FAQ for Faculty & Staff

The Ombudsperson offers confidential guidance and support on any University-related issue to all Lakehead faculty and staff. Below are some of the most common concerns which staff and faculty experience. Remember: when in doubt, contact the Ombudsperson!

Employee Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct - Academic Integrity

Student Code of Conduct - Non-Academic

Student Code of Conduct - Appeal Policy

Academic Appeals Process

Providing Timely Feedback on Academic Work

Tests and Assignments in the Last Week of Classes

Course Evaluation Policy              

Final Examinations

Rescheduling of Academic Activities

Medical Certificates

Employee Code of Conduct

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/human-resources/employee-code-of-conduct

 

Student Code of Conduct - Academic Integrity 

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/106/Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20-%20Academic%20Integrity.pdf

 

Student Code of Conduct - Non-Academic

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/106/Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20-%20Non-Academic.pdf

 

Student Code of Conduct - Appeal Policy

 https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/106/Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20-%20Appeal%20Policy.pdf

 

Academic Appeals Process

The appeal process must be started by the student within 15 working days of the release of the final mark by Enrolment Services. Please advise students who are considering to appeal a final mark or or other academic decision that these steps should be followed, and encourage them to read the policy:

Step 1: The student should first discuss the final course mark or other academic decision informally with the course evaluator or decision maker.

Step 2: If the matter is not resolved at Step 1, the student may appeal the final mark or academic decision by submitting appeal documents [either Form A or B] to the faculty dean after paying appeal fee at Accounts office.

Step 3: If the matter is not resolved at Step 2, the student may apply for a hearing of the Senate Academic Appeals Committee (SAAC).

See the Reappraisal and Academic Appeals policy:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/regulations/reappraisal-and-academic-appeals

 

Providing Timely Feedback on Academic Work

Lakehead University recognizes that it is important to provide timely and constructive feedback on all academic work. For all courses, at least 25% (for one term courses) and 30% (for two term courses) of the final grade shall be provided to students prior to the last day to withdraw without academic penalty for the course. Exceptions to the graded feedback include theses, dissertations, pass/fail courses, directed reading courses, seminar courses, independent research study courses, and performance courses. All other exceptions must be approved by the Dean. Exceptions granted should be included on the course outline. The spirit of this regulation should be applied to courses of fewer than 12 weeks.

See Regulation XII on Timely Feedback:

http://navigator.lakeheadu.ca/Catalog/ViewCatalog.aspx?pageid=viewcatalog&catalogid=19&chapterid=3080&topicgroupid=9457&loaduseredits=True

 

Tests and Assignments in the Last Week of Classes

In all courses instructors must not give any form of test other than laboratory and drafting tests in the last five days of classes in each term.

In all courses instructors must not give any form of test or assignment during the study period from the end of classes to the beginning of the formal examination period in each term as specified in the academic schedule published in the Calendar.

All exceptions must be approved by the Dean and included in the course outline.

See the regulation:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/regulations/test-or-assignments-in-last-week-of-classes

 

Course Outline (Syllabus) Policy

At the commencement of each course, a faculty member shall prepare and make available to the students information either in hard copy or electronic form concerning course requirements, assignments, evaluation procedures, components and percentage weighting of the final mark, penalties for late filing of assignments, office hours for academic counselling and any other relevant material, and shall file a copy of this written information with his/her immediate supervisor. Any change to this written information must be provided in either hard copy or electronic form to the students and copied to the immediate supervisor in a timely manner. The LUFA Collective Agreement, article 16.02.07, affirms the above.

See the Course Outline Guide:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/64/forms_docs/LUCourseOutlineGuide.pdf

Useful syllabus rubric for instructors:

https://teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/UDL%20Syllabus%20Rubric_UPDATED_2-9-2012.pdf

 

Students' Right to View Final Examinations

Course instructors shall provide, at the student's request, the opportunity for the student to view, in the presence of the instructor or designate, his/her final examination up to a period of one year following the date of the examination.

See the regulation:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/regulations/students-right-to-view-final-examinations/node/1002

 

Rescheduling Academic Activities

As per article 16.02.08 of the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities, faculty member shall notify students and his/her immediate supervisor as far in advance as is practicable of the rescheduling of any instructional activity. Rescheduling shall occur only in exceptional circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the faculty member or when prior approval has been obtained from the immediate supervisor and prior arrangements have been made with the students. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/34/OFH-PDFs/Faculty%20Rights%20and%20Responsibilities.pdf

 

Medical Certificates

A Medical Certificate may be issued if a current illness or injury results in a significant disruption of academic or practical work, or the student has seen the physician at the time of illness or injury.

A Medical Certificate will not be issued if the student has a minor illness or injury that disrupts academic activities, including:

  • Missed labs and classes
  • Death or serious illness in the family - documentation from a funeral home or hospital is sufficient
  • Past illnesses - without some form of documentation from the time of illness a medical certificate will not be issue
  • Obvious injury (eg. a broken bone in a cast, an eye patched)
  • To document a stressful time in the past
  • Long-term sleep/wake problems related to lifestyle

See the University Regulations, specifically part IV Examinations for the section Missed Examinations due to Illness or Other Extenuating Circumstances:

http://csdc.lakeheadu.ca/Catalog/ViewCatalog.aspx?pageid=viewcatalog&catalogid=25&chapterid=7015&loaduseredits=True