The Conestoga Student Guide is your first source for information concerning academic regulations, policies and procedures. The Conestoga Student Guide is available on the college website and by visiting the “Student Guide” tab in your Student Portal.
Achievement
In addition to the Academic Regulations found in the Conestoga Student Guide, the following apply to the Paralegal Program:
• Your Student Guide provides detailed information about dropping courses. If you are planning to drop a course, you must do so within the time period. If you have missed that time period, please see the Program Coordinator to find out about your options. Not attending a course does not constitute an official dropping of a course and will result in a grade of “F”.
• If you have completed courses from a college or university that you think may be very similar in content to courses in the Paralegal program you may be eligible for a course exemption. Please note that to receive an exemption, courses must have been completed within the past 7 years and with a mark of at least 60%.). The course content must match 80% of the Paralegal course
content. If you would like to proceed with a request for exemptions, please contact your Program Coordinator for guidance. Exemptions will not be processed until a student starts the course. The exemption process will take some time (2-3 weeks), and students should attend all scheduled courses until they receive the exemption as they will be responsible for all material covered in class should the exemption be denied.
Course Add/Drop
You can add, change and drop courses from your portal depending on the dates and which program you are in:
1. Log in to the Student Portal
2. Click on the “My Courses” tab
3. Scroll over the icons to the right of individual course listings. It is strongly recommended that students consult their program coordinator/academic advisor prior to dropping a course.
Academic Probation
Students who have been unsuccessful in their field experience, have demonstrated a significant lack of professional deportment, have failed two or more academic courses, and/or have required considerable testing/assignment variances may be recommended for Academic Probation. Academic probation allows students to be promoted to the next level with a special timetable or with academic conditions. Special timetables and academic conditions are designed as part of written learning contract that the student and program coordinator create together. The goal of these measures is to allow students to continue in the program accompanied by a supportive plan for success.
Paralegal Program Handbook 2015-2016
26 The Paralegal program offers each course only once per academic school year. Failure of a course will impact your ability to graduate that year. Students will not be able to repeat a course until the following academic year.
Discontinuance
Students who have not successfully participated in the requirements of their academic probation, who have failed to meet the standards set out in the Conestoga Student Guide and/or the Paralegal Program Standards and Procedures Handbook involving academic dishonesty, student responsibilities, or
unacceptable behaviour, attitude or conduct or have failed 2 or more of their academic courses and field experiences may be discontinued from the Program at the end of the academic term. Students who have not successfully completed all academic courses are not eligible to participate in the practicum
placement. Students who have been discontinued from the Program may be considered for re-entry to the program for the following academic year. The Department will determine eligibility for re-entry into the program on a case-by-case basis. Re-admission to the program will be based on a plan of success developed and signed by the student, in consultation with the Program Coordinator.
Withdrawal
Students not planning to return to the Paralegal Program the following semester are expected to complete a Withdrawal Form available from the program coordinators, the registrar’s office, or on the
college website.
Program Transfer
Prior to transferring to another program, it is recommended that the student meet with the program coordinator or academic advisor. Students who decide to change programs may do so by completing and submitting a program application form to the registrar’s office. If considering transferring to a program outside the school in which they are currently enrolled in, students may want to discuss options with a career advisor. When a student moves from one Conestoga program to another and where courses numbers/codes are identical or equivalent, automatic credit is given if passing grades are met.
Appeal
Students have the right to appeal any academic decisions as set out in the Conestoga Student Guide. It is recommended that students begin this appeal process by first meeting with the faculty and/or program coordinator and/or program chair.
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Clearance of Academic Deficiency
Please refer to Conestoga Student Guide for the procedure and criteria regarding Clearance of Academic Deficiency. Please note that following the end of semester, contact with any student eligible to write a supplemental will be made either by phone or email. A specific date, time and room number will be given to each student. If a student does not respond to this contact, the student forfeits the opportunity to write a supplemental test. The maximum number of supplemental opportunities during the program is two per student.
Special Timetables/Adding Dropped or Failed Courses
Please note that when students are not taking the program in the prescribed sequence, they will be on “special timetables”. Prior to the beginning of the semester, students should attempt to add missed courses from a previous semester by logging in to the student portal and following the instructions to register for courses. If students are not able to add courses on their own (because of a timetable conflict or full course section) they must seek assistance from their Program Coordinator during the “Special Timetable Registration” initiated by the college. Dates, times and locations of Special Timetable Registration periods are posted in the student portal in advance of the beginning of each semester. Students must attend this meeting where they will receive further guidance regarding this academic status from their Program Coordinator.
Students who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are
accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.
Readmission to a Program
Students are required to apply for readmission when they have been absent from their program for one semester or longer unless an Intention Form has been completed (returning students only), or when the student has withdrawn or been discontinued. Upon readmission, students are placed into the current program of study which determines graduation requirements. Students are subject to the college and program policies and procedures in place at the time of readmission.
Students applying for readmission to Level/Semester 1 must do so through Ontario Colleges Website. Students applying for readmission to a level beyond Level/Semester one must do so using a Conestoga College Program Application Form. Applicable fees will be charged.
The application for readmission will be reviewed based on the student's academic eligibility, program readmission requirements, and space availability. The student will be informed in writing of the decision For additional information, refer to the Academic Administration page for more information on the readmission procedure.
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Course Exemptions
While we recognize that the content of all Law Society accredited programs (whether undergraduate or post-graduate) must meet the core competencies established by the Law Society, our program involves accelerated delivery and also has been approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as an Ontario Graduate Certificate. The credential reflects the skills for learning and application required for success in a program format of this type.
Our program may consider course exemption requests for mandatory legal courses from students who have completed equivalent courses in a post-graduate program (e.g., masters and doctoral programs, other graduate certificate programs) at a recognized post-secondary institution.
The principal criteria for assessing the equivalency of a course to one of our mandatory legal courses involve: (1) proportion of match to substantive content (an 80 percent correspondence is required); (2) level of credential (the course must be at the graduate level); and (3) accreditation by the Law Society of Upper Canada (preferred).
All courses being considered for exemption must meet the first and second criteria. Where a course does not meet the third criterion, program faculty will determine its correspondence on an individual basis, with attention to: the grade attained (minimum 75 percent); the focus of the program; the
correspondence between the skills acquired within the previous program and the skills emphasized by our program and other Law Society accredited programs, as described by the core competencies required by the Law Society.
Once a determination has been made and approved by the Department Chair, it is final and not subject to appeal.
Graduation
Students who have completed the Paralegal program in the prescribed sequence are automatically registered to graduate. Students who have not completed the Paralegal program in the prescribed sequence must “apply to graduate” during their final semester. Visit the college web site for an
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PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition)
In some programs, it is possible to recognize prior learning of skills, knowledge, or competencies that have been acquired through employment, formal and informal education, non-formal learning or other life experiences. Prior learning must be measureable at the required academic level and meet Conestoga standards of achievement for current courses (e.g., through a challenge exam).
The core competencies for licensed paralegals, as described by the Law Society of Upper Canada, and delivered through Conestoga’s Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, typically involve the capacity to demonstrate skill sets such as: advocacy; trial/hearing presentations; cross examinations; and other skills related to “thinking on one’s feet” to address complex scenarios in dynamic situations. For these
reasons, the Paralegal program does not currently grant exemptions from a paralegal course based on a student’s prior work experience (PLAR).
Process for Resolution of Student Concerns
In order to resolve any concerns which may arise during a course, practicum or relating to the program overall, students are encouraged to resolve issues or concerns informally at the program level prior to proceeding to a formal appeal.
If attempts have been made, and a successful resolution has not been reached, students are encouraged to refer to their Conestoga Student Guide, and to follow the procedures outlined under the “Academic Dispute Resolution and Appeal Procedure” section.
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Maintaining Student Files
1. Official records of each student’s education are maintained electronically by the Registrar. Academic records are also maintained by the College regarding Course Outlines to support the level of achievement in a particular course.
2. Administrative records related to your experience in the Program are maintained to demonstrate compliance with external and college requirements. This information is as follows:
Student Information File Location and Student Access Retention
Pre Practicum Health Requirements
per copies of information received from students
In Health Tracker, by individual student access
**accessed through My Conestoga
Each student has his/her own information on the Health Passport for provision to
practicum agencies as required.
For the duration of a student’s time in the Program
Acknowledgement of WSIB Understanding
signed by each student prior to the first practicum placements
By the Program, by the Program Assistant responsible for Placements
For the duration of a student’s time in the Program
Student Consents Signed on Admission (per Student Handbook)
Student Consent for Release of Information
Student Understanding of Professional Standards
Student Understanding of Safety Requirements
In Program File with Program Assistant
For the duration of a student’s time in the Program.
3. Academic Files are set up as required for a student to document important matters relevant to a student’s progress or to document and monitor resolution of concerns.
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Student Information File Location and Student Access Retention
A.Documents related to academic progress Correspondence regarding course equivalencies Correspondence re supplementary examinations Learning Contracts
Disabilities Information & plans
In Student File, maintained by the Program Coordinator, initially, and then filed for safe-keeping during the student’s time in the Program –
maintained by the Program Assistant
For 1 year following graduation
B. Records of Competency Attainment
As above As above
C. Documents related to areas of Concern
Interview Records, with supporting email
documentation as appropriate
Student Code of Conduct
Incident Reports
Letters/emails of significant concern and replies
Appeals
As above As above
4. Students may review the contents of your Academic file by:
• Requesting this in writing to the Program Coordinator
• Reviewing the file in the presence of the Coordinator
5. At the end of one year, the contents of your file will be destroyed through the college’s process for purging confidential documents.
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