Academic Consideration & Accommodation Procedures

The Faculty of Law contact responsible for administration of academic considerations and academic accommodations is the Law Accommodations and Academic Support Services.

The use of the university policies and procedures on academic consideration for extenuating circumstances to provide false or misleading information or to delay or avoid fulfilling academic requirements constitutes academic dishonesty and students will be subject to the university and faculty’s Academic Integrity procedures.

Request for Academic Consideration for Extenuating Circumstances

Extenuating circumstances are defined as personal circumstances, beyond the student’s control, that have a direct and substantial impact on the student’s ability to meet essential academic requirements or standards.

They can include, but are not limited to, a sudden and acute physical illness (e.g. flu, food poisoning, migraine), mental illness, serious injury to self or significant others, bereavement, a traumatic event or other serious personal/family crises.  They can also include officially representing the university at a sanctioned varsity athletics event or through an invitation to showcase achievement or share an exceptional talent or ability on a provincial, national or international stage as a distinguished guest.
 
Extenuating circumstances do NOT include personal or family events (e.g. weddings), academic or exam stress, or transportation (e.g. late train) or technological difficulties (e.g. a computer crash).

Students who feel unable to meet academic requirements due to high levels of academic stress, or exam-related anxiety should contact Law Accommodations and Academic Support Services or Student Wellness Services (https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/home) for support.

Forms

Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Objective

To provide appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities as part of the University’s commitment to accessibility and equity.

Definitions

“academic accommodation” means any adaptation that reduces or eliminates barriers to participation, which arise when a student with a disability interacts with the academic environment.

Academic accommodations are provided when functional limitations arise from a disability and create a barrier in the academic environment. Depending on the disability, which may be permanent or temporary, functional limitations may be intermittent.

Academic accommodations are individually determined and may include:

  • teaching and learning accommodations (e.g note-taking),
  • assessment and evaluation accommodations (e.g. private space to write exams),
  • environmental accommodations (strategic seating), and
  • auxiliary services and supports (e.g. sign language interpreters, alternate format text, assistive technology).

Academic accommodations are granted on the following basis, depending on the underlying functional limitation.

  • permanent (i.e. for the duration of the academic program),
  • interim (i.e. while further documentation is being sought from a regulated health care professional),
  • temporary (i.e. for a limited time) or
  • retroactive (i.e. after a test, evaluation, assignment deadline has passed) basis with supporting documentation.

“disability” means:

  • Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree or paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
  • A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
  • A learning disability of dysfunction in one or more processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
  • A mental disorder;
  • An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Conditions

Chronic ongoing or episodic physical health or mental health condition, or a learning disability.

See the definition of disability above. See the QSAS  documentation requirements for the accommodation of disabilities and the QSAS disability documentation form.

Letter of Accommodation (LOA)

Law students should NOT provide their letters of accommodation directly to their course instructors.

These LOA should be sent electronically to Law Accommodations and Academic Support Services as soon as you have registered with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS).

Students with ongoing disabilities must register with QSAS at the beginning of each academic year.  More information about the registration process can be found at:

https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/accessibility-services

Responsibility for Authorizing Arrangements

Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) determines accommodation and provides Letter of Accommodation to the Faculty of Law officer to be implemented.

Forms

Disability Documentation Form