Special Considerations Policy - Undergraduate and Professional Admissions

Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to outline special considerations under which applicants to undergraduate and professional programs can be considered.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy the following definitions apply:

“Competitive Grade Point Average” means a grade point average required for admission to university which surpasses the university's minimum 70 per cent average for consideration.

“Disability” (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11) means:

• any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
• a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
• a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
• a mental disorder, or
• an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; (“handicap”)

“Indigenous”: A collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants (Government of Canada, 2019).

“Indigenous Education and Cultural Services”: Indigenous Education and Cultural Services offers cultural workshops, ceremonies, events and programming to educate Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty, staff members and the broader community about Indigenous culture. They encourage Indigenous students to embrace their culture through the Indigenous self-identification process, and they lead the university in its journey toward reconciliation (Ontario Tech, 2019).

“President's Equity Taskforce” or “PET”: The goal of the PET is to mobilize a diverse movement of people across the university to create and establish equitable and inclusive practices at (Ontario Tech) within a three-year term (Ontario Tech, 2019).

Scope and authority

This Policy applies to applicants to undergraduate and professional-level programs.

This Policy does not apply to graduate-level applicants, please refer to the Graduate Academic Calendar.

The Registrar, or successor thereof, is the Policy Owner and is responsible for overseeing the implementation, administration and interpretation of this Policy.

Policy

Applying for consideration with a disability

1. Applicants with disabilities who have received disability-related accommodations in high school or during a previous degree or diploma program are expected to have grades that accurately reflect their academic ability. Applicants who were not accommodated for all or part of their high school or degree or diploma program, or who believe that there are extenuating circumstances related to their disability that have negatively impacted on their grades may be eligible for consideration on the basis of their disability.

Indigenous applicants

1. A student who has self-identified as Indigenous, who does not meet the competitive GPA for admission, but who still meets a minimum 70 per cent high school grade point average, may apply to have a separate assessment conducted by a committee which includes a member from the faculty of application, the Admissions office and the Indigenous Education and Cultural Services office (IECS).

Equity admissions

1. Applicants who consider themselves personally or academically disadvantaged for reasons that are beyond their control, may apply to have a separate assessment conducted by the university's Equity Admissions Committee. This committee includes a member from the faculty of application, the Admissions office and the President's Equity Taskforce. Applicants are required to meet the university's minimum 70 per cent high school grade point average for consideration.

Monitoring and review

This Policy will be reviewed as necessary and at least every three years. The Registrar, or successor thereof, is responsible to monitor and review this Policy.

Relevant legislation

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Related policies, procedures & documents

Special Admissions Considerations Procedure