​

Welcome to the School of Health & Life Sciences

Conestoga's School of Health & Life Sciences offers a range of credentials to assist you in your goal of becoming a healthcare professional. From pre-health programs to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and degrees, the School of Health & Life Sciences delivers the most up-to-date training provided by expert faculty and staff in state-of-the-art facilities. With a broad range of programs and delivery options to choose from, you can find a program that suits your needs and sets you on the path to a successful career.

Work-integrated learning is at the core of many of our programs. Whether through a field placement, clinical practicum, or co-operative education experience, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience with an industry partner that will put your training into practice.

The School of Health & Life Sciences has many partnerships in industry as well as the local community and beyond.

What you learn here, counts out there – the School of Health & Life Sciences provides you with:​

​​​The opportunity to become the professional you aspire to be.

• The opportunity to learn in specialized settings with real-life scenarios.
• The opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in a unique inter-professional environment.
  
• The opportunity to take advantage of state-of-the-art learning facilities and study spaces.
  
• The opportunity to become a "preferred graduate", sought after by your future employers.
  

​​​​​​1. Connect regularly to your online resources:

• Your Conestoga Email: (e.g. John Smith, Student Number 1234567, jsmith4567@conestogac.on.ca): This is the official communication channel for everything related to your academic requirements. Communication with faculty and staff is required to happen through your Conestoga email account. Check your school email regularly and respond as requested. 
  
• eConestoga: This is your resource for all course-based program activity and information, as well as course-based communication with the faculty.
• Student Portal: You will find your final grade information, college tuition invoices, class schedules and absence reporting on this portal.
• Placement Health Requirements: This service provides you with the requirements to enter into practice settings.
  

2. Follow your academic schedule:

• See the Orientation Checklist prior to starting your program.
  
• Course Schedule: This is a timetable of all your classes for each semester.
• The Academic Schedule: Program start and end dates, holidays and deadlines for course add/drop and withdrawal, are located on the college website. Programs with exams outside this time will be notified individually.
  

• For BScN Students: Academic Year Schedule: Program start and end dates, holidays and deadlines for course add/drop and withdrawal, are located on the college website. Please review the McMaster University's Sessional Dates. ​
  

3. Become a health care professional:

• Act respectfully and professionally at all times, as these behaviours are the key to your learning experiences.
  
• Present in professional dress and conduct: See the Professional Conduct section for professionalism expectations for your program. Please review the Rights and Responsibilities website. ​
• Pre-WIL Health Requirements: Pay attention to the deadlines listed on your documents. Complete the tasks as required; without these, you will not be able to progress to your work-integrated learning (WIL) and program completion will be in jeopardy. 
  
• Social Media: Use responsibly and respectfully. See Standards of Conduct section of the Handbook.
  

4. Attend classes and labs to enhance your success:

• Attendance Expectations: Attendance for class, labs and placement/WIL are in place to support your learning and experiences as a future professional. See Attendance and Program Expectations section in the Handbook.
  
• Absence from Evaluations: Must be reported in the Student Portal before your scheduled evaluation time. See Attendance for Evaluation section in the ​Handbook.
• Request for Accommodation for Religious Holidays: Request must be submitted to your Program Coordinator as per course schedule. See Religious Holidays sections in the Handbook.
  

5. Take responsibility for your academic status:

• Student Records: For any questions concerning your student record, academic status and/or program withdrawals, please contact your Program Coordinator.
• Fee Payments: Payment is required to attend classes. Check your Student Portal for invoices.
• Credit Transfer/Exemptions: Conestoga supports the transferability of academic credits between programs and educational institutions through recognized transfer pathways, articulation agreements and course-to-course equivalences. Please review the Credit Transfer & PLAR website for more information.
• Student Forms: To access forms, please go to the Student Forms page.
• Academic Policies and Procedures: Are found under Policies and Procedures. Please review the Rights and Responsibilities website. 
• Student Affairs Policies and Procedures: Are found on the Student Affairs page.
  

​​Communication and Contact Information

​Program Design

You can find your​ program design on the student Portal by following the steps below:

1. Log in to Student Portal
2. Click on 'My Courses' tab
3. Select 'View Progress Report' button

Courses are listed by level/semester. Students can also view courses for the most current program design for this academic year on the School of Health & Life Sciences website. To find these courses, students need to scroll to the 'Program Courses' section.

Awards

Conestoga has more than 400 awards, bursaries, scholarships and academic grants available to Conestoga students. These funds are made available through our partnerships with local businesses, industry leaders, and generous donors. To be considered for an award, you will need to complete the General Application form through your Student Portal. Notifications and instructions to complete the application are sent to all full-time students' email accounts. For more information, please visit Student Financial Services. ​​

​​​Religious Holidays

Students are supported by Conestoga policy to be absent from class to observe a recognized religious holiday. Any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in an examination, study, or work requirement on some particular day(s) because of religious beliefs will be given the opportunity to make up the missed work or complete alternate work/examinations subject to timely notification.

Conestoga recognizes all religious holidays as defined by the College Employer Council.

It is your responsibility to:

• Plan ahead and be aware of the dates of all examinations and other course obligations;
• Advise the faculty that you will be seeking accommodation to observe a recognized religious holiday. You will also make a request in writing to your Program Coordinator within the first three weeks of the semester and prior to the date of assessment that falls on the religious holiday. Exceptions based on extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Program Chair.
  

​​Class Cancellations

Class cancellations due to faculty or staff absences will be posted on the Student Portal and or eConestoga.

Students have the option of receiving special emails or SMS text messages notifying them of class cancellations due to faculty absences. To receive these notifications, students must subscribe to this service. See the Student Portal and select notifications.

​​​​​​Academic Offences and Plagiarism

Academic honesty is expected and required of all Conestoga students. It is critical that you familiarize yourself with the Academic Offences Policy described on the Policies and Procedures page. The Academic Offences Policy provides a detailed description of the following:

• Scope of academic integrity;
  
• What academic integrity means;
  
• What types of behaviours constitute a breach of academic integrity; and
  
• The penalties associated with breaching academic integrity.

Please speak with a faculty member or your Program Coordinator if you have any further questions after reviewing the policy. Please note that maintaining academic integrity is essential and that it is your responsibility to know the Academic Offences Policy.

Below are a few examples to help you avoid breaching academic integrity:

• Make sure you recognize information that requires referencing.
  
• Whenever you refer to material from another source, whether book, journal article, video, newspaper or electronic publications, you must acknowledge your source using proper citations and references. See the Student Success Services website for assistance with formatting and referencing.
• If you work collaboratively with others on an assignment, make sure you do not copy words or ideas from others intentionally or by accident.
• Read the Academic Offences Policy and make sure that you fully understand it. The policy describes additional behaviours that represent a breach of academic integrity.
• If you require more information, see the Academic Integrity website. 
  

Test and Examination Policies

The structure and weighting of tests and examinations will vary for each course; however, there are some general policies that apply to all forms of tests written:

• Admittance to the test/examination requires the presentation of photo I.D. to the faculty or Proctor.
• Students arriving late to write tests will not be granted an extended time for writing. The test must be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
• All tests and assignments will be graded within two weeks of the date on which they were due. Individual faculty will inform their students as to how they will be returned or made available for viewing.
• Tests and exams are not permanently returned to students but are held within the department.
• Requests for review of test papers may be arranged with the individual faculty within two weeks of writing the test, and not immediately prior to supplemental work.
• Students who have questions about a test/assignment mark may request an appointment with the faculty who marked the evaluation to discuss the mark. If a student requests for a question to be re-marked by the faculty, the faculty may choose to re-mark the entire assessment.
• Accommodations in the examination procedure are made by Accessibility Services solely for students as prescribed by the Accessibility Services Department.
  

Assignment Policies

The expectation of all students is that assigned work is completed competently and in the allocated time. In the event that a student anticipates difficulty in meeting deadlines, please notify the appropriate person(s) and make the necessary arrangements. 

The following regulations regarding assignments are designed to ensure student success:

• Students are required to submit all written assignments on or before the date and time specified.
• If due to extenuating circumstances, a student anticipates problems that will necessitate an extension of time, the student must make this request in writing to the appropriate faculty at least 24 hours prior to the deadline.
• Late assignments will be deducted 10% per business day up to a maximum of 3 days. After the third day, a late assignment will receive a grade of zero.

Note: Extensions are rarely given and are done so at the discretion of the faculty. 

Forms

Types of Evaluations

Two types of feedback are used to evaluate the student's performance:

1.      Formative: Formative evaluation is an ongoing process whereby the faculty and the student collect data during the learning phase of the student's practice. The faculty monitors the student's progress toward achievement of the terminal objectives and provides ongoing feedback to the student on a regular basis. Examples could include quizzes, assignments, lab write-ups, practice calculations, and other weekly assessment methods.

2.      Summative: This is the final evaluation at the end of the learning or practice experience. Summative evaluation is the documentation of the behaviours the student has mastered and the behaviours that the student must improve or change. This evaluation contains all the information that has been shared with the student during the period of learning and should contain no surprises.

Tips for Test Preparation and Assignment Completion

Most health care programs are demanding and require students to stay organized and work hard. In order to successfully demonstrate your learning on tests and assignments, here are some general guidelines:

• Review course material often. Don't wait until test season; spend a bit of time each night reviewing what you learned during the day.
• Train yourself to think conceptually. With the depth and breadth of information present in the program courses it will be impossible to memorize it all. So instead, work towards understanding concepts. Do this by making study notes, drawing diagrams and flow charts, explaining course ideas out loud and in your own words, and asking lots of questions in class.
• Stay organized. Use your smartphone, agenda, calendar, or any other method that works for you to record when assignments and labs are due and the dates of tests. Then make a plan. Arrange your schedule to designate specific amounts of time for each assessment.
• Seek help when needed. Don't wait until it's too late! The faculty and staff are here to help you succeed, so ask questions, set up appointments, and take advantage of tutorials, in order to stay on top of what you're learning.
• Start early. Assignments are often provided many weeks before the due date, and test dates are given for the whole term during the first week of the semester. Use this information to work ahead or you may feel swamped as the term progresses.

General Guidelines for Quality of Written Work

It is expected that all students will meet the standard of English required within the profession. Faculty will identify students who are having difficulty in this area and will approach them to discuss the need for improvement. Students may be referred to the Learning Commons to help them improve the quality of their written work.

For specific course requirements, refer to the course outlines provided. If you are not clear about course requirements, discuss this with individual faculty. Students are required to use spell-check and grammar-check to assist with editing written work.

Unless otherwise indicated, assignments must use the APA @Conestoga format.  

Cowan Health Sciences Centre and Lab Spaces

Clinical/Lab Dress Code for all students

In order to maintain all labs as safe professional spaces, appropriate dress must be worn. This dress code aims to ensure the safety of the student, faculty and staff and prepare for the clinical environment.   The dress code is designed to comply with infection control procedures, workplace health and safety considerations and professional safety.

All lab areas are covered by this policy for all programs in the School of Health & Life Sciences. Non-compliance with this dress code will result in the person being asked to leave the lab area. If during scheduled lab time, this may result in a missed lab.

Dress Requirements

• Lab coat, scrubs or clinical dress as set forth by the program (should be neat and clean). Note: the Cross Centre for Simulation Learning requires full clinical uniform to be worn
• Closed toe, closed heel shoes as per Occupational Health & Safety requirements.
• Hair tied back, up and secured.
  
• No rings, necklaces or dangling earrings (A pair of studs may be worn and a plain wedding band may be worn)
  
• Nails should be kept neat and short; artificial nails and nail polish are not allowed.
• No hats to be worn (exceptions related to the Human Rights Code).
• No denim or sweatpants
• Nametags must be worn
  
• Scented products (perfume, scented aftershave, hair products) must not be worn.
• Personal hygiene products such as deodorant should be used but unscented.
• No gum chewing is permitted in clinical, lab or community settings.

Requests for accommodations of this policy (e.g. for religious or disability reasons) will be considered within the Conestoga College Policy or Human Rights framework.

Please be reminded that the labs are a clinical setting and, as such, the requirement for proper handwashing/hygiene is in effect. While every effort is made to maintain a latex-free environment in the clinical learning centre, students must be aware that the centre and clinical placement areas are not latex-free environments.

**Please note: Lab practice expectations including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), will follow College policies and will be described and demonstrated in detail, at the semester start.

​​​​Safe Practice

Safe practice is a hallmark of professional practice. It is an expectation of everyone who aims to become a healthcare professional.

There are several policies and procedures associated with practical training that has been developed to ensure your safety and the safety (physical and emotional) of those around you. These policies will be reviewed during your program.

The following basic procedures are outlined for your attention:

1. Your safety begins with the use of professional attire and footwear and with your attention to the health and safety expectations that may be identified throughout the college.   
2. Please help us create a safe and pleasant environment by wiping up spills, ensuring laptop cords do not snake across walking areas, and reporting equipment or facility problems when you notice these.  
3. Specific dress codes, personal protective equipment and specific codes of behavioural conduct may apply to certain programs; failure to follow these may result in your inability to participate in a lab, class or experiential learning activity.   
4. Safe work practices are to be followed during all training. Follow the direction of your instructors. If you have a placement, your instructor will ensure that you know safe practices and safety precautions and procedures. This includes problem-solving by the instructor and Program Coordinator with the college's Occupational Health & Safety Department as required.  
5. All safety-related accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to the Instructor in charge immediately. ​​

Professionalism

As a Health & Life Sciences student, it is important to present oneself in a professional manner. A professional demeanour and appearance are important in establishing effective working relationships. Professionalism constitutes overall attitude and presentation. In all courses with a laboratory component you will be assessed based on your professionalism according to the following expectations:

​	Expectation
Attire	To dress professionally means to dress tastefully and respectfully and to adhere to the standards of health and safety. In all laboratory settings, specific recommendations are to be followed. Although at times you will be attending classes via Zoom, it is still a good idea to “dress for success”. You don’t have to wear suits and ties or dresses, but you should make an effort to dress in reasonable school attire – don't attend Zoom meetings in pajamas. When you dress professionally, you are putting yourself in a professional mindset that will enhance your learning.
Attitude	It is expected that you will treat your experience in this program similar to that of a workplace. Thus, as you interact with peers and faculty your attitude, behaviour and language should reflect that of a positive, hard-working professional.
Teamwork	Working alongside others is an integral part of health care professions. You are expected to demonstrate effective teamwork strategies including taking on roles as a leader and as a member in group situations. You are to respect your colleagues and interact in a positive, encouraging, productive, and collaborative way. Although you will not be working side by side with your peers this year, you will be interacting with them via zoom. Please use this opportunity to network with other students in a professional and respectful manner.
Organization	Time management and organization are of the utmost importance throughout any program. When you are working in the health care field, you must complete tasks at the scheduled time. Similarly, you will have deadlines for completing assigned tasks – consider these practices for completing work-related tasks on time. Be sure to arrive on time for your scheduled classes – even during a zoom meeting, late arrivals can be disruptive. Begin by keeping a neat and tidy workspace as you would in a professional environment. Demonstrate appropriate time-management and organizational skills, allowing for the completion of tasks in a timely and effective manner.
Conduct	Your conduct within the laboratory environment must adhere to standard health and safety protocols and the additional regulations of the specific labs. All food and drink are prohibited from the lab. There are to be no interactions that could pose a safety threat, such as horseplay or excessive noise. Keep professional conduct in mind during your classes and be aware that this will be an important part of your future career.

​​​Professional Conduct - Use of technology

To support a respectful learning environment both in the classroom and in field placements, the use of technology for social networking can only occur during break times, before and after class, and during formal break time in field placement.

Social Media Use

As a student and future professional, it is essential to maintain your professional boundaries in all communication, including social media.

According to the Ontario College of Teachers (2011), "Electronic messages are not anonymous. They can be tracked, misdirected, manipulated and live forever on the internet." The same organization also indicates that "Online identities and actions are visible to the public and can result in serious repercussions or embarrassment."

• Assume the information you post or send can be accessed or altered by anyone.
• Consider whether any posting may reflect poorly on you, your school, or your profession.
• Avoid online criticism of other students, colleagues, faculty or field placements.
• Avoid impulsive, inappropriate or heated comments.
• Pictures should not be taken, posted to social media sites or shared without the expressed permission of all individuals involved.
• Make sure your on-line name and email reflect professionalism.
• Maintain privacy of all care and service activities when in practical work experiences.
  
• Do not take or post any pictures while on placement or involved in lab activities.
  
• Maintain client-provider relationships and boundaries. The addition of a client to a 'friendship" status online is unacceptable.
  

Ontario College of Teachers. (2011). Professional Advisory-Use of Electronic Communication and Social Media. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from https://www.oct.ca/resources/advisories/use-of-electronic-communication-and-social-media

Cell Phone Policy

Students should respect their instructors, faculty and staff by not using their cell phones for personal use during class time.

Students cannot bring their cell phone or technology device(s) into a test or examination, unless required for the examination and approved by the faculty. 

In the event of an urgent need to keep your cell phone with you during a test, please speak to your faculty as soon as you enter the examination room. 

​Academic Standing and Promotion

The Conestoga Student Guide is your first source for information concerning academic regulations, policies and procedures. The Conestoga Student Guide is available on the college website and by visiting the "Student Guide" tab in your Student Portal.

Course Add/Drop

You can add, change and drop courses from your portal depending on the dates and which program you are in:

1.  Log in to the Student Portal
2.  Click on the "My Courses" tab
3.  Scroll over the icons to the right of individual course listings. It is strongly recommended that you consult your Program Coordinator/Academic Advisor prior to dropping a course.

Special Timetables/Adding Dropped or Failed Courses

Please note that when students are not taking the program in the prescribed sequence, they will be on "special timetables". Prior to the beginning of the semester, students should attempt to add missed courses from a previous semester by logging in to the Student Portal and following the instructions to register for courses. If students are not able to add courses on their own (because of a timetable conflict or full course section) they must seek assistance from their Program Coordinator during the "Special Timetable Registration" initiated by the College. Dates, times and locations of Special Timetable Registration periods are posted in the student portal in advance of the beginning of each semester. Students must attend this meeting where they will receive further guidance regarding the academic status from their Program Coordinator.

Students who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.

These standards set the basis for the evaluations of a student's performance and provide the program with an ongoing decision-making process for assessing whether the student has met the expected academic performance and is permitted to advance to the next academic level of the program.

Promotion Standards

Promotion is the advancement from one portion of the program to another after a process of evaluation, which ensures that specific program objectives have been met. Promotion standards are minimally accepted academic performance expectations that must be met as the student progresses through the program. These standards set the basis for the evaluations of a student's performance and provide the program with an ongoing decision-making process for assessing whether the student has met the expected academic performance and is permitted to advance to the next academic level of the program. . All program standards must be met prior to graduation.

Promotion is based on academic achievement, satisfactory clinical and/or lab performance, professionalism and attendance. Promotion review occurs at the end of every semester.

The following regulatory standards (performance expectations) must be achieved for advancement in the program. Each student:

• Is expected to successfully complete all course requirements.
• Must demonstrate a minimum level of theoretical and practical competency in meeting course and program requirements by achieving a minimum of 60% on all final course grades.
• Is expected to maintain a minimum 65% average throughout the program.
• Is expected to have no more than 2 outstanding failed courses on their transcript.
• Is expected to apply theory and skills to practice in a safe, professional and competent manner in accordance with the level identified in the learning outcomes.
• Must attend class regularly to achieve a "pass" in laboratory practice experiences.
• Must successfully complete all field placements.
  

Promotion Committee

A student who has not met the standards will be identified by the program team and referred to the Promotion Committee to identify appropriate courses of action.

The Promotion Committee may:

• Promote the student
• Create a Learning Contract for the student to sign
• Discontinue student from the program

If a student is required to sign a Learning Contract, they will be asked to meet one or more of the following (as determined by the Promotion Committee):

• Complete supplemental evaluation requirements for course failures (see Supplemental Evaluations below). Following successful completion of supplemental evaluation, the highest course grade that can be achieved is 60%.
• Repeat the course at the earliest opportunity.
• Follow through with counselling (academic and/or personal).
• Follow through with health measures as recommended.
• Complete makeup work for missed learning experiences. Total time lost will be assessed on an individual basis. Additional time may be required to complete program objectives.
• Complete the requirements of Academic Probation as set out in a Learning Contract specific to each student (See Academic Probation below).
• Other appropriate measures to align with Program Standards.

Failure to meet the requirements of the Learning Contract will result in discontinuance from the program.

Academic Probation and Learning Contracts

Students who are on a Learning Contract are considered to be on Academic Probation.

Academic probation allows students to be promoted to the next level with a special timetable or with academic conditions. Special timetables and academic conditions are designed as part of the formal Learning Contract that the student and Program Coordinator create together. The goal of these measures is to allow students to continue in the program accompanied by a supportive plan for success.

In accordance with the Promotion Decision Procedure, students will remain on Academic Probation until the requirements of their Learning Contract have been met.  All students on Academic Probation will be reviewed by the Promotion Committee at the end of every semester. 

Supplemental Evaluations

Regulation
A student with a final course grade of less than 60%, but above 50%, may apply to complete a supplemental evaluation including an administrative fee. A decision to grant supplemental evaluations will be finalized by the Promotion Committee, using the following criteria:

Criteria for Eligibility to Complete Supplemental Evaluations

• The student must have passed at least one evaluation in the course.
• The student must not have any registered academic offences in the course.
• A student can complete a maximum of two supplemental evaluations per semester.
• A student can complete a maximum of four supplemental evaluations throughout the program. If a student has completed four supplemental evaluations, they are no longer eligible to complete further supplemental evaluations.

If the student is successful in completing the supplemental work for the course, the failing course grade will be upgraded to the minimal passing grade of 60% for the course.

Procedure

1. The Promotion Committee verifies eligibility to complete the supplemental evaluation.
2. The Program Coordinator contacts the student to inform them of their eligibility to complete a supplemental evaluation. A student choosing to complete a supplemental evaluation must complete the Supplemental Evaluation Form from the Registrar's office.
3. The student need to bring the Supplemental Evaluation Form to the evaluation in order to have it signed by the proctor.
4. After completing the evaluation, the student needs to pay the fee for supplemental evaluation at the Registrar's office and need to provide proof of payment to the Program Coordinator.
5. Supplemental work is assessed, and the course grade will be updated by the Registrar's Office after proof of payment has been provided to the Program Coordinator.
   

NOTE: Students who feel they may be eligible for a supplemental exam should contact the program coordinator as soon as possible after final grades are posted.

For more information visit the College Policies, Procedures, Practices and Guidelines webpage. 

Program Discontinuance

Students may be discontinued by the Promotion Committee.

Procedure

1. The Promotion Committee reviews student performance against the program standards and recommends discontinuance.
2. The Program Chair and/or Coordinator meet with the student to explain the reason(s) for discontinuance.
3. The Program Chair/Coordinator communicates the discontinuance to the Registrar.
4. The registrar forwards the student a letter outlining the discontinuance and explains the steps involved in requesting an appeal.

Appeal

A student who wishes to appeal grades or discontinuance should refer to the Academic Decision Dispute Resolution and Appeal Procedure.

Program Withdrawals

A student can voluntarily withdraw from the program.

An extended personal leave of absence could result in a student's withdrawal from the program due to the loss of study time. Financial or other constraints may be a reason for program withdrawal. As such, voluntary withdrawals are approved and supported with the option of re-applying for admission.

Regulation

Requests for voluntary withdrawals from the program are approved by the Program Chair. The student will initiate the withdrawal by informing the Program Chair of their intention to withdraw from the program.

Program Transfer

A student can request a transfer to another program. Prior to transferring, it is recommended that the student meets with the Program Coordinator and/or Academic Advisor. A student who decides to change programs may do so by completing and submitting a program application form to the Registrar's Office. If the student considers transferring to a program outside the school in which they are currently enrolled in, The student may want to discuss options with a Career Advisor. When a student transfers to a program where courses numbers/codes are identical or equivalent, automatic credit is given if passing grades are met.

​​​Graduation

Students who complete their program are required to fill out an Application to Graduate form and submit it with payment to the Registrar's Office. Students who are discontinued or have withdrawn and then return to the college will be placed in the current program design and must meet all requirements to graduate. Students will receive an invitation for convocation through the Student Portal. Convocation ceremonies are held in the winter, spring, and fall of each academic year.

​​​​Process for resolution of student concerns

To resolve any concerns that may arise during a course, clinical or field placement, or relating to the overall program, students are encouraged to resolve issues or concerns informally at the program level before proceeding to a formal appeal.

If attempts have been made for a resolution, yet no satisfactory outcome was reached, students are encouraged to refer to the Policies and Procedures​ page, and to follow the procedures outlined under the "Academic Di​​spute Resolution and A​​ppeal Proc​edure".​​

Student Concern or Issues

If any concerns or issues arise during your learning experience, our main goal is to collaborate with students, faculty and staff to resolve situations or concerns quickly and improve and optimize our processes.

Problem-solving strategy:

1. When a situation of concern arises, inform those involved in a timely manner.

2. Please see the Student Rights and Responsibilities​ website for further details on informal and formal procedures for the resolution of concerns and issues.

3. Issues and concerns related to a placement site, or its employees should first be brought to the attention of the Conestoga Field Placement Supervisor or Program Coordinator, subject to the additional procedures outlined in the sections on "Professionalism" and "Concerns Regarding Safety or Care/Service for Clients during a Field Placement" of your handbook. 

Student Representation

Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) and Conestoga College 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.

​​​​​Student Consent Forms

Students are required to complete program-specific consent forms if applicable. To access the forms, students must visit the H.S. Trax home page under the Service tab on your Student Portal. 

Safety in the Workplace Course (OHS1320)

All students who participate in unpaid work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences during the course of their program will be required to successfully complete the mandatory Safety in the Workplace course prior to going out on WIL experience. The course will provide students with an introduction to workplace hazards and general safety awareness. Students will receive a Record of Completion to provide evidence of this training to WIL experience sites and will consent to their workplace insurance coverage.

WSIB

Prior to your first WIL experience, you must electronically sign a Declaration of Understanding of WSIB Coverage related to Unpaid Clinical placements indicating you understand that WSIB coverage will be provided through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) while you are on training WIL experiences. This Declaration will be placed in your student file. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Declaration of Understanding for WSIB Coverage has been electronically signed, in the Safety in the Workplace Course - OHS1320, and visible on your H.S. Trax home page to be eligible to attend your WIL experience.

Concerns Regarding Student Safety or the Safety and Care/Service for Clients

WIL experiences provide the opportunity to demonstrate and enhance your learning in the practice environment. These WIL experiences have been organized by your program in partnership with the organization where you are placed.

The following procedures have been developed to make it easier to identify and address any concerns or issues regarding your safety or the safety and care of clients that may come up during the WIL experience.

A. Communication of General Concerns regarding Your Safety or The Safety and Care/Service for Clients

1. Students will be provided with an Orientation to their WIL site on the first day of their WIL experience. The Orientation may include details of the WIL site's policies and procedures related to communication about the safety of the work environment and /or the safety and care of patients/residents/clients.
2. If a student has any concerns about the safety of the work environment and/or the safe/appropriate care/service for clients:
   

a. The student must immediately report these concerns to the College individual associated with the WIL experience (Clinical Instructor, Faculty responsible for your WIL experience, WIL Supervisor).

b. The Clinical Instructor /Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will discuss this concern with Site Management

c. For concerns of a serious nature (e.g. concerns impacting a total student group; a serious care/service situation), the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will discuss the situation with the Program Coordinator and, potentially, the Department Chair. The Program Coordinator or Chair will immediately contact WIL site management to determine next steps.

Should facility policies require that WIL experience students report safety or care/service concerns immediately to WIL site management, the student should report to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer immediately afterward.

B. Reporting of Incidents of Student Injury during a WIL Experience

1. Should students experience a personal injury of any kind, this must be reported immediately to the WIL Employer and Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor. The WIL Employer will provide first-aid that may be necessary, including arranging for transportation to emergency medical services if required. The Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will notify the Program Coordinator and Chair and complete an Unpaid Work/Education Placement-Accident Report (UWEP-04) and will send this to the College's Occupational Health & Safety Office. Where necessary, the Occupational Health & Safety Office will complete a WSIB 7 form, a Letter of Authorization to Represent Placement Employer and a Work/Education Placement Agreement Form.

C. Reporting of Student Involvement in Situations of Possible Injury to Clients during a WIL Experience or Student Damage to Facility Property

1. Should students be involved in care/service situations where the care/service results in a potential concern/injury to patients/residents/clients of the WIL site, this concern must be immediately reported to the WIL Site in order that care can be given. This situation must also be reported immediately to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor. The faculty will discuss this immediately with the WIL site and ensure that an incident report is completed. The faculty must also inform the Program Coordinator and the Department Chair for a discussion of program expectations and implications. It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that all documentation is obtained regarding the incident and to inform College officials accordingly.
2. Should students be involved in situations where there is alleged damage to resources/physical property at the WIL site, this concern must be reported immediately to the WIL Site and to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer. The faculty will inform the Program Coordinator and Department Chair for a discussion of program expectations and implications. It is the responsibility of the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer to complete an incident report with the Chair accountable to ensure all documentation is obtained and to inform College officials accordingly.
   

Co-operative Education

The academic requirements to be eligible for a co-op work term in a degree program are as follows (starting with the 1701 cohort and subsequent cohorts unless otherwise noted):

• Minimum 65% session weighted average in the eligibility term two academic semesters prior to any co-op work term.
• Maximum two failures or withdrawals during the academic semester that occurs in the eligibility term two academic semesters prior to any co-op work term.
• Must have successfully completed all but two core courses, according to the program design, by the eligibility term prior to any given work term (regardless of the level the student was placed in advanced standing).
• Students (even those on special timetables) will not be permitted to complete a co-op work term until the conditions above are met and all but two core course deficiencies, according to the program design, are cleared.
• Co-op work terms may need to be re-sequenced to allow academic deficiencies to be cleared or in the event a student changes cohorts (i.e. graduation is delayed by one year or more). Students may not repeat a passed work term.
• Should a student's academic performance decline considerably (including cumulative missed courses) during the term just prior to any work term, the college reserves the right to withdraw the student from the upcoming work term.
• In the case of back to back work terms eligibility to participate in consecutive work terms will be granted upon approval to participate in the initial work term.
• Where two or more work terms occur back to back, should a student fail to achieve academic eligibility for the first work term, their eligibility for the second work term will be based on the term that occurs two terms prior to the second work term.
• Students in degree programs may only fail/defer each work term in their program design once. 

To participate in a co-op work term, students must (starting with the 1701 cohort and subsequent cohorts unless otherwise noted):

• Successfully complete the Co-op and Career Preparation modules (CEPR/CDEV71050).  Students who fail Co-op and Career Preparation will not be permitted to search for co-op employment nor will they be able to participate in a co-op work term.  Students who fail Co-op and Career Preparation more than twice will not be permitted to continue in their co-op program (exceptions may be granted for degrees).
• Be enrolled full-time (full-time = 70% of the hours, or 66 2/3 % of the courses in the current session/level of the Program Design.)  Exceptions will apply to those students who have been granted special timetabling based on formal identification of barriers or challenges for which accommodation is required. Academic eligibility requirements must still be met prior to being granted access to seek a co-op work term.
• Must have successfully completed all but two core courses, according to the program design, by the eligibility term prior to any given work term (regardless of the level the student was placed in advanced standing).
• Students (even those on special timetables) will not be permitted to complete a co-op work term until the conditions above are met and all but two core course deficiencies, according to the program design, are cleared.
• Co-op work terms may need to be re-sequenced to allow academic deficiencies to be cleared or in the event, a student changes cohorts (i.e. graduation is delayed by one year or more). Students may not repeat a passed work term.
• Should a student's academic performance decline considerably (including cumulative missed courses) during the term just prior to any work term, the college reserves the right to withdraw the student from the upcoming work term.
• Meet program specific co-op work term eligibility requirements.

For additional information please refer to the Co-operative Education Regulations & Guidelines: Student Regulations, Procedures and Supports found by:

1. Login to MyCareer
2. Select Co-op
3. Select Co-op Resources
4. Select Co-op Policies
5. Select Co-operative Education Regulations, Procedures and Supports for Students

Please Note:

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn money while you apply what you've learned in a real workplace environment.  Visit Co-operative Education for more information. 
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment.  All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.
• In order to participate in a WIL experience/Co-op work term, students must be legally eligible o work in Canada.