Principles

The following principles shall apply in the event of disruption of the academic program:

1. The academic integrity of academic programs must be honoured; and
2. Students must be treated in a fair manner recognizing their freedom of choice to attend class or not without penalty.

Procedures

1. The Vice-President and Provost, or the Academic Board, shall declare when a disruption of the academic program has occurred. The Provost shall take steps to inform the University community at large of the changes to be implemented, and will report to the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs regarding the implementation of the procedures and changes to the status of the academic programs.
    
2. Individual instructors or multi-section co-ordinators responsible for courses that are disrupted shall determine, as the disruption proceeds, whether any changes to classroom procedures are needed to complete the course.
    
3. Changes to the classroom procedures should, where possible, first be discussed with students prior to the class in which a vote of the students present on the proposed changes is to be taken. Changes agreed upon by consensus should be forwarded to the Faculty Registrar with a report on the attendance at the class where the vote was taken.
    
4. Where consensus on changes has not been arrived at, or where a vote is not feasible, the instructor, after the class discussion, will provide the Dean with his or her recommendation, along with the results of any classroom votes. The Dean shall then make a decision.
    
5. Where classes are not able to convene, the instructor, with the prior approval of the Dean shall make changes deemed necessary to the classroom procedures. In the absence of the instructor such changes will be made by the Dean and require the approval of the Provost. Where courses are to be cancelled, approval of the Faculty Council is required. If the Faculty Council cannot meet, approval of the Dean, or in the absence of the Dean, the approval of the Provost, is required.
    
6. Students must be informed of changes to classroom procedures. This may be done by circulating the changes in writing to the class, posting in the Faculty offices, reporting to Faculty Council, as well as listing in the campus press. Should classes resume students must be informed, at class, of any changes made during the disruption.
    
7. Where changes to the classroom procedures are made, students who do not wish to complete the course under the revised procedures may withdraw without academic penalty. This must be done prior to the last day of classes.
    
8. Where students have not attended classes that are meeting, they nonetheless remain responsible for the course work and meeting course requirements. However, where possible, reasonable extension of deadlines for the course requirements, or provision of make-up tests shall be made and reasonable alternative access to material covered should be provided.
    
9. A student who feels, owing to his or her special circumstances, that changes to the classroom procedure have unreasonably affected his or her grade may appeal the grade following the procedure as set out in the Faculty.