The purpose of this academic handbook is to provide students with important information relating to their academic journey. Academic handbooks are updated annually and are applicable to all new and returning students for the current academic year. Students will be informed of handbook changes that occur outside of the annual update through college email. Students must check their academic handbook for the current edition.​

This handbook must be read in conjunction with general information about Conestoga College found on the college website. The information on the college website​ applies to all students, regardless of program.​

The college website provides information regarding Student Services, Safety and Security, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and more. 

Conestoga 101

The Student Engagement Department is here to help you transition to the Conestoga College experience, connect with your community, and build your skills. 

Start your college experience by completing Conestoga 101 (CON0101) on eConestoga, a mandatory course for all new full-time students that will take you approximately 90 minutes to complete. CON0101 provides an overview of the supports, services, and opportunities available to you throughout your time at Conestoga. Make sure you complete it early on in the term, as it contains valuable information that will help set you up for success as you transition to Conestoga.

Current Program Design

Students are registered in a specific program design based on the year that a student begins in a program. Program designs contain all the required courses necessary to graduate from the program. Designs are evolving documents and may change from one academic year to the next. These changes are to reflect the industry standards and requirements for a graduate of this program. If a student does not graduate at the end of the designated semester from the original program design, the student may be responsible for meeting new program design changes in order to graduate.​
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Students can find their 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. Please be aware that General Education/Interdisciplinary electives are listed at the bottom of the student's progress report and indicate the specific level/semester in which they are to be completed. 

Course Outlines​

Program Technology Requirements

Program technology requirements are posted on the program web page. Students in hybrid delivery courses will require a device, webcam functionality, and reliable Internet access. 

Academic Dates

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of various important academic dates throughout the year. These academic dates are posted on the college website.

Please note that Continuing Education courses and Apprenticeship programs may have different start dates and exam dates for courses. 

Course Add/Drop

Students can find the courses in which they are currently enrolled on the Student Portal by following the steps below:

1. Log in to Student Portal.
2. Click on 'My Courses' tab.​
3. Scroll over the icons to the right of individual course listings.​

It is strongly recommended that students consult with the Program Coordinator prior to dropping a course.​

• If a course withdrawal is processed prior to the deadline date, a dropped course will be recorded as a "W" (withdrawal) on the transcript.
• If a course withdrawal is processed after the deadline, an "F" (fail) will be recorded on the transcript.​

Continuing Education and OntarioLearn courses are not included in student full-time fees. Students wishing to take these part-time courses are required to pay the full fee for the individual course(s). Students may add these or other courses under the 'Browse Continuing Education' tab in their Student Portal.

Timetables

Credit Transfer, Pathways & PLAR

Conestoga recognizes you may have formal post-secondary education that may allow you to enter a program at an advanced level or provide for individual course exemptions. To ensure your credits are eligible for transfer, please contact our Credit Transfer Office at: credittransfer@conestogac.on.ca.

The Credit Transfer Policy and Procedure are available on the college website.

For more information, visit the Credit Transfer webpage and the PLAR webpage.

If you are currently a Conestoga student and want to continue studying at Conestoga, there are a number of different pathway opportunities available to you.

Whether you wish to transfer to another program or apply to a new program after graduation, Conestoga has established pathways, to help you meet your goals.

Conestoga College has articulation agreements with many domestic and international institutions. These agreements allow students to transfer into a specific program with advanced standing. Students must meet the academic requirements stated in the agreement.

For more information regarding pathways at Conestoga, contact the Credit Transfer Office at: credittransfer@conestogac.on.ca

Working Together to Plan Your Success

Your success matters!  Regular, punctual attendance, and active participation in scheduled classes, field and clinical placements, labs and any on-campus and off-campus activities scheduled by your program will help you to understand and master the learning complexities of your program.

If extenuating, unplanned circumstances require you to miss a class or an assessment, please note that it is your responsibility to follow up with individual faculty members prior to the class/assessment and access any missed information.

Attendance for Evaluations

Evaluations are critical components of each course and your overall success in your program. It is your responsibility to attend all evaluations (e.g. test, exam, presentation, etc.). If there is a concerning pattern of absence from evaluations across your program, you may be asked to meet with the Program Coordinator and/or Student Advisor to discuss strategies for success.

While circumstances such as religious holidays and academic accommodations may necessitate rescheduling of evaluations and will be accommodated, please note that there will be no special arrangements made for rescheduling evaluations due to personal conflicts such as work, commuting, or vacation plans.  

Faculty Responsibilities

• To communicate the dates of each evaluation at the beginning of each semester through the Instructional Plan.
  
• To communicate, in writing, any unplanned extenuating circumstances that may require changes to the course schedule.
• As per the Religious Holy Day and Spiritual Observance Procedure, provide alternative evaluation arrangements for missed evaluations due to recognized religious holidays as defined by the College Employer Council.
• To provide all accommodations requested by Accessible Learning.
• To consider alternative evaluation requests in good faith and examine the unique circumstances (e.g., unexpected family obligations, personal emergencies, etc.) and collaboratively determine an appropriate solution.
• Note, do not request doctor's notes from students.

Student Responsibilities

• To review the instructional plan and familiarize yourself with the dates of evaluation.
• As per the Religious Holy Day and Spiritual Observance Procedure, inform your faculty member in writing that the religious holiday defined by the College Employer Council will occur during the semester and may require considerations for evaluations to be rescheduled.
• If you must be absent from any scheduled evaluation, report your absence on the Student Portal using the procedure below. You must do this prior to the start of the evaluation or risk receiving a mark of zero.

How to Report Absences on the Student Portal

1. Log into the Student Portal and click on the 'Absence' tab.
   
2. Indicate whether or not there is an assessment scheduled on that day by clicking 'Yes' or 'No', as well as the reason for the absence (illness or other).
3. Click 'Continue' to report the absence.
4. Click 'I agree' to confirm the absence.
5. You will receive a confirmation email that your absence has been recorded.

Important! Please note the following:

• The earliest you can record an absence for a particular day, is after 8:00 p.m. the day before. You must report each day you are absent.
• The Absence Recording System will show you as being absent for the day, starting from the time that you recorded the absence. For example, if you record your absence on a specific day at 11:00 a.m., the system will show you as being absent for all classes starting after 11:00 a.m. that day.
• If you are going to be present for any other classes on the day for which you recorded an absence, please let the faculty member know by attending or following up by eConestoga or college email.
• As soon as possible, email the faculty member associated with the evaluation you missed and arrange for appropriate follow-up. 

Documentation for Absences

Conestoga recognizes that unexpected circumstances, such as brief illness, do arise during the term. As a visit to a health practitioner may not be necessary or possible, we do not ask you to provide a doctor's note except in exceptional circumstances.       

If the evaluation cannot be rescheduled, (e.g., experiential activity, lab, or a group presentation) your professor may provide you with a revised assignment or allocate its marks to another evaluation item, so long as the combined total does not exceed 40% of the course grade. This will be communicated to you by email.

Reasons for Absence ​

Illness​

If a student is suffering from any condition that would impair their ability to perform their academic work or the nature of the health issue would also place other students/employees at risk, it is generally recommended that the student take a day or several days off until the illness is resolved.​
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Compassionate Leave ​

Request for leaves of absence to attend to family illness, death or family problems are usually granted. These requests will be submitted to faculty who will consult with the Program Coordinator/Chair if necessary. ​
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Jury Duty ​

Any student who receives a summons for jury duty must submit the document to their respective faculty as soon as possible. The faculty will consult with the Chair to determine what arrangements can be made to have the student excused from submission of assignments, if such duty interferes with the progress in the program. Students may also be required to engage in activities in the evening or weekends using eConestoga. ​
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Other Absence(s) ​

Student absence(s) must be supported by formal, original documentation.​​

Evaluations

Working Together on Group Assignments​

Web-based Tools

​Program courses may use web-based services with data centres outside of Canada. Students may be expected to complete assessments where information is transmitted outside of Canada. Students who do not wish to submit their information to other countries have the right to opt-out. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit an alternate assignment.

Course examinations may be administered through a remote proctoring service to assure academic integrity. Ensure that you meet the system requirements that will allow the recording of your computer screen, webcam, and microphone.

Accessible Learning

​Conestoga College provides an equitable environment where all students have the opportunity to participate in College life. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Conestoga recognizes its responsibility and legal obligation to provide education, information and services in an accessible manner.

Conestoga's Accessible Learning services provide support for students with permanent and temporary disabilities who feel they are encountering barriers to learning. They work with students to understand the impact of a disability in the college environment and will help develop a success plan that considers student goals and required academic accommodations. Accessible Learning will also communicate necessary accommodations to professors on behalf of the student. 

To consult with an Accessibility Advisor about accommodations please make an appointment by emailing accessibility@conestogac.on.ca or calling 519-748-5220 ext. 3232.

Exceptions for non-accessibility focused issues need to be consulted on with your professor. Final approval for exceptions unrelated to academic accommodations rests with the program chair.

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 our students through the partnerships we have established with local business and industry leaders.  ​

​To be considered for an award, complete the General Application available through your Student Portal.  Notifications, deadlines, and instructions to complete the application are sent to all full-time students' email accounts in the fall, winter, and spring semesters.  ​

Visit the Financial Aid and Student Awards Office on Conestoga's website.​ 

What is Academic Integrity?

Academic integrity means the degree to which the outcomes of learning activities or scholarly work have authenticity and align with formal goals and objectives established by the College. It includes acting fairly and honestly when engaging in academic activities including but not limited to course work, work integrated learning, academic documents, and research. All members of the Conestoga community are responsible and accountable for upholding academic integrity.

As a current Conestoga student, you are expected to understand what constitutes an academic incident and to avoid any activities that may lead to an academic incident.

By having and applying an Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure, Conestoga ensures graduates complete their studies fairly and honestly through hard work and dedication, and thus are well-prepared for their future careers.

For help with research, please Book a Research Help Appointment.

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. When contacting faculty, students should carefully consider the feedback provided and reflect on their submission.

Academic Progression

The college's approach to academic progression is governed by the Academic Advancement and Achievement Policy.

A student's academic achievement results in a promotion decision, such as Promotion with Good Academic Standing, Promotion on Probation, Graduation, and Discontinuance.

Probation

Promotion on probation refers to students who do not achieve the minimum overall acceptable achievement for progression as identified in the Academic Advancement and Achievement Policy. Students who progress on probation can register in the next Term, but course registration is subject to course prerequisites.

• First Probation: Students on probation for the first time are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Advisor (SSA) or Program Coordinator to map out a Learning Plan and discuss strategies they can use to support their success.
• Consecutive Probation: Students on probation for a second consecutive Semester must meet with their Student Success Advisor (SSA) or Program Coordinator to develop a Learning Contract.  

Discontinuance

A student can be discontinued from their program for either academic or non-academic reasons, as set out in the Discontinuance Procedure. 

• Academic Discontinuance may occur when a student fails to meet the specified academic Progression Requirements of their program.
  
• Policy Violation Discontinuance may occur when a student has been found to have violated College policy and/or procedure, such as but not limited to:
  • Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy and Procedure
  • Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
    

Supplemental Assessment

A student who has failed a course may be provided an opportunity to complete a supplemental assessment if they have met the established criteria in accordance with the Supplemental Assessment Policy and Procedure.

Withdrawal

Students considering withdrawing from a program should communicate with their Student Success Advisor prior to withdrawing.  In order to formally withdraw from a program, the student must complete the Program Withdrawal form on the Student Portal by selecting the "Services" tab, "My Forms" button . It is your responsibility to make sure that you are aware of and adhere to deadlines for withdrawal. Deadlines for withdrawing from a program with/without an academic penalty or with/without a refund are posted on the website under Academic Dates.

Readmission

If you are discontinued or if you withdraw from the program, you must reapply for admission in accordance with the Readmission Procedure. Readmission is not guaranteed.  

Smoke-Free Environment

Smoking is not allowed in any Conestoga building. Help keep the environment clean by using the waste receptacles when you smoke outdoors. To provide unobstructed entry to the college for visitors and non-smoking employees and students, all campus entrances have been designated smoke-free.

Use of Food and Beverages in Classrooms and Labs

It is the responsibility of senior management to ensure that the academic environment is clean and conducive to learning. The following policy statements will be adhered to regarding the use of food and beverages in classrooms and labs:

1. There is no food permitted in any classroom or lab. Beverages are permitted in unbreakable, re-sealable containers. Please note that in computer labs, containers should be placed away from the keyboard to prevent unnecessary damage.
2. Beverages (including water) are not permitted in health sciences skill labs. For health and safety reasons, instructions will be established by faculty and management within designated shop areas, such as Electrical, Metal Machining, and Woodworking.

It is the responsibility of instructional staff and management to ensure that the policy is adhered to by students. 

​Student feedback is an essential component of our continuous improvement process. Our opportunities for student feedback include:​​

Ontario College Student Experience Survey​

All college programs in the province are evaluated using the Ontario College Student Experience Survey. This survey is conducted each academic year in select classes - every student is invited to participate in each year of their program. Strategic goals to improve programs are developed from these results. This data and other data specific to the campus and the program/school are collected so that Conestoga College can continually improve quality.​

Early Course Check-in

Direct feedback from students on teaching for a particular course provides valuable information to use for the improvement of teaching at Conestoga. The Early Course Check-in is a short 5 -10 question survey that occurs during week 5 10 of classes and provides early feedback to faculty about the student experience within their classroom.

​Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT)​

The Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT) allows direct feedback from students on teaching and course structure. Completion of the SAT forms give teachers and academic managers valuable information to use for the improvement of teaching at Conestoga.​

The  SAT is 30-40 questions and occurs late in the semester; a summary of the results goes to the faculty member and their academic manager. Typically, about one-quarter of the faculty is appraised per term. All full-time faculty have a SAT review at least once every two years. Part-time faculty may be reviewed more frequently. 

Program Advisory Committees (PACs)

Program Advisory Committees (PACs) provide the necessary link between Conestoga and the community it serves. PACs operate in an advisory capacity to Conestoga administration with the objective to keep Conestoga responsive to current and future workforce needs, trends or opportunities in industry and the marketplace.​

​All post-secondary education programs of study at Conestoga, both full-time and part-time, which lead to an employment related credential, or are approved by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, will be associated with a PAC, with the exception of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. For any program not leading to an employment related credential, such as foundation programs, PACs are optional.​

Each academic year, the coordinator(s) of the program will ask for student volunteers. The coordinator(s) will select which student(s) will represent the program at PAC. Student attendees are expected to be present at all meetings and are responsible for preparing and submitting a report based on guidelines provided by the program coordinator.​

Students who participate in PACs will receive credit on their Co-Curricular Record (CCR) . Your CCR is an official document, complementary to your academic transcript, which recognizes and records learning that you have achieved through approved co-curricular experiences at Conestoga.

A Student Protection Acknowledgement confirmation pop-up will appear when a student logs into the Student Portal on an annual basis. Students are advised to review and comply with all Conestoga policies and procedures. ​
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All Conestoga academic policies and procedures are listed on the College website.