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Academic Undergraduate Policies and Forms

Academic Integrity

To create and promote a culture of academic integrity, the behaviour of all members of the University of Waterloo is based on honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.

All members of the UW community are expected to hold to the highest standard of academic integrity in their studies, teaching, and research. The Office of Academic Integrity’s website (www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity) contains detailed information on UW policy for students and faculty. This site explains why AI is important and how students can avoid academic misconduct. It also identifies resources available on campus for students and faculty to help achieve academic integrity in--and out--of the classroom.

Academic Policies

Avoiding Academic Offenses
or "Don't get caught plagiarizing!"

New departmental Plagiarism Document helps clarify what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

Department Policy Regarding Course Assignments and Examinations
or "What to do if you have a valid reason for a late assignment or missed exam"

Final Exam Regulations
or "what to do if you are sick for a final exam, have a conflict and need to request an alternate exam date, or want to see your final exam paper"

More information regarding final examinations, inlcuding exam schedules and changes, can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

NOTE:  Travel arrangements are not considered an acceptable reason for requesting an alternate exam date.

Grading System
or "what does a grade of DNW, INC or NMR mean?"

NOTE: All grades remain on a student's transcript, including failed grades when a course is successfully repeated.

Grade Reassessment Policy
The University of Waterloo Policy 70, "Student Petitions and Grievances" outlines the steps to be followed for any grade reassessment request in which the student is able to produce reasonable grounds for a reassessment. Students should be aware that such a request may result in a grade which is higher, the same as, or lower than the original grade. Please see the policy for specific guidelines. Students may seek advisement from the Student Resources Office.

Petitions for Exceptions to Academic Regulations
Petitions are requests from students seeking exceptions to, or relief from, normal Faculty or University rules and regulations because of special circumstances which must be documented, such as illness or bereavement. The "Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations" form is available in the Undergraduate Office or online at www.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/forms/Petition.pdf (fill-in PDF forms). The AHS Standings and Promotions Committee reviews the petition and makes a decision. This decision will be forwarded in writing to the student by the Registrar's Office. Note that you must provide acceptable documentation, such as a UW Verification of Illness form, copy of the obituary, etc.

For straightforward cases not requiring a formal petition (as advised by the Undergraduate Coordinator or Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies), students may use the AHS Departmental Consent Form to submit their request.

Students with Disabilities
The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term. Once registered with the OPD, please meet with the director, in confidence, during office hours to discuss your needs.

Transfer Credit Policy
Courses to be transferred from a previously attended university or college must be relevant to the Recreation and Leisure Studies program and roughly equivalent to University of Waterloo's courses. Normally, only those courses in which a student has received 60% or better are eligible for transfer credit. The maximum number of courses which can be transferred is the equivalent of 10 units. Transfer students must see Adrienne Gilbert, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, for assessment of transfer credits.

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Academic Forms

AHS Departmental Consent Form

Use this form to waive the residency requirement (full-time study requirements), substitute course requirements, or extend an INC grade beyond 3 academic terms

Course Enrollment Forms (for special REC courses)
Some REC courses require special permission to enroll (i.e., an undergraduate thesis or independent study course once an advisor has been confirmed).

Course Override Form
Use this form to obtain permission from a course instructor to enroll in their course if:

Submit the completed override form to the Undergraduate Office, BMH 2213 (or fax to 519-886-2440) to have the course added to your schedule on Quest.

Cross-Registration Form
Use this form to enroll in a course at WLU (except for Business courses).

Obtain permission from an Undergraduate Advisor first before taking the form to the WLU course instructor (or department) for approval. The completed form should be submitted to the UW Registrar's Office to have the course added to your schedule on Quest.

NOTE:  There are special procedures to enroll in WLU Business courses that are not already listed in the UW Undergraduate Schedule of Classes, or which are already full.

Letter of Permission
Use this form to request permission to take courses at another university for credit towards your degree at Waterloo. Courses taken on Letter of Permission are noted as transfer credits on a student's UW transcript. Students may not take more than 50% of their degree requirements from outside the University of Waterloo (i.e. through a combination of transfer credits and Letter of Permission courses from other schools). There is a $25 fee to process a Letter of Permission request. Once the request is approved, a letter is sent from UW's Registrar's Office to the other university to allow the student to enroll in courses there for credit at UW. It is then the student's responsibility to contact the other school to enroll in the course(s). In order to receive transfer credit for the courses completed, an official transcript must be requested from the other school at the completion of the term, and a grade of 60% or better must be achieved in each course.

Plan Modification/Request for Internal Transfer Form
Use this form to

Submit the completed form to the Undergraduate Office, BMH 2213 (or by fax at 519-886-2440).

Student Request for Variance from Course Outline Form
Students are required to submit this completed form to the course instructor when requesting alternate arrangements for course requirements. Appropriate documentation to support the request should also be submitted (i.e., a UW Verification of Illness form, copy of the obituary, etc.).

Withdrawal Form
Use this form to:

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