Know Your Rights

As a student at McGill, you should Know Your Rights! This refers to a campaign started by the SSMU, educating students on how to traverse what you deserve academically, as outlined by McGill. Sometimes profs may violate one of your rights without knowing, and unfortunately McGill places the onus on the students to address violations; make sure to inform yourself!

Assessments

According to the University Student Assessment Policy:

• "Assessment" entails any student activity in a Course for which a grade is granted (2.1.1)
• Evaluations should be fair, reasonable & reflect the content of a Course (3.1.1)

Grade Breakdowns

• There should be more than one Assessment for each Course* (3.1.4)

• Exceptions include clinical evaluations in the Faculty of Medicine and requirements for grandfathered sessional lecturers in the Faculty of Law.

• If a participation grade will be worth more than 10%, a clear rubric must be provided outlining evaluation criteria (3.1.6)
• Final exams should not be worth more than 75% of the grade, unless the student is given a legitimate choice (6.1.3)

Scheduling

Students registering for courses during the Add/Drop period shall not be penalized for missed assessments which were due during the course change period, including for class attendance. For full-year courses, only the September Add/Drop period applies.

Labs, tutorials, conferences, and other assessments scheduled outside of lecture time should be scheduled by the end of the Add-Drop period (3.2.4).

Typically, midterms or assessments worth more than 10% held outside of regular class time should not be scheduled during the last 14 calendar days of a course.

This does not include:

• Regular Assessments worth less than 10% of your grade (e.g. quizzes, reading responses)
• An oral examination in a language class
• Most paper assignments (7.1.2)

Midterm Conflicts

Midterms are defined by McGill as “In-Term Examinations,” or exams scheduled outside of the Official Examination Periods in December and April, but also outside of regular course hours. Under McGill policy, exams held during regularly scheduled class time do not technically count as “Midterms” (University Student Assessment Policy, Article 7.1).

As a result, “Midterm conflicts” exist when two in-term Examinations are scheduled at the same time outside of class, or an in-term Examination is scheduled outside of class at the same time as a different class. In these circumstances, students are permitted to write a Deferred Examination(s). However, the instructors of each class should consult in order to mutually determine who shall offer the make-up examination. If a mutual decision is not possible, the regulations on exam conflicts from the student’s home Faculty will apply (Article 7.1.5).

Reviewing Grades

Every student has the right to be informed upon request of their standing or performance in the Course while it is being taught (Charter of Student Rights).

Every student has a right to consult any written Assessment for which they have received a mark, and to receive an explanation of their grade from the instructor (University Student Assessment Policy, 3.6.1). Final grades for Fall term courses should be posted by the day before Winter term lectures begin, while grades for Winter term courses should be posted within two weeks of the exam date.

In addition, students have a right to an impartial and competent reread of any written Assessment and, where warranted, a revision of the grade received (3.7.1). Both guarantees are subject to “reasonable” administrative arrangements and time-frame. The administrative process for most reassessments is regulated at the Faculty level.

Course Syllabi

Changes

Contrary to popular belief, there are no regulations regarding changes to course syllabi at McGill. In fact, the University retains the power to change evaluation schemes in the event of any “extraordinary circumstances” outside of their control.

Content

Course outlines must include:

• access information for the instructor (office hours, location & phone number)
• topics to be addressed in the course
• required texts, recommended texts & any additional materials
• number, nature and forms of assessment
• weighting of each assessment
• any course pre-requisites
• the University’s academic integrity policy
• the right to submit written work in English or French
• penalties for late submitted assignment

Distribution

Instructors are required to distribute a course syllabus during the first week of class

Relevant Policies

Charter of Students' Rights

Outlines the protections that you are guaranteed as a student of the University, such as:

• Rights around assessment and learning environments
• Grievances and access to personal information

Policy Concerning the Rights of Students with Disabilities

Lays out the procedures for accommodating students with disabilities, such as:

• Application
• Admission
• Financial aid
• Support services
• Academic modifications
• Barrier-free learning environments

Contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for more information

Policy for the Accommodation of Religious Holy Days

The University’s policy on accommodating students who are unable to meet certain academic obligations due to religious observances

Regulation on Conflict of Interest

• Identifies potential conflicts of interest and how to address them in the University setting
• Conflicts may exist whenever a member of the University community is in a position to influence activities in ways that could lead to personal gain or an improper advantage for themselves or others
• May be referenced in the context of inappropriate relationships/abuses of power between professors and students

Code of Student Grievance Procedures

• Outlines the procedures for filing a formal grievance with the University
• Students wishing to file a grievance should consult Student Advocacy at the Legal Information Clinic at McGill

Policy on the Ombudsperson for Students

• The Office of the Ombudsperson offers confidential and informal dispute resolution services
• Can be accessed for issues around academic rights, supervision, interpersonal conflicts, and more
• They cannot initiate formal grievance procedures or take action against the university

University Student Assessment Policy Article 3.1.5

University Student Assessment Policy: Article 3.2.3

University Student Assessment Policy: Article 3.2.1