Case Details
DATE:
October 21, 2025
PARTIES:
R.S. ("the Student"). v. the University of Toronto Mississauga
HEARING DATE:
October 3, 2025, via Zoom
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hamish Stewart, Chair
Professor Angela Pyle, Teaching Staff Governor
Rishi Shah, Student Governor
HEARING SECRETARY:
Karen Bellinger, Associate Director, Office of Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances
APPEARANCES:
FOR THE STUDENT APPELLANT:
The Student
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
Professor Vivienne Luk, Associate Dean, Academic Experience
The Student appealed from a decision of the Academic Appeals Subcommittee (AAS) of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) to deny the Student’s petition to for second deferred examinations in three courses from the fall 2023 term.
The Student was granted a deferral of the final exams in three courses in the fall 2023 term. The deferred exams were all set during the 2024 winter term Reading Week. On the Tuesday of that week, the Student petitioned UTM for further deferrals of the three exams, citing a “time conflict.” The Student provided no supporting documentation and the petitions were denied. The Student appealed that decision, indicating they had to return home due to a family emergency and that their dog had fallen ill and required care. The Student submitted a bill from a veterinarian in support of his appeal and no other documentation.
The Committee found the denial of the initial petition reasonable, as there was no documentation provided in support of the request. They further found that the documentation submitted on appeal fell well short of establishing the “exceptional circumstances” the UTM policy required for granting a petition for a second deferred examination. The Committee noted that the Student was aware of the need to provide compelling documentation in support of their position, but did not do so, therefore the decisions of the appeal bodies below were reasonable.
The Committee dismissed the appeal.