Student Accommodations for National Day of Action – November 2, 2016 (PDAD&C #18)

Please distribute to all Instructors

The Office of the Vice-President & Provost is in receipt of a request that the University provide academic accommodation to those students who wish to participate in a National Day of Action, scheduled for Wednesday, November 2, 2016.

The National Day of Action will, amongst other objectives, seek to persuade the province to increase per-student funding. In this regard, we have a common cause.

Student governments have requested that instructors accommodate students who are unable to meet their academic obligations on November 2nd as a result of their participation in the day of action.

If instructors have an academic activity (such as a test or mid-term exam) scheduled for November 2, 2016 and are aware of students who may wish to participate in the day of action, I would ask them to raise this potential conflict with their students at the earliest opportunity.

While the decision to grant dispensation to students remains with individual faculty, where possible, I ask that faculty members not penalize students for non-attendance at classes on this day and, where possible, permit students the opportunity to complete an assignment or test at another time if the student’s participation in the campaign necessitates this. I acknowledge, however, that compelling academic considerations may make any accommodation impossible.