Schulich School of Law

Accommodations and Academic Dispensation

Accessibility, deferrals, extensions & other accommodation

This is an overview of law school and university processes regarding requests for accommodations, academic dispensation, and exam deferrals. For more information and request forms please visit MySchulich. 

We wish you a happy and healthy term. If problems do arise, please contact us as soon as possible so that we may assist you.

Jodi Lazare
Associate Dean Academic
jodi.lazare@dal.ca

Adam Guzkowski
Assistant Dean, Student and Academic Affairs
adam.guzkowski@dal.ca 

Accommodations and Academic Dispensation FAQs

How do I apply for accommodations, academic dispensation, or exam deferrals?

  1. All requests for accommodation due to barriers related to physical and mental disability, religious obligations, or any other characteristic under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act require an approved Accessibility Plan through the Student Accessibility Centre (SAC). To request an ongoing or temporary accommodation, complete and submit a request for accommodation through the Centre’s Accommodate Software.
  2. Academic Dispensation requests for assignment extensions, or waived penalty for misssed classes, due to sudden illness, injury or family emergency (not related to accommodations) are made by completing the Academic Dispensation form, found on MySchulich.
  3. Exam deferrals should be requested rarely and only in cases where a student is completely unable to write the regularly scheduled exam due to unanticipated medical or personal events or by circumstances addressed by an approved accessibility plan which includes accommodations for exam deferrals. The Exam Deferral Form can be found on MySchulich. 

How does deferral of an exam work?

An Exam Deferral Request can be submitted for reasons related to medical circumstances, compassionate grounds, or accessing approved accommodations for exam deferrals, and must be made in advance of the start of the exam. If granted, students will write a deferred exam during the scheduled deferred and supplemental exam period (late January and early February for Fall term courses, late June for Winter term courses).

How do extensions on major papers or assignments work?

Where it can be established that due to medical or personal emergency, a student's ability to work on a major paper or other assignment has been significantly hampered, the student may request an extension on the paper or assignment. Students must fill out the Academic Dispensation Form found on MySchulich. 

The Schulich School of Law reserves the right to request additional supporting documentation and/or information and may require more detailed documentation in the event of repeated academic dispensation requests. 

What are the deadlines for applying for accommodations, academic dispensation, or exam deferrals?

The deadlines for accommodation requests through the Student Accessibility Centre (SAC) can be found on their webpage. Please note that some deadlines are quite early. So please go to their website immediately and find out what time limits apply.

Academic dispendation requests must be made in advance of due dates and classes. 

Exam deferral requests must be made in advance of the start time of the exam. 

Academic Dispensation Request Forms