Community and Social Service Management - #1276 Doon Campus School of Business & Hospitality Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Program Handbook 2015-2016 Academic Year This is a companion document to the current Conestoga College Student Guide Last revised July 2015 Table of Contents 1. Program Handbook Introduction ............................................................................................ 5 Executive Dean Welcome ........................................................................................................... 6 2. Program Staff Contact Information ........................................................................................ 7 3. Community and Social Service Management Program Information ...................................... 8 Program Overview ...................................................................................................................... 8 Current Program Design ............................................................................................................. 8 Program Learning Outcomes ...................................................................................................... 9 Program Expectations ................................................................................................................. 9 Employment Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 10 PAC – Program Advisory Committee ........................................................................................ 10 Work Experience ....................................................................................................................... 10 Required Supplies and Textbooks............................................................................................. 11 Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries ......................................................................................... 11 4. Pathways and Articulation Agreements Opportunities ........................................................ 11 Pathways ................................................................................................................................... 11 Articulation Agreements ........................................................................................................... 11 5. School of Business & Hospitality Attendance Responsibilities ............................................. 11 Attendance Rules ...................................................................................................................... 11 Reporting of Absences .............................................................................................................. 11 Student Absence for Assessed Material ................................................................................... 12 How to Report Absences on the Student Portal ....................................................................... 12 Absence for Other Reasons ...................................................................................................... 13 Class Cancellations due to Faculty Absence ............................................................................. 13 6. School of Business & Hospitality Classroom Information..................................................... 14 Course Outlines ......................................................................................................................... 14 Instructional Plans (formally known as Course Requirement Sheet) ....................................... 14 Practices within the Classroom ................................................................................................. 14 Electronic Devices ..................................................................................................................... 15 Recording Devices ..................................................................................................................... 15 Electronic Translator Use .......................................................................................................... 16 Research .................................................................................................................................... 16 Assignments .............................................................................................................................. 16 Grading...................................................................................................................................... 16 Plagiarism .................................................................................................................................. 17 College Email Communication Requirements .......................................................................... 18 Academic Concerns during a Course ........................................................................................ 18 7. School of Business & Hospitality Exam Information............................................................. 18 Examination Procedures ........................................................................................................... 18 Missed Examinations ................................................................................................................ 19 Examination Conflicts/Alternative Exam Dates ........................................................................ 19 Bad Weather Conditions and Testing ....................................................................................... 20 8. School of Business & Hospitality Academic Information...................................................... 20 Academic/Student Services ...................................................................................................... 20 Academic Dates......................................................................................................................... 21 Academic Standing Decision and Promotion............................................................................ 21 Clearance of Failed Courses ...................................................................................................... 21 Discontinuance.......................................................................................................................... 21 Re-admission to a Program ....................................................................................................... 21 9. College wide Academic Policies and Procedures.................................................................. 22 College Policies and Procedures ............................................................................................... 22 Credit Transfer .......................................................................................................................... 22 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) ................................................................. 23 Program Transfer ...................................................................................................................... 23 Registering in Courses............................................................................................................... 23 Dropping Courses...................................................................................................................... 23 Withdrawal from Program ........................................................................................................ 23 Graduation ................................................................................................................................ 23 10. Student feedback ............................................................................................................... 24 Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Continuing Education Survey .................... 24 Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT)......................................................................................... 24 11. Safety Information ............................................................................................................. 24 Services Offered ........................................................................................................................ 24 Basic Safety ............................................................................................................................... 25 Emergency Telephone Messages.............................................................................................. 25 After Hours Access Policy.......................................................................................................... 25 Parking ...................................................................................................................................... 25 12. Program Handbook Revision Log ....................................................................................... 26 Revision Date ............................................................................................................................ 26 1. PROGRAM HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION The purpose of this handbook is to provide students with program-specific information. The material in this handbook is accurate at the date of posting and is applicable for the current academic year. Students will be informed of handbook changes that occur, if any, through college email. Program handbooks are updated yearly and students must check their program handbook for the current edition. This handbook must be read in conjunction with general information about Conestoga College found on the website and in the Student Guide. The information in the Student Guide and on the college website applies to all students, regardless of program. It is the responsibility of each student to review and comply with the content in this document. The School of Business & Hospitality is here to educate students on how to manage their college experience, navigate the college systems. If you have any suggestions on improvements to this guide, please contact Lil Premsukh, Program Manager in the School of Business & Hospitality Continuing Education department, Room 1B52-3 at ext. 2387, or at lpremsukh@conestogac.on.ca. We wish you all the best in your studies! Executive Dean Welcome The School of Business and Hospitality is one of Ontario’s premier business schools. We offer many options, opportunities and pathways to complete, specialize or expand your education, fulltime or part-time. Students have a choice of programs to fit most areas of business or hospitality today, comprised of apprenticeships, one-year certificates, two-year and three-year advanced diplomas, as well as graduate certificates and several degree opportunities with specializations available. The School offers bachelor’s degree programs in International Business Management and Accounting, Audit and Information Technology. Our graduates have the ability to apply what they have learned in the classroom and labs to the real world immediately. We know this is of paramount importance in the rapidly changing world of business of today. The School of Business and Hospitality teaches more than just business skills, culinary competencies and management theories. Here at Conestoga, you will learn the critical thinking skills required to solve problems at a fast pace and the ability to shape your career in a positive way. Each faculty member has significant industry experience that will help you acquire the valuable hands-on experience you need. Whether your passion is marketing, culinary skills, accounting, supply chain or hospitality, businesses value employees who can be productive on the first day they arrive in their new role. At Conestoga you will learn to be that person. We encourage you to contact us for more information about how the School of Business and Hospitality can provide you with the skills and abilities that will give you the competitive advantage required to make you a success. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. Sincerely, Gary Hallam, Executive Dean School of Business & Hospitality Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning 2. PROGRAM STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION For a list of all full-time staff, faculty, Coordinators, and Chairs, please check the School of Business & Hospitality website contact list. In addition to the full-time faculty, other faculty will teach students in their program. Contact information for these faculty members will typically be provided on the first day of the course. Program Support Staff Sharon Williams 519-748-5220, ext. 3414 swilliams@conestogac.on.ca Doon Campus, Room 1B47 Chair Sylvia Ranson 519-748-5220, ext. 3866 sranson@conestogac.on.ca Doon Campus, Room 1B52 Program Manager Lil Premsukh 519-748-5220 ext. 2387 lpremsukh@conestogac.on.ca Doon Campus, Room 1B52-3 Executive Dean Gary Hallam 519-748-5220, ext. 3245 ghallam@conestogac.on.ca Doon Campus, Room 1B50-1 3. COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INFORMATION Program Overview This program focuses on developing skills in managing public, private or non-profit community organizations. Students will gain knowledge of community development methods and will learn strategies for relationship building, community outreach and community leadership. Human resources, financial management, project management, entrepreneurship in social enterprises, principles of management as well as business development and fundraising will also be addressed. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of community-based social policy and public administration, and gain perspectives on social, cultural and political issues. The program includes a work placement experience that allows students to gain practical experience working in a community or social service agency or organization. Please check the website for a complete Community and Social Service Management program overview. Current Program Design Note: Admission to the program is required prior to registration for courses. 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. 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 that is located above the program you wish to view. Students can find their program design on the Student Portal by following the steps below: 4. Log in to Student Portal 5. Click on ‘My Courses’ tab 6. Select ‘View Progress Report’ button Alternatively, students can also view courses for the most current program design for the 2015-2016 academic year on the Conestoga College website. To find these courses, students need to scroll down the page to the ‘Program Courses’ Program Learning Outcomes The following program learning outcomes identify what students will know and learn by the end of their program: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Analyze the economic, social, political, environmental and cultural variables affecting community development and the social economy, that is, community-based, not-forprofit, and volunteer organizations. Develop problem solving processes relevant to community and social service organizations and to issues found in a culturally-diverse environment. Assess the role of ethics in community and social service management including issues of privacy and confidentiality. Assess the use of client management and other software systems in community and social service management. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of management/supervisory styles and implications of various styles for organizational life. Apply skills including interpersonal, community building, leadership, communication, and team building skills to community development. Describe the organizational change process and the implications for the supervisor and their agency. Apply entrepreneurial characteristics, skills, and strategies to work in the social sector. Develop strategies for fund raising and business development. Apply techniques for evaluating programs, including metrics for measuring outcomes. Apply concepts of financial accounting to assist decision-making, to assess risk, to evaluate capital investments, and to prepare operating budgets in the context of specific agency goals and objectives. Examine techniques for measuring social return on investment. Contribute to planning and administration of organizational resources including financial, technical and human resources. Program Expectations Expectation 1 Regular attendance is encouraged. Activities will take place during class time that the student will not be permitted to complete due to absence from class. Expectation 2 A significant amount of group work is required in this program. Individual students are expected to be full participants in, and contributors to, each group based project/assignment within the program coursework. Individual students who fail to meet this expectation, without documented extenuating circumstances may receive a failing grade in the project/assignment. Guidelines will be provided outlining the requirements of group work by individual faculty members. Expectations will vary among faculty and students are expected to ask questions if they are not clear. Employment Opportunities Graduates find employment opportunities in community-based, government, private, public sector and non-profit organizations. Examples include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Resource Development Officer Alumni Advancement Manager Student Life Programmer at Conestoga College Employment Advisor Chamber of Commerce – Various Roles Program Support Officer Team Lead/Recruiter Development Coordinator Change the World Coordinator English Language Instructor Coordinator Residence Manager for a Not-for-Profit Caseworker in Provincial Government PAC – Program Advisory Committee Each program at Conestoga has a Program Advisory Committee (PAC), which is made up of industry and academic representatives, as well as current students. The committee meets several times a year to discuss the direction that industry is heading in and any improvements that can be made to keep the program current. This helps to ensure that what students are learning is relevant to their industry. Work Experience The work experience is a mandatory part of the program design that is required for successful completion of the program. Students will receive assistance from the Placement Coordinator in securing suitable work experience opportunities. Required Supplies and Textbooks Any required materials for a course are listed on the course outline. Failure to obtain required materials may result in unsuccessful grades in the course. It is strongly recommended that students purchase their supplies, textbooks, etc., which are above and beyond the cost of their tuition, to increase their success within their program. Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries Please visit the Financial Aid website for further details about what awards or bursaries may be available. 4. PATHWAYS AND ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS OPPORTUNITIES Pathways The School of Business & Hospitality has a large number of pathways between programs. Program Coordinators and/or the Academic Advisor are able to discuss pathway options that may be available to students. In addition, students are able to access Career Services and meet with a Career Advisor to help them with their career goals and pathway decisions. Articulation Agreements 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. 5. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES Attendance Rules Attendance in all classes is strongly recommended and is required for completion of any in-class assessments. Courses that are delivered in a classroom or lab setting, as opposed to online, will discuss theories and concepts that students will be responsible for, regardless of the student’s attendance. Reporting of Absences The Student Portal contains a mechanism for recording student absence(s) from class. This method of recording absence(s) must be used if the student is not present for an assessed item or does not meet the submission deadline. Assessed items that contribute to final grades are defined as the following: • Assignments • Tests/exams • Labs/quizzes • Practical skill evaluations • • • Presentations Portfolios Other, as defined by faculty Students are encouraged to also record their absence when there is no evaluation. The Student Portal will provide a list of all absences from scheduled classes. Student Absence for Assessed Material Students are given an instructional plan at the beginning of each semester for each course. This will include all important assessment and submission due dates in the course. Students are expected to attend all assessments set by faculty for their courses. A student who is absent from an assessment must: 1. Contact faculty before the assessment is due, via college email. Students must include in the email their name, student number and reason for absence. 2. Report their absence on their Student Portal prior to when the assessment is due. 3. Provide valid documentation (i.e. Doctor’s note, death certificate, court/legal documentation, etc.) immediately following their return to the college, before alternative arrangements can be made. Please note that valid documentation must be applicable to the assessment date. If the student has met the above criteria, it is their responsibility to then discuss with faculty the arrangements for a make-up test or alternate assignment immediately upon return to the college. Failure to report an absence and provide valid documentation when an assessed item is scheduled/due will result in a mark of zero for that assessment. 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. Students will receive a confirmation email that they have recorded the absence for that day. The Absence Recording System shows the student as being absent for the day, starting from the time that the absence is recorded. For example, if an absence is recorded for a specific day at 11:00 a.m. the system will show the student as being absent for all classes starting after 11:00 a.m. that day. The earliest that an absence may be recorded for a particular day, is after 8:00 p.m. the day prior to the assessment. Absence for Other Reasons 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. Jury Duty Any student who receives a summons for jury duty must bring 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. Absences during Work Experience Students must meet the requirements of the course requirements and the host organization. Other Absence(s) Student absence(s) must be supported by formal, original documentation. Class Cancellations due to Faculty Absence All class cancellations due to faculty absences will be posted in the Student Portal on the left hand side of the main page. These notices in the Student Portal will be the only notifications of class cancellations due to faculty absences. Faculty, who are absent, may or may not be informing students of class cancellations through college email and/or eConestoga in addition to the Student Portal. Students should check their college email and eConestoga for possible assigned work. Students have the option of receiving emails to their cell phones, notifying them of class cancellations due to faculty absences. To receive personal notifications students must subscribe to this service. To subscribe: • Log into the Student Portal • Select ‘Notifications’ under the ‘Profile tab’ • Select the preferred notification method desired (email) • Click ‘Update’ To change the email address where notifications will be sent, select ‘My Addresses’ under the ‘Profile Tab’, and change the default email address. 6. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY CLASSROOM INFORMATION Successful students will: • Attend classes on time. • Wear appropriate business attire when required. • Log into the Student Portal to report an absence before class begins. • Obtain from classmates and/or eConestoga any assignments or notes that were missed. • Be prepared for class, ready to ask/answer questions and participate in classroom discussions. • Submit assignments on time that are business professional. • Engage in academic integrity on all assigned work and tests/examinations. • Behave in a polite, ethical, professional and respectful manner to all faculty, students, employers and colleagues both on and off the campus. • Communicate effectively in English: reading, writing, listening and speaking. • Ensure all emails sent to other students, faculty, or staff are written in professional business language. Abusive/inappropriate language will not be tolerated. • Be a positive ambassador for the program and the college. Course Outlines Course outlines state the learning outcomes that will be covered during the course. Details about the evaluation method, the weighting of assessments, and any other specific criteria required to successfully complete the course are also listed on the course outline. Students are responsible for reviewing the outline and the requirements to pass each individual course. Evaluation requirements vary from course to course. The passing grade and specific course stipulations are listed under the evaluation section of the course outline. Course outlines can be found in the Student Portal under the ‘My Courses’ tab and posted on eConestoga. Students are required to review the course outline to acquire the correct resources/textbooks (i.e. edition, volume, etc.). Instructional Plans (formally known as Course Requirement Sheet) Instructional plans will be provided to students on eConestoga. All assessment dates and deadlines will be posted on the instructional plan, including assignments, tests/quizzes, midterms, presentations, etc. This information acts as a guide to the course and will include a course schedule, which may be subject to change by faculty. Practices within the Classroom Faculty responsibilities: • Provide to students at the start of each course an instructional plan, which indicates the due dates for all assessed items (assignments, tests, exams, case studies, presentations • • • • etc.) and the respective weighting of each item toward the student’s final mark. Return assessed items promptly and review with students – generally, students are not able to retain their tests/examinations/assignments and should review thoroughly at this time. It is the responsibility of the student to ask any questions regarding the assignment with the faculty member outside class time if required. Respond to student requests for consultations to discuss performance or questions in respect to their coursework and assessed items. Respond to student emails/voicemails within a 48-hour period during business hours. Ensure course outcomes are covered in the assessment method. Student responsibilities: • Attend and participate in lectures, presentations, group work, field trips or other activities related to the course/program. • Adhere to all deadlines for assessed items, and write final exams as indicated on the schedule posted on the college webpage under ‘Current Students’. Please note that the final exam schedule in the fall and winter semester runs from Monday to Saturday of the exam week. • Submit coursework in the requested format, described by the faculty member in the rubrics or guidelines, by the specified deadline. • Fully disclose and completely reference all sources used in submitted course assessments and not engage in plagiarism. • Advise faculty of circumstances that would prevent the completion of student work, prior to the deadline, as outlined in the instructional plan and provide required documentation. • Use Conestoga email to communicate with faculty, not personal email or eConestoga, unless directed otherwise by faculty. • Check Conestoga email on a regular basis. Electronic Devices Students can use laptops and other electronic devices during class, only if faculty agree with this practice. The use of electronic equipment during class time is strictly for academic purposes. Faculty reserve the right to ask students to leave the classroom if they do not comply with this practice. Recording Devices Students are not permitted to record lectures or take pictures without the consent of faculty and/or students. Content from the course is not to be posted on any external websites unless done so by faculty. Students who are registered with Accessibility Services and have accommodations approved for recording lectures are permitted to do so with the faculty’s knowledge. Electronic Translator Use The use of an electronic translator is prohibited. Courses are taught in English and students must be able to communicate in English. Research Some courses have a research component, which may be college-based and/or in a host organization. Research must adhere to the highest level of ethical standards and is a reflection on Conestoga College. Faculty will provide more information relevant to the research requirements in the course. For further details regarding correct referencing, please visit the Library Resource Centre. Assignments Each faculty member will inform students of their guidelines for submitting assignments. For example, a case study format may not be the same for all faculty. Each faculty member will inform students of their late submission policies. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of the course requirements for each of their courses. If an extension of time is required, the student must make the request to the appropriate faculty member well in advance of the due date - 24 hours minimum. Approval of the request is at the discretion of the faculty member. Grading Students can access interim grades throughout the semester on eConestoga. Final grades are submitted by faculty, approved by the Chair and posted on the Student Portal within 10 business days after the final examination. The following grading system will be employed by faculty in reporting student achievement to the registrar's office. Specific programs/courses may require different minimum standards of achievement. The following applies to School of Business & Hospitality course grading: • The minimum passing grade for Community and Social Service Management graduate certificate courses is 60%, unless otherwise indicated on the course outline. • If a course has additional certification requirements outside of the college then the student must adhere to the passing grade for that certification. • If a course is repeated, the most recent grade will be used to compute the program GPA. However, both grades will show on the student’s academic transcript. • If the first course taken is a failure and the same course is repeated and it is also a failure, only the most recent failure will be used in the calculation of their GPA. Plagiarism Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please review Conestoga’s Academic Integrity Policy on plagiarism. Academic Integrity is expected and required of all Conestoga students. Students are responsible for personally maintaining control of their own work at all times, so that breaches of this policy are less likely to occur. Failure to maintain academic honesty will not be tolerated, and students found guilty in any way will be disciplined in accordance with the policy. The penalty levied for an academic offence is listed under the academic integrity procedure link above. Examples of plagiarism may include but are not limited to: • • • • The work submitted or presented was done, in whole or in part, by an individual other than the one submitting or presenting the work. Parts of the work are taken from another source without reference to the original author (i.e. copying a paragraph, a page, a sentence, and/or someone’s ideas). The whole work (i.e. case study, essay, business plan, etc.) is copied from another source or person. A student submits or presents work in one course, which has also been submitted in another course, (even though it is the students original work) without the knowledge of/or prior agreement of the faculty involved. While it is recognized that scholarly work often involves reference to the ideas, data and conclusions of other scholars, intellectual honesty requires that such references be explicitly and clearly noted. Cheating gives an unfair advantage to the person over classmates and misrepresents that person’s ability. There is a societal expectation that a standard has been met upon graduation and that the graduate is capable of meeting the expectations of the employing organization. Cheating harms the student’s reputation and learning. Grades obtained in the completion of the student’s program must reflect their achievement and demonstrate ethical behaviour. Any student who helps another student to cheat is just as guilty of cheating as the student they assisted. Unacceptable behaviours in these circumstances include, but are not limited to: • • • • • Using materials or electronic devices not authorized by the person giving the test. Collaborating with another student during a test without permission. Falsifications of an exam record or report. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing or soliciting contents of an exam or any assignment. Taking a test for another student or permitting another student to take a test for one's • self. Attempting to bribe a faculty member to obtain a passing grade, or better grade on an exam or course. The penalties for all forms of plagiarism will be enforced as per the Conestoga College Academic Integrity Policy. Faculty may require assessments to be submitted to drop boxes which scan for plagiarism. College Email Communication Requirements College email should be used to contact faculty, Chair, academic support, etc. The information within the email must be kept professional. Students are required and expected to check their college email regularly. All students are assigned a college email during their active time at Conestoga College. Please note that eConestoga email is course specific only, and may not be available for all courses. Therefore, college email must be used to contact faculty or other students. If there are any issues accessing college email, please contact the IT department at: itsdesk@conestogac.on.ca or by telephone at 519-748-5220, ext. 3444. For further assistance, access the help desk located outside of door 3, or the IT department in room 1E12. 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. In cases where a satisfactory outcome is not achieved by the student, the student can contact the Academic Advisor. If further action is recommended by the Academic Advisor, a meeting will be arranged with the Continuing Education Program Manager. 7. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY EXAM INFORMATION Examination Procedures Final examinations are held on the last scheduled class of the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Failure to attend an exam, without prior notification and valid documentation, will result in a mark of zero, (0%). The following rules apply to all testing situations: • Students are required to bring their student ID cards to all exams and are required to display it during the exam. • For exams, faculty must send all full-time students without student ID cards to the School of Business & Hospitality office, room 1B47, to obtain an identity verification form. Part-time students are not issued a student ID and can use government photo ID. • • • • • • • • • • • • • Backpacks, purses, wallets, pencil cases, etc., will be placed in a location designated by the faculty. Only permitted items are allowed on the desk. Students must wait until the proctor directs them to commence, before turning over and starting their exams. Students are not permitted to talk after the exam has started, except to the proctor. Students are not permitted to leave in the first 30 minutes of an exam. Students will not be permitted to enter the exam room after 30 minutes or after any student has exited the exam room. The proctor has the authority to assign seats. No unauthorized software/internet usage is permitted in computer exams. All personal electronic devices must be turned off and placed away from the student. Students will be responsible for errors when completing a Par Score Sheet. Mathematical calculators are permitted as designated by faculty. The use of an electronic translator is prohibited. Courses are taught in English and students must be able to communicate in English. If a student needs to leave the room during the exam for a washroom break, they may be accompanied. The proctor will ensure that the elapsed time is reasonable. No other student will be permitted to leave the class until the previous student returns. Students are required to sign out when leaving the examination room and sign in when returning. Washrooms may be monitored during exams. Accommodations are made for students with disabilities, as determined by Accessibility Services. Faculty reserve the right to request special accommodations for students, if required. For further information regarding Accessibility Services, please visit their office, room 1A107. Missed Examinations All tests and examinations must be written on the dates and at the times scheduled. Students who miss tests or examinations will automatically be given a grade of zero, unless they have provided prior notification and valid documentation for their absence. Faculty will identify students who have provided appropriate documentation and communicate alternative exam information to the student. Examination Conflicts/Alternative Exam Dates An examination conflict is when two exams are scheduled at the same time on the same day or with less than one hour in between two different exams. The School of Business & Hospitality alternative exam date rules are as follows: • It is up to the student to review their exam schedule and identify any conflicts prior to the start of exam week. • • • • • It is the student’s responsibility to contact their faculty to arrange an alternate time for one of the two exams. The alternative exam must be arranged prior to the start of the exam week. A decision as to whose exam will be administered on the alternative exam day is decided between faculty members. If a decision cannot be reached between faculty, the Chair will make the final decision. One of the faculty members will notify the student of the above decision and advise them of the day/time/room for their alternative exam. If the alternative date does not work, the student will need to work it out directly with their faculty members immediately. Bad Weather Conditions and Testing If public transit for Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo has been cancelled, a test scheduled to be administered during regularly scheduled class will automatically be postponed until the next scheduled class or available make-up test date. If the college has to be closed on an examination day, the examination scheduled for that day will be extended by an additional business week. Students living outside Waterloo Region and Wellington County who cannot travel to the college due to bad weather and have bus cancellations in their area, are responsible for notifying their faculty. This notification must be made by email or telephone, prior to the test, to indicate their inability to write on the day of the test. Students must arrange to write their test immediately upon their return to the college. Students who fail to contact their faculty will receive a grade of zero on the test. 8. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY ACADEMIC INFORMATION Academic/Student Services Students are advised to seek academic assistance directly from their faculty, Coordinator or the Academic Advisor if concerns arise. Students are also encouraged to access the various support services available that will enhance their learning experience at Conestoga College. For further academic and student assistance please review the links below: Aboriginal Services Accessibility Services Co-op & Career Services Counselling Services Learning Commons Library Resource Center (LRC) Student Financial Services 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. Students also have access to review their start/end date and the drop/refund deadlines through their Student Portal under the ‘My Courses’ tab. Students must hover their mouse over the calendar icon beside the course to see the dates. Academic Standing Decision and Promotion A student’s academic achievement is based on the promotion guidelines established by the program. An academic standing decision is assigned by the Program Coordinator to the student record indicating progress, promotion, or graduation. These decisions are made at the end of each academic year, depending on the semester in which students start their program. The Program Coordinator and/or Academic Advisor are available to discuss academic standing, progress planning and eligibility to graduate. A student who has previously withdrawn from the program (de-registered), upon re-application to the program will be placed in the appropriate level for the current program design. This can result in additional courses required for completion in the new program design. Clearance of Failed Courses There are a number of ways a student can work towards correcting failed course(s). It is recommended that students register in their failed courses as soon as possible. Discontinuance A student may be discontinued from the School of Business & Hospitality on either academic or behavioural grounds, as set out in the Student Guide. Re-admission to a Program If the student is re-applying to a different version of a program, they must submit a completed Conestoga College program application form to the Registrar's Office and pay the application fee. Students do not need to clear failed courses that are not part of the designated program design. Re-admission to a program is not automatic. In all cases, re-admission to programs in the School of Business & Hospitality will be at the discretion of the Continuing Education Program Manager. 9. COLLEGE WIDE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES College Policies and Procedures A Student Protection Acknowledgement confirmation pop-up will appear when a student logs into the Student Portal on a yearly basis. This will direct students to policies and procedures relevant to their academic responsibilities. All Conestoga College wide academic policies and procedures are listed on the college website under “About Conestoga”, “Policies and Procedures”. Students are advised to review and comply with all policies and procedures, including the following: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Academic Disputes, Resolution and Appeal Policy & Procedure Academic Integrity Policy & Violation of Academic Integrity Procedure Academic Recognition Policy Academic Credential Procedure Clearance of Academic Deficiency Policy & Procedure Co-operative Education Policy Discontinuance Policy & Procedure Eligibility to Participate in Co-op Work Terms Policy & Procedure Evaluation of Student Learning Policy & Procedure Grading Procedure Graduation Requirements and Convocation Procedure Honours Policy & Procedure Program/Course Withdrawal (Cohort) Procedure Student Code of Conduct Policy Student Concerns Policy & Procedure Student Fees Policy Student Feedback Policy Students must follow all of the policies and procedures for Conestoga College and it is expected that faculty will accept, fulfill and enforce these standards. Credit Transfer Conestoga recognizes that students may have a variety of previous experiences and formal education that may allow them to enter a program at an advanced level or provide for an exemption. Credit Transfers can be achieved through Advanced Standing, and Individual Course Exemptions. A student who believes they have already earned academic credit from a recognized post-secondary institution for specific course(s) at Conestoga may request transfer of credit. Questions regarding Credit Transfer may be sent to CreditTransfer@conestogac.on.ca. The Credit Transfer Policy and Procedure are posted on the college website. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Conestoga recognizes prior learning of skills, knowledge or competencies that have been acquired through employment, education (informal/formal), non-formal learning or other life experiences. Prior learning must be measured to meet the required course outcomes and grading standards. PLAR cannot be used by registered Conestoga students to clear academic deficiencies, to improve grades or to obtain admission into a program. Questions regarding PLAR may be sent to CreditTransfer@conestogac.on.ca. The Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Policy and Procedure are posted on the college website. Program Transfer Students who would like to change programs within the School of Business & Hospitality may do so by completing and submitting a program application form to the registrar’s office. Prior to completing the program application form, it is recommended that the student meet with the Program Coordinator or Academic Advisor. If considering transferring to a program outside the School of Business & Hospitality, students may want to discuss options with a Career Advisor. When a student moves from one Conestoga program to another and where courses numbers/codes are identical or equivalent, automatic credit is given if passing grades are met. Registering in Courses Students can register in a course under the ‘Browse Continuing Education’ tab in their Student Portal. Dropping Courses Students should consult their program support prior to dropping a course on the Student Portal. Dropped courses will appear as “W” (withdrawal) on transcripts if the student withdraws before the deadline date. If the course is dropped after the deadline, the student will receive an “F” (fail) on their transcript. Students can drop a course on their own from the Student Portal, under the ‘My Courses’ tab. Withdrawal from Program Please note: Continuing Education students are not required to complete a withdraw form if they choose to discontinue. Graduation Students are eligible to graduate upon completion of all academic requirements in their program of study. Students need to inform the registrar’s office if they are attending graduation through their Student Portal. Convocation ceremonies are held in June and November of each academic year. Students, who take longer than the advertised program length, are responsible for completing any new or additional courses due to a program design change. When students complete their program they are required to fill out an application to graduate form and pay the applicable fee. 10. STUDENT FEEDBACK Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Continuing Education Survey The Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Continuing Education survey is completed every three years and provides information regarding student’s experiences in Continuing Education across the province. This data assists with improving Continuing Education student’s experiences by learning about perceptions and experiences in a program or course. Periodically, program specific surveys and focus groups are conducted to collect program relevant date for effective planning. Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT) The Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT) is an online questionnaire that is administered in the latter portion of a semester. Students are asked to provide feedback regarding specific faculty members and courses by completing the SAT using their electronic device if they are not in a computer lab. This is completed for each part-time faculty member per semester. After final grades have been submitted to the registrar’s office, the program manager discusses with the faculty member the results of the SAT. SATs are confidential and students are therefore encouraged to provide honest constructive feedback. Completion of this process gives faculty and management valuable information that is used for improving teaching at Conestoga. In addition to SATs, faculty may also invite management or another experienced faculty member to sit in on a class or to discuss questions or problems at any time. They may also wish to seek informal feedback from their students throughout the semester. Students are welcome to discuss course progress, concerns, situations or questions with their faculty, program support or program manager at any time. 11. SAFETY INFORMATION Services Offered Security Services provides 24-hour security at the Doon and Cambridge (South) campuses and day, evening and 24-hour weekend security at the Guelph and Waterloo campuses. Assistance is also available to students and staff at the Stratford and Cambridge Campuses by calling the Doon Campus. The following are a list of services that are offered through the Security Services at Conestoga: • First Aid: for any major or minor physical or medical needs • Lost and Found • Parking: sales, assistance and enforcement • • • • • • Information/Education: for home security audits, self-defense, anti-theft precautions and basic personal safety Personal and college Safety concerns Any issues to do with Lockers Walk Safe: provides escorts for faculty, staff, and students to any areas on campus, residence, and homes in the near vicinity Emergency Phones: located in strategic areas around the college providing a direct link to Security Services Security: at events on campus including any CSI pub night and Convocation Ceremonies Basic Safety Theft, tampering, loss and/or destruction of college equipment is a serious offence. Theft of personal or college equipment should be reported to security services immediately. Students found stealing or tampering with college property will be dealt with under the student code of conduct and may also face criminal charges. Please review the list of all emergency guides, and the full list of all policies and procedures relating to Security. Emergency Telephone Messages It may be necessary for family members to contact a student in an emergency situation. Family members need to know the student number, program name, school, and campus to which the student is registered in, to aid Security in locating the student. This information will be required when the family member calls. Please have family members contact Security directly at 519748-5220, ext. 3357 - only if it is an emergency. After Hours Access Policy Conestoga College recognizes that in some programs of study students may require after-hours access to classrooms, shops, labs and studios. The college maintains this after-hours access in accordance with the academic needs of individual programs. This privilege requires that students follow established guidelines, rules and regulations to ensure safety and security of person and property. The regular hours of operation of the Doon Campus are from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday-Sunday. Please contact Security Services for further details regarding the After-Hours Access policy. Parking Paid parking is in effect at all Conestoga Campus locations. Pay and Display machines are available to purchase daily parking passes in Lots 11, 10, 9, 6 and 1. Enforcement by Kitchener By-law is conducted daily, please ensure to have the proper parking permit/pass displayed to avoid a parking ticket infraction. Parking is free all day on Saturday and Sunday and after 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. If additional information is required please contact Parking or Security Services. 12. PROGRAM HANDBOOK REVISION LOG Revision Date • • July 2015 June 2014