Policies and Guidelines

Submission of Undergraduate Student Assignments

Students are responsible to make every effort to complete assignments on time. Assignment submissions are expected on the date determined by faculty. If extensions are necessary, they may be requested up to 48 hours prior to the assignment due date, and should be submitted in writing to the faculty member involved. In exceptional situations, extension requests within the 48 hour period may be considered.

Late papers will have 5% of total marks for the assignment deducted for each day/partial day (including weekend days) beyond the due time. This continues until the assignment is submitted, however after 5 days the maximum mark that may be awarded for a late submission is capped at 60% (i.e. a passing grade).

Days Late Marks Deducted
Day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
-%	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100

The assignment will be graded normally, and then the late-submission penalty applied, as in the following examples:

• If a paper is worth 30 marks, the student will lose 1.5 marks per day (5% of 30) for each day it is late. So, if the student would have received a grade of 24/30 and the paper is two days late the student receives a grade of 24 – 3 marks = 21 marks
• If a paper is worth 40 marks, the student will lose 2 marks per day (5% of 40) for each day it is late. If the student would have received a grade of 35/40 and the paper is 5 days late the student receives a grade of 35 – 10 marks = 25 marks
• As in the previous example if an assignment is worth 40 marks but submitted 6 days late the maximum grade that can be awarded in 60%. If the student would have received a grade of 37/40 minus the 30% penalty (12 marks) their reduced score would have been calculated at 25/40. But as the paper is 6 days late the student will have this further reduced to 24/40 (60% of 40) as the grade is capped at 60%.
• If a paper is worth 50 marks, the student will lose 2.5 marks per day (5% of 50) for each day it is late. If the student would have received a grade of 40/50 and the paper is 7 days late the student receives a grade of 40 – 17.5 marks = 22.5 marks. No further reduction for being over 5 days late is necessary as this is already below 60% of the assignment grade.

Papers/assignments may NOT be rewritten for a higher grade.

Concerns regarding grading are to be discussed with the faculty member involved.

For essay style assignments, students are ordinarily required to submit an electronic copy and to upload assignments into the TurnItIn system. Students are responsible to comply with instructions in the course syllabus. The School will retain a copy of all assignments submitted in electronic format in the School for future reference. Electronic copies of assignments must be virus free prior to submission (students are responsible for ensuring that their virus protection is effective and current).

The standard format/style used for assignments in the School is the American Psychological Association [APA] format. Faculty will advise students in their course syllabi if there is a preference for another format/style.

Related Policies:

• UBC School of Nursing Plagiarism Policy
• UBC Calendar: Academic Regulations: Student Discipline
• UBC Calendar: Student Appeals on Academic Standing
• UBC Policy: TurnItIn
• UBC Policy: TurnItIn Guidelines for Students

Approved by Faculty Caucus August 31st 2010