Academic Advocacy
Our academic advocacy team is here to support undergraduate, Law and Medicine students in navigating university processes around appeals, grade standings, senate polices, and other class-related issues.
Note: this page (yourtmsu.ca) is the only site to book an Academic Advocacy appointment. There are no external websites for Advocacy appointment bookings with TMSU.
Always Make an Effort to Reach an Informal Resolution
The university expects students to take all reasonable steps to resolve the issue themselves, before filing an official complaint or appeal. Appeals tend to be less successful if the student was able to speak with the instructor but chose not to — consider contacting your professor about your situation before moving forward with a complaint or appeal process!
Book an Appointment
Use this form to request an appointment with TMSU’s Academic Advocate. Once submitted, you will be redirected to the booking page to request an appointment time. Note: TMSU only serves full-time undergraduate, Medicine and Law students.
Prepare for your appointment!
Before you book your appointment, please make sure you review the information that might be relevant to your particular case on this page. There are a lot of valuable resources that can probably respond to most of your questions without the need to book an appointment. Compile all of your evidence, proof, or supporting documents to be ready for the meeting.
Filing an Appeal
There are different types of appeals depending on the situation you are facing, learn which appeal might apply to you:
A grade appeal is your opportunity to appeal a final grade in a particular course.
A standing appeal can be filed when you have a change in academic standing (ie. Required To Withdraw or Permanent Program Withdrawn).
An academic misconduct appeal is your opportunity to challenge a finding of academic misconduct or the penalty assigned for committing academic misconduct.
Fee appeals can be submitted on the basis of medical, compassionate, or procedural grounds usually within 6 months since the fees in question were posted to your account.
Retroactive or late course drop requests can be submitted to the Registrar’s Office if you have been affected by difficult or unforeseen personal circumstances (i.e. medical or compassionate ground).
Instructor or Course Complaint
If you have a concern about your instructor or course, you are encouraged to address the matter as soon as it arises to avoid further problems. You have the right to express your concern and should not be penalized because of a disagreement or complaint against your instructor. It’s a good idea to maintain copies of any correspondence such as emails that you have with your instructor or anyone else you may have contacted concerning your problems.
For concerns presented to the Program Chair/Director, or any persons at a higher level, it’s advisable to have a typed statement that documents the concern, indicating who you’ve been in touch with, what recommendations or strategies were advised, what worked or didn’t work, and what you are now seeking or proposing.
You will be more successful at the higher stages of a complaint or appeal if you can demonstrate that you did take steps to resolve the situation before going “above heads” but nothing was changed. Show that the step you are taking now is a last resort.
When possible, communicate your concern/issue directly to your instructor. If you feel uncomfortable about approaching your instructor directly, you can skip Step 1.
Contact the Program Chair/Director if your concern/issue has not been resolved, or if a problem still exists.
If a problems still exists, you should address your concern to the Dean of the Faculty related to the course or the Dean of Continuing Education.
For problems that still have not been resolved, they should now be addressed to the Vice Provost Students of the University: OVPS Website
The final step, if required is to address your concern/issue to the President of Toronto Metropolitan University: torontomu.ca/president
Your Rights as a Student
Every student at TMU has rights in and out of the classroom, and it is important you are aware of them especially if you are filing an appeal. Read and download the TMU Student Rights Statement here: TMU Student Rights Statement (Senate 2003)
Some key points of your rights as a student are explained in further detail below: