Policies and Procedures

Open Learning and Educational Support (OpenEd) reserves the right to change or cancel a course at any time.  When it is necessary to cancel or postpone a course, we will make every effort to notify all participants.  It is important that you provide your home and business telephone numbers and email address when registering.  In such cases, the paid course fee(s) will be refunded.

OpenEd's liability is limited to the reimbursement of paid course fee(s) and will not be responsible for travel or other related expenses incurred by the registrant.

Academic integrity is a code of ethics for teachers, students, researchers and writers. Trust in the integrity of scholarly work is the foundation of academic life and the value of our University's degrees, diplomas and certificates.

For more information about academic integrity, see the University of Guelph Academic Integrity Tutorial.

For information on academic misconduct, see the Academic Misconduct section of the University of Guelph Undergraduate Calendar.

The University of Guelph will consider granting academic consideration for courses if there are sufficient extenuating medical, psychological or compassionate reasons. Academic consideration may take the form of an extended deadline, a deferred assessment, a late drop of a course with or without academic failure, withdrawal from a semester with or without academic failure, or permission to continue on probationary status. A deferred assessment could take the form of approval to complete a course requirement after the end of the semester.

If you require academic consideration before the final class day of a semester, please contact the course instructor by email, if possible, prior to the date that the work is due.

Instructors cannot grant deferred assessments. They can only grant academic consideration for work that is due during the semester and cannot grant extensions beyond their deadline for submission of final grades.

If you require academic consideration beyond the end of the semester, please contact the Academic Assistant to the Executive Director immediately for guidance regarding next steps. You will be asked to submit the following:

• A personal letter or email stating your request and outlining the medical, psychological or compassionate grounds for your request
• Documentation supporting your request
• A completed Request for Academic Consideration form (this will be emailed to you once you have requested additional information).

Academic consideration requests are reviewed by OpenEd's Academic Review Sub-Committee. Once a decision has been made, you will be sent a letter notifying you of the outcome and next steps.

Students must normally complete a deferred condition by the due date provided in the decision letter. An extension beyond this due date will be granted only in extreme circumstances—with provision of additional documentation—and must be completed within the same semester the original deferred condition was missed.

The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment.  Providing services for students is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and administrators.  This relationship is based on respect of individual rights, the dignity of the individual, and the University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning environment. 

If you are a continuing education student who requires special service or accommodation, whether due to an identified ongoing or short-term disability, please contact the Academic Assistant to the Executive Director before the end of the first week of your course (every semester) in order to avoid any delays in support.  Documentation from a health professional is required for all academic accommodations.  Please note that all information provided will be held in confidence.

If you require course materials produced in an alternate format (e.g., DAISY, Braille, large print or eText), please contact the Academic Assistant to the Executive Director at least two months prior to the course start date. If contact is not made within the suggested time frame, support may be delayed. It is recommended that you refer to the course outline before beginning your course in order to determine the required readings.