Academic Standing and Promotion
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.
In addition to the Academic Regulations found in the Conestoga Student Guide, the following apply to the Respiratory Therapy Program:
Achievement
1. Students must attain a minimum 65% passing grade in all Respiratory Therapy courses and year end composite exams.
2. The student must have successfully completed all courses of all previous semesters and passed year-end composite exams in order tobe promoted into the next semester and/or hospital practicum I, II, III and Neonatal and Paediatric Hospital Practicum.Failure to do so will result in discontinuance from the program.
3. The student is expected to apply theoryand skills to practice in a safecompetent manner in accordance with the current National Competency Profile (NCP) guidelines and current professional practice
guidelines within all lab and simulation and clinical practicum settings.
4. Regular attendance is mandatory to achieve a "pass" in both lab and clinical practicum experiences. 5. The student is expected to maintain mental and physical health throughout the program, consistent
with RT practice requirements
6. Students must adhere to Standards of Conduct – Academic, Social and Professional as outlined in the Conestoga Student Guide and the Respiratory Therapy Standards of Procedures Handbook.
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.
Special Timetables/Adding Dropped or Failed Courses
Please note that when students are not taking the program in the prescribed sequence, he/she 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) he/she 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 he/she 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.
Academic Probation
Students who have been unsuccessful in their field experience, 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.
Reason for Student Progress Being Reviewed by Promotion Committee
Students who fail to meet program standards will be reviewed by the Promotion Committee. Reasons for presentation at Promotion Committee Meetings include:
• Failure of a theory course and/or practice course.
• Patterns of absence from class or practice, which may affect achieving program standards. • Excessive accumulated absences from class, lab or practice.
• Failure to follow through on previous Promotion Committee recommendations.
A student who has not met the standards will not be promoted to the next level of the Program. The Promotions Committee may decide such a student should be discontinued or may require the student to complete one or more of the following, or an alternative as deemed appropriate:
• Complete supplemental requirements for course failures (see criteria for writing of supplemental examinations). Following successful completion of supplemental work, the highest course grade that can be achieved is 65%.
• Follow through with counselling (academic and/or personal). • Follow through with health measures as recommended.
• Complete makeup work for missed learning experiences. Total time lost will be assessed on an individual basis. Additional time may be required to complete program objectives.
• Complete the requirements of Probationary Status. • Complete compulsory practice remedial assignments.
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Supplemental Work
A student that is unsuccessful in a course may be granted the opportunity to complete supplemental requirements.
Criteria for Eligibility to Write Supplemental Examinations
1. No more than two supplementals throughout the program and no more than one supplemental per course will be offered.
2. For the purposes of determining supplemental eligibility repeating a failed course counts as a supplemental in that course.
3. The student must have passed at least one test/exam in the course.
4. The student must have achieved a final course grade of 50% or within 10% of the required pass mark, whichever is the higher standard. Therefore, for courses with 65% pass, the student must have achieved 55%.
5. There must be no academic misconduct on record for the semester (e.g. plagiarism)
6. A student who attains a course grade of less than 55% for a vocational course will not be offered a supplemental in that course.
In addition, the following will also be considered by the committee: • Previous academic history.
• Current clinical practice performance. • Demonstration of professional behaviour
NOTE:
• A fee is to be paid to the Registrar’s Office for supplemental work.
• If the student is successful in completing the supplemental work for the course, the failing course grade will be upgraded to the minimal passing grade of 65% for the Program.
Promotion and Supplemental Procedure
PERSON ACTION
Promotion Committee Grants or denies permission for supplemental work.
Program Coordinator/Instructor
Meets with the student.
Completes the supplemental form with criteria. Reviews the recommendation of the Promotion Committee.
Student
Takes completed Supplemental Form and payment to Registrar’s Office.
Brings pink copy of Supplemental Form for admission to supplemental as well as photo ID
Program Chair/Program Coordinator/Instructor
Sets date for supplemental examination.
Notifies student and Registrar's Office of result of supplemental work.
Failure to successfully complete requirements of the promotion committee will result in discontinuance from the program.
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Reason for Student Progress Being Reviewed by Promotion Committee
Students who fail to meet program standards will be reviewed by the Promotion Committee. Reasons for presentation at Promotion Committee Meetings include:
• Failure of a theory course and/or practice course.
• Patterns of absence from class or practice, which may affect achieving program standards. • Excessive accumulated absences from class, lab or practice.
• Failure to follow through on previous Promotion Committee recommendations.
A student who has not met the standards will not be promoted to the next level of the Program. The Promotions Committee may decide such a student should be discontinued or may require the student to complete one or more of the following, or an alternative as deemed appropriate:
• Complete supplemental requirements for course failures (see criteria for writing of supplemental examinations). Following successful completion of supplemental work, the highest course grade that can be achieved is 65%.
• Follow through with counselling (academic and/or personal). • Follow through with health measures as recommended.
• Complete makeup work for missed learning experiences. Total time lost will be assessed on an individual basis. Additional time may be required to complete program objectives.
• Complete the requirements of Probationary Status. • Complete compulsory practice remedial assignments.
Discontinuance
Students who have failed to meet all program standards or who have failed to meet the standards set out in the Conestoga Student Guide and/or the Respiratory Therapy Program Standards and Procedures Handbook involving academic dishonesty, student responsibilities, or unacceptable behaviour, attitude or conduct may be discontinued from the Respiratory Therapy Program.
Withdrawal
Students not planning to return to the Respiratory Therapy 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 he/she is 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.
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.
Procedure
1. Promotions Committee grants or denies permission for supplemental work.
2. Program Coordinator contacts student and sets up a time to meet and fill out the Supplemental Request Form.
3. Student brings form and pays additional fee for supplemental work at the Registrar’s office. 4. Student receives supplemental work from Program Coordinator.
5. Student completes supplemental work (test or assignment) in accordance with the times and dates given by the Program Coordinator.
6. Student meets with Program Coordinator to submit assignment.
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Readmission to the Program
Since the Respiratory Therapy Program is a highly integrated and oversubscribed program, a student who has withdrawn or been discontinued from the program must apply to be readmitted. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed. Students who have been discontinued from semester one must reapply through Ontario
Colleges for readmission to semester one. Admission/readmission to all other semesters is based on seat
availability and academic status. If space in the program exists, students will be readmitted to the current program design, to which current program standards and procedures will apply. Students will be ranked ordered for readmission using the following criteria:
1. Students in good academic standing who have withdrawn from the Conestoga College RT program due to illness or personal circumstances with prior approval from the Program Coordinator and/or Program Chair.
2. Students who have one discontinuance as a result of course failure(s) and whose academic status / performance and extra-curricular preparation suggests that he/she will be successful in the program if readmitted.
3. Transfer students from other institutions whose Respiratory Therapy Programs are deemed to be substantially equivalent in curriculum structure and who are in good academic standing.
If there are more students within any category than space in the program can accommodate, the following academic factors will also be considered when categorizing students for readmission:
• Overall grade point average (GPA) for students in good academic standing.
• Number of courses failed and grade point average if student presents with one discontinuance Students who do not meet the above criteria will not be readmitted to the program.
A student who has been out of the program for more than 12 months may be required to successfully complete theory and/or skill challenge testing.
Only one opportunity to re-apply or repeat a failed course is permitted.
For additional information, refer to the Academic Administration page for more information on the readmission procedure.
Graduation
Students are expected to respond to their invitation through their Student Portal. Convocation ceremonies are held in the spring and fall of each academic year. Students, who take longer than the advertised program length, are responsible for completing any new or additional courses due to a program design change. Students who complete their program after the scheduled completion date are required to fill out an Application to Graduate form and submit it with payment to the registrar’s office. Students who are discontinued or have withdrawn and then return to the college will be placed in the current program design and must meet all requirements to graduate.
Process for Resolution of Student Concerns
In order to resolve any concerns which may arise during a course, field placement 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.
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 one 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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Additional Information for Students
Below is information to supplement the information found in the Conestoga Student Guide.
• Your Conestoga 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 and he/she will advise you as to your options. Not attending 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 Respiratory Therapy program you may be eligible for a course exemption. (Please note that to receive an exemption, courses must have been completed within the past 5 years and with a mark of at least 65%.). If you would like to proceed with a request for exemptions, please contact your Program Coordinator for guidance. Please note that exemptions will not be processed until a student is registered in the Program. The exemption process will take some time (two-three weeks), and students should attend all scheduled courses until he/she receive the exemption as he/she will be responsible for all material covered in class should the exemption be denied.