Canadian universities receive increasing exam deferral requests
As the number of university enrollments continues to rise in Canada, universities are offering exam deferrals to equip students with adequate support.
According to Western University officials, around 15 per cent of all Western undergraduate students—a total of around 1,500 students—are expected to request exam deferrals this academic year.
A student can request an exam deferral if they missed the original exam because of sickness or other extenuating circumstances. Western students who deferred exams will write their exams in January 2024 instead of the usual December exam period.
According to CBC News, an unprecedented number of students deferring exams creates problems regarding “where and when to schedule the make-up tests.” However, these deferrals are also a good thing.
According to Marisa Modeski, Western University’s registrar, allowing students to defer their exams is “a sign that the school takes student achievement and success seriously.” Modeski adds that it is the responsibility of universities like Western to ensure that their students are successful. Providing students with the option to defer their exams is one way of ensuring their success.
“Universities as a whole have become incredibly proactive and responsive to understanding the diverse needs of students today,” Modeski explains. She also notes that the increasing number of requests for exam deferrals stems from the increased enrollment rates at the university.
Growing enrollment numbers have been a trend across many Canadian universities. For example, in 2012, Conestoga College in Ontario had only 10,000 students. Ten years later, Conestoga’s student population has more than doubled, largely due to international student enrollments.
Canadian colleges and universities receive international students from over 150 different countries. The largest number of international students at Canadian universities comes from India, with around 40 per cent of study permits being sent there.
The stereotype that all international students come from well-off families is not true. To fund their studies, many students take out many loans and struggle to pay for rent and food.
For example, 23-year-old Kartik Purani, a student at Conestoga College, told The Globe and Mail that his main priority is finding work. “I’m under pressure,” he explains. “I have to earn the fees.” Purani admits that he doesn’t engage in “college life” much, due to having to look for work to pay for his courses next semester. But the job hunt is tough. Purani, who is currently living in Kitchener, has attended restaurant job fairs, and has asked for openings at various fast-food restaurants, but to no avail. There are hundreds of other international students like himself applying for the same jobs.
Purani’s roommates admit that they have entered the apartment to find Purani crying sometimes. The anxiety of trying to find a job, trying to afford paying bills, and balancing coursework weighs down on him. But Purani is aware of his goals and wants to stay in Canada. He chose Canada for its alluring immigration policies.
It is students like Purani who might benefit from exam deferrals. Balancing work, school, and other commitments can take a toll on a student’s mental health. Exam deferrals reassure students that universities recognize these challenges and are taking steps to account for increasing enrollment trends.
“In recognizing the diverse needs of our students, that they begin from very different starting lines, we have to make sure that we’re positioning students for success,” Modeski explains. “Part of that is being accommodating to students’ needs.” Allowing for a flexible exam period may help alleviate the stress levels international students face living in a foreign country.
Staff Writer (Volume 50) — Maryam is a third-year student completing a double major in English and Professional Writing & Communication. She started her journey with The Medium in 2022, where she’s written articles for News, Opinion, Features, and Sports. In her spare time, Maryam enjoys painting, cooking, and finding creative ways to educate people about world issues that matter to her.
I really question anyone who claims allowing so many accommodations are to the students benefit – this accommodation does not even cover those who already get extra time or other resources such as a quiet room during the normal exam period etc. We just have to look at feedback from employers – they are complaining about the lack of commitment by students, poor interpersonal skills, time management, unwillingness to meet deadlines or work necessary hours etc… Students themselves are posting on reddit, Facebook, tik tock their despair at working a full week, having to travel to work, minimum wages, no social life due to no money etc they sit there crying like the world owes them, they deserve more – no they do not, respect and value are earned, not owed,
I also question the numbers stated in this article especially when it covers such an important topic ie the dumbing down of our students “15 per cent of all Western undergraduate students—a total of around 1,500 students” that would mean Western only has 10,000 students, as per their own web page in 2021/22 Western had 27,174 students with a total of 33,879, the total now in 23/24 is over 44,000 meaning the UG numbers are closer to 35,000 thus 15% is 5,250 approx.
Now I fully support students who have a medical emergency and need to reschedule but students know they just have to claim stress, mental health even sniffle and there is little to prove their claims – doctors now dish out pills like candy. Students now don’t even have to see a doctor in person, many institutions are using remote doctors and so long as students are willing to pay a doctor’s fee they get a note – really interesting how many doctors give a SERIOUS note for one day, funnily enough the day of their exam – this is in itself discrimination as not all students can afford $35/40 for a note…
It is shocking knowing that the leadership in universities are not setting standards for education – do they see so little value in education, was their own education process so hard that they think rules and standards are of no value – they ended p with PhDs etc with full rigorous processes – my own mentor had dyslexia and never claimed assistance – he worked his butt off . Students know important dates yet they ignore them – they book travel, then claim they had to fly back late or leave early due to high cost of flights.
University is now the new high school, in fact the new elementary school – lack of rules, leadership and standards. Students are here because there are no real jobs, no real hope…so many return to the same dead end jobs they left to come to university – trades such as engineering, nursing, medical fields etc.., but now they have thousands in debt..
Again, I support those who truly struggle, but maybe we should look at offering more part-time degrees less courses per year, without losing benefits such as healthcare, etc…work as you learn etc.. We are doing nothing by allowing students to rule the roost and abuse the system.
With all due respect madam, could you be any more overdramatic? The universities set the rules, these students are just operating within that ruleset to their own advantage. You seem to have a bad case of “These gosh darned spoilt yungins!” syndrome. You can accuse these students of laziness or incompetence until you are blue in the face, but the reality is it is rational human behaviour to seek the best return on investment. I have to point something out, Ms. Diamond. You’ve made a whole slew of assertions while citing no evidence to back up your claims. Would you consider the possibility that your perception of the matter may be skewed by the reddish tint on your spectacles? I only have to ask because I too was one of these students you would so readily turn your nose up to. But you’re right about one thing, employers absolutely hated me. Not because I was incompetent or lazy though, but because I knew the rules of the game better than they did which made them fear me. You see, paradoxically this understanding of how to exploit systems turns out to be very useful. I see your reply as delightfully ironic. I hope you understand.