If you have any questions or concerns regarding the content in this handbook, please contact the School of Business at businessschool@conestogac.on.ca.
We wish you all the best in your studies!

​The Dean's​​​ Welcome​

Welcome to the School of Business! You're on your way to a successful career as a business professional.  

As one of Ontario's premier business schools, Conestoga's School of Business provides a high-quality educational and student experience, preparing our graduates to become leaders in their chosen fields. We offer many options to complete, expand or specialize your education in a variety of business disciplines, through full-time or part-time, online and in-person programs.

The world of business evolves rapidly, as do our programs. Our curricula extend beyond basic business acumen and theory to include ample opportunities for applied learning and skills development that prepare graduates for today's job market and career advancement. Our faculty have extensive industry experience to help you acquire the valuable hands-on experience you need to succeed.

What you do here…counts out there – and what you do in our School will prepare you for an exciting future as a business professional.

Sincerely,

​

Michelle Grimes, PhD
Dean, School of Business

Current Program Design

Required Supplies and Texts

Please see course outlines and instructional plans for details on course supplies and textbooks.

Please also ensure that you have a computer that meets the appropriate Program Device Requirements for your program, available at Program Device Requirements web page.

Required supplies, textbooks and other materials for a course are listed on the course outline.  Students are responsible for purchasing other supplies or hard-copy texts as required by the course. Get your personalized booklist through the Conestoga College Bookstore. 

Managing Stress

Attending post-secondary and completing studies can be exciting, but at the same time demanding. Juggling school and life will no doubt be stressful at times. Stress is a normal aspect of life.  How you handle stress can make a difference. If you're feeling overwhelmed at any time, talking to someone helps! A conversation with your faculty member can help identify and alleviate stress associated with assignments or course content.  For more serious stress-related issues, please review the Conestoga and external supports available.

If your stress is caused by health issues that are getting in the way of your academics, notify your Faculty member, and seek help as soon as possible.

​Attendance Requirements

Lectures, labs and the interaction that happens in the classroom, whether on campus or online, are the most important source of the knowledge that will allow you to succeed in the program and, eventually, in your career. The course texts and lecture slides that may be shared with students constitute only a fraction of the learning that is made available in your course(s). Attendance in all classes is strongly recommended and is required for completion of any in-class assessments (e.g. tests, exams).

Attendance at scheduled tests and exams is mandatory. Failure to attend will result in an automatic F grade on the test or exam, unless the absence is:

• Due to a medical illness, with completion of reporting the absence on the Student Portal
• Due to an accident, with submission of a police report 
• Due to a death in the immediate family, with a copy of the death certificate required.

The faculty member must be immediately notified and the proper documentation must be presented prior to the start of the next meeting of the class where required. Please see the Attendance At Evaluations Section for more details. 

Student Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in lectures, presentations, group work, field trips or other activities related to the course/program.
• Adhere to all deadlines for assessed items, and write final exams as indicated on the schedule communicated by your faculty member.
• Submit coursework in the requested format, described by the faculty member in the rubrics or guidelines, by the specified deadline.
• Report absences for class and/or assessments in advance, and provide documentation when required
• Advise faculty of circumstances that would prevent the completion of assessments, prior to the deadline, and provide documentation as required.
• Review notes and materials in eConestoga course shells for any missed classes or lessons.
• Fully disclose and completely reference all sources used in submitted course assessments and uphold the College's Academic Integrity requirements.
  
• Use and monitor Conestoga email to commuicate with faculty, not personal email or eConestoga, unless directed otherwise by faculty.  Ensure all emails sent to other students, faculty, or staff are written in professional business language.  Abusive/inappropriate language will not be tolerated.
  
• Practice professionalism with peers, faculty, College employees, employers and others.
  

Faculty Responsibilities

• Provide to students at the start of each course an instructional plan, which indicates the due dates for all assessed items (assignments, tests, exams, case studies, presentations etc.), the respective weighting of each item toward the student's final grade and late submission rules.
• Return assessed items promptly and review with students – generally, students are not able to retain their tests/examinations/assignments and should review thoroughly at this time. It is the responsibility of the student to ask any questions regarding the assignment with the faculty member outside class time if required.
• Respond to student requests for consultations to discuss performance or questions in respect to their coursework and assessed items.
• Respond to student emails/voicemails within 48 hours.
• Ensure course outcomes are covered in the assessment method.
  

Course Outlines

Course outlines state the learning outcomes that will be covered during the course. Details about the evaluation method, the weighting of assessments, and any other specific criteria required to successfully complete the course are also listed on the course outline. Students are responsible for reviewing the outline and the requirements to pass each individual course. Evaluation requirements vary from course to course. The passing grade and specific course stipulations are listed under the evaluation section of the course outline.

Course outlines are available on the Student Portal and posted on eConestoga. Students are required to review the course outline to acquire the correct course resources/textbooks (i.e. edition, volume, etc.)

​Instructional Plans

Instructional plans are provided to students on eConestoga via their course. All assessment dates and deadlines will be posted on the instructional plan, including assignments, tests/quizzes, midterms, presentations, etc. This information acts as a guide to the course and will include a course schedule, which may be subject to change by faculty. Students are expected to review these documents, in coordination with the course outline, on a regular basis and note all key dates and deliverables.

​Recording Devices

Students are not permitted to record lectures or take pictures without the consent of faculty and/or students. Content from the course is not to be posted on any external websites unless posted by faculty.

Students who are registered with Accessibility Services and have accommodations approved for recording lectures are permitted to do so with the faculty's knowledge.

​Electronic Translator Use

The use of an electronic translator is prohibited. 

​Research

Some courses have a research component, which may be college-based and/or in a host organization. Research must adhere to the highest level of ethical standards and is a reflection of Conestoga College. Faculty will provide more information relevant to the research requirements in the course. For further details regarding required citing and referencing, please visit Library Services. 

Assessments - Late Submissions

Each faculty member will inform students of their guidelines for submitting assessments and any late submission rules in their Instructional Plan. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of the course requirements for each of their courses. If an extension of time is required, the student must make the request to the appropriate faculty member in advance of the due date. Approval of the request is at the discretion of the faculty member.

​Academic Concerns During a Course

If a student has a concern regarding an assignment, lab, midterm, final exam, etc., the student must first meet with the faculty to discuss the situation. In cases where a satisfactory outcome is not achieved by the student meeting with the faculty, the student can contact the Program Assistant assigned to their program of study .  If further action is recommended, a meeting will be arranged with the Academic Chair. Formal academic appeals for assessments (worth 25% or greater) must be made within five business days of a grade being posted.  

Examination Procedures

Final examinations are usually held in the last week (Monday-Saturday) of all semesters. For in-person exams, the final exam schedule is posted on the college website approximately one month prior to the start of exam week  For online exams, details will be shared with the faculty member well in advance of the exam date.

Students are responsible for checking the School of Business exam schedule for dates, times, and room locations of their exams. It is strongly recommended that students double-check the schedule the week before exams begin for possible room or date changes. Students must be available during the entire examination schedule. Failure to attend an exam, without prior notification and valid documentation as required, may result in a grade of zero, (0%).

For online exams, please consult with course faculty for further details.

Faculty will review testing and exam expectations with students ahead of the test or exam date.  Part-time students may show any form of government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, etc.) to verify their identity prior to an exam.

Accommodations are made for students registered with Accessibility Services. Faculty reserve the right to request special accommodations for students, if required. For further information regarding Accessibility Services, please contact them directly.

​Missed Examinations

All tests and examinations must be written on the dates and at the times scheduled. It is recommended that students plan ahead and ensure they are available during Week 14/15 for examinations. Students who miss tests or examinations will automatically be given a grade of zero, unless they have provided prior notification and valid documentation as required for their absence. Scheduling of employment or vacations are not valid reasons to permit a student to write at an alternate time.  Please see Attendance at Evaluations section for more information. 

Examination Conflicts/Alternative Exam Dates

An examination conflict is when two exams are scheduled at the same time on the same day or with less than one hour in between two different exams. If this occurs than one exam will be moved to the alternative exam date, which typically occurs on the Monday immediately following Exam Week.

In the event of an exam conflict, students must:

• Contact both faculty members by email to arrange an alternate time for one of the two exams.
• The alternative exam time must be arranged prior to the start of the exam week.
• It is the student's choice as to which exam will be written on the alternate exam date.
  

Bad Weather Conditions and Testing

If the college is closed due to extreme weather, all assessments to be administered during a regularly scheduled class will be postponed until the next class.

If the college is closed in an examination week, the exams scheduled for that day will be added to the end of the examination schedule, which will be extended by an additional day.

Students who cannot travel to the college due to extreme weather (e.g. travel advisories or road closures) in their local area are responsible for notifying their faculty of their inability to write on the day of the assessment in advance, or as soon as possible. Please refer to the Attendance at Evaluations section for more details. Students must record their absence through the Student Portal and email faculty. Students who fail to provide notice will receive a grade of zero. Students must make arrangements to write the assessment immediately upon their return to the college.

Notice of college closure will be posted on the college website by 6:00 a.m. Notice of cancellation of evening classes, will be posted on the website by 3:00 p.m. (see College/Campus Closure Practice in the Student Guide for more information).

The safety of our college community is a top priority. Conestoga College services a large area and it is recognized that conditions can vary widely within the region. Always exercise good judgement with respect to travelling during extreme weather, based on individual circumstances. Public transportation, where appropriate, may be the safest option.

For online exams, please consult with course faculty, as campus closures may not affect scheduled exams.

Supplemental Opportunities

Supplemental work is an opportunity for a student to clear a failing grade. Course outlines state if a course is eligible for a supplemental assessment opportunity. Not all courses qualify for supplemental work. 

Students must meet the mandatory conditions listed below to be eligible. Supplemental opportunities must be registered with the College; fees may apply.

Students who successfully complete supplemental work will have their final grade changed to the passing grade for the course, as stated on the course outline.

Students who do not successfully complete the supplemental work will retain their original failing grade. Students will have to pay to retake the course to achieve a passing grade.

Supplemental Work

Within seven days after the final grade for a course is posted, supplemental opportunities are administered by the School of Business faculty. This may vary for the fall semester due to the winter break.

Mandatory Conditions for Supplemental Work

Students must be currently registered in the course and meet the following conditions:

A student who is unsuccessful in one course in the final semester of their program who is:

• one course short from graduate status
• and their final grade is 50% or more in the failed course
• and the course is not offered in the following semester

 Then a student can enquire with their faculty if there is an option for them to access a supplemental opportunity. Supplemental opportunities will be at the discretion of the School of Business.

For more information visit the College Policies, Procedures, Practices and Guidelines webpage then click on the Academic Administration side tab and search for the document entitled Clearance of Academic Deficiency. 

Academic Standing Decision and Promotion

A student's academic achievement is based on the promotion guidelines established by the program. Part-Time students are required to register in the program by completing a part-time studies program application form in order for credits to be applied to the intended program.  Students are responsible for following their designated program design to be eligible to graduate. A student who has previously withdrawn from the program (de-registered), upon re-application to the program will be placed in the appropriate level for the current program design. This can result in additional courses required for completion in the new program design.

Discontinuance

A student may be discontinued from the School of Business – Continuing Education & Part-Time Studies on either academic or non-academic reasons, as set out in the Discontinuance Procedure. Discontinuance decisions for academic reasons are made at the end of each academic semester.

Re-admission to a Program

If the Part-Time student is re-applying to a different version of a program they must submit a completed Conestoga College program application form to the Registrar's Office and pay the application fee.

Re-admission to a program is not automatic. In all cases, re-admission to programs in the School of Business – Continuing Education & Part-Time Studies will be at the discretion of the Academic Chair. 

Program Transfer

Students who would like to change programs within the School of Business may do so by completing and submitting a program application form to the registrar's office. Prior to completing the program application form, it is recommended that the student meet with the Program Assistant . If considering transferring to a program outside the School of Business, students may want to discuss options with a Career Advisor. When a student moves from one Conestoga program to another and where course numbers/codes are identical or equivalent, automatic credit is given if passing grades are met.

Registering in Courses

Students can register in a course under the 'Browse Continuing Education' tab in their Student Portal.

​Withdrawal from Program

Please note Continuing Education students are not required to complete a withdraw form if they choose to discontinue.

Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries

Conestoga has more than 400 awards, bursaries, scholarships and academic grants available to Conestoga students. These funds are made available to students through the partnerships Conestoga has established with local business and industry leaders.

Students must complete and submit the online General Application if they wish to be considered for an award, scholarship or bursary for which they meet the criteria. If students require assistance or detailed information while completing the online application, please contact Student Financial Services for assistance.

In addition, the School of Business hosts an annual award ceremony in April. This event recognizes the award winners from various Business programs. The awards ceremony gives students an opportunity to network with various donors and to celebrate their accomplishments. Further details regarding this annual event will be provided to students through their college email.