Academic Regulations

University Policies for All Students

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity, with its embodied values, is seen as a foundation of Dalhousie University. It is the responsibility of all students to be familiar with behaviours and practices associated with academic integrity. Instructors are required to forward any suspected cases of plagiarism or other forms of academic cheating to the Academic Integrity Officer for their Faculty.

The Academic Integrity website provides students and faculty with information on plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, and has resources to help students succeed honestly.

Accessibility

Students may request academic accommodation as a result of barriers related to disability, religious obligation, or any characteristic protected under Canadian Human Rights legislation. Students who wish to arrange accommodation should submit a request to the Student Accessibility Centre before the start of each term. An accommodation plan lasts for only a term. More information is available on the Accessibility site. The SAC will send a confidential message to the School of Architecture office, who will forward it to the appropriate instructor(s).

Code of Student Conduct

Dalhousie University has a code of student conduct. Students are expected to adhere to the code during their participation in lectures and other activities. In general:

“The University treats students as adults free to organize their own personal lives, behaviour and associations subject only to the law, and to University regulations that are necessary to protect

• the integrity and proper functioning of the academic and  non – academic programs and activities of  the University or its faculties, schools or departments;
• the peaceful and safe enjoyment of University facilities by other members of the University and the public;
• the freedom of members of the University to participate reasonably in the programs of the University and in activities on the University's premises;
• the property of the University or its members.”

Diversity and Inclusion; Culture of Respect

Every person at Dalhousie has a right to be respected and safe. Links to Dalhousie's diversity and inclusiveness strategy can be found here.

Student Declaration of Absence

An SDA is for a short-term physical or mental health condition or another circumstance beyond your control that requires you to be absent from the university. If you miss an academic requirement (e.g., an assignment or a test) due to an absence of three consecutive weekdays or less, you do not need to obtain a medical note to request an extension or alternate coursework. Instead, you can follow these steps:

1. Before the due date or test, notify your instructor (by phone or e-mail) that you will be absent.
   
2. Submit a Student Declaration of Absence form to your instructor (printed and submitted in person; or attached to an e-mail) within three days after you return.
   
3. Ask the instructor if an extension or alternate coursework can be arranged.
   

There is an FAQ page on the use of SDA forms, including a flowchart that illustrates the steps.

Notes on SDAs:

• A Student Declaration of Absence is for when you need to be away from the university due to an unforeseen circumstance beyond your control. It is not for postponing an assignment due date while you continue to attend classes or work on another assignment.
• An absence of four or more consecutive days requires a medical note that indicates the dates and duration of your condition and its impact on your ability to fulfill academic requirements. Confidential health information is not required.
• Only weekdays are included in the three-day limit for an SDA. Weekends and holidays are considered time-off for students, so they are not included. The fall and winter study breaks are not considered time-off.
  
• An SDA cannot be used for final coursework, a final review, or a final exam. Those absences follow a different process; see the calendar > Undergraduate or Graduate > University Regulations > Policy for the Scheduling of Courses/Examinations.
  
• If your absence has interfered with assignments in two or more courses, contact the undergraduate or graduate coordinator to help work out a plan to reschedule due dates.
  
• An accommodation plan from the Student Accessibility Centre anticipates obstacles and prescribes remedies. An SDA is for a different purpose and should not be combined with an accommodation plan.

Recognition of Mi'kmaq Territory

Dalhousie University acknowledges that the University is on Traditional Mi’kmaq Territory. The Elders in Residence program provides students with access to First Nations elders for guidance, counsel and support. Visit the office in the McCain Building (Room 3037) or contact the programs at elders@dal.ca or 902-494-6803.

Work Safety

The Faculty of Architecture and Planning has a comprehensive Faculty Workplace Safety Framework that is based on university policies and the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Services Available to Students

University services are available to help students develop skills in library research, scientific writing, and effective study habits. The services are available to all Dalhousie students and, unless noted otherwise, are free. The full set of services can be found here.

Fair Dealing Guidelines (Copyright)

The university's Copyright Office provides guidelines for students on copyright and fair dealing.

Dalhousie University Library

The university library system provides many kinds of academic resources and support. The Sexton Library provides Architecture-specific resources.

School of Architecture Regulations

Academic Advising

If you need academic advice on Architecture courses, instructors, regulations, studio arrangements, accommodation, medical extensions, counselling referrals, etc., check with the undergraduate or graduate coordinator. University-level advising is also available from the Bissett Student Success Centre.

Course Outlines

The outline for each course is distributed at the first class. It is required to provide a comprehensive description: administrative, academic, assessment, course-specific policies, and links to university policies and support. After the course has begun, a change to the course outline that would affect 10% or more of the assessment requires approval by two-thirds of the students in the course.

Time Expectation

To maintain an appropriate balance among the various courses in a term, you may use the following guideline: for a three-credit-hour course, the average weekly time expectation is nine hours, including class time and assignments. For a course with a different credit weight, the expectation is proportional. Actual time requirements may vary from student to student and from week to week, depending on a student's current ability in a subject and depending on the rhythms of courses during a term. If a course is requiring most students to spend more time than it should, notify the instructor.

Deadlines During a Term

Unless a different policy is stated in a course outline, the penalty for submitting an assignment after a scheduled deadline during the term is a third of a letter grade (e.g., from A to A-) per weekday. Failure to attend a test at the scheduled time results in a grade of F or zero unless the instructor indicates that a student cannot benefit from writing the test later than other students in the course. No penalty is assessed if a student qualifies for an extension due to a documented illness or equivalent (see "Student Declaration of Absence" above).

Deadlines at the End of a Term

In a course that includes a scheduled review after the last day of weekly classes, no assignments are accepted after the review; a late submission receives a grade of F or zero. In all other courses, no assignments are accepted after the last day of weekly classes; a submission after this date receives a grade of F or zero. An instructor cannot extend the deadline beyond these dates - even with the approval of the students in the course - and must assign a student's grade based on the work that has been submitted by the deadline. No penalty is assessed if a student qualifies for an extension due to a documented illness or equivalent.

Extensions

To request an extended deadline for an assignment due to illness, refer to "Student Declaration of Absence" above. The extension normally will be equal to the number of days you were unable to work. A non-medical extension requires a similar note verifying the reason for the request. If your absence has interfered with assignments in two or more courses, see the undergraduate or graduate coordinator rather than your individual instructors.

Student Learning Experience Questionnaires (SLEQ)

The university asks students to evaluate their instructors and courses, using Student Learning Experience Questionnaires on Brightspace. Instructors are expected to reserve 15 minutes of class time for SLEQs during the last two weeks of classes. Evaluations provide feedback to instructors on the course and their teaching, to indicate what worked well and what didn't. Students are expected to provide constructive feedback; the Centre for Learning and Teaching provides guidelines for doing so. The School's director also reviews the Architecture evaluations to monitor the curriculum and help plan future courses and staffing. SLEQ statistics and comments are sent to the instructor after the grades have been submitted at the end of the term. To maintain anonymity, students' identities are not reported to the instructor.

Process Portfolio

Your process portfolio each term is an important record of your work in all of your courses. It enables you to receive feedback during the term and to be considered for promotion at the end of Year 3, for a BEDS degree at the end of Year 4, and for MArch admission. Make sure that your work is kept safely in a rigid portfolio that can be stored near your desk or another safe location. Models should be photographed soon after they are finished, as they tend to self-destruct when stored for any length of time.

Retrieving Course Work

After instructors have evaluated student work, it is normally left in the faculty area. Please retrieve your work promptly. Leftover work is assumed to be abandoned and will be discarded.

Degree Names

To avoid misrepresenting your academic credentials in applications, resumés, etc., please note the correct names: