Academic concession

Academic concessions are special allowances determined by your instructors and/or the UGO for you to complete missed coursework or exams resulting from extenuating circumstances such as an acute illness or a conflicting responsibility. Refer to your course syllabi to understand how concessions will be applied in each course for which a concession is requested and granted. 

Academic accommodations are arrangements predetermined by UBC's Centre for Accessibility (CfA) to help students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions overcome challenges or barriers that may affect their academic success. The Centre evaluates a student's eligibility for accommodations, and determines the type of accommodations most suitable for that student, as governed by the university's Policy 73: Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.

The types of conditions supported by the Centre include, but are not limited to:

1. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, or bi-polar disorder
2. Neurological disabilities such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, head injuries, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
3. Chronic health conditions including ongoing medical conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, or migraines
4. Physical or sensory disabilities, such as visual impairment, hearing loss, or mobility impairments

Determination of whether to grant an academic concession and which type of academic concession is most appropriate will depend on your individual circumstances. One or more of the following considerations may apply:

• the nature and duration of the issue that is affecting you;
• confidential consultation with other appropriate units that can provide professional opinion on your situation;
• the scope and type of academic work affected;
• the proportion of prescribed academic work having been completed at the point in the term or program when academic work is affected; and,
• your achievements in the course to date.

Though not an exhaustive list, the most common concessions granted are:

• In-term concessions
  Your course syllabus will list the provisions set by your instructor for short absences and missed coursework, midterm exams, and deadlines for the course. In-term concessions typically take the form of an extended deadline, reweighting of missed marks to a later test or assignment, or an alternate exam. If a request for concession is approved, it is your responsibility to make any necessary arrangements with your instructor as directed in the syllabus.
• Deferred Standing for missed final exams
  If an academic concession is approved for a final exam, the UGO will assign a Deferred Standing for that course. You will be required to complete your final exam at a later date, most likely during the Deferred Standing exam period (late July to early August for winter session courses, or mid November for summer session courses). 

Self-declaration of your circumstances may be sufficient for:

• the first occurrence of an acute illness
• a request on compassionate grounds
• a conflicting responsibility for which there is no practicable way to provide a letter or other official document from an organization relevant to the conflict

For some circumstances, you may still be required to submit supporting documentation along with, or following, your self-declaration. If you're submitting a concession request, be prepared to show supporting documentation and/or have a discussion with an academic advisor.

We trust that the information you provide in a request for academic concession is accurate and truthful. The submission of false information for the purpose of obtaining academic concession is classified as academic misconduct, and will be investigated and penalized accordingly.

You should follow the academic concession request process as outlined by your home faculty advising office. Each faculty has its own process for in-term concessions and it is important for you to follow those guidelines in order for the request to be approved.