
2. List the condition(s) required
   1. Where a condition is the need to have an average grade of >=55% on tests (or assignments), insert the phrase:
      Achieve an overall (weighted average) grade of >=55% for the _________ i.e. tests/examinations
3. List the evaluation tools/methods with the weight assigned for each below the phrase:
   Achieve a grade of =55% based on the following evaluation tools/methods:
4. Insert the phrase:
   All requirements must be met in order to pass the course.

   
   Example:
   In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:

   Achieve an overall (simple mean) grade of =55% for the tests/examinations listed below
   Achieve a grade of =55% based on the following evaluation tools/methods:
   

2 Term Tests (20% each)	40%
Quiz (8-10)	10%
Assignments: Creative Introduction: Research Project Audit Group Project Oral Presentation of Audit Group Project	5% 15% 20% 10%
	100%

All requirements must be met in order to pass the course.

B. Where students are graded according to the weighted average of the evaluation instruments only:

1. Insert the phrase:
   In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:
2. List the evaluation tools/methods with the weight assigned for each

Example:
In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:

Achieve a grade of >=55% based on the following evaluation tools/methods:

2 Term Tests (20% each)	40%
Quiz (8-10)	10%
Assignments: Creative Introduction: Research Project Audit Group Project Oral Presentation of Audit Group Project	5% 15% 20% 10%
	100%

*NOTE: Certificate and Diploma courses require a minimum passing grade of 55%. Degree courses require a minimum passing grade of 60%.

Other Section

Include the following statement:

All tests and examinations must be completed on the dates and at the times scheduled. Students who miss these tests or examinations will automatically be given zero grades unless they can defend their absences with medical certificates, death certificates or court documents. Students are responsible for keeping all returned assignments and tests in the event of disputes over recorded marks. A student who misses a class is responsible for obtaining any handouts and information on course content, assignments, due dates, test dates, etc.

• Program Quality Assurance (PDF)

Dec 2012

Course Requirements – Must pass

If a course has a must pass element other than an overall pass, all conditions must be met. If all conditions are met, the final grade is calculated as listed on the course outline. An example of a condition that could be listed on your course outline is the requirement to have a passing average on all tests/exams. For example, if the student received 60% on one exam and 45% on another exam, the final mark entered will be 53, even though the student had an overall passing average of 60% (all assessment items listed on the course outline).

Students are responsible for reviewing the outline and the requirements to pass for each individual course. Requirements vary from course to course.

CONESTOGA STUDENTS INCORPORATED (CSI) REPRESENTATION AT STUDENT MEETINGS WITH FACULTY

The CSI and the School of Business and Hospitality agree that a student has the right to invite a member of CSI to a student/faculty meeting provided that 24 hours advance notice is given to faculty. This advance notice will ensure that all parties will have an opportunity to adequately prepare for the meeting.

Dec 2012

PURPOSES OF THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

The purposes of Conestoga's Curriculum Development Process are to:

• Provide a framework for the development or revision of programs
• Prepare program proposals for Ministry approval.
• Develop programs in accordance with MTCU standards.
• Document college standards for programs.
• Facilitate the PLAR process.
• Maintain consistency and equity in the college's response to students, employers, advisory committees, students and the community.
• Provide official college documentation as a program data base for college teaching and learning, marketing and advertising, budgeting and operations planning.
• Provide the official documentation for admission requirements for programs.

Dec 2012

STANDARDS: PROGRAM OUTLINES, PROGRAM DESIGNS, COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (PROGRAM DATA PACK)

STANDARD

A minimum level of performance that can be measured or evaluated.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Measurable indicators of how the standard is to be achieved or evaluated.

STANDARD	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Standard 1: The Program Outlines, Program Designs and Course Descriptions are part of the college's official curriculum documents for each program.	The Program Outlines, Program Designs, and Course Descriptions are the official college documents for program admission requirements and curriculum.
Standard 2: The Program Outline clearly states the Program Name and Number, Program Description, Admission Requirements, Admission Procedures, Program Information, Program Outcomes, Completion Requirements, and Document of Recognition.	1. Each Program Outline includes the ministry approved program name and the college program number. 2. The Program Description clearly communicates the occupational goals (or purposes) of the program. 3. The Program Description clearly identifies occupational opportunities. 4. The Program Description provides an overview of program content which is concise and written in a style that is appealing to applicants/students. 5. Statements on Admission Requirements and Admission Procedures meet ministry and college admission practices. 6. The statements on Admission Requirements are standardized across the college to ensure that admission criteria is defensible, fair, and easily interpreted. 7. After the Admission Requirements and Admission Procedures are published in the calendar, changes to the Program Outline statements cannot be made without the approval of the Academic Coordinating committee. 8. Program Information statements refer the student to unique information about an individual program that is not repeated in any other section of the Program Outline. 9. Program outcomes are measurable, and use a verb from a validated taxonomy. The program outcomes are based on provincial standards (when available) and state the knowledge, skills and attitudes that the student will be able to demonstrate on completion of the program. 10. The following lead-in statement is written at the beginning of the program outcomes: Successful completion of this program will enable the graduate to. 11. Program outcomes include a general education outcome, as appropriate. 12. Completion Requirements indicate the criteria required to successfully complete the program. 13. The Document of Recognition section identifies that a certificate, diploma or a statement of completion of vocational preparation is the college credential for a particular program.
Standard 3: A Program Design is developed for each academic year.	1. The Program Design includes all of the courses (theoretical, practical, placement, etc.) required in the program. 2. The hours specified for both course are student credit hours as well as the course delivery hours.
Standard 4: Course Descriptions are included for each course listed on the Program Design.	1. Course Descriptions are student centered explanations of the course content. 2. Each Course Description is consistent with the Course Description on the Course Outline for the appropriate year.
Standard 5: The Program Outlines, Program Designs, and Course Descriptions are word processed, printed and distributed according to the practices in each school/academic division.	The word-processing, printing and distribution procedures in each school/academic division are followed.
Standard 6: The appropriate information on the Program Outlines and Program Designs is entered into SIS (Student Information System).	New or revised information is entered into the SIS system by the curriculum records personnel in each school/academic division.
Standard 7: All new faculty complete curriculum orientation on the development of the Program Outlines, Program Designs and Course Descriptions.	The college provides training in the development of the Program Outlines, Program Designs, and Course Descriptions, according to College Standards, to new faculty and others as determined by each school/academic division.
Standard 8: The Program Outlines, Program Designs, and Course Descriptions will be developed using the College Standards.	The AVP, Chairs and Manager Academic Administration identify the schedule for course revision/development/review for each school/academic division.
Standard 9: Conestoga College Program Outlines, Program Designs and Course Descriptions are based on provincial learning outcomes/ program standards (when available).	The Program Outlines, Program Designs and Course Descriptions reflect provincial outcomes/program standards (when available).

Dec 2012

DEGREE POLICIES

There are program specific policies that must be met by students and will be communicated by the coordinator. For example, all students in the International Business Management Degree and Accounting, Audit and Information Technology Degree must take one language elective during their program. Failure to do so will result in the student not meeting graduation requirements.

It is important that all students attend the sessions offered by the coordinator of the program to ensure they are aware of all graduation requirements.

For information specifically relating to Degree programs please review the attached link, scrolling down to the Degree policies area www.conestogac.on.ca/about/policies/academics.jsp

Dec 2012

PRACTICES FOR THE BLUE ROOM

(in addition to common practices)

• Due to Blue Room seating, the maximum number of similar exams in the room at one time is 65. If there are more students than that scheduled to write a final exam for the same course, faculty will need to supply different versions of the same exam such that a maximum of 65 students are writing the same version at one time.
• Students sitting at the same table must not be given an opportunity to write the same version of an exam
• A faculty member should be designated as Lead Invigilator at the front of the room to collect the exam papers.
• Separate "sign-in attendance sheets" should be circulated for the different courses or sections.
• The Lead Invigilator ensures the exams are pre-sorted into separate courses/sections.
• All doors must be locked (from inside) - all students must leave by one door.
• The student I.D. card is to be checked against the exam.
• At 15 minutes before the exam is about to conclude, the students should be informed by the invigilator. This is a last chance for anyone to leave; thereafter all students must remain at their desks until the allotted time is complete

Dec 2012

TEST/EXAMINATION INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS

Practice (draft)

Students should have all the necessary information provided at the start of a test/examination to enable them to plan how to best use their time, to be sure they have the appropriate resources available and to know that their copy of the test/examination is complete. Complete information for students will also help to ensure consistent administration of a test/examination by someone other than the professor/instructor.

Written Tests/Examinations

1. There must be a coversheet that includes the following information:
   1. Course title and number
   2. Space for student name, student number and section number
   3. Time permitted for the test/examination
   4. Whether the test is open or closed book
   5. Any tools or supplies that are allowed (i.e. BA+ calculator)
   6. If there are any work sheets to be handed in with the test (include the number to be attached)
   7. The number of pages
   8. The date the test/examination is being administered
   9. The version of the test if more than one
   10. The marks available for each question/section of the test
   11. Instructor name
2. All pages must be numbered.
3. The marks available for all questions/sections must be disclosed in the margin adjacent to the question/section or at in the heading for each question/section.

Dec 2012

INVIGILATOR GUIDELINES

• Students are required to bring their college ID cards to all exams and to display their cards on the desk in front of them during the writing of exams. Faculty must send all students without ID cards to the School of Business and Hospitality office to obtain an identity verification form.
• Books, bags, coats, hats, pencil cases, etc. must not be brought into the examination room.
• Purses and wallets may be placed on the floor underneath the student's chair.
• Students must wait until the invigilator so directs them before turning over and starting their exams.
• Students are not permitted to talk after the exam has started, except to the invigilator.
• Students may not be permitted to enter the exam room after 30 minutes have passed since the exam began.
• Students may not leave the exam room until 30 minutes have passed since the start of the exam.
• The invigilator has the authority to assign seats.
• At 15 minutes before the exam is about to conclude, the students should be informed by the invigilator. This is a last chance for anyone to leave; thereafter all students must remain at their desks until the allotted time is complete.

Dec 2012

EXEMPTIONS

Practice

Students may apply for and be granted exemptions for both Core Business Courses and Program Specific Courses if they have completed equivalent post secondary courses. Any other previous experience must be challenged through a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Exemptions granted cannot exceed 75% of the total courses in the program.

Exemption criteria for School of Business and Hospitality specific courses are as follows

• Courses must have been taken within the last 7 years.
• For some courses, a Program may stipulate a lesser period (eg. computer-related courses). These will be identified in the program design and on information provided to the student seeking exemptions.
• Course hours should be the equivalent or greater
• Course content must be an 80% match or more
• Any final year course being requested as an exemption, can only be exempted if the grade was 65% (or equivalent letter grade) or greater
• Non final year courses require a passing grade as determined by the granting college or university

The practices for exemption are as follows:

1. Student completes the Exemption Request Form, attaching their original transcript and corresponding course outline and submits to faculty designated on the list referred to above.

2. The faculty member responsible for the course reviews the student's documentation, determines equivalency and ensures the exemption criteria listed below have been satisfied. If satisfied, the faculty member will sign the form.

3. Student returns the completed Exemption Request Form to the Program Coordinator for verification and signature. The Coordinator signs to signify approval and forwards to the Chair responsible for the program.

4. The completed Exemption Request Form is forwarded to the Chair/AVP for approval.

5. The Chair/AVP forwards the Form to the Registrar's office for recording purposes

Dec 2012

FIELD TRIPS

Submit a completed Field Trip Request form (available on the college intranet) to your Chair for approval at least 2 weeks prior to the trip. A list of participants should be attached to the form. If students use their own cars, Waiver Release Forms must be filled out by the student(s) and witness signatures must also be recorded. Attach these to the Field Trip Request form. The faculty member responsible for initiating the field trip is responsible for advising other teachers whose classes may be affected by the trip.

Dec 2012

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Practice

If a final test/exam is part of the evaluation method listed on the last page of the course outline, there MUST be a test/exam administered during the scheduled exam week. NO TESTS MAY BE GIVEN IN THE WEEK PRIOR TO EXAM WEEK.

Professors will be given a "Final Exam Request Form" each Fall and Winter semester, which must be completed and returned to the Academic Administration office. This office will timetable your final exam and you will be notified of the date, time and location as well as other exams that you need to invigilate.

During the summer semester, teachers are responsible for setting and invigilating their own exams and for enlisting colleagues to assist with large groups of students or multiple exam rooms. Final exams will be written in the final week of the semester.

Dec 2012

FINAL EXAMINATIONS PREPARATION

The School of Business and Hospitality has a formalized exam week, typically in week 15. To enable students to prepare for their exams, please remember that, the week prior to exam week, students are not to have tests scheduled or assignments due. All testing and completion of assignments must be completed no later than 2 weeks prior to final exams. For example, week 13 is the last week to hand in assignments or have testing for a 15 week course. This applies to all programs which use the formalized School of Business and Hospitality exam period (i.e. certificate, diploma and advanced diploma).

GUEST SPEAKERS

Guest speakers are usually provided with a small gift, usually a Conestoga College coffee mug, to thank them for their contribution to our endeavours. These can be obtained from the College Bookstore and you can be reimbursed through petty cash or you can make arrangements with the Business Administrative Assistant to have one available when you require it.

Dec 2012

MISSED EXAMINATIONS

Practice

All tests and examinations must be written on the dates and at the times scheduled. Students must contact their faculty prior to the start of the exam regarding their absence. Those who miss these tests or examinations will automatically be given zero grades unless they have contacted their faculty prior to the start of the exam, and can defend their absences with medical certificates, death certificates or court documents. It is up to the faculty member to reschedule the exam for the student.

Students who schedule trips or have other conflicts with scheduled tests or examinations are not to be provided with the opportunities to write at another time. Exceptions to this must be cleared with the coordinator and with the AVP. The Practice must be applied equally to all students. This will avoid the situation where a faculty member who upholds the standard is unfavorably portrayed versus other faculty members who inappropriately provide alternative test dates in situations where the absence is not covered by a medical certificate, death certificate or court documents. Scheduling of vacations is not a valid reason to allow a person to write at another time.

Bad Weather Conditions and Testing

Scheduled examinations and inclement severe weather conditions – if all school buses have been cancelled for the public and separate school boards in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County, a test scheduled to be administered during a regularly scheduled class will automatically be postponed until the next class. Classes will not be cancelled; lectures for the next unit will start. If the College has to be closed in an examination week, the examinations scheduled for that day will be added to the end of the examination schedule which will be extended by an additional day. Students living outside the Waterloo Region and Wellington County who cannot travel to the College due to bad weather are responsible for notifying their faculty either by email or telephone of their inability to write on the day of the test. Students who fail to provide this notice to their faculty will receive a grade of zero on the test. Students must arrangements to write the test immediately upon their return to the College. Acceptable conditions for missing a test are defined as the cancellation of school buses or classes in the student's local area.

Dec 2012

STANDARDS: COURSE OUTLINES

STANDARD

A minimum level of performance that can be measured or evaluated

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Measurable indicators of how the standard is to be achieved or evaluate

STANDARD	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Standard 1: The Course Outlines are part of the College's official curriculum documents.	The Course Outlines are the official college documents for course and unit outcomes, resources and evaluation methods.
Standard 2: There is consistency between information on the Course Outline and the related Program Outline, Program Design and Course Descriptions (Program Data Pack).	Consistency exists between the Course Outline and the related Program Data Pack in the following areas: course name course number total credit hours course description
Standard 3: The Course Outline identifies prerequisite courses.	A prerequisite course is one that includes the knowledge, skills and/or attitudes that are essential for learning the content of another specified course.
Standard 4: The Course Outline includes the outcomes that describe what the course will enable the student to do on completion of the learning experiences.	1. Course outcomes state what the course will enable the student to do on completion of the course completion of specific units 2. Course outcomes reflect the intent of the overall program outcomes from the Program Outline. 3. Outcomes are arranged in an hierarchial order from general course outcomes on the first page of the Course Outline to the more specific unit outcomes on the curriculum detail pages of the Course Outline. 4. Outcomes are clear, concise, behavioural and measurable 5. Outcomes reflect, as appropriate to the content, all three domains of learning: cognitive, affective and psychomotor. 6. Verbs used in the outcomes are based on a validated taxonomy. 7. Outcomes indicate the appropriate levels of learning. 8. The verb is placed at the beginning of each outcome. 9. Each outcome consists of one verb. 10. Outcomes are organized in a logical sequence for learning. 11. The following lead-in statement is written at the beginning of the course outcomes: Successful completion of this course will enable the student to. 12. One of the following lead-in statements is written at the beginning of the outcomes for each unit: Successful completion of this unit will enable the student to or Successful completion of the following units will enable the student to 13. Upper case is used for the first letter of the verb in each objective.
Standard 5: Student resources, texts, and assignments are included in the Course Outline.	1. The right column of the Course Outline pages for curriculum detail includes references to resources/tests/assignments, as appropriate. 2. The right column of each Course Outline uses a consistent format for easy student use. 3. The Required Resources section on the last page of the Course Outline includes only the texts and resources that are to be purchased by the student.
Standard 6: The Evaluation section of the Course Outline documents the evaluation tool(s)/method(s) for the course.	1. The Evaluation section begins with the following lead in statement: In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria: 2. Evaluation tool(s)/method(s) are listed. 3. The percentage that each tool/method contributes to the final grade is listed. 4. Any significant aspects related to promotion practices in the school/division will be described or referenced. 5. The grading system is consistent with current Conestoga Practice.
Standard 7: Course Outlines are word processed, printed and distributed according to the practices in each school/academic division.	The word processing, printing and distribution practices in each school/academic division are followed.
Standard 8: The appropriate Course Outline information is entered into S Drive.	New or revised Course Outline information is entered into the S Drive by the curriculum records personnel in each school/academic division.
Standard 9: All new faculty complete curriculum orientation on the development of the Course Outlines.	The College provides training in Course Outline development, according to the College standards for Course Outlines, to new faculty and others as determined by each school/academic division.

Dec 2012

PROGRAM EVALUATION

All college programs are evaluated using Key Performance Indicators through the Ministry of Education. This is done in February of each year across the province. Strategic goals are developed from these results.

Please follow the link below to more information on Key Performance Indicators:

• Program Quality Assurance (PDF)

Dec 2012

PROGRAM EXCELLENCE

The key to education is quality. Leading colleges are focusing on excellence and improvement through rigorous and measurable standards and higher expectations of performance (Millard, 1991). In an educational setting, quality is the extent to which the institutions' and students' educational objectives are achieved (Millard, 1991). Conestoga demonstrate a strong commitment to quality in education. The mission statement outlines that the college's "Goal is excellence achieved through innovation and responsiveness to the current and future needs of the communities we serve." The vision statement emphasizes that the college is continually striving for excellence in delivering high quality educational programs.

Provincially, the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities (MTCU) is developing system-wide standards for all programs leading to a college credential. Such standards focus on the learning outcomes expected of graduates from a program. Curriculum development at colleges, based on the MTCU program standards, is a college responsibility.

Conestoga College has designed a Curriculum Development Process that is built on a systems approach. This process enables the college to develop, revise and implement quality programming. Quality and excellence in this context are interpreted to mean that students are successful in achieving college program outcomes. This interpretation reflects Sullivan (1977) and Millard's (1991) position that the measure of quality in an educational institution is involved with student success. The Curriculum Development Process includes the following steps: needs assessment, analysis of learners, outcomes, implementation and evaluation.

1. Degree Review, Revision, and Renewal Procedure
2. Program Development Procedure

Dec 2012

SPECIAL TIMETABLING

Special Timetabling is set for the Tuesday afternoon before classes begin in the Fall and Winter semesters.

Students who have taken courses out of order from their program design, transferred from another program or school, dropped, failed or taken a course load less than the recommended program design may require assistance planning and selecting courses for their next semester. Program coordinators will be available during Special Timetabling, for students to meet with and review their course and program options. Special timetabling room numbers and times will be posted on the college web page under “Current Students”, in the Notes section.

Students within the School of Business do have the ability to access their timetable through the student portal and are able to add, drop or change sections, provided the course or section fits into their timetable and there is space in the section they wish to join. Program block changes are also available, if there is space within the block the student wishes to join. Course sections and blocks that are full will not allow students to access them. If a student is able to make the required changes on their own, they may not need to attend special timetabling.

When a student chooses to drop a course section to change their timetable, they take the chance that they may not be able to get back into the section they have dropped. Once a student drops a section, they cannot hold the space in that class, and another student may pick up that seat, filling a class. When a class is full, the student will no longer be able to access space in that class.

Students on probation must plan on attending special timetabling, as they cannot access their timetable until they have met with their program coordinator to review their progress in the program.

Fulltime day students have access to all courses scheduled during the day, which are part of their program design. Students do not have access to evening, weekend, on-line Ontario Learn courses or courses outside of their program design. If a student wants to take one of these courses, they will be required to pay the course fee for those courses, over and above their regular daytime tuition costs.

Continuing Education Courses at no fees

A student may gain signed permission from a coordinator and chair during special timetabling (by completing an Add/Drop form) to attend an evening or weekend course, (within their program design) during special timetabling, if:

• They have less than a full course load for their program design for the semester they are registered in, and a daytime section is unavailable or does not fit into their schedule without conflicts.
  AND
• Timetable conflicts have not been caused as a result of the student changing their timetable from the original timetable issued by the School of Business.
  AND
• The course is a prerequisite course the student must complete, in order to continue in their program design.

Dec 2012

STUDENT EVALUATION

Practice

Teachers are required to follow the evaluation strategy for each course as it is detailed on the course outline. The School of Business and Hospitality encourages teachers to use a variety of techniques and methodologies in the evaluation of their students. Using different kinds of evaluation ensures that all students have a fair chance to demonstrate their achievement regardless of their learning styles, or the style of their teacher!

There are a number of books and documents available to help teachers explore and develop different evaluation methods and to choose the appropriate ones for their course content and outcomes. Please refer to the College document on evaluation techniques, to the Chair of Professional Development or to the Library Resource Centre for materials to assist you.

Full time teachers may change the evaluation strategy for future deliveries of their course by changing the course outline. Changes and updates to course outlines are routinely requested 2 or 3 months before the start of the semester in which the course is offered. This lead-time is required so that the changed outlines can be approved and printed in time for distribution to the students at the beginning of the course. If more than one full time teacher teaches the course, the School of Business and Hospitality Administration Office will organize a common course review to ensure all program requirements are met. There is only one approved outline for each course at any time.

Dec 2012

STUDENTS WITHOUT COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION FOR EXAMS

Student:

1. You must obtain a Identity Verification form from the School of Business and Hospitality Administration Office in room 1B52. There is a $5 charge for this form on the second occurrence of not having student ID.
2. You will be required to produce verification of identity.
3. Return with the card and deliver it to the invigilator who will permit you to begin the exam.

NOTE: Time missed while completing the card will NOT be added to the established finish time for the exam.

Invigilator:

1. Before test starts, announce that "Any student who does not have their student card is NOT ALLOWED to start writing the test. In order to minimize disruption to the other students, all those students must now come to the front of the test area."
2. Start the test.
3. Indicate to the students that they will NOT be allowed additional time to complete the test/exam currently in progress.
4. Send students to the Admin Assistant in the School of Business and Hospitality office in room 1B52 to obtain a Identity Verification form.

*See Identity Verification form in Appendix A – Sample Forms

Dec 2012

CLEARANCE OF ACADEMIC DEFICIENCY
(Supplemental Work/Exams)

Practice Elaboration

– refer to the Conestoga College Practices for further information.

Clearance of Academic Deficiency Policy

The intention to clear an academic deficiency is indicated by the student by completing the supplemental form (RO479). This form can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office or the School of Business and Hospitality Administration Office (room 1B52).

• Faculty submit list of all eligible students to the School of Business and Hospitality Administrative Assistant.
• School of Business and Hospitality Administrative Assistant obtains the list of students with academic and/or student code of conduct offences.
• Consult with the administrative staff of the School of Business Office (room 1B52). It will be determined if the student meets the conditions of eligibility and if eligible.
• Complete the Supplemental Form (RO479). Authorized signature required.
• Student takes completed and authorized form to the Registrar’s Office and will pay the required fee.
• Student must return yellow copy of form to the School of Business Office (room 1B52).
• Student will keep pink copy.

Supplemental exams are administered within fifteen working days after the final grade for the course is posted. This may vary for the fall semester due to the Christmas break. Students must check their email and review the School of Business notice board to find out exact dates and times.

Failure to complete any of the steps will result in an exam not being available at the time of writing. Exams are pre-assigned to students and no extra assignments are available at the time of writing.

No alternate dates for supplemental exams are not permitted.

Mandatory Conditions

The student must meet the following conditions:

• A failing grade of not less than 50% in the course
• Limit of one supplemental opportunity per semester
• One supplemental opportunity per course
• Passed at least one test/exam in the course. Passing group work is not sufficient.
• No registered academic or student code of conduct offence in the semester
• Complete the process by the deadline and inform the administrative assistant in the School of Business and Hospitality office (1B52)

Grading

The student will receive the minimum passing grade for the course if he or she receives a passing mark.

Other Information

Information relating to time and date of the supplemental will be available on the School of Business and Hospitality notice board located by the main cafeteria at the end of each semester as well an email will be sent to all students through their Conestoga College email accounts.

This Practice does not apply to courses delivered to School of Business and Hospitality students by other Schools. Students should check with appropriate School or instructor for their supplemental Practice.

Clearance of Academic Deficiency Policy

Dec 2012

RETENTION OF ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS

Colleges are legally required to keep documents relating to grades on file for a minimum of one year. Unless they are given back to the students, teachers are required to keep the originals of all assignments and tests for their class(es) for one year from the end of the semester in order to have documentation against a possible appeal, etc. Please store in mailroom (1B04) in the appropriate designated area where automatic shredding dates are noted.

Dec 2012

TEXTBOOK IDENTIFICATION AND ORDERING

Faculty who are responsible for particular course outlines are also responsible for identifying the textbook to be used for the next academic year. Where more than one person teaches a course, those other faculty must be involved in the discussion and deliberations as to the textbook to be chosen. The faculty responsible must enter textbook/resource information using the Bookstore's online ordering process. Dates will be communicated by the Bookstore, normally this is done at the end of May for the Fall semester and at the end of October for the Winter semester.

If you require a textbook for yourself, please contact the publisher representative and request a teacher copy. The representative's name and phone number are available from other faculty members or through the Conestoga Bookstore website. Teacher resources for part-time faculty will be ordered by the Administrative Assistant in the School of Business and Hospitality Administration office. Any books/booklets ordered for faculty will be accepted by the Shipping/Receiving department and will be delivered to the faculty mailroom.

Dec 2012

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Practice

A student shall be placed on academic probation at the end of an academic year, when a student is carrying three to four failed courses in the program in which they are registered and will be monitored by the School of Business Administration Office.

Students will remain on academic probation until all but two outstanding failures in their program have been cleared.

While on academic probation, the student must meet with their Program Coordinator prior to the beginning of each semester to establish an academic plan. This will provide better opportunities for the student to be successful. A student's timetable will not be accessable until the student meets with the Coordinator.

Students on academic probation will have their academic performance monitored by the School of Business Administration Office with academic decisions/changes at the end of each semester. Students will be required to meet with the Program Coordinator or Program Administrator during their probation period to discuss their academic plan and progress.

Dec 2012

GRADING SYSTEM

Practice

Faculty are required to report interim grades via the Gradebook in SIS. Students should be able to access interim grades throughout the semester. Faculty submit final grades through the faculty portal within 72hrs of the final examination date. The Chair reviews and approves grades submitted.

The following grading system will be employed by professors in reporting student achievement to the Registrar's Office. Specific programs/courses may require different minimum standards of achievement.

Due dates for marks submissions will be sent out with Marks Request forms from the AVP's/Chair's office in early December, April and August.

http://www.conestogac.on.ca/registrar/records/achievement.jsp

Dec 2012

ACADEMIC DISCONTINUANCE

Discontinuation Practice

A student may be discontinued from the School of Business and Hospitality on either academic or behavioural grounds as set out in the College Student Guide. Discontinuance decisions on academic grounds are made at the end of each academic year unless the student is on academic probation; in which case, the decision is made at the end of each semester.

Discontinuance will occur when a student has five or more outstanding course failures in the program in which they are registered.

RE-ADMISSION

Practice

A student who has been discontinued from the School of Business will only be considered for re-admission into their program once the student has cleared all but two of the outstanding failures, the student has sat out for one academic year or the student is within one academic year of completing their program. The student must re-apply to the program by submitting a completed program application form to the registrar's office. In the event the student returns after sitting out for one academic year with more than two outstanding failures, the student will return to their program on academic probation.

Students are strongly encouraged to clear their failed courses first, rather than continuing with scheduled courses.

Failures in courses not part of the program to which the student is requesting admission do not need to be cleared and are not counted towards the maximum number of failures the student is allowed to carry.

Readmission to a program is not automatic. In all cases re-admission to programs in the School of Business will be at the discretion of the Chair/AVP of the School and the Program Coordinator.

Students who have been discontinued from the School of Business must meet with the Program Administrator in the School of Business for academic counseling. An academic plan should be prepared and learning contract will be completed, before their application for re-admission will be considered.

Dec 2012