Assignment Deadlines and Late Work Policy
Standard Deadline Policy
All assignments must be submitted by the specified due date and time. Late work will not be accepted without prior approval.
Rationale
This policy serves important professional development purposes:
- Professional preparation: Meeting deadlines is a fundamental expectation in all professional settings. Employers, colleagues, and stakeholders depend on timely completion of work. This course provides practice in managing multiple priorities and meeting commitments.
- Equity and fairness: Firm deadlines ensure all students complete work under comparable conditions and timeframes, maintaining academic integrity and fair assessment standards.
- Learning progression: Many assignments build upon each other or inform class discussions. Timely completion ensures you can fully engage with subsequent course activities and benefit from peer learning.
- Feedback timeliness: Consistent deadlines allow me to provide prompt, meaningful feedback that supports your learning throughout the semester.
Requesting Deadline Extensions
While the standard policy does not permit late work, I recognize that genuine emergencies and unavoidable circumstances occasionally arise. Extension requests will be considered only under specific circumstances and require advance communication and appropriate documentation.
Circumstances Warranting Extension Consideration
Extensions may be granted for:
1. Documented Disabilities
2. Serious Illness or Medical Emergencies
Documentation required: Note from healthcare provider on official letterhead indicating dates you were unable to complete academic work
3. Family Emergencies
4. University-Sanctioned Absences
5. Other Extraordinary Circumstances
*Situations beyond those listed above may warrant consideration on a case-by-case basis
- Examples: natural disasters, serious accidents, jury duty, military service obligations
Extension Request Process
If you encounter circumstances requiring a deadline extension:
Step 1: Contact Me Promptly
- Notify me as soon as you become aware of the situation—ideally before the deadline
- Email me with:
- Specific assignment(s) affected
- Nature of the circumstance (you need not share private details, but I need general understanding)
- Anticipated timeline for completion
- Indication of what documentation you can provide
Step 2: Provide Documentation
- Submit appropriate documentation as outlined above
- Documentation should be official, verifiable, and clearly indicate dates/circumstances
- Privacy note: I will handle all documentation confidentially and retain only what is necessary for academic records
Step 3: Await Decision
- I will respond to extension requests within 24-48 hours when possible
- If approved, I will specify:
- New deadline (typically 3-7 days from original deadline, depending on circumstances)
- Any adjustments to assignment requirements, if applicable
- Whether additional extensions are possible if circumstances continue
Step 4: Meet Revised Deadline
- Approved extensions are granted in good faith based on documented need
- Failure to meet a granted extension deadline without further communication and documentation may result in a zero for the assignment
- If circumstances extend beyond the initial extension, communicate immediately
Important Clarifications
What Does NOT Qualify for Extensions:
❌ Poor time management or procrastination
❌ Multiple assignments due in the same week (you have the syllabus from Day 1)
❌ Work schedule conflicts (plan ahead to balance work and school commitments)
❌ Technology issues (computer crashes, internet outages) that could have been mitigated by earlier work
❌ Travel for personal reasons (vacations, family visits) unless genuine emergency arises during travel
❌ Forgetting about deadlines or misreading the syllabus
I encourage you to:
- Review the syllabus carefully at the start of the semester and note all assignment deadlines in your personal calendar
- Start assignments early rather than waiting until the deadline approaches—this builds in buffer time for unexpected challenges
- Communicate proactively if you anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline due to planned commitments (work travel, medical procedures, etc.)
- Maintain backup systems:
- Save work to cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive) to prevent loss from technology failures
- Have backup plans for internet access if your primary connection is unreliable
- Budget time realistically: Graduate work requires 2-3 hours per week for this course—plan accordingly
In Summary
✅ Plan ahead and meet published deadlines
✅ Communicate early if emergencies arise
✅ Provide documentation for extension requests
✅ Take responsibility for time management within your control
This approach prepares you for professional environments while ensuring support is available when truly needed.