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Assignments

Personal Support Worker Program:  All required assignments must be submitted on the date and time outlined within the course outline or by the professor, and in the form (digital or hard copy) as instructed by the professor. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the required assignment is submitted digital and/or hardcopy via the method that has been indicated by the professor ie (dropbox/email).

If a student does not submit an assignment on the due date and does not communicate and negotiate a new due date with the professor prior to the original due date, 5% per school day will be deducted. Late assignments must be submitted in digital or hard copy format and 5% per day deduction will be added until the assignment is received by the professor. It is the student’s responsibility to follow-up to inform that the assignment was received by the professor, if a grade is not received from the instructor.

If a student cannot submit an assignment on the due date for any reason, they must notify the professor in advance and request an extension giving reasons for the delay. If an extension is not granted, the student is expected to have the assignment completed by the specified date.

In exceptional circumstances¹, if a student cannot submit an assignment on the date for any reason, they must notify the appropriate professor at least 24 hours in advance or as soon as possible and request an extension giving reasons for the delay. When an extension is granted, the student will receive full consideration for the assignment. Assignments with extensions are due at a specific date and time as arranged with the professor. Penalties may be applied to extended assignments. In certain instances, with late, makeup, or remedial work, assignments may be marked as pass/fail only.

All submitted work may be reviewed for authenticity and originality utilizing Turnitin®. Students who do not wish to have their work submitted to Turnitin® must, by the end of the second week of class, communicate this in writing to the instructor and make mutually agreeable alternate arrangements.

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Foot Note:
¹Written documentation is required to support claims of exceptional circumstances, i.e., illness or death of a family member

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Assignment Drop Box

Given that courses are being taught online you will be required to upload and submit your assignments using the eCentennial Assignment tool. Alternately, your professor will provide your with specific instructions on submitting assignments.

Tests

You will need to go to the Quizzes tool in eCentennial to write and submit your quizzes and tests or write them in class.

Tests or assignments conducted remotely may require the use of online proctoring technology where your identification is verified and their activity is monitored and/or recorded, both audibly and visually through remote access to your computer and web camera. Your myCard ID may be required when you write your tests. If you require an alternate assessment format you must communicate this in writing to the instructor as soon as possible and prior to the test or assignment due date to explore mutually agreeable alternatives.

Missed Test

 When a student is unable to be present for a test, the student must contact the professor via email or telephone prior to the test. If a student needs medical accommodation, he/she must contact Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS)

Failure on the part of the student to do the following may result in a grade of zero for that evaluative method:

Notify the professor in advance of the scheduled test.

Arrangements for missed tests for eligible students will be communicated in writing. Students are responsible for contacting the professor regarding the missed test. The missed test will be scheduled by the professor and may be any time between 0700 hours and 2100 hours on any day between Monday and Friday.

*The format for any missed test (i.e. short answer and/or multiple choice and/or case study) is up to the discretion of the course professor. The format for the missed test will be communicated with the student prior to the scheduled date of the missed test and is  up to the discretion of the course professor.

Students who miss a test are not permitted to attend class during any in class discussions of test results.

Failure to adhere to the above criteria will result in a grade of zero for the test that was missed. As this is viewed as academic dishonesty and will be sanctioned with the penalties outlined in the academic dishonesty college policy.

At the professor’s discretion, any student arriving late for a test may not be admitted and if admitted, will not be allowed additional time. Students arriving after other students have exited the classroom will not be allowed to take the test at that time. Records of absence from tests will be kept in the student files.

Missed in-class assignments and performance tests

When a student is unable to be present for an in-class assignment or performance test, the student must contact the professor via email or telephone in advance. If a student needs medical accommodation, he/she must contact Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS)

Failure on the part of the student to do the following may result in a grade of zero for that evaluative method:

• Notify the professor in advance of the scheduled in-class assignment or performance test.
• Rescheduling of the in-class assignment or performance test is at the professor’s discretion.

REVIEW OF TESTS

The following are program policies for test review:

• Test review will occur within two weeks following the release of the test mark.
• Review of term tests will not occur during scheduled class time.
• Review of tests will not occur on a “drop-in” basis.
• Electronic devices, pens, pencils and paper are not permitted in test review sessions.
• Students may review each test only once during the semester.
• Students who are absent for scheduled test review must submit a written request via email to the professor to make arrangements to review the test.

The procedure for reviewing term tests is at the discretion of the professor.

REVIEW OF FINAL EXAMINATION

A student request to review a final examination must be made in writing via email to the professor within 10 business days of the release of the final grade in the course.

Laboratory Setting

Students are to wait quietly and patiently outside of the lab until the Instructor brings them into the lab area. Students should not be in the lab without their teacher on lab day.

(1) Attendance

Students will have the opportunity to practice a range of skills and competencies in the class/lab. Learning objectives achieved in classes/labs are critical to student preparation for clinical/ community placements and success upon graduation. As such, attendance in the class/lab is mandatory.

• • When a student is unable to attend class/lab or clinical practice the student must contact the Instructor by email at least one hour prior to their scheduled time in class/lab. A medical certificate may be required upon his/her next scheduled return to the lab.
  • In all instances, the student is responsible for catching up on the missed skills and work covered in the missed lab. It will be the student’s responsibility to book a practice room for the required time. Missed lab may put the student in jeopardy of not meeting the requirements to get a passing grade in lab.

(2)  Professionalism

• • We view our PSW lab identical to a clinical placement in an agency therefore, we expect students to handle equipment and resources responsibly and respectfully and behave in a professional and respectful manner at all times when in the lab.

(3)  Attire 

• • The mandatory attire for participation in the lab is a uniform (see uniform guidelines below) and footwear with rubber soles.

(4)  Personal Belongings

• • Bring only textbooks and notes to lab. There is no safe storage area for personal belongings. Articles left on the floor are a safety hazard, and so it is a requirement that students use lockers for coats, backpacks and other items that are not needed in the lab. Coats, knapsacks, wheeled carts/briefcases will not be permitted in the lab.
  • Any personal items such as purses, wallets, textbooks will be permitted; however, at the risk of the students. The Lab Staff will not take the responsibility for any loss or theft. If such an incident occurs, the student must report to the Security Office. Cell phones and other electronic devices must remain on silent and away from the practice area. Again, please, no texting or phone calls at the bedside.
  • Use of cell phones and other electronic devices in lab may result in the student being in jeopardy of meeting the requirements to obtain a passing grade in lab.

(5)  Food and Beverages

• • Food and beverages, other than water are not permitted in the lab area with the exception of the feeding lab. If there are medical reasons that snacks are needed, accommodations can be made. It is the student’s responsibility to inform their Instructor ahead of time so plans can be made.

(6)  Cleanliness

• • Please respect the material and equipment (including models) in the lab. As the lab is considered a clinical or hospital environment, please refrain from sitting on the beds or using the wheelchairs as chairs or placing personal goods on the beds.
  • Manikins should be treated as if they were a live patient – they are extremely expensive and difficult to replace.
  • Students are expected to assist the faculty to clean up the lab space and remake the beds after every class – as would happen when leaving patients after clinical.
  • Assisting with housekeeping by cleaning call bells, remotes, bedrails, bedside tables and counters can also assist to control and prevent infection in the lab area.

(7)   Fire Policies and Exit

• • It is the responsibility of the student to know fire exit locations.

(8)   Noise Level

• • Try to keep the noise level in the lab to a minimum as distractions such as loud conversations and banging of doors are disruptive to the learning of other students.

(9)   Additional Opportunities to Practice 

• • Practice times are limited to a one (1) hour maximum. Space in the Practice Rooms is limited to four (4) students maximum. Students must attend in person to book the Practice Room and to requisition equipment. Requisitions are to be given to the Lab Staff a minimum of 48-hours ahead of the practice time. Requisitions need to be complete and concise and any equipment not requisitioned will not be made available. 

Clinical Setting 

The Agency / Placement Site:  

• • (1) in keeping with its responsibility for client care has the right to intervene in any instance when a student or Instructor may be functioning in a manner considered by the agency to be potentially dangerous to the well-being of the client or contrary to agency regulations, rules, policies, and procedures.

• • (2) has the right, after consultation with the administrators of the College, to refuse the use of the facilities to any student or staff of the College for causes deemed in its discretion to be justifiable, and until such time as terms for re-use of facilities may be agreed upon.

The College: 

• • (3) is responsible for safety of practice and therefore reserves the right to ask a student to seek medical assessment when health problems appear to interfere with the satisfactory clinical or community practice. The student’s continuance in the program may be influenced by the results of the medical assessment.

• • (4) may remove the student from the clinical or community area if a student demonstrates unsafe or inappropriate behaviour related to client care, environment or staff until the situation can be reviewed in regard to the appropriateness of the student’s continuation in the program. The issue of client safety through removal of a student from a clinical/community situation supersedes College Policy regarding temporary dismissal of a student for a period of one day.

• • (5) may remove the student from the clinical or community area if the agency / site appears to exhibit an unsafe learning environment for the student.

The Student: 

• • (6) must notify his/her respective individual Clinical Instructor/ Faculty Advisor in cases of illness from laboratories, skills tests through performance, and experiences in the practical courses. A medical certificate is required to support claims.
  • (7) in cases of absence from clinical practice or community visits due to illness, must consult with respective course Clinical Instructor/Faculty Advisor on how to notify the specific agency according to agency policies/ appropriate lines of communication. A medical certificate may be required before returning to practicum.

NOTE: All absences must be reported to the individual Clinical Instructors/ Faculty Advisors. Records of absences from evaluative methods will be kept in student files.

Reporting of Health Information 

Please be aware that during the course of your program you may come in contact with communicable & infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health requires that, students (and others) who have direct patient contact in the hospital, and who acquire the following communicable diseases (or are exposed to them) report this information to the hospital’s Occupational Health

Service and the School’s Clinical Placement Instructor/School’s Faculty Placement Advisor:

 Tuberculosis  

 Enteric disease (human infectious gastro-intestinal illness)  

 Hepatitis B; HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)  

 Varicella/Zoster (Chicken Pox/Shingles)  

 Herpes Simplex (lesion on the lips, face, fingers and inside of mouth only)

Practice of Prevention and Infection Control in Health Studies Programs 

Students entering any health care profession must be aware of precautionary measures to be taken to protect themselves and the public at large from the spread of various infectious diseases. During the course of health care programs at Centennial College, in-depth instruction and study of various diseases will occur. To provide some basic necessary information prior to initial patient contact, students must familiarize themselves with the prevention and control of infection. 

Mask Fitting Policy 

Infection control mask fitting is a requirement for Health Studies students for in-

hospital/community clinical placements which involve direct patient care. The Infection Control Protocols must be reviewed by the students prior to their clinical placement.

What Should I Do If I Puncture Myself or Have Direct Contact with Blood or Body Fluids?

• (1) Press cuts and punctures of the skin to make them bleed while washing with soap and water. Seek medication assistance immediately.
  • If blood gets on the skin, but there is not a cut or puncture, wash with soap and water.
  • If eyes are contaminated, rinse while open with tap water or normal saline.
  • blood gets in the mouth, spit it out, then rinse with normal saline and spit again.
• (2) Immediately notify a Centennial College Health Studies faculty member.
• (3) Notify charge person in area of work.
• (4) Fill out the incident/injury report in triplicate. Copies must be retained for Centennial College reports.
• (5) Notify your family physician for immediate review and follow-up.

Community Setting

Communication between students, Clinical Instructors/Faculty Advisors, and placement supervisors is encouraged. The student will respect confidentiality and not disclose any information regarding the facility, its employees, or residents/patients/clients, unless relevant to performance indicators identified for the course.

Each student in community placement will have a Faculty Advisor who will support him/her during placement, visit as required (minimum one visit) and assign the final grade using the course evaluations received from the Preceptor/Placement Supervisor and other course related assignments.  Faculty will be available for consultation as requested throughout the student’s placement experience.

Students will adhere to the dress code established by the program unless otherwise directed by the placement facility.

When a student is unable to attend class time prior to lab, clinical or community the student must, do the following at least one hour to the scheduled time:

• contact the Clinical Instructor/Faculty Advisor by telephone and follow up by email.
• if in clinical or community placement, contact the agency by telephone.
• produce documentation to demonstrate extenuating circumstances prior to attending next lab or clinical. 

Failure to meet the conditions specified above reflects lack of accountability and may result in unsuccessful grades in the course.

Students are accountable for missed course content. Missed lab and clinical/community time will affect the consistency of student performance and evaluation and may result in a failing grade.

*Written documentation is required to support claims of exceptional circumstances, i.e. student illness.

Students who find that they cannot participate in class, group activities and/or group work will be offered academic advising regarding student/program match and suitability.  

Student practicum placements will involve working the hours dictated by the needs of the practicum agency.  For example, day shifts may start as early as 6:30 am and evening shifts may finish as late as 11:30 pm.

Students are required to arrange for their own transportation to and from placement sites. Costs associated with transportation will be absorbed by the student. All efforts are made to secure placements within the Greater Toronto Area however, this cannot be guaranteed. Placements can be either day or evening shifts.  

Each student will bring the following items to the clinical/ community setting:

• • a watch with a second hand
  • items for note taking
  • course outline and lab manual
  • Centennial college photo-identification

Personal Support Workers  provide care around the clock; therefore shift work will be an integral part of your life.  During this program you may have day shifts or evening shifts or 8–9-hour shifts.  Typically, day shifts start at either 0700 or 0730 depending on the agency; evening shifts begin at 1500 or 1530.  Shift rotations are not negotiable and will be dependent on the agreement with each hospital/ Long Term care Facility.

The student will respect confidentiality and not disclose any information regarding the facility, its’ employees, or clients unless relevant to performance indicators identified for the course. The use of initials will be used for any written submissions throughout this program.

Community Placement (Preceptorship)  

• • 1) Students will be expected to follow their assigned nurses’ schedule. This will include days, evenings, on weekdays and/weekends.
  • 2) Students are not allowed to negotiate with agency regarding their schedule and/or preceptor.
  • 3) Students may expect to travel up to 2 hrs to their placement, as placements can be anywhere within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
  • 4) Students who refuse to attend assigned placement will be removed and will not be assigned another placement. Student will have to take the course again in the subsequent semester (when course is offered again), subject to the availability of placements.

In addition, the following will be noted for all Field Placement/Clinical Placement including Preceptorship rotation:

1. 1. The student’s preferred choice of clinical location cannot be guaranteed
   2. The College tries its best, but there are a number of factors beyond its control
   3. The College recognizes that a two-hour travel time can be challenging for students for a variety of reasons, including transportation, childcare, etc.
   4. The College encourages students to prepare for all such factors in advance of clinical. In entering into this program, all students must be prepared to travel for up to two hours and that start times can occur outside the standard office day. 5. When the College decides to shift students around, this is done randomly 6. Location of clinical placements cannot be appealed.

 

Evaluation and Grading

Grades set by the Program for individual courses supersede the College grading system.

• A “C” grade is required for promotion for all theoretical courses within the program, including the English (COMM) and General Education (GNED) courses.

The Grading System for evaluating student performance is as follows.

 

*In courses in some programs, these grades may not be considered a passing grade, and a higher passing grade may be required. The minimum required GPA for graduation is 2.0 and may be higher for some programs.

** May be used in a course where a percentage grade is inappropriate

Q.     What is GPA?

1. GPA stands for Grade Point Average. Grade points are numeric values attached to each letter grade that is awarded for each course you have completed. For a full explanation of GPA, see Grade System in the Academic Policies section of the College’s Full-time Catalogue at https://p.widencdn.net/p1rkrg/full-time-guidebook-2020-2021 or the Grading Policy posted on the policy webpage at centennialcollege.ca/about-centennial/college-overview/college-policies

Q.     What happens if I fail a course?

1. If you fail one course, you may re-enroll to repeat the course the next time that course is offered. If that course is a pre-requisite for another course, you cannot progress to that course until you have successfully completed the failed course. You will be put in Conditional or Probationary Academic Standing. See Academic Progression section below.

If you fail a course or do not take a course in the required sequence you may have a sequencing problem because courses may be taught only once per year and you may not be able to take the failed course for at least another full year. This may mean it will cost you time to get back in proper course sequence. Refer to the program model route for current pre-requisite requirements. When you fail a course, you cannot be guaranteed the opportunity to repeat the course the next time it is offered. This will depend on available space after all regularly scheduled students have registered for the course.

Q.     If I fail a course and repeat the same course successfully, will my GPA include both attempts?

1. No. Only the attempt that has the higher mark will be used to calculate your GPA. However, both attempts will appear on your academic transcript.

Q.    How many times can I repeat a course?

1. You are allowed to repeat a course two times. A third repeat will require the Dean or a designate’s approval.

Q.     What is an “I” grade? How long does an “I” grade remain on my transcript?

1. An Incomplete (I) grade is a temporary grade intended to be an acknowledgement of a legitimate reason for granting a one time, limited extension to the time normally allowed to complete all course requirements.

Students have time after the scheduled end of the course to successfully complete required additional work as determined by the faculty member who assigned the grade (up to 12 calendar months) in order to qualify for a passing grade. After 12 calendar months, Incomplete grades are converted to a failing grade and the student must repeat the course in order to achieve a passing grade.

Withdrawing from a Course or Program

If you decide to withdraw from a course or program, you must meet with the Success Advisor to discuss the implications of dropping a course or withdrawing from the program.

Withdrawing from a course or program without academic penalty must be done officially by submitting a Withdrawal Form or Course Add/Drop Form to the Enrolment Services Office before or by the withdrawal deadline date.

Q.     If I decide to drop a course, will I get a ‘F’ grade?

1. If you drop a course before the deadline date, no grade is assigned and the course is removed from your record. Make sure you complete the Course Add/Drop Form, have it signed by your Success Advisor and submit it to Enrolment Services on or before the deadline date.

Courses on a student’s record after the withdrawal deadline become a part of the student’s permanent official record. Therefore, if you stop attending class/completing course activities without officially withdrawing you may be assigned a Failure or Failure, Non-Attendance (FNA) grade at the end of the semester. An FNA may be assigned when a student has been absent without permission from required course meetings or have not participated in/completed course activities/assignments. This grade is counted as a failure in the calculation of your GPA and academic standing.

Q.     Will I get a refund if I withdraw from a course?

1. You will receive a partial refund of fees only if you officially withdraw within the first ten days of the semester. Some fees, however, such as the OSAP fee-deferral charge and administration fees, are not refundable.

Q.     What are some possible consequences of withdrawing from a course or program?

1. Withdrawing from a course or program or reducing the number of courses in which you are enrolled in the semester can have some significant consequences. Some of the consequences may include the following:

• Your eligibility for an OSAP loan may change.
• The duration of your studies may be extended and/or graduation may be delayed.
• You may need to incur additional fees.
• Any sponsorship arrangements you have in place may be affected.
• Your eligibility for inter-collegiate sports may be affected.
• Prerequisites for upcoming semesters may be impacted.

School of Community and Health Studies, Nursing Department Policies

At the beginning of each course, students will be informed re the specific requirements of that course and the way in which the learning will be evaluated.

1.    Final grades reflect the students’ performance on a variety of term and final testing components.

2.    A “C” grade is required for satisfactory completion of a course.

3.    Promotion into the next semester of a program requires a ‘C’ grade in all core courses (including COMM) in the current semester.*

4.    Final promotion from a program qualifies the student for a Centennial College Diploma/Certificate. To achieve final promotion a ‘C’ or ‘P’ grade is required in all courses throughout the program (including COMM courses)*

* Please refer to the Program Model Route or Program Specific Policies for precise guidelines on promotion within a particular program.

Regular ongoing evaluation of academic and practical performance will keep the student informed of his/her progress. Based upon faculty review of such progress, recommendations for remedial procedures or withdrawal from the program will be made.

Repeating A Course

Should a student be unsuccessful in one or more courses and has been granted re- admission to repeat the course(s) in a subsequent semester(s), it is expected that the student will repeat the failed course(s) & its co-requisites*.

* Clinical/Field currency may require a repeating Student to also repeat a successful practice course with continuous demonstration of safe & consistent behavior.

The number of repeats allowed for a course in the Health Studies Department programs is 1(ONE). If a student is unsuccessful in the same course twice, they will not be able to repeat the course again.

If a student is unsuccessful in 2 or more courses within a semester, they will be placed on academic suspension and will not be able to enroll in courses for the next 2 consecutive semesters.

Specific programs & courses have specific attendance requirements however it is strongly recommended that students attend all classes.

Although general attendance in ‘theory’ classes is not compulsory, attendance is compulsory for classes designated as “Laboratory Sessions, Group Presentations” and/or Seminars and guest speakers” in order to provide for application and practice of various knowledge & skills in theory courses. Attendance constitutes arriving at class on time.

Please consult with your instructors & refer to your course outlines for precise attendance guidelines.

 

Attendance at Tests and Examinations

Attendance is compulsory for all scheduled tests and examinations.

A student missing an evaluative method must contact the professor prior to the scheduled test/exam/assignment and clarify the reason for absence. Failure to notify your teacher of your absence in advance, will result in a grade of zero for that evaluative method.

At the teacher’s discretion, students arriving late for a test or exam, may not be admitted and, if admitted, may not be allowed additional time. However, students arriving after other students have exited the examination hall will not be allowed to take the test or exam.

Arrangements for makeup tests are as follows:

·  It is the students responsibility to contact the professor to arrange a re-test date and time.

·  Arrangements for missed tests for eligible students will be communicated in writing. Students are responsible for contacting the professor regarding the missed test. The missed test will be scheduled by the professor and may be any time between 0700 hours and 2100 hours on any day between Monday and Friday.

The format for any missed test (i.e. short answer and/or multiple choice and/or case study) is up to the discretion of the course professor. The format for the missed test will be communicated with the student prior to the scheduled date of the missed test.