Missing Academic Obligations

During your undergraduate degree, there may be circumstances that impact your ability to meet your academic obligations. The information below will help you navigate who to inform and what steps to take if you are unable to complete course work due to illness or injury.

Missing In-Term Work: Absence Due to Illness or Injury

The following steps apply for missing in-term work. If you will be missing a mid-term, final exam or final assessment, visit the BKin Exams page for next steps.

Step 1: Create an Official Record of Your Absence

Expand the menus below to learn more about when and how you use these options to create an official record of your absence.

ACORN Absence Declaration Tool

If you are or will be temporarily absent from your studies and need academic consideration for a missed academic obligation during an academic term, you can formally declare your absence in ACORN using the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool.

Can be Used for:

The tool can be used for missed In-term academic obligations such as:

  • Lab
  • Test
  • Mid-term
  • Assignment
  • Quiz
  • Group Work
  • Presentation

Cannot be Used for:

  • Final exams
  • Final assessments

Why:

The ACORN Absence Declaration Tool is intended to be used for the following circumstances: 

  • A health condition or injury (e.g., illness, physical injury, mental health issue, scheduled surgery)
  • A personal or family emergency (e.g., an unanticipated and unavoidable familial incident beyond your control)
  • Bereavement (e.g., the death of a student’s immediate family member or close friend)

When:

  • Only once per academic term (e.g. the fall term)
    •  Students taking any Y-courses may declare one absence in the F-term and one absence in the S-term.
  • Maximum seven (7) consecutive calendar days
    • The seven-day declaration period can be retroactive for up to six (6) days in the past, or proactive, up to six (6) days in the future.

How: 

Login to ACORN and click the Profile & Settings tab. Next, click on the ‘Display and update absence declarations’ link.

Get step-by-step instructions for the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool
 

Verification of Illness or Injury Form (VOI)

A Verification of Illness or Injury Form (also known as a “doctor’s note”) is required for a missed academic obligation due to medical related grounds. Other medical/doctor’s notes will not be accepted.

Can be Used for:

The form can be used for missed academic obligations such as:

  • Final exam
  • Final assessment
  • Mid-term
  • Lab
  • Test
  • Assignment
  • Quiz
  • Group Work
  • Presentation

Why:

The Verification of Illness or Injury Form (VOI) is intended to be used as supporting documentation if requesting academic considerations for missed academic obligations. Other medical/doctor’s notes will not be accepted.

When:

  • You are submitting a petition for medical related circumstances 
  • You are able to get a VOI completed by a practitioner (see list of eligible practitioners) and you prefer to save the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool option in case you need it later in the academic term
  • You have already used the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool this academic term
  • You will miss more than 7 consecutive calendar days of academic obligations due to illness or injury

How: 

On the Verification of Illness or Injury page, you will find a link to download the form. Do not fill out the form using your web browser; be sure to download and save on your computer.

Review frequently asked questions about the VOI process
 

Step 2: Inform Your Professor

Submitting an absence declaration through ACORN or a Verification of Illness or Injury Form (VOI) does not start the process of academic consideration on its own. It is the student’s responsibility to let their course instructor(s) know that they have used the absence declaration or submitted a VOI so that they can arrange for academic consideration specific to the missed academic obligation (e.g., deadline, group work, lab).

Step 3: Submit a Petition, If Required

Professors have the authority to grant extensions of term work to no later than the last date of the examination period. Students requiring extensions beyond that date must petition. Professors may require students to formally petition for term work extensions at their discretion. 

If you will be missing in-term work for all courses and/or for an extended amount of time (more than a week), you must submit a petition.

It is then your responsibility to arrange for academic consideration by submitting a petition form by emailing the petitions office in a timely manner.

Absence Due to Other Circumstances

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education Office of the Registrar & Student Services is your first stop for support. If you are unsure of any of the information below, do not hesitate to email the undergraduate studies office for guidance

Reseason for Absence

Religious, Indigenous or Spiritual Observances

Step 1: Inform your Professor(s)

Alert your professor or course instructor regarding the University sponsored event that might impact your ability to meet in-term academic obligations during the term. 

Step 2: Submit a Petition, If Required

Submit a petition for the following reasons:

  • If you will be missing term work for all courses or for an extended amount of time (more than a week)
  • Professor has requested you to 
  • If you will be missing a mid-term

It is then your responsibility to arrange for academic consideration by submitting a petition form by emailing the KPE Petitions team in a timely manner.

Step 3: Inform the KPE Office of the Registrar & Student Services, If Required 

If you will be missing a final exam or final assessment due to a religious observance, visit BKin Exams under “Final Exam Conflicts” for next steps. Learn more about Accommodations for Religious Observances.

Athletic Obligations

Step 1: Identify the Academic Conflict

Review the “Academic Conflict Policy” on the Student-Athlete Services page to identify which situation and next steps apply to you. 

Step 2: Request an Academic Conflict Letter

Review the “Academic Conflict Letter” on the Student-Athlete Services page for how far in advance and steps to request an academic conflict letter.

Step 3: Inform the KPE Office of the Registrar & Student Services, If Required

If you are missing a mid-term, final exam or final assessment, visit the BKin Exams page for next steps.
 

Chronic and Ongoing Health Conditions

Step 1: Identify Your Situation

Review the FAQ titled "I have a disability/long term illness that affects my academics. Do I need this form?" on the Verification of Illness or Injury website to identify the next steps that apply to you.

Step 2: Follow the Steps Relevant to You

Review the FAQ titled "I have a disability/long term illness that affects my academics. Do I need this form?" on the Verification of Illness or Injury website to identify the next steps that apply to you.

Step 3: Meet with an Academic Advisor

The KPE Academic Advising team can help you navigate meeting your academic obligations. Book an Academic Advising Appointment online.

Attendance at a University-sponsored event (e.g. field trip, awards ceremony)

Step 1: Inform Your Professor(s): 

Alert your professor or course instructor regarding the University sponsored event that might impact your ability to meet in-term academic obligations during the term. 

Step 2: Submit a Petition, If Required

Submit a petition for the following reasons:

  • If you will be missing term work for all courses or for an extended amount of time (more than a week)
  • Professor has requested you to 

It is then your responsibility to arrange for academic consideration by submitting a petition form and emailing KPE Petitions in a timely manner.

Step 3: Inform the KPE Office of the Registrar & Student Services, If Required

If you are missing a mid-term, final exam or final assessment, visit the BKin Exams page for next steps.

Mandatory Legal Obligations (e.g. jury duty)

Step 1: Inform Your Professors 

Alert your professor or course instructor regarding the University sponsored event that might impact your ability to meet in-term academic obligations during the term. 

Step 2: Submit a Petition, If Required

Submit a petition for the following reasons:

  • If you will be missing term work for all courses or for an extended amount of time (more than a week)
  • Professor has requested you to 

It is then your responsibility to arrange for academic consideration by submitting a petition form and emailing KPE Petitions in a timely manner.

Step 3: Inform the KPE Office of the Registrar & Student Services, If Required

If you are missing a mid-term, final exam or final assessment, visit the BKin Exams page for next steps.

Personal Issues Getting in the Way of Meeting Your Academic Obligations

STEP 1: MEET WITH AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR

The KPE Academic Advising team can help you navigate meeting your academic obligations.
Book an Academic Advising Appointment online