Student Handbook

TMU policies

These policies are governed and set by the University Senate and apply to all undergraduate students. 

Departmental Undergraduate Course Policies

Group Work 

Group work for which a student does not receive an individual assessment must not constitute more than 30% of a course grade. The total percentage of a course grade allowed for group work may exceed 30% if individual assessments are included. 

Students must report difficulty with a working group to the course instructor within one week of submitting group work for assessment. Students are encouraged to report difficulties as soon as possible to facilitate intervention at the discretion of the instructor.     

Attendance & Participation 

The Department permits attendance and/or participation as a basis for grades. The percentage of the final grade based on participation and/or attendance must be communicated clearly in the course outline. 

Typically, no more than 10% of the final grade is based on participation, and expectations and criteria for assessment must be communicated in writing prior to activities where participation is assessed. Likewise, no more than 10% of the final grade is normally based on attendance. Criteria and methods of assessing attendance will be communicated in writing prior to any activity where participation is graded. 

The percentage of the final grade based on attendance and/or participation may be higher in courses with safety considerations or group activities, such as field studies or project/consulting courses. Graded participation and/or attendance is subject to academic accommodation (Policy 159) and academic consideration Policy 167) processes.     

Use of Technology in the Classroom 

The use of cell phones, laptops or other personal electronic devices is permitted for course activities and note-taking only. Classroom presentations, including lecture, lab or other instructional materials are the intellectual property of the instructor.

Audio transcription, photographs, and any form of audio and video recording of lectures or other course activities is prohibited without explicit consent from the course instructor. Students must obtain written permission from the course instructor to redistribute classroom recordings in any way, including posting to internet or social media sites. 

Instructors will announce when classrooms are being recorded so that other students are aware of the recording.

Recording classrooms or instructors or redistributing classroom recordings without written permission from the instructor is a violation of Policy 60: Academic Integrity.

Submission & Return of Work 

All coursework must be submitted in D2L unless otherwise noted by the course instructor, or as specified by the course instructor in extenuating circumstances. 

Course instructors are required to ensure the confidential return of students’ graded work as permitted by its format and media. Upon request by the student, instructors will make alternative arrangements to return work during scheduled consultation hours or outside class. 

Unclaimed assignments and term tests are retained by the course instructor until the end of the term’s examination period, and final exams (and in some cases final paper or project submissions) are retained by the course instructor or Department for a period of one year after the end of term. Unclaimed assignments and tests are disposed of in secure bins and shredded by TMU Facilities and Management following the noted retention periods.     

Late Submissions 

Grade penalties for late submission of coursework is typically 10% and maximum 20% per day (including weekends) applied to the grade component or assessed coursework at the discretion of course instructors. Maximum late penalties must be clearly communicated in the course outline. Assessment of late penalties and extension of submission deadlines is at the discretion of the instructor but must be clearly communicated prior to the assigned deadline and applied consistently for all students. 

Instructors have the right to stipulate final deadlines for acceptance of assignments and are expected to notify students of these in advance. Instructors may also elect not to accept late assignments without documented accommodations. If this is the case, this should be clearly communicated prior to the assigned deadline.

No assignment of any course value will be accepted by any instructor after 5:00 p.m. on the final day of examinations for the semester in which the course ends, except in cases where an Incomplete (INC) grade has been assigned or alternative arrangements are agreed upon by the instructor.

Communication with Program and Instructors 

Students are responsible for monitoring their email accounts for communication from their respective Undergraduate Program Administrators/Directors in accordance with the Policy on TMU Student E-mail Accounts (Policy 157). Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) requires that any electronic communication by students to TMU faculty/contract lecturers or staff be sent from their official university email account. 

Field Studies Code of Conduct and Student Responsibilities

Activity Leaders take every reasonable safety precaution and are responsible for assessing and managing potential risks associated with field studies. In addition to specific responsibilities listed below, it is the obligation of student participants to behave in a responsible manner in order to ensure the safety of themselves and others.  

1. Students must follow instructions provided by the Activity Leader in pre-departure meetings, class, course outlines or documents, including but not limited to aspects of assessments tied to field study activities and field study health and safety requirements. 
2. The Code of Non-Academic Conduct (Policy 61) provides a non-exhaustive list of the rights, expectations, and responsibilities related to student conduct during field study activities. The Code provides a Complaint resolution process and identifies sanctions that may be assigned which are proportionate to conduct that does not meet community standards; conduct that jeopardizes the proper and orderly functioning of academic and non-academic programs, activities, or operations of the University; conduct that endangers the health, safety, rights, or property of the members of its community, or conduct that adversely affects the property of the University or entities related to the University.
3. Consumption of alcohol or drugs is strongly discouraged during academic hours or field study activities as defined by the Activity Leader. Anyone who is not able to fully participate in activities related to field studies due to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption or use of other drugs may be refused permission to participate in that day(s) activities. They will also be reported to the Department Chair who may impose additional disciplinary measures. 
4. Anyone who intentionally causes damage to non-University property will be held fully responsible for the cost of repairing damage, or payment of fines imposed by authorities.
5. For activities assessed as having a medium, high or extreme level of risk, students must according to the TMU Field Safety Program:
   1. Participate in the development of a Field Study Activity Plan
   2. Review and understand the rights and responsibilities of each stakeholder according to the Field Study Activity Plan
   3. Use all recommended safety equipment and comply with all safety instructions
6. For international field study activities, in addition to responsibilities noted in section 5, students are required to:
   1. Complete the International Activity Risk Management (IARM) training and registration with TMU Global
   2. Submit confirmation of IARM training and registration with the Activity Leader prior to departure 
   3. If applicable, review and comply with International Risk Management Plans for all university-sanctioned international group travel to destinations with a Level 3 (“avoid non-essential travel”) or Level 4 (“avoid all travel”) Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Travel Advisory
7. Students are strongly encouraged to inform their Activity Leader in confidence of: 
   1. Any critical medical condition (e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, severe allergy, etc.)
   2. Medication requirements that may affect their health during the trip  (e.g. Insulin, EpiPen adrenalin injector, etc.)
   3. Any essential information that will be useful to an attending doctor in case of emergency.

Failure to adhere to any of these responsibilities may result in your removal from the trip and loss of course credit. All students have the right to refuse unsafe work, and should be familiar with the procedures required to do so.