Extenuating Circumstances

Do you expect to miss an exam, presentation or assignment deadline due to illness or other extenuating circumstances?  Then you need to contact the course coordinator before the exam, presentation, or assignment due date.  The course coordinator may require that you submit a  Declaration of Extentuating Circumstances Form  to document the circumstances and request for a dispensation. You must submit the form (and supporting documentation, if requested) to the instructor, usually NO LATER THAN 72h after the exam. Dispensations, based on legitimate excuses may be granted at the discretion of the course coordinator. If you are not sure whether your excuse is legitimate, ASK. Once you have written an exam, it counts - the Biology Department will not change your grade and your only option is an appeal to the Faculty of Arts and Science. If circumstances are personal and you wish not to relate them to the course coordinator, she or he may request documentation from a counsellor at Queen's HCDS, or other appropriate authority.

In addition to this form, you may be asked to provide the instructor with the appropriate supporting documentation. 
• Serious long-term illness or injury certified by documentation from a licensed health professional.
• Current or recent treatment from a licensed psychiatrist, or counselling by Queen's Student Services, certified by supporting documentation from same.
• Recent death or life-threatening illness or injury of a family member or close friend. The course instructor may ask for verification of the situation (e.g., death certificate, published obituary) and may verify the legitimacy of the document.
• A disability certified by documentation from the Special Needs Office.

Note that if any of this documentation is determined to be fraudulent, the Department will consider this to be a departure from academic integrity.