I feel very sick and will not be able to attend my term test tonight. In addition, I have a paper due in three days and don’t think I’ll be able to finish it. What should I do?

I want to take a certain course, but it is only offered at the U of W, can I just register for it there?

I have a grade of F-NP in a course that I thought I withdrew from, what does this mean and what can I do?

I work really hard in my courses, but still am not doing as well as I would like to be. What can I do?

Whenever I write exams, I get really nervous, go blank, and can’t seem to put anything coherent down on the page. I know that I know the material; what’s wrong and is there anything I can do?

I am using a book to write a term paper. If I put it in my own words, do I still have to / can I cite it?

I have no idea how to cite things properly, what should I do?

Can I be kicked out of school for not doing well?

I got some help from a friend writing an assignment, and the professor found out about it. What could happen to us?

I let a friend know my webmail password because theirs wasn’t working. Now security services is telling me that emails were sent with inappropriate content. What can happen to me and what should I do?

I worked on a group project, but there was one person in our group who didn’t do much of anything. Now the whole group has received low marks. Is there anything I can do?

I had been feeling depressed so I started seeing a counsellor. Now things are starting to look a bit better. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten behind in my studies in a few courses. One of my profs have already given me permission to hand in the term work on the last day of classes, but I don’t think I’ll make the deadline. In the other classes, I’ve already missed a bunch of deadlines. Is there anything I can do?

My tuition fees are due in a few days, but I haven’t received my student loan yet. What should I do? The mark I received in my course is far lower than it should be, what should I do?

1. I feel very sick and will not be able to attend my term test tonight. In addition, I have a paper due in three days and don’t think I’ll be able to finish it. What should I do?
   1. Call or email the professor(s) in those courses and inform them of your illness.  With the proper documentation (see item "b" below) they can usually give you extensions on assignments and deferrals on tests.  You can find the email and phone number of your profs by searching with thier names here.
   2. As close to the exam date as possible, see a doctor to get help and to get documentation of your illness. Some faculties and professors will request that you have a specific form filled out by the doctor, but others will accept a simple doctor’s note outlining the duration of the illness and your ability/inability to do schoolwork.
      
      If you miss a term test because of illness, you should first talk to your professor.  If you miss a final exam because of illness, you will need to consult your faculty for a formal deferred exam.  In both cases you will require medical documentation.
      
      For term work (like essays and assignments), you can discuss with your professor the possibility of getting what is referred to as an ‘incomplete,’ which will allow you to finish your term work to a due date after the end of the term.
      
      Student Advocacy will be able to assist you at any point in this process.    top    
      
      
2. I want to take a certain course, but it is only offered at the U of W, can I just register for it there?
   No. You may be able to take the course, but you must apply to your school or faculty for a letter of permission before you register. Student Advocacy can help you put together an application for the letter of permission.  Try to plan this sort of thing as far in advance of the start of term as possible.    top
   
   
3. I have a grade of F-NP in a course that I thought I withdrew from, what does this mean and what can I do?
   That may mean a few things. First, you may have not actually withdrawn from the course. You should consult Student Advocacy to see what your options are.    top
   
   
4. I work really hard in my courses, but still am not doing as well as I would like to be. What can I do?
   
   1. You can speak to your professor(s) and see if there is anything that they would like you to do differently or that you could be doing better. 
   2. You can consult the Learning Assistance Centre (www.umanitoba.ca/student/resource/learning) to find strategies for studying, writing exams, taking notes, and writing papers. They also offer courses in how to improve these skills.
   3. The Virtual Learning Commons (https://www.umanitoba.ca/virtuallearningcommons/) is a valuable forum and resource centre where you can access all kinds if information about studying, researching, and just adapting to university in general.    top
      
      
5. Whenever I write exams, I get really nervous, go blank, and can’t seem to put anything coherent down on the page. I know that I know the material; what’s wrong and is there anything I can do?
   
   1. Many people experience exam anxiety to varying degrees. Disability Services (http://umanitoba.ca/student/resource/disability_services) is able to test people for exam anxiety and, if you are found to suffer from it, can provide accommodations such as a separate exam room and longer times to write the exams.
   2. If you have done poorly on exams in the past due to exam anxiety, you may be able to receive authorized withdrawals from those courses. An authorized withdrawal (AW) removes the course from your transcript with no record of either the withdrawal or the course itself. Please contact Student Advocacy (and check out the AW information sheet) for assistance in putting together a request for an authorized withdrawal.    top
      
      
6. I am using a book to write a term paper. If I put it in my own words, do I still have to / can I cite it?
   When writing a term paper, you should cite all of the sources of information you use whether you quote directly from them, or paraphrase them (put them in your own words). See below for resources on how to cite information.    top
   
   
7. I have no idea how to cite things properly, what should I do?
   Consult your professor to see if they have a preference with regard to the style guide you should be using (MLA, APA, Chicago etc.). If so, use that style, if not, choose one and be sure to use it properly. Style guides can be found at the libraries website (http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/dafoe/citing.html). Also, try RefWorks (http://www.refworks.com/refworks) for an easy way to keep track of your sources and ensure you cite properly.    top
   
   
8. Can I be kicked out of school for not doing well?
   There are potential penalties for not meeting your faculty’s minimum performance standards. These penalties can range from academic probation to not being allowed to continue in your program. Each faculty is different, however, so please consult the Course Calendar (http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/calendar/) to find the regulations for your faculty. If you have not achieved the minimum standard due to extenuating compassionate or medical circumstances, Student Advocacy may be able to help you receive some accommodations.    top
   
   
9. I got some help from a friend writing an assignment, and the professor found out about it. What could happen to us? Depending on what your friend did to help, this may be considered Inappropriate Collaboration. On the one hand, students are encouraged to study together.  On the other hand you should make sure that the work you hand in (for assignments, labs, tests, exams, essays) is your own.  Some assignments are meant to be collaborative and some are not.  Your course outline and your professor are the best resources to find out what the rules are for a particular assignment.   If you are going to have a friend revise your work, check with your professor first to ensure this is allowed. Often, the professor may offer to give you suggestions as well.
   
   If you are deemed to have committed Inappropriate collaboration, penalties can range from a reprimand to expulsion depending on the severity, your honesty, and if it has happened before. Please contact a Student Advocate as we can advise you of your rights and help you through this process.    top
   
   
10. I let a friend know my webmail password because theirs wasn’t working. Now security services is telling me that emails were sent with inappropriate content. What can happen to me and what should I do?
    Your email account is provided to you for your use only.  What goes into and out of your account is your responsibility.  The University has a Responsible Computer Usage policy (https://pasweb.cc.umanitoba.ca/webapp/gu/usage_agreement//login.php) that all members of the University community are accountable to.  If you are being investigated for inappropriate computer account use, you may have your account privileges suspended.  Contact Student Advocacy if you encounter this situation.    top
    
    
11. I worked on a group project, but there was one person in our group who didn’t do much of anything. Now the whole group has received low marks. Is there anything I can do?
    If you feel that a mark you have received on an assignment is unfair, please speak with your professor about this first. They will be able to explain how they graded the assignment, and you may be able to work out a solution informally. However, if this does not work, consider filing a Term Work Grade Appeal. These must be filed within ten days of receiving the grade on the assignment. Please see Student Advocacy if you would like help preparing a grade appeal. For more information, see (http://www.cc.umanitoba.ca/student/resource/student_advocacy/term_work_grade_appeal.shtml).    top
    
    
12. I had been feeling depressed so I started seeing a counsellor. Now things are starting to look a bit better. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten behind in my studies in a few courses. One of my profs have already given me permission to hand in the term work on the last day of classes, but I don’t think I’ll make the deadline. In the other classes, I’ve already missed a bunch of deadlines. Is there anything I can do?
    The first step in a situation such as this is to consult your professor. They may be able to extend your due date beyond the end of classes by granting you what is called an ‘incomplete’.
    
    If you are not able to obtain an incomplete, and you have documentation for your condition (from a doctor, counsellor, etc.), you may be eligible for Authorized Withdrawals. AWs are granted for compassionate or medical circumstances and remove the effected courses from your transcript. If granted AWs, you may also be eligible for a tuition fee appeal for those courses. Student Advocacy can assist you in obtaining Incompletes, authorized withdrawals, and fee appeals.    top
    
    
13. My tuition fees are due in a few days, but I haven’t received my student loan yet. What should I do?
    See Financial Aid and Awards (http://umanitoba.ca/student/fin_awards/). If you see them before the tuition fee deadline and have valid circumstances, they may be able to grant you a tuition fee deferral. This would be an extension on the deadline for fees to a date agreed upon by the Financial Aid and Awards office. The Office of Student Advocacy can assist you in this process.    top
    
    
14. The mark I received in my course is far lower than it should be, what should I do?
    If you feel the grade you received is lower than it should be, consult your professor and see if you can obtain an explanation for the grade, and if you can possibly resolve things informally. If this does not work or you do not feel comfortable speaking with your professor, you can file a Final Grade Appeal (http://www.cc.umanitoba.ca/student/resource/student_advocacy/final_grade_appeal.shtml). There is a due date to filing this, which can be found at the Office of Student Records website (http://www.umanitoba.ca/student/records/). Please consult a Student Advocate if you would like help putting together a grade appeal or more information.    top