Please refer tot he Policies and Regulations section of the Undergraduate Calendar for further information about deferred standing, academic petitions and appeal guidelines.

Deferred Standing

Deferred standing is a process by which students who are either unable to write their final examination at the scheduled time or submit term work before the Faculty deadline to submit final grades reach an agreement with the course director about granting deferred standing in the course and setting a date for writing the exam or submitting the outstanding work.

Using the standard Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form, it is the responsibility of students to make arrangements and reach an agreement directly with the course director for an alternative final examination date or for an extension to the deadline to complete the course and file the form with the appropriate school/department office. Course directors have the option not to consider requests for deferred standing; in such cases students must file an academic petition with the relevant Faculty Petition Committee for consideration with the established deadlines.

Aegrotat Standing

In cases where a student cannot be expected to complete the work for a course, the phrase “aegrotat standing” (from the Latin for “she/he is ill”) is substituted for a grade on the transcript. Aegrotat standing is seldom granted, and only in exceptional circumstances where deferred standing or late withdrawal from the course is inappropriate.

Academic Petitions

The purpose of academic regulations is to allow students to develop their interests and talents to the fullest in ways consistent with the philosophy and standards of the Faculty. In establishing academic regulations, the Faculty also recognizes that instances will arise where it makes sense, in the context of a student's academic career, to waive regulations which would otherwise apply. The purpose of a student academic petition is to request an exemption from a Faculty regulation or deadline. Being unfamiliar of regulations or deadlines does not constitute a valid reason for an academic petition.

Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the University guidelines and principles regarding academic petitions before taking any steps which may have repercussions or affect their academic progress.

Students' Responsibilities in the Academic Petition/Appeals Process

The University has established regulations, procedures and deadlines through its legislative bodies to which students must adhere. Students are expected to monitor their progress in courses, taking into account their personal and academic circumstances, and to make the necessary adjustments to their workload to meet the requirements and deadlines. The University recognizes, however, that specific circumstances may justify waiving the regulations/requirements/deadlines on an individual basis. Request for a waiver of a regulation/requirement/deadline are initiated by an academic petition.

Students opting to initiate an academic petition should be assured that confidentiality is a hallmark of this process.

While it is the University's responsibility to provide students with proper information, guidance and advice, it is incumbent upon students to:

• be aware of and adhere to all Faculty and program regulations, requirements and published deadlines;
• familiarize themselves with their Faculty's written academic petition/appeal procedures and make requests in a timely fashion;
• provide all documentation to support their academic petition/appeal and to do so in a timely fashion;
• indicate and document all their relevant circumstances upon submitting their academic peition in the first instance.

Please refer to the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Faculty Council Web site under Students for further petition/appeal information and forms at http://www.yorku.ca/laps/council/students/petitions.html.

Petition Appeal

An appeal is a written request for the alteration of the decision taken on a petition generally made to the same level but to another person, panel or committee. Appeals against decisions of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Committee on Student Academic Petitions will be permitted only on the grounds of:

a) new evidence, or

b) evidence of procedural irregularity in the committee's consideration of the case.