Skip to main content

my.ryerson.ca | Directory

Academic Recovery Options

Ryerson University’s policies and procedures can help students navigate their academic journeys in the face of unforeseen circumstances, and provide faculty/contract lecturers and academic administrators with the ability to use discretion and compassion to support students experiencing extenuating circumstances.

With ongoing remote learning due to the onset and continuance of COVID-19, we know that some students are experiencing heightened and sustained levels of anxiety and worry. This resource page provides a quick reference of student administrative milestone dates, and the key mechanisms through which faculty/contract lecturers and academic administrators can exercise discretion to support students facing exceptional circumstances and challenges.

Student Initiated

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Drop course/withdrawal with 100% refund	Friday, September 18, 2020	Friday, January 29, 2021
Drop course/withdrawal with 50% refund	Friday, October 16, 2020	Friday, February 12, 2021
Drop course/withdrawal without academic penalty, no refund	Monday, December 7, 2020 (last day of fall classes). Extension from Week 11 of classes.	Friday, April 16, 2021 (last day of winter classes). Extension from Week 11 of classes.
Fee Hold Release Request Form	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.
Fresh Start Program	Fresh Start Program Participation Criteria	Fresh Start Program Participation Criteria
Repeating courses	Three* course attempts are permitted; the most recent final, official grade is used in CGPA calculations. *Some programs have Standing Variations that restrict a student to two course attempts.	Three* course attempts are permitted; the most recent final, official grade is used in CGPA calculations. *Some programs have Standing Variations that restrict a student to two course attempts.
In-course Academic Consideration	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Academic Consideration Policy 167
Academic appeals: Department, Faculty and Senate Appeal Committee Levels	Senate Appeals	Senate Appeals
Retroactive Withdrawal/Late Course Drop	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes.	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes.

Faculty/Contract Lecturers and Academic Administrator Discretion

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	May assign an INC grade to allow a student more time to complete a final assignment/test.	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Department Level	Academic standing overrides, during the Office of the Registrar’s academic continuance process	Departments are provided with academic standings prior to releasing them as official to students. For example, may request an override of RTW status per Ryerson’s “faint hope” clause for students they feel are very close to being eligible to continue and for whom they are confident will be successful in one more term if given the chance.
Department Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving final, official grades	Department chair/director may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Faculty Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Department level appeal decision	Faculty dean may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Senate Appeals Committee (SAC)	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Faculty level appeal decision	SAC may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.

Student Initiated

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Drop course/withdrawal with 100% refund	Friday, September 18, 2020	Friday, January 29, 2021
Drop course/withdrawal with 50% refund	Friday, October 16, 2020	Friday, February 12, 2021
Drop course/withdrawal without academic penalty, no refund	Monday, December 7, 2020 (last day of fall classes)	Friday, April 16, 2021 (last day of winter classes)
Fee Hold Release Request Form	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.
Repeating courses	Students may be allowed to repeat a course once, with approval from their Graduate Program Director the most recent final, official grade is used in CGPA calculations.	Students may be allowed to repeat a course once, with approval from their Graduate Program Director the most recent final, official grade is used in CGPA calculations.
In-course Academic Consideration	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Academic Consideration Policy 167
Academic appeals: Department, Faculty and Senate Appeal Committee Levels	Senate Appeals	Senate Appeals
Retroactive Withdrawal/Late Course Drop	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes. Initiated by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Vice-Provost and Dean’s Office.	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes.Initiated by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Vice-Provost and Dean’s Office.

Faculty/Contract Lecturers and Academic Administrator Discretion

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	May assign an INC grade to allow a student more time to complete a final assignment/test.	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Department Level	Academic standing overrides, during the Office of the Registrar’s academic continuance process.	Departments are provided with academic standings prior to releasing them as official to students.
Department Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving final, official grades.	Department chair/director may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Faculty Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Department level appeal decision.	Faculty dean may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Senate Appeals Committee	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Faculty level appeal decision.	SAC may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.

Student Initiated

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Drop course/withdrawal with 100% refund	5 business days before course start date	5 business days before course start date
Drop course/withdrawal with 50% refund (Courses of 39 or more Hours in Duration only)	Friday, October 16, 2020 For complete details regarding important dates, see Chang School Important Dates	Friday, February 12, 2021 For complete details regarding important dates, see Chang School Important Dates
Drop course/withdrawal without academic penalty, no refund (Courses of 39 or more Hours in Duration only)	Monday, December 7, 2020 (last day of fall classes) For complete details regarding important dates, see Chang School Important Dates	Friday, April 16, 2021 (last day of winter classes) For complete details regarding important dates, see Chang School Important Dates
Fee Hold Release Request Form	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment.
Repeating courses	Three course attempts are permitted; the most recent final, official grade is used in Certificate Program CGPA calculations.	Three course attempts are permitted; the most recent final, official grade is used in Certificate Program CGPA calculations.
In-course Academic Consideration	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Academic Consideration Policy 167
Academic appeals (Grades): Department, Faculty (Dean) and Senate Appeal Committee Levels	Senate Appeals	Senate Appeals
Retroactive Withdrawal/Late Course Drop	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes.	Rarely granted and cannot be used to bypass the university’s Senate policy appeal processes. Extensive documentation required to validate that it was impossible for the student to appeal through official processes.

Faculty/Contract Lecturers and Academic Administrator Discretion

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	May assign an INC grade to allow a student more time to complete a final assignment/test.	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Department Level	Policy #168 grade appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving final, official grades	Program Director may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Faculty Level (Dean’s Office)	Policy #168 grade appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Department level appeal decision	Dean may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Senate Appeals Committee	Policy #168 grade appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Faculty level appeal decision	SAC may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.

Student Initiated

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Program withdrawal with 100% refund	Tuesday, September 1, 2020	Thursday, January 7, 2021
Program withdrawal with 80% refund	Friday, September 18, 2020	Monday, January 25, 2021
Program withdrawal with 50% refund	Friday, October 16, 2020	Friday, February 12, 2021
Program withdrawal without academic penalty, no refund	Monday, December 7, 2020 (last day of fall classes)	April 16, 2021
Fee Hold Release Request Form	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment	Students with a Collections Hold that is attributable to COVID-19 may submit Fee Hold Release Request Form for consideration to have the hold temporarily lifted to allow enrolment
In-course Academic Consideration	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Academic Consideration Policy 167
Academic appeals: Department, Faculty and Senate Appeal Committee Levels	Senate Appeals	Senate Appeals

Faculty/Contract Lecturers and Academic Administrator Discretion

Milestone	Fall 2020	Winter 2021
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	Academic Consideration Policy 167	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Course Faculty/Contract Lecturer	May assign an INC grade to allow a student more time to complete a final assignment/test.	Initiated by the student with the faculty/contract lecturer.
Department Level	Academic standing overrides, during the Office of the Registrar’s academic continuance process	Departments are provided with academic standings prior to releasing them as official to students.
Department Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving final, official grades	Department chair/director may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Faculty Level	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Department level appeal decision	Faculty dean may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.
Senate Appeals Committee	Policy #168 appeals, submitted by student within 10 days of receiving Faculty level appeal decision	SAC may apply discretion in the consideration of exceptional circumstances and the impact of COVID-19 in issuing appeal decisions.