Deferred Standing (Final Exams and Assignments)

What is deferred standing?

Deferred standing may be granted to undergraduate students who are unable to write their final examination at the scheduled time or to submit their outstanding course work on the last day of classes. In order to apply for deferred standing, students must complete a Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form and reach an agreement directly with the course director for an alternate final examination date or for an extension to the deadline. The Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form facilitates the setting of an alternate date for writing a final examination or submitting outstanding course work before the Faculty deadlines outlined in Table 1. There is no provision for rewriting a final examination to improve a final grade.

Note: When students do not or cannot write a mid-term examination (not held during the formal examination period), alternate arrangements to write the mid-term examination should be made within the duration of the course by the course director and individual student at the discretion of the course director. The Deferred Standing Agreement does not apply.

What about religious accommodation for a final exam?

Students who, because of religious commitment cannot write a formally scheduled final examination on the date scheduled should refer to the appropriate guidelines regarding the Religious Observance Policy and Accommodation Guidelines.

Where can I find the Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form?

The Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form is available to download as a printable form on the Registrar's Office Web site.

How are deferred standings arranged?

Students must make a formal request for deferred standing. This is done by approaching their course director with the printed Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form to discuss the possibility of setting an alternate date for writing a final examination or for submitting an outstanding course work. Students must also supply all relevant supporting documentation (as outlined on the form). Photocopies of supporting documentation are acceptable as long as the course director is able to view the original documents.

Once I have the form signed by my course director, where do I submit it?

Students must submit the approved/signed Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form and the relevant documentation to the academic school/department/unit offering the course for processing. Prior to submission, students should make a photocopy of the approved/signed form and supporting documentation for their own records and have the academic department/school/unit staff date-stamp their copy. Students are responsible for maintaining a copy for their records.

What happens if the course director does not agree to grant me deferred standing for my final exam or outstanding course work?

If a course director does not agree to consider requests for deferred standing, students may petition for deferred standing through their home Faculty. Note: petitions for deferred standing may not be successful.

What are the Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form submission deadlines?

Senate policy states: "normally, requests for deferred standing must be communicated within one week following a missed examination or the last day to submit course work". The period during which the University is officially closed for December holidays and statutory holidays is not counted in the determination of deadline days.

What happens if I miss the submission deadline?

If you miss the deadline for submitting a completed Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form, you may petition for deferred standing through your home Faculty. Note: Petitions for deferred standing may not be successful.

What are the deadlines for the completion of courses granted deferred standing?

There are specific deadlines for each academic term that deferred final grades must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. There is a space on the Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form where the course director specifies the date on which the deferred examination must be written or when the outstanding course work must be submitted. For example, in the case of deferred work for a fall term course, students must write the deferred examination or submit the outstanding course work in sufficient time for the course director to mark it and provide a grade for the department/school/unit to submit to the Registrar’s Office before the April 1 deadline.

The published deadlines in the table below are the submission deadlines for each of York’s Faculties and reflect the absolute deadline for academic departments/schools/units to submit deferred final grades to the Registrar’s Office. These published deadlines are firm and impact the academic record.

Table 1: Revised Final Grades Due in Registrar's Office by the Date Specified for Faculties.

What if I am unable to write the deferred exam or complete my outstanding course work?

Should students decide they are unable to write their final examination or complete the outstanding course work by (or at) the agreed upon time specified on the Final Exam/Assignments Deferred Standing Agreement form and the deferred final grades submission dates in Table 1 have passed, they may then file an academic petition immediately to their home Faculty.

Steps of the Deferred Examination Process for Students

1. Print and take the Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form, along with appropriate supporting document(s), directly to the course director or designate to request deferred standing.
2. Secure the course director’s approval and signature within one week of following a missed examination or within one week of the last day to submit course work.
3. Submit the completed original Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form and supporting documentation to the academic department/school/unit offering the course.
4. Keep a copy of the completed Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form and supporting documentation that is preferably date-stamped by staff in the academic department/school/unit offering the course.
5. Meet the specified deferred deadline (that falls within the Faculty deadlines outlined in Table 1) per the agreement reached between you and the course director.
6. Confirm the date, time and location of the deferred examination at the relevant academic school/department/unit offering the course and attend examination sitting.

Students may make arrangements for deferring their final examination or outstanding course work by completing a Final Exam/Assignment Deferred Standing Agreement form in cooperation with their course director. Students normally have within one week following a missed examination, or the last day to submit term work (in the case of outstanding course work), to reach agreement with their course director, have the form completed and submitted to the department/school/unit offering the course. If DSA form signed:   If DSA form not signed: Student will write the final examination or submit the outstanding course work by the date determined with the course director.   If the course director does not agree to grant deferred standing, students may formally petition to their home Faculty.     If Academic Petition initiated:     The course director is required to complete the Course Performance Summary (CPS) form for student petitions. Students are responsible for: Obtaining the petition form from their home Faculty. Completing the petition form as specified. Submitting the CPS to the course director. Picking up the completed CPS from the course director and submitting the CPS form with their petition to their home Faculty.