What Undergraduate Students Need To Know To Wrap Up Their Courses

As the end of the fall 2022 term approaches, the strike by CUPE 3906, Unit 1, which represents Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants, in lieu, is continuing. While we are hopeful that a deal to end the strike will be reached soon, the university has a responsibility to students and contingency plans are in place that will see exams continue and the term completed.

Below is important information you need to know to make informed decisions.

Rights and Responsibilities

As an undergraduate student, you have specific rights and responsibilities during a work stoppage. These are recorded in a university policy that has been approved by McMaster’s Senate.

The policy says students have the right to be kept informed in a timely manner of any changes to their courses, whether it’s to assignments or scheduling. If further changes are required, your instructor will communicate this with you via Avenue to Learn or through other means used by your class. If the strike ends prior to the end of term, these changes will not be reversed.

Please note that not all courses will see changes. If you are uncertain if changes were made, please contact your instructor or alternatively, your chair, director, assistant dean, or program lead.

The policy also notes the available Student Appeal Procedures. While every effort is being made to provide the highest quality of education possible at this time, students can appeal their grade if they consider that the strike has unreasonably affected their grade.

Missed Work Or Academic Activity

If you are concerned about missed work, assignments, or activities as a result of the strike, there are options available to you.

• You may complete a request for relief through the MSAF self-reporting tool,
• You may go to your Associate Dean’s office to complete an administrative MSAF process, or
• You may instead need to use a form for the Request for Relief of Missed Work during a Work Stoppage that is available by contacting your Faculty or program advising office. This form is most appropriate for extended absences during the full length of the strike.

While students who receive relief for work, assignments or academic activities due to the strike will not be penalized academically, they remain responsible for meeting academic course requirements.

Course Withdrawal procedures

There are changes to the deadline for students to withdraw from their course as a result of the strike.

The new deadline for withdrawing from a course without failure by default has been extended to Thursday, December 8, which is the last day of classes. Please use the Request for Course Withdrawal due to Work Stoppage form available through your Associate Dean or Program Office to make these requests. All conditions for the application of a Course Withdrawal apply including that the request cannot be made in courses for which the final exam (or equivalent) has been attempted or completed. This also includes courses where a final grade has already been assigned (e.g. clinical courses).

This deadline was extended from the original deadline of November 11 as a result of the strike. Please note that late withdrawal forms approved between November 11 and December 8 will be updated to align with this change. Your grade will be changed from LWD (late withdrawal) to W (withdrawal), backdated to November 11 and you will receive a refund according to the Undergraduate Course Cancellation Tuition Fee Adjustment Schedule.

Please always seek advising through your Associate Dean or Program Office if you are unsure about what to do.