CNA Distributed Learning Distributed Learning


Policies

This section is intended to provide an overview of policies and procedures as they pertain to Distributed Learning. For more information on College of the North Atlantic’s policies, please visit www.cna.nl.ca or consult the College calendar.

Learner Responsibiliy

As a learner, you should become familiar with College policies and procedures of Distributed Learning. It is your responsibility.

  • ensure you have the appropriate prerequisites required for a course or program
  • know the course outlines, content, evaluation methods and methodology
  • communicate with your instructors, counsellors, and other support personnel in order to solve problems you may encounter

    • Cover of DL Learner Guide
  • know the availability of your instructors and
  • comply with dates and deadlines prescribed by College of the North Atlantic.
Academic Dishonesty

Cheating, plagiarism, fraud, deceit, or other forms of academic dishonesty constitute improper student conduct. Students who are found to be guilty will be reprimanded and will not receive credit for the work concerned. The reprimand will be given to the student in writing, and a copy placed in the student’s file. Repeat offences will result in suspension.



Learner Responsibiliy
Academic Dishonest
Attendance Policy

Exams
Exams and Evaluation
General Evaluation
Exam Scheduling
Exam Conflicts
Exam Location
Exam Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Important Exam Information
Private Invigilation Policy
Acceptable Invigilators
Deferred Exam Policy
Qualifying for a Deferred Exam
Applying for a Deferred Exam
Additional Exam Information
Supplementary Exam Policy
Qualifying for a Supplementary Exam
Exam Re-read Policy
Weather Policy

PLAR
Work Exposure
Academic Documentation
Refunds
Access to Information and
Protection of Personal Privacy Act (ATIPPA)
Graduation

Attendance Policy

All college students must adhere to CNA’s policy and procedure on STUDENT ATTENDANCE [SS-217 & SS-217-PR] which can be found on the CNA website http://www.cna.nl.ca

Online students are required to participate actively in each learning experience and to complete each assignment by the due date according to the Course Syllabus. It is the responsibility of all online students to make arrangements for participating in the course consistently throughout the term. Where absenteeism adversely affects student`s progress and performance, dismissal from the College may result. TOP


Exams and Evaluations

Please read each policy carefully to ensure you are familiar with examination requirements and to avoid unnecessary problems and delays. If you have any questions, contact Distributed Learning at: Email: dlsexams@cna.nl.ca or by Phone: 1.877.465.2250 menu option 1 or 0. TOP

  • General

    Evaluation

    Student evaluation will be on a continuous basis. The specific evaluation scheme will be presented in each course Learners are responsible for submitting their assignments to instructors within the required deadlines or, for making prior arrangements with the instructors concerned. Graded assignments and quizzes, along with instructor feedback, will be returned electronically within 10 working days (5 days in Intersession). Final grades submitted to the Learner Service office will be rounded in units of five. Final exam marks are not released, only final course grades are reported. TOP


    Exam Scheduling

    Dates for mid-term, final, deferred, supplementary and challenge examinations will be set in advance (available online: http://dls.cna.nl.ca/calendar_events.shtml. Mid-term evaluation will normally be scheduled during the seventh and eighth weeks of the semester. Some exceptions may apply. Final exams will be scheduled during the last two weeks of the semester. An exam schedule will be posted online at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/exam_schedule.shtml at least two weeks prior to exams in fall and winter semesters and one week during Intersession. You should review the exam schedule to ensure you do not miss an exam or that you have no exam conflicts. All exams are written at 7:00 pm, Newfoundland Standard Time (NST), 6:30 pm in most parts of Labrador. Exams written outside the province of Newfoundland and Labrador must be written as close as possible to NST. Special arrangements may be necessary in the case of online exams. Please email dlsexams@cna.nl.ca for more information. TOP


    Exam Conflicts

    If you find you have two exams scheduled for the same time slot, or you have three (or more) exams scheduled within one 24-hour period, email dlsdeferred@cna.nl.ca to report the conflict. You must provide a copy of your on-campus exam schedule from CNA (or applicable institution) as supporting documentation. The exam will be scheduled during deferred exams and you will be notified via email when the deferred schedule has been posted. You must report this conflict ASAP to avoid rescheduling delays.TOP


    Exam Location

    Supervised exams will be written at the CNA campus nearest you. At the beginning of each semester, you are responsible for notifying your instructor of your exam location. Exams written in the St. John’s area are written at Prince Philip Drive campus. Room numbers for exams can be obtained by visiting http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/exam_rooms.shtml or contacting the exam coordinator at the campus nearest you. A list of contacts can be found at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/exam_coordinators.shtml.

    If you live 40+ kilometres (one way) from the nearest campus or you reside outside the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, you are required to apply for private exam invigilation. Please see our Private Invigilation policy for information on how to arrange private exam supervision. TOP


    Exam Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

    Students with disabilities who require exam accommodations must identify their needs at the beginning of the semester to the Coordinator of Disability Services by emailing dl_disabilityservices@cna.nl.ca or by calling 709.891.5612. Accommodations are supports that relate directly to individual student needs.

    Accommodations can include, but are not limited to the following.

    • test clarification
    • alternate location or small group setting for exam
    • oral exam/reading direction
    • assistive technolog
    • extended time for examination
    TOP

    Important Exam Information

    College of the North Atlantic utilizes software to increase exam security called LockDown. The use of the Lockdown Browser is mandatory for students completing online theory-based exams. For more information visit http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/lockdown_browser.shtml

    You will be required to provide a valid photo ID (i.e. Driver's license) prior to writing your exam. You will not be permitted to write without photo identification.

    Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all invigilated (supervised) exams are closed book exams. Any use of materials not provided by the examination will be considered improper conduct and subject to college academic discipline policy.

    Students are not permitted to have cell phones, blackberries or any other electronic storage or communication devices (including IPods, MP3 players, electronic translation devices, etc.) in exam rooms or laboratories or on their person.

    Calculators may be permitted in the exam room at the discretion of the instructor and/or the invigilator. The memories of programmable calculators must be wiped clean before the calculator is permitted in the exam room. The invigilator has the right to inspect any calculator and its memory function before allowing the learner to use the calculator for an exam.

    Book bags, knapsacks, purses and other bags must be left in the space directed by the invigilator. TOP


Private Invigilation Policy

You are required to write your supervised exams at the campus nearest you. However, if you live 40+ Kilometres from the nearest CNA campus, or you reside out of province, you can make arrangements to have your exam(s) privately invigilated.

To request private invigilation:

  • Your request must be submitted at least three weeks for a 15 week semester, or two weeks for a 7 week intersession, prior to the exam period. Requests received less than one week before the exam period may not be accommodated. A new request must be submitted every semester.

  • Check the list of community invigilators online at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/community_list.shtml to see if an invigilator has already been identified in your community.

  • Complete and submit the online Private Invigilation form to identify the community where you wish to write your http://dls.cna.nl.ca/forms/private_forms.shtml.
  • If your community is not on the community invigilation list, please complete the New Invigilator Information section on the form. In this section, you will be asked to supply the following information:

    • name of a professional person in your community to supervise your exam. For more detailed information on appropriate exam supervisors, please refer to the next section - Acceptable Invigilators.
    • invigilator’s contact information including telephone number, postal address and email address. Include a fax number if available.
    • your course name and number

  • DL will contact your suggested invigilator by email and will forward the invigilation form you've completed. The invigilator will be required to complete the Declaration of Invigilation section as proof of identity. Your invigilator will also be asked to certify that they meet the criteria outlined below. (Please see - Acceptable Invigilators). TOP

Acceptable Invigilators

Your exam invigilator should be a professional person in the community and be computer literate. Ideally, they will be affiliated with an educational institution, i.e., a local school. Private invigilators should be a:

•    post-secondary institution •    business person               •    postmaster                
•    school teacher/principal •    clergy person •    librarian
•    commissioner of oaths •    lawyer/judge •    banker

To avoid the possibility of conflict of interest, DL will not approve the following private invigilators:


•    friends                            •    current CNA students
•    relatives •    co-workers (immediate supervisor is acceptable)       
•    neighbors •    person residing in the same residence

DL reserves the right to deny invigilators it considers inappropriate

Note: Learners must submit a request for private invigilation each semester. Arrangements for private invigilation must be made at least three weeks for a 15 week semester, or two weeks for a 7 week Intersession prior to the scheduled exam date. TOP

Deferred Exam Policy

If you are unable to write an exam in the scheduled time slot, you may qualify for a deferred exam. The following information provides important details on deferred exam policies and procedures. TOP


Qualifying for a Deferred Exam

Please note that permission to write a deferred exam is a privilege, not a right, granted solely on the basis of extenuating circumstances. A deferred exam can be requested if:

  • you have an exam conflict - two exams scheduled for the same time slot. Conflicts should be reported to dlsdeferred@cna.nl.ca copy of exam schedule required).
  • you have three (or more) exams scheduled within one 24-hour period (copy of exam schedule required).
  • you have fallen seriously ill (medical documentation required).
  • a death has occurred in the immediate family (documentation required).
  • you are unable to reschedule work commitments (documentation from employer required).

Deferred exam requests will NOT be approved based on the following reasons:

  • social plans/vacation plans (exam time frames on inside front cover).
  • other exams/assignments in the same week.
  • you forgot or didn’t know when the exam was schedule. TOP

Applying for a Deferred Exam
  • Complete the Deferred Exam Request form available at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/forms/deferred_request.shtml
  • Submit all necessary supporting documentation within five (5) business days. Failure to submit documentation promptly will delay deferred exam approval and may forfeit your privilege to write a deferred exam. ALL requests for deferred exams must be received at least seven (7) days prior to your original scheduled exam date (unless extenuating circumstances apply such as bereavement or serious illness).
  • For exams cancelled due to weather conditions, a deferred request must be submitted within two (2) business days of the original exam date.
  • Questions regarding deferred exams should be directed to the Distributed Learning Service Coordinator by emailing dlsdeferred@cna.nl.ca or by calling 1.877.465.2250 menu option 1).
  • Requests will be assessed on an individual basis. You are required to check the Deferred Exam Schedule at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/exams/exam_schedule.shtml for the date and time of your deferred exam.
  • Deferred midterms are normally written within two weeks of the last scheduled midterm exam. Deferred finals will be written within the first two weeks of the following semester. Some exceptions may apply. The deferred exam schedule will be posted after the scheduled exam period has ended. TOP

Additional Exam Information
  • Students will be afforded the opportunity to write only one deferred exam (per deferred request). Failure to take the deferred exam as scheduled will result in the forfeit of the allotted grade.
  • Deferred exams may differ from the original exam and may not necessarily follow the same format. It is your responsibility to follow up on the exam format with your instructor.
  • Deferred exams can only be written after the original exam has been administered. TOP
Supplementary Exam Policy

To request permission to write a supplementary exam you must:

  • Check to see if you qualify for a supplementary exam (see Qualifying for a Supplementary Exam)
  • Complete and submit the online Supplementary Exam Request form at http://dls.cna.nl.ca/forms/supplementary_request.shtml
  • Pay the supplementary exam fee of $25.00 by calling DL 1.877.465.2250, menu option 3 or by visiting the Learner Services office at the nearest campus.

The Learner Services office will:

  • Verify your eligibility to write a supplementary exam.
  • Forward your payment confirmation to the DL Service Coordinator.

Questions regarding supplementary exams should be directed to the Service Coordinator by calling 1.877.465.2250 menu option 1) or emailing dlsexams@cna.nl.ca.

TOP


Qualifying for a Supplementary Exam

To qualify for a supplementary exam, you must have attained a failing grade of 5 or 10 marks below the stated pass mark.

For upgrading purposes, in your final semester of studies, you may be given an opportunity to write a supplementary exam for a course in which you have attained a minimum pass mark or five marks above the minimum pass mark.

Additional Information
  • Learners may be eligible to write one supplementary per semester.
  • Supplementary exams will not apply to any course in which the final exam is worth less than 30%.
  • Refunds of the supplementary exam fee will be granted only if permission to write an exam is denied.
  • For purposes of transfer of credit, learners must be aware that other post-secondary institutions may not accept grades attained through Supplementary Examinations.
  • Consult the CNA Calendar www.cna.nl.ca/programs-courses/default.asp for more detailed information on the Supplementary Exam Policy.
Note: Supplementary exams are scheduled to be written within the first two weeks of the following semester. The supplementary exam schedule will be posted on the DL website. Please check it regularly. TOP