Career Development
Practitioner - #0869
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 June 2015
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
1.
Table of Contents
Program Handbook Introduction ............................................................................................ 4
Executive Dean Welcome ........................................................................................................... 5
2.
Program Staff Contact Information ........................................................................................ 6
3.
Career Development Practitioner Program Information........................................................ 7
Program Overview ...................................................................................................................... 7
Current Program Design ............................................................................................................. 7
Program Learning Outcomes ...................................................................................................... 8
Program Expectations ................................................................................................................. 9
Employment Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 9
Professional Associations.......................................................................................................... 10
PAC – Program Advisory Committee ........................................................................................ 10
Practicum Experience ............................................................................................................... 10
Required Supplies and Textbooks............................................................................................. 10
Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries ......................................................................................... 10
4.
Pathways and Articulation Agreements Opportunities ........................................................ 12
Pathways ................................................................................................................................... 12
5.
School of Business & Hospitality Attendance Responsibilities ............................................. 13
Student Absence for Assessed Material ................................................................................... 13
Absence for Other Reasons ...................................................................................................... 13
Class Cancellations due to Faculty Absence ............................................................................. 14
6.
School of Business & Hospitality Course Information .......................................................... 15
Course Outlines ......................................................................................................................... 15
Instructional Plans (formally known as Course Requirement Sheet) ....................................... 15
Practices within the Online Classroom ..................................................................................... 15
Research .................................................................................................................................... 16
Assignments .............................................................................................................................. 16
Grading...................................................................................................................................... 17
Plagiarism .................................................................................................................................. 17
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
Academic Concerns during a Course ........................................................................................ 18
Student Representation – Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI)......................................................... 18
7.
School of Business & Hospitality Academic Information...................................................... 19
Academic/Student Services ...................................................................................................... 19
Academic Dates......................................................................................................................... 19
Academic Standing Decision and Promotion............................................................................ 19
Clearance of Failed Courses ...................................................................................................... 20
Academic Probation .................................................................................................................. 20
Discontinuance.......................................................................................................................... 20
Re-admission to a Program ....................................................................................................... 20
8.
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
Adding Courses ......................................................................................................................... 23
Dropping Courses...................................................................................................................... 23
Withdrawal from Program ........................................................................................................ 24
Graduation ................................................................................................................................ 24
9.
Student feedback .................................................................................................................. 25
Key Performance Indicators...................................................................................................... 25
Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT)......................................................................................... 25
10.
Safety Information ............................................................................................................. 26
Services Offered ........................................................................................................................ 26
Basic Safety ............................................................................................................................... 26
After Hours Access Policy.......................................................................................................... 26
Parking ...................................................................................................................................... 27
11.
Program Handbook Revision Log ....................................................................................... 28
Revision Date ............................................................................................................................ 28
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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, make informed decisions and assume
responsibility for their academic success. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the
content in this handbook, please contact the Academic Advisor for the School of Business &
Hospitality, Gillian Oldfield, Doon campus - room 1B47, 519-748-5220, ext. 3634, or at
goldfield@conestogac.on.ca.
We wish you all the best in your studies!
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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.
Coordinator
Rob Straby
519-748-5220, ext. 3680
rstraby@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B48
Academic Advisor
Gillian Oldfield
519-748-5220, ext. 3634
goldfield@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B47
Academic Support (front reception)
Katrina Nielsen
519-748-5220, ext. 2517
knielsen@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B47
Chair’s Assistant
Krista Allen
519-748-5220, ext. 2239
kallen@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B52
Chair
Sylvia Ranson
519-748-5220, ext. 3866
sranson@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B52
Executive Dean’s Assistant
Jen Graci
519-748-5220, ext. 3402
jgraci@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B53-3
Executive Dean
Gary Hallam
519-748-5220, ext. 3245
ghallam@conestogac.on.ca
Doon Campus, Room 1B50-1
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
3. CAREER DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER PROGRAM INFORMATION
Program Overview
The field of career development is evolving, enabling practitioners to work in a variety of roles.
This program is designed for individuals who are or would like to work in roles such as career
counsellors, employment counsellors, career information practitioners or career management
professionals.
Skills acquired in the program offer career mobility to graduates who wish to serve a broader
variety of client groups, attain more in-depth competencies in selected areas of specialization,
or who may wish to pursue more proactive management roles and choices in their current
professional setting.
The skills and knowledge taught in this program include:
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Individual counselling and group facilitation
Theoretical models of career development
Future trends analysis in relation to career development
Tools, techniques and processes of career counselling
Assessment in career counselling
Electronic tools and techniques
Working with diverse populations and equity issues, and consulting skills for career
development practitioners.
The Career Development Practitioner program is a fully online program, offered on a full-time
and part-time basis. Please check the website for a complete Career Development Practitioner
program overview.
Current Program Design
Full-time students are registered in a specific program design based on the year that a student
begins in a program. 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. If a student does not graduate at the end of the designated semester for the
original program design, the student is responsible for meeting any new program design
changes in order to graduate.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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
Courses are listed by level/semester. 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:
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Describe the historical and theoretical basis of career development studies, including
the social, economic, and personal benefits of career development practices for various
groups in Canadian society.
Develop an awareness of the impact of research efforts on career development
practices in Canada.
Incorporate self-directed and entrepreneurially-oriented career management activities
into his/her career practice.
Integrate the appropriate use of adult learning principles and practices for his or her,
own professional growth and development, as well as the empowerment of others.
Utilize self-reflective and critical thinking skills to enhance counselling, teaching and
learning strategies with groups and individuals.
Recognize the variety of career development practitioner roles that could be used to
develop additional areas of expertise.
Apply the stages of adult development and learning, and theories of career
development, which together lay the foundation for counselling and facilitation in
career development work.
Apply a wide range of assessment tools, both psychometric and constructivist, for use
with various client groups.
Integrate appropriate career information resources with career and employment
counselling strategies.
Apply individual counselling techniques in the development of career resources for
diverse client groups.
Apply both theoretical and practical methods with consideration to the needs of
underrepresented and diverse groups including women, aboriginal communities, visible
minorities, immigrants, disadvantaged and marginalized.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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Design counselling and teaching strategies that incorporate trends and issues of the
changing work dynamic.
Apply group facilitation techniques and strategies with an understanding of group
process.
Use the systematic steps of program planning techniques in the development of career
resources for diverse client groups.
Integrate the use of Internet technologies into the full spectrum of Career Development
processes and applications.
Program Expectations
Expectation 1 – Collaboration with other Students
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.
Expectation 2 – Computer Software Competence
Students are required to have their own copy of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint or equivalent
software. Students should have intermediate level skills in the use of this software in order to
fulfill course assignments. Alternative software may be used if the software allows for file
conversion to .doc/.docx, .ppt/.pptx and PDF formats. Guidelines will be provided outlining the
software requirements by individual faculty members. Expectations will vary among faculty and
students are expected to ask questions if they are not clear.
Employment Opportunities
This program will appeal to individuals who are engaged or interested in career development
work in professional settings. These include: community-based employment centres,
multicultural settings, schools, college and university career centres, labour adjustment
contexts, human resource departments and vocational rehabilitation programs.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
Professional Associations
Examples of professional associations in the career development field are:
Canadian Career Information Association
Canadian Career Development Foundation
Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling
Additional organizational examples will be shared in the program courses.
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.
At the beginning of each year, the Coordinator of the program will ask for a student volunteer.
The Coordinators will decide which student will represent the program. The student
representative is expected to attend the meetings. The student must prepare and submit a
report based on guidelines provided by the Chair/Coordinator, which will be presented at the
meeting. The student is expected to be professional, dress in business attire and engage in
discussions.
Practicum Experience
The practicum experience is an unpaid mandatory part of the program design that is required
for successful completion of the program.
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
Conestoga has more than 400 awards, bursaries, scholarships and academic grants available to
Conestoga students. These funds are made available to students through the partnerships that
Conestoga has established with local businesses and industry leaders. To be considered for an
award, students must complete the General Application that is available through the Student
Portal under the ‘Financial’ tab under ‘My Award Applications’. Notifications and instructions to
complete the application are sent to all full-time students email accounts in the fall semester
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
(deadline: first Friday of October) and winter semester (deadline: first Friday in February). For
further details about what awards, scholarships and/or bursaries that are available, please
check with Student Financial Services.
In addition, the School of Business & Hospitality hosts an annual award ceremony in April of
each year. This event recognizes the award winners from various Business & Hospitality
programs. The awards ceremony gives students an opportunity to network with various donors
and to celebrate their accomplishments. Further details regarding this annual event will be
provided to students by their college email.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
5. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY ATTENDANCE
RESPONSIBILITIES
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 email. Students must include in the
email their name, student number and reason for absence.
2. Provide valid documentation (i.e. Doctor’s note, death certificate, court/legal
documentation, etc.) immediately following their return to their coursework, 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 their
coursework. 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.
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 Practicum
Students must meet the requirements of the course and the host organization.
Other Absence(s)
Student absence(s) must be supported by formal, original documentation.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
Class Cancellations due to Faculty Absence
All cancellations due to faculty absences will be posted in the eConestoga course system. These
notices in eConestoga will be the only notifications of class cancellations due to faculty
absences.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
6. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY COURSE INFORMATION
Successful students will:
• Wear appropriate business attire when required.
• Obtain from classmates and/or eConestoga any assignments or notes that were missed.
• Be prepared to ask/answer questions and participate in online/webinars 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 Online 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.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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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:
• Participate in webinars, presentations, group work and/or other activities related to the
course/program.
• Adhere to all deadlines for assessed items.
• 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.
• Check Conestoga email on a regular basis.
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.
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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 3-5
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 Career Development Practitioner graduate certificate
courses is 65%, 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:
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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.
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Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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:
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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.
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 Coordinator. If further action is
recommended by the Coordinator, a meeting will be arranged with the Chair.
Student Representation – Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI)
Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) and Conestoga agree that a student has the right to invite a
member of CSI to a student and/or faculty meeting provided that 24 hours advance notice is
given to faculty. This advance notice will ensure that all parties will have an opportunity to
adequately prepare for the meeting.
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299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
7. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & HOSPITALITY ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Academic/Student Services
Students are advised to seek academic assistance directly from their faculty or Coordinator 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
Conestoga Students Inc.
Co-op & Career Services
Counselling Services
Health Services
Learning Commons
Library Resource Center (LRC)
Student Life
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 is 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.
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299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4 Canada, 519-748-5220
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. Students may
be able to sign up and take one or more failed courses through Continuing Education; either
online, or in a traditional classroom setting. Please consult with the Coordinator for an
academic plan to clear failed courses.
Academic Probation
When a student is carrying three to four failed courses in the program in which they are
registered, the student will be placed on academic probation at the end of an academic year.
Students on academic probation will be monitored by the School of Business & Hospitality’s
Academic Advisor.
Students will remain on academic probation until all but two outstanding failures in their
program have been cleared. While on academic probation, the student must meet with their
Coordinator prior to the beginning of each semester to establish an academic plan. This will
provide better opportunities for the student to be successful. The student’s timetable will be
released once this meeting has occurred.
Students will continue to be on academic probation as long as they have more than two
outstanding failed courses. If a student has five or more outstanding failed courses, they will be
discontinued from full-time studies in their program.
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. Discontinuance decisions on academic
grounds are made at the end of each academic year. This will occur when a student has five or
more outstanding failed courses in the program in which they are currently registered.
Re-admission to a Program
A student who has been discontinued on academic grounds, from the School of Business &
Hospitality, will only be considered for re-admission into their program if:
• The student has cleared all but two of the outstanding failures, or
• The student has sat out for one academic year, or
• The student is within one academic year of completing their program.
Once the student has met at least one of the above criteria, then the student must re-apply to
the program. If the student is re-applying to year one, level one, they must apply through
Ontario College Application System, OCAS. If the student is re-applying to level 2 or beyond,
they must submit a completed Conestoga College program application form to the registrar's
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office and pay the application fee. However, in the event the student has two or more
outstanding failures and returns after sitting out for a minimum of one academic year, the
student will return to their program on academic probation. Students are strongly encouraged
to clear their failed courses first.
Students do not need to clear failed courses that are not part of the designated program
design. Those courses are not counted towards the maximum number of failures that the
student is allowed to carry.
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 Chair/Dean of the School and
the Program Coordinator.
Students who have been discontinued from the School of Business & Hospitality must meet
with their Coordinator to discuss the student’s plan to return to full-time studies. An academic
plan will be prepared and a learning contract will be completed before the student’s application
for re-admission will be considered.
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8. 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:
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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.
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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. 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.
Adding Courses
Students can add courses to their daytime schedule under the ‘My Courses’ tab in their Student
Portal. Continuing Education and Ontario Learn courses are not included in student full-time
fees. Students wishing to take these part-time courses are required to pay the full fee for the
individual course(s). Students can add a course under the ‘Browse Continuing Education’ tab in
their Student Portal.
Under special circumstances, (i.e. dropped/failed courses, missing pre-requisites, etc.) students
can fill out a course add/drop form and have their Coordinator/Chair sign off on the form.
Dropping Courses
Students should consult their faculty/Coordinator 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.
Students are able to drop all courses but the last one on their own, as that would be
considered withdrawing from the program.
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Withdrawal from Program
Withdrawal from a program can be completed by filling out a withdrawal form and submitting it
to the registrar’s office. It is advised that a student meet with their Coordinator prior to
submitting the form. Deadlines for withdrawing from a program, with/without an academic
penalty or with/without a refund, are posted on the Student Portal, under the ‘My Courses’ tab.
Students must hover their mouse over the calendar icon beside the course to see the start/end
date and the drop/refund deadlines.
Graduation
Students are eligible to graduate upon completion of all academic requirements in their
program of study, including co-op placements if applicable. 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. Students who complete their program after the
regular scheduled completion date are required to fill out an application to graduate form and
submit it with payment to the registrar’s office. Students who are discontinued or have
withdrawn and then return to the college will be placed in the current program design and
must meet all requirements to graduate.
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9. STUDENT FEEDBACK
Key Performance Indicators
All college programs in the province are evaluated using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. This survey is conducted each
academic year. Strategic goals to improve the programs are developed from these results. This
data and other data specific to the campus and the program/school are collected so that
Conestoga College can continually improve quality.
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 full-time faculty member on two-year rotation and for
part-time faculty as requested by the Chair. Not all faculty members are provided with
feedback during the same academic year. One-quarter of faculty are appraised each term and
each faculty member has two courses selected by the Chair for appraisal. After final grades
have been submitted to the registrar’s office, the Chair meets with the faculty member to
discuss 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 Chairs
valuable information that is used for improving teaching at Conestoga.
In addition to SATs, faculty may also invite their Chair 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, Coordinator and/or
Chair at any time.
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10.
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.
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.
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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.
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11.
PROGRAM HANDBOOK REVISION LOG
Revision Date
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June 2015
June 2014
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