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ROASS - POLICY 1200

http://www.umanitoba.ca/admin/governance/governing_documents/students/278.htm

The ROASS (Responsibilities of Academic Staff to Students) policy is important to students because it defines what to expect of your professors as well as what your rights are as a student in a course. Below are some of the important statements in the ROASS policy:

  • Professors must post and maintain reasonable office hours for student consultation.
  • All graded material must be evaluated fairly and without bias.
  • Professors must acknowledge when he/she has benefited from student work. Thus, a student's claim to his/her work is protected.
  • Professors must distribute course outlines that are subject to and meet a set of specific regulations.
  • In the event that a student makes a complaint against a professor, the professor cannot retaliate in any way. However, keep in mind that frivolous complaints will not be tolerated.
  • Professors must outline their policies on the use of calculators.

COURSE OUTLINES

The required content of any course outline is specified in the ROASS document. It should include at least the following:

  • A list of the topics to be covered in the course
  • The weighting of assignments, labs, quizzes, tests, exams, etc.
  • The instructor's policies on use of calculators, late assignments, plagiarism and collaboration
  • The instructor's office location, office hours, telephone number and email address
  • A list of the textbooks and materials required
  • A tentative schedule of assignments and tests

All course outlines must be distributed in writing during the first two weeks of the course.

Remember: the course outline is like a contract outlining the professor's intentions for the course. Any information it contains (i.e. value of a midterm, the number of assignments, etc.) cannot be changed without the unanimous vote of the class.

TRANSFERRING COURSES

Many high schools offer Advance Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. If a student has attained a minimum grade of 4 for AP, or 5 for IB courses, he or she may be eligible to have the course credited towards their Engineering degree.

Students transferring to the U of M from other universities may also be eligible to have some of their courses credited towards their degree. Important factors to consider in this case include:

  • Credit will only be granted for coursework completed at a recognized and accredited university or college.
  • Credit will only be granted if the course is the equivalent or near equivalent to a course offered by the U of M.
  • Credit transfers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

For more information please consult the Student Affairs section of the Dean's Office (E2-290 EITC).

DROPPING COURSES

During your time at U of M, you may feel the need to drop a course because of a poor grade, extremely intense course load, or other extenuating circumstances. Courses are generally dropped through Aurora Student system. The following are the three standard ways of dropping a course:

  • Course Revision - The first two weeks of classes in both regular session terms comprise the registration revision period. Courses dropped during this period are not considered withdrawals and will not be recorded on student histories and transcripts. This year's course revision deadlines are:
    • 1st term - September 23, 2009
    • 2nd term - January 19, 2010
  • Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) - A VW incurs no academic penalty, but it is recorded on official transcripts and student histories. Voluntary withdrawals are made after the end of the revision period but before the VW deadline. As of 2008-2009, there is no limit for VW credit hours. However, even with this rule change, students are advised to consider the implications of dropping a course before doing so. This year's VW deadlines are:
    • 1st term half courses - November 18, 2009
    • Full courses and 2nd term half courses - March 19, 2010
  • Authorized Voluntary Withdrawal (AW) - Authorized withdrawals are granted by the Dean for medical or compassionate reasons, and cannot be obtained through the registration system. Official documentation such as a doctor's note is required.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DROPPING A COURSE

  • Always consider the implications of dropping a course that is a prerequisite for other courses you will need to take in the future.
  • If you decide not to drop the course and end up receiving a D or F as a final grade, you will have to retake the course anyway (unless it is an elective). Also, engineering students are only allowed to repeat or replace 40 credit hours during their career in the Faculty. Therefore, receiving a D or F in more than 40 credit hours of courses could potentially prevent you from continuing in the Faculty.
  • When in doubt about whether to drop a course or not, talk to Kathryn Marcynuk, VSA.

EXAMS

Exams account for the majority of the grade in almost all Engineering courses. The following is brief guide to common issues involving exams.

Use of Calculators - The Faculty of Engineering's policy states that any calculator may be used during an exam provided that it cannot transmit or receive signals. You can easily make your infrared-transmitting (HP) calculator non-transmitting by placing a strip of opaque tape over the transmitter. The instructor must inform students of any deviations from the Faculty's policy during the first week of classes and it must be written in the ROASS document.

Exam Deferrals - Exams may be deferred for medical or compassionate reasons. The application to defer an exam must be filed with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering within seven working days of the examination period during which the exam was to be written. The application must be accompanied by a medical certificate or other documentation certifying the reason for deferring the exam.

Student Access to Final Examinations - Students shall have an opportunity to read their own final exams in the presence of the instructor. Access is permitted the day following the deadline for normal appeal or the day of resolutions of an ongoing appeal, whichever is later. Students planning a formal appeal are encouraged to talk to their professors and request to see their exam before making a formal appeal.

Special Examinations - If a student has met all requirements for their Engineering degree, but has failed a single course in their final session, they can apply for a special exam in that course.

EXAM WRITING TIPS

  • Check your exam schedule early, so you have time to visit Student Records and resolve any conflicts.
  • Allow at least a week of studying time for a midterm and two weeks per final.
  • Don't study right up to the last minute before an exam. Leave at least a half hour to let your mind cool down and regain focus.
  • Food and drink are allowed during exam periods.
  • Yes, you can go to the bathroom during an exam.
  • In courses with consistent professors, reviewing old exams is usually the most effective way to study.