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Course Delivery & Remote Access
Participating in courses designed for in-person delivery can be challenging when disability-related barriers affect your ability to be on campus. Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) works with students to explore appropriate accommodation options within the design of each course.
This page explains how course delivery, essential academic requirements, and accommodation processes are considered. It is intended to help students understand how requests are reviewed, what factors may influence accommodation feasibility, and what options may be available.
On This Page
Course Delivery Modes
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) offers courses in several approved modes of course delivery including in-person, blended, online synchronous, and online asynchronous.
The approved mode of delivery forms part of the academic design of the course.
The mode listed in the course schedule reflects how the course is designed to operate, and students are expected to participate accordingly.
Most programs at TMU have been approved for in-person delivery as the normative mode of instruction, with only a few exceptions for blended or online courses. Students should be aware that some courses offered online may still include in-person midterms and/or final exams, as outlined in the course syllabus.
Learning Outcomes and Course Design
Courses and programs at TMU are intentionally designed by academic departments around clearly defined learning outcomes. These outcomes describe the knowledge, skills, and competencies students are expected to demonstrate through course participation and assessment.
Learning outcomes help establish shared expectations for students and instructors, and guide decisions about course structure, learning activities, and modes of delivery.
In developing courses and programs, academic departments consider how these outcomes will be achieved and assessed, including the types of learning experiences required. These decisions are informed by institutional curriculum standards and the Ontario Quality Framework (external link) (OQF).
As a result, course structure and delivery methods are intentionally selected to support the meaningful achievement and assessment of these learning outcomes.
Essential Academic Requirements
Essential academic requirements are established by academic departments or programs as part of course and curriculum design.
Academic requirements are mandatory components of a course or program of study.
Depending on the course, these may include lecture and lab attendance and participation, tests, assignments, and final examinations (Policy 167). Some academic requirements may involve in-person participation due to the nature of the learning activity, including but not limited to:
- Experiential learning, and placements
- Direct interaction with materials, equipment, or environments (e.g., labs, studios)
- Performances, demonstrations, or presentations
- Tests or exams designed to be written in person
- Other academic requirements defined by the department or program
These requirements may be difficult or not feasible to deliver remotely due to course design, learning objectives, accreditation or regulatory standards, academic integrity considerations, or other institutional factors. Together, they form the established course framework within which accommodations are considered.
Academic Accommodations
Academic accommodations support students with disabilities within the approved course delivery mode. They are not modifications and cannot alter academic requirements or change the course delivery mode.
Accommodations may involve variations in how students receive course materials, participate in learning activities, or demonstrate learning (Policy 159). They do not remove the obligation to meet mandatory academic requirements, including those delivered in person. Academic accommodations in post-secondary education are intended to be reasonable.
They do not guarantee a specific form of accommodation and may not always align with a student’s preference.
When disability-related functional limitations affect academic participation, students are encouraged to connect with AAS to explore appropriate options. Accommodation requests are informed by medical documentation describing relevant functional limitations as well as the academic context and design of the course. Documentation helps identify the impacts of a disability, but does not determine or guarantee a specific accommodation.
Attendance and course participation
Students are expected to review course requirements and the approved mode of delivery before enrolling in courses.
Where a course includes in-person components, those components are normally completed in person.
If, after reviewing this information, you anticipate difficulty attending in-person classes for an extended period of time, there may be several options to consider.
Prioritize Your Health
If you anticipate missing a significant portion of the semester, it may be appropriate to consider whether this is the right time to register for courses. A medical leave of absence or short-term withdrawal may be appropriate in some circumstances.
Explore Alternative Courses
Meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your course load and delivery mode. Where possible, students are encouraged to prioritize courses that are approved for online delivery.
Options may include enrolling in online sections of your courses (where available), selecting online electives, or taking eligible courses at other universities that could count towards your degree.
Remote Access
In some situations, students may inquire about remote participation. Requests are reviewed on an individualized basis, and may involve consultation with instructors and/or academic departments to determine feasibility.
If remote access to in-person course content is considered, it has practical limitations and does not fully replicate the in-person learning environment.
In particular:
- Remote access does not change the approved mode of delivery or convert an in-person program into an online or distance format.
- It may be considered for defined periods rather than ongoing participation throughout a semester or program.
- It may apply only to specific aspects of a course (such as lecture notes or audio recordings) and may not be possible for all course activities.
- Advance planning is required, generally at least one semester in advance.
Questions
Students who have questions about an accommodation decision are encouraged to connect with AAS to discuss the outcome and any next steps that may be available.
Confidential advice or support is also available through the University’s Human Rights Services or the Ombuds Office.
- Modes of Course Delivery - 2026-2027 TMU Calendar
- Experiential Learning - 2026-2027 TMU Calendar
- Exams for Online Courses - The Chang School of Continuing Education
- Program Learning Outcomes & Program Objectives - TMU Curriculum Quality
- Policy 159: Academic Accommodation of Students With Disabilities
- Policy 167: Academic Consideration
- Policy 169: Experiential Learning
- Appropriate accommodation - Ontario Human Rights Commission (external link)
- Policy on accessible education for students with disabilities - Ontario Human Rights Commission (external link)
- Program Objectives and Program-level Learning Outcomes - Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (external link)