STUDENT ACADEMIC POLICY

As a student of SIIT, you belong to a dynamic academic community of supportive staff working with you to achieve and maintain high standards. The caring staff at SIIT will provide feedback and challenge you to constantly improve your skills as you take ownership of your personal success. Throughout this journey, we will adhere to fundamental, ethical, cultural and professional principles; students are expected to commit to honest and ethical principles as well.

Academic Honesty

SIIT students must demonstrate academic honesty throughout their studies and practices by adhering to the following:

Adhere to all examination procedures in this policy. Students found cheating on exams or assisting others to cheat will be required to discontinue.
Understand that plagiarism is using the information, ideas, or work of others and submitting it as one’s own. There are serious consequences for such actions.
Do not re-submit assignments completed for an alternate course or program unless written permission is obtained from the current course instructor.
Submit all assignments according to timelines specified in a course outline; date and sign all submitted assignments, and keep a copy. Do not share electronic copies of assignments with other students unless you are submitting work as a team project.

Discipline for academic dishonesty is based on the severity of the action(s) and may include:

i. receiving a reduced grade,
ii. loss of course credit, and/or
iii. being Required to Discontinue from the program.

Student Evaluation
All program courses have a pre-determined evaluation system designed to provide a reliable indication of performance to employers, transfer institutions, and future instructors. Grades provide information for decisions of eligibility for financial aid, scholarships, and continued studies within SIIT.

The fair and consistent application of the grading system is necessary for the purpose of student management. A student’s final standing in each course is determined by academic progress throughout the semester or the entire year, taking into consideration classroom tests and examinations, laboratory work, essays, reports, and projects together with classroom participation.

a) Course Outlines

Students must abide by the timelines specified on the course outlines for submitting assignments and writing exams.
Students are expected to regard this outline as a contract between themselves and SIIT.
Failure to comply with the course outlines may result in failure of the course.

b) Midterm Exams
Midterm exams are tests administered according to each program’s requirements. Continuation in a program is determined from the outcome of the midterm grades:

Students must maintain a cumulative average of 55% or higher after midterm grades calculations; students with less than a 55% cumulative average will be placed on academic probation and required to submit an action plan to improve their standing to meet program requirements.
Failure of three (3) or more classes in the Semester System – students are advised to withdraw from the program.
Failure of one prerequisite class – students may be unable to continue, as this class may be a prerequisite for upcoming core classes or practicum.

Probationary action is based on a case review of a student’s situation and circumstances leading to low academic standing or low attendance.

c) Final Exams

A final exam is required for each course and is scheduled for the end of each semester or term. It is mandatory to write a final exam on the date as scheduled. Absenteeism from a final exam must be reported one day prior by telephone. Reporting absenteeism after the exam will not be considered for any reason and may result in a failing grade.

Final Exam Exceptions:
After being checked and verified, only valid reasons will be considered for missing a final exam:

Serious illness or injury of the student – Medical documentation must be submitted, and the student is responsible for any related fees.
Death of an immediate family member (child, parent, spouse, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, maternal or paternal relative – An obituary write-up or card must be submitted.
Court subpoena – A copy of the subpoena must be submitted.

d) Examination Procedures
An examination invigilator is one who monitors the exam room and ensures that policies and procedures are followed. This person will examine all the desks in the exam room for writing or content.

Student Conduct during Exams:

Allotted examination times are from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Students are expected to arrive prior to start time. Students arriving late will only write until 12:00 p.m.
Students are not allowed to speak aloud, make distracting sounds, or communicate with one another during the exam.
Students are expected to keep their exam sheets out of view from other students. Completed sheets should be turned over and placed to the side of the table or desk.
Students must raise their hands to get the invigilator’s attention when wanting to ask a question.
Students must remain in the examination room for a minimum of one hour and leave the immediate area of the examination room when finished. Loitering in the exam area is not permitted.
Breaks during the exam will only occur when urgent and will occur singly.

Exam Materials:

Only individual instructor-approved calculators and materials will be allowed during the exam.
Students must leave the following items in their lockers or at the front of the classroom during the exam: backpacks, notebooks, textbooks, cell phones, electronic music devices, food, drinks, study notes, jackets or pocketed sweaters. Only water bottles with secure safety tops will be allowed.

e) Deferred Exams

In the event that serious or extenuating circumstances prevent a student from writing an exam, the student may apply for a Deferred Exam by following the approved application process:

i. Submit an Application for a Deferred Exam to the Site Coordinator within three (3) days of the missed examination. Applications are available at all SIIT site locations.
ii. Attach supporting documentation to the application.
iii. Confirm the next examination date.

All students who are granted a deferred exam will write that exam on the scheduled deferred day. If the student misses the scheduled deferred exam date, a 25% penalty will be imposed on that exam unless the student can provide substantial evidence of a legitimate reason to have missed the exam. Legitimate reasons that qualify are 1) Compassionate Leave 2) Medical Leave with a doctor’s note, and 3) Court Appearances.

A student cannot apply for an appeal to a grade if he/she chooses to write an exam while they were seriously ill or under duress.

Deferrals may not apply to brokered programs.

Ruling on a Deferred Exam:

The ruling on a Deferred Examination Application will be determined by the appropriate Dean of the program, in consultation with the appropriate Campus Director or Site Coordinator. The Dean’s office will notify the applicant in writing of the decision.

If the applicant is not satisfied with the ruling, an appeal may be submitted in writing to the Dean of Student Services no later than (3) three days after receiving the ruling. Students are eligible for only one appeal during their program pending the student’s circumstances.

All correspondence pertaining to the deferred exam process will be filed in the student’s file.

f) Supplementary Exams
A supplementary exam provides a student with the option to bring a grade to the passing mark of 50%. To qualify for this option,

i. the former grade must be between the range of 40-49%.
ii. the student’s overall average must be 55% or more. A minimum of 90% attendance and overall performance will be considered.

The final decision is subject to approval of the Program Dean.

g) Challenge Exams
SIIT recognizes that many students enter college with work and/or other experience that may parallel the subject matter of courses offered for credit at the College. A Challenge Examination is a method of recognizing such experience. Students who feel entitled to such credit may apply for credit by examination. Challenge Exam applications can be obtained from the Enrolment Management Centre.

A challenge exam must exist for the challenged course.
A non-refundable fee of $200.00 will be charged to challenge an exam. This amount may vary based upon actual course costs.
Students must not have failed any prior SIIT classes.
Students must maintain an overall program average of 60% to qualify.
Students cannot challenge an exam for a course previously failed.
Students must maintain a minimum of 90% attendance.

Writing a Challenge Exam will be left to the discretion of the Program Dean, in consultation with the Instructor and Funding Agency based on the student’s overall performance in the class/program.

h) Exam Grade Appeal
A student who wishes to appeal a grade is required to take the following steps:

i. Pay a non-refundable fee of $50.00 prior to commencement of appeal process.
ii. Meet with the appropriate instructor, the Program Dean, and their Funding Agency to try to resolve the appeal informally.
iii. Contact the Campus Director or Site Coordinator to request a re-read of the exam in question. The request will be submitted to the Dean of Student Services and/or Program Dean to deal with the appeal. Results of the appeal must be submitted to the Student’s file.

i) Final Grade Appeal

A student may appeal a final grade which would include the final exam and all assignments applying to the final grade. The steps for this process would be similar to those of the Exam Grade Appeal but, in this case, all assignments and grades would be reviewed as well. A non-refundable fee of $50.00 will be required prior to commencement of appeal process.

Student Performance and Progress
Each student is expected to achieve the stated academic performance level of his or her program. Students who do not meet academic performance expectations will work with staff to develop an action plan to improve performance. Students who continue to fail in meeting the standards after being given an opportunity to improve may be:

i. required to participate in structured remedial work,
ii. placed on academic probation, and/or
iii. required to discontinue.