The Master of Psychology and Doctor of Psychology degree programs are resident, in-person academic programs delivered on-site at 890 Yonge Street, in Toronto, Ontario. Full in-person attendance is required for all students in all courses in these programs. Students registering in these programs are responsible for making all necessary arrangements to attend their scheduled classes.
Virtual attendance or absence from class are not available as academic accommodations, as in-person attendance is a program academic requirement. The purpose of an accommodation is to allow an individual to meet academic requirements, but it cannot be used to lower or remove those requirements.
The Transitional Equivalency Program (TEQ) requires full attendance in all courses as per this policy. In general, TEQ courses are delivered in a fully virtual manner. If any TEQ courses are scheduled in person, this will be specified prior to registration, and in-person attendance will be required.
Virtual attendance is not available for in-person classes. Under conditions of inclement weather, in accordance with the Inclement Weather Policy, individual class sessions may be delivered fully virtually, without a hybrid option, for the duration of the school-wide closure.
Attendance lists are provided to the instructor of a class by the Registrar to record student attendance for each session. Attendance is recorded at the beginning and end of every class and submitted to the Registrar.
Students with outstanding fees may be prevented from registering in or attending classes. Students who miss class work due to outstanding fees may not be able to make up missed class work without prior approval.
Class Absence
Due to the experiential nature of many courses in the Faculty of Psychology and the use of collaboration, in-class discussion, and student presentations, it may not always be possible to make up missed classes. The decision as to whether to allow a student to make up missed work or missed class sessions rests with the course instructor. Instructors are responsible for the academic integrity of their courses and have the authority to determine if a student can meet the academic requirements of a course after an absence. Instructors do not have the authority to allow virtual attendance for an in-person class.
Alternative arrangements for missed classes can include but are not limited to:
- MPsy Program: Completing alternate assignments as defined by the instructor or attending the missed session with a different cohort or in a later iteration of the course.
- PsyD Program: Completing alternate assignments as defined by the instructor.
Virtual attendance is not available as an alternative to in-person attendance in the case of illness or critical incident, as defined by this policy.
Faculty are only able to approve absences in the following circumstances, and with appropriate documentation:
These circumstances are limited to:
- Student illness
- A critical family incident or pressing matter, such as the death or sudden critical illness of a family or household member
Documentation
Only the following documentation is acceptable for an approved absence from classes:
- Medical certificate from a medical professional
- Written attestation from someone outside the immediate family or household verifying the critical illness or incident related to a family or household member
Documentation for an absence must be provided to the Registrar as soon as possible, but no more than three weeks following the absence. Students must inform instructors in writing of an absence as soon as possible, preferably before the absence or shortly thereafter.
The following are some examples of reasons that are ineligible for approved absences:
- Weddings, family, and social events such as reunions and birthdays
- Business trips, vacations, and other travel
- Social engagements
- Heavy workload
- Practicum obligations
- Other educational or work-related obligations
- Travel time or distance
Unexcused absences
Faculty members are not required to provide alternatives for students who miss class due to an unexcused absence.
Students in the Master of Psychology program can choose to take the class at a different time, including with another cohort. Generally, students cannot make up an individual session (i.e. weekday/weekend) if that course is taught by another instructor. They would need to switch their enrollment fully to the other section.
Responsibility for making enrollment changes rests with the student.
Students are advised not to make any social, work or other commitments during the published times and dates of courses in which they have enrolled. Faculty are not permitted to approve absences for these reasons. Students should be aware that schedules are subject to change and will still be responsible for making up missed classes.
Even with medical or other documentation, a faculty member may decide that a student is not able to meet the academic requirements and can recommend the student complete the course at a different time. If a student is unable to complete a course for this reason, the Registrar will work with them to find an alternative option for the student. This can include taking the course at a later date or taking the course with another cohort.
Class start and end times
Class times are published in the course offerings listing and on the School Online Calendar. Students are required to be present at the start time of the class and be in attendance until the end time listed. Faculty may choose to dismiss students early, but this is not a requirement, nor should it be an expectation, and is solely at the instructor’s discretion.
For students who are repeatedly late or leave early, the instructor has the right to recommend dismissal from the course to the Program Dean or Director. In the case of repeated tardiness or absence, the Program Dean or Director may refer the student to the Program’s Academic Standing Committee.
Accommodation for Religious Observance
In compliance with the accommodation principles in the Ontario Human Rights Code, it is the policy of Adler Graduate Professional School to arrange reasonable accommodations for the needs of students with regard to religious observances.
From the Ontario Human Rights Commission:
https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/code_grounds/creed
“The Code does not define creed, but the courts and tribunals have often referred to religious beliefs and practices. Creed may also include non-religious belief systems that, like religion, substantially influence a person’s identity, worldview and way of life. People who follow a creed, and people who do not, have the right to live in a society that respects pluralism and human rights and the right to follow different creeds”
Students requesting accommodations for religious observances are not required to provide documentation of their sincerely held religious beliefs.
ADLER Psychology Programs are delivered two days per week. This intensive schedule allows for limited weeks in which courses can be scheduled per trimester. ADLER policy requires that no courses are scheduled on statutory holidays. The school makes every effort to schedule in a way that takes into consideration other holidays but is unable to guarantee that courses will not be scheduled on days of religious observance.
Students have a responsibility to inform members of the teaching staff well in advance of anticipated religious observances that might require accommodation, preferably at the beginning of the trimester.
Every reasonable opportunity will be given to students to make up missed work, however, students should be aware that they may not be able to make up interactive or experiential learning experiences. Decisions about whether it is possible to complete the educational requirements of a course in an alternative way rest with the instructors.
Options an instructor may allow for making up the missed class include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Coordinating an alternate assignment with the course instructor
- Completing a make-up date of the missed day(s) at another time
Virtual Attendance
In accordance with ADLER’s attendance policy, virtual attendance is not available as an alternative to in-person attendance.
Virtual attendance or absence from class are not available as academic accommodations, as in-person attendance is a program academic requirement. The purpose of an accommodation is to allow an individual to meet academic requirements, but it cannot be used to lower or remove those requirements