Post-secondary Teaching – College Certificate

2024/25 | Conestoga College

Teaching & Learning

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Academic Handbook Guidelines

The purpose of this academic handbook is to provide students with important information relating to their academic journey. Academic handbooks are updated annually and are applicable to all new and returning students for the current academic year. Students will be informed of handbook changes that occur outside of the annual update through college email. Students must check their academic handbook for the current edition.

This handbook must be read in conjunction with general information about Conestoga College found on the college website. The information on the college website applies to all students, regardless of program.

The college website provides information regarding Student Services, Safety and Security, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and more.

Contact Information and Communication Standards

School Contacts

For current contacts and team profiles in Teaching & Learning, please see the About Us page on the Faculty Learning Hub.

For any general questions and inquiries, email teachingandlearning@conestogac.on.ca

College Email Communication Requirements

Conestoga College student email accounts are used for all official communication with students. Faculty and staff are only expected to communicate through college email and/or eConestoga regarding specific program/course inquiries/concerns. Faculty are not expected to respond to emails from non-Conestoga email addresses.

Students are expected to check their student email accounts regularly.

When corresponding with anyone at the college, please include your student number and program information. Emails are responded to during business hours. Please allow for a response within 2 business days. Abusive language and/or repeated emails will not be tolerated and are a violation of the Student Expectations for Online Engagement.

If you experience issues accessing your college email, please visit the IT support page for assistance. Students are accountable for ensuring a functioning college email account.

College Hours

The College is open and offers classes seven days a week.

For additional information regarding hours of operations and campus locations, please visit the College website.

Academic Information for Your Studies

Program Description

Conestoga's Post-secondary Teaching College Certificate program prepares you to engage with adult learners in a variety of settings and at various credential levels at the certificate, diploma, and degree levels. Whether you teach in apprenticeship programs, at a college, or in a university, the focus on the adult learner will allow you to develop the skills you need to help your learners succeed. Emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies to deliver quality outcomes-based education across various delivery modes. You will develop a clear understanding of your role within an educational team and how you can add value to the learner experience and positively influence the learning opportunities of others. You will learn how to both teach and assess effectively and engage in activities that support the needs and preferences of learners in achieving course outcomes both online and in-person. Theoretical foundations and practical applications of post-secondary teaching are integrated throughout the program, positioning you to work in post-secondary teaching.

Program Outcomes

Through successful completion of this program, the graduate will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

Work effectively within a teaching role in post-secondary settings that align with the expectations of outcomes-based and/or competency-based education.
Assess student learning in ways that are authentic, valid, reliable, student-centered, and aligned with UDL principles.
Provide evidence-based, student-centered teaching that is sensitive to student experiences, values, beliefs, and needs.
Provide an inclusive and culturally relevant learning environment with learning opportunites that support the success of a diverse student population.
Utilize contextually appropriate and accessible educational resources and technologies in order to support student learning.
Reflect on aspects of teaching to support the ongoing development of one's identity as a post-secondary educator.

Program Completion

To attain Conestoga's Postsecondary Teaching College Certificate, students must successfully register in the program and complete any 29 of the Educator Development (EDEV) electives offered, plus one 12-hour capstone course (for a total of 186 hours).

This part-time program must be completed within 3 years of admission.

Note that students will have choice from over 90 different elective courses, and these courses can also be used towards stackable micro-credentials in specified areas of educator/faculty development. Upon successful completion of at least 25 elective courses, students may reach out to Teaching and Learning for registration into the Capstone course.

Agreement Opportunities

If you complete The Empowered Educator (Ontario Extend) series, you will receive a badge from eCampus Ontario in addition to credits toward Conestoga's Post-Secondary Teaching Certificate. In order to faciliate credit transfer, please contact teachingandlearning@conestogac.on.ca for details.

Learn more about the Ontario Extend series here: https://extend.ecampusontario.ca/

Graduate Opportunities

Graduates from this College Certificate program will have acquired knowledge, skills, and attitudes from a range of topics that are directly relevant and applicable to teaching in any postsecondary educational context.

Course Outlines

Course outlines state the learning outcomes that will be covered during the course. Details about the evaluation method, the weighting of assessments, and any other specific criteria required to successfully complete the course are also listed in the course outline. Students are responsible for reviewing the outline and the requirements to pass each individual course. Evaluation requirements vary from course to course. The passing grade and specific course stipulations are listed under the evaluation section of the course outline.

Course outlines are available on the Student Portal and posted on eConestoga. Students are required to review the course outline to acquire the correct resources/textbooks (i.e. edition, volume, etc.)

Instructional Plans

Instructional plans will be provided to students on eConestoga. All assessment dates and deadlines will be posted on the instructional plan, including assignments, tests/quizzes, midterms, presentations, etc. This information acts as a guide to the course and will include a course schedule, which may be subject to change by faculty. Students are expected to review these documents, in coordination with the course outline, on a regular basis and note all key dates and deliverables.

Academic Dates

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of various important academic dates throughout the year. These academic dates are posted on the college website.

Please note that Continuing Education courses and Apprenticeship programs may have different start dates and exam dates for courses.

Course Add/Drop

Students can find the courses in which they are currently enrolled on the Student Portal by following the steps below:

Log in to Student Portal.
Click on 'My Courses' tab.
Scroll over the icons to the right of individual course listings.

It is strongly recommended that students consult with the Program Coordinator prior to dropping a course.

If a course withdrawal is processed prior to the deadline date, a dropped course will be recorded as a "W" (withdrawal) on the transcript.
If a course withdrawal is processed after the deadline, an "F" (fail) will be recorded on the transcript.

Continuing Education and OntarioLearn courses are not included in student full-time fees. Students wishing to take these part-time courses are required to pay the full fee for the individual course(s). Students may add these or other courses under the 'Browse Continuing Education' tab in their Student Portal.

Attendance and Your Success

Working Together to Plan Your Success

Your success matters! Regular, punctual attendance, and active participation in scheduled classes, field and clinical placements, labs and any on-campus and off-campus activities scheduled by your program will help you to understand and master the learning complexities of your program.

If extenuating, unplanned circumstances require you to miss a class or an assessment, please note that it is your responsibility to follow up with individual faculty members prior to the class/assessment and access any missed information.

Attendance

Throughout this program, you are welcome to choose the method of learning that best suits your preferences and schedule. Courses in this program are offered in multiple modalities, such as Online Synchronous where you will have the option to meet via Zoom, or watch the recordings of those synchronous sessions. For courses designated as In-Person, attendance at the synchronous meetings is highly recommended, as the sessions will not be recorded. Be sure to verify the modality of the course you are interested in upon registration via the CE website.

Religious Holy Days and Spiritual Observances

Students are supported by Conestoga Policy to be absent from class to observe a recognized religious holy day. Any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in an examination, study, or work requirement on some particular day(s) because of religious beliefs will be given the opportunity to make up the missed work or complete alternate work/examinations subject to timely written notification.

Conestoga recognizes all religious holy days as defined by the College Employer Council.

It is your responsibility to:

Plan ahead and be aware of the dates of all examinations and other course obligations;
Advise the faculty that you will be seeking accommodation to observe a recognized religious holy day.
Make a request in writing to your Program Coordinator within the first three weeks of the semester and prior to the date of assessment that falls on the religious holy day. Exceptions based on extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Program Chair.

Emergency Closures

If a campus is closed:

All in-person classes and activities will be cancelled at that site.

Previously scheduled/timetabled online classes may continue at the discretion of the online instructor.

Scheduled in-person examinations and severe weather conditions

If the college is closed due to extreme weather, all in-person assessments to be administered during a regularly scheduled class will be postponed until the next class. Previously scheduled/timetabled online classes may continue at the discretion of the instructor.

If the college has to be closed during an examination week, all in-person exams will be rescheduled to the end of the exam schedule (Saturday or the next Monday).
Students who cannot travel to the college due to extreme weather (e.g., travel advisories or road closures) in their local area are responsible for notifying their faculty of their inability to write on the day of the assessment. The notice must be provided by email or telephone before the time of the scheduled assessment. Students who fail to provide this notice will receive a grade of zero. Students must make arrangements to write the assessment immediately upon their return to the college.

Notice of college closure will be posted on the homepage of the Conestoga website as follows:

Classes commencing prior to 5:59 p.m. - by 6:15 a.m.
Classes commencing from 6:00 p.m. onwards - by 4:00 p.m.
Emergency Situations - as needed.

Evaluations

To be successful in a given course, a student must meet evaluation criteria as communicated in the course outline. Students are expected to complete assignments per faculty instruction. Unless otherwise specified, students are expected to submit assignments in eConestoga by the due date in the appropriate assignment submission folder. Assignments submitted in alternative formats or contrary to the submission standards communicated by faculty will not be accepted.

Course evaluation criteria and weighting is specified in the course outline and due dates are communicated via the course instructional plan.

Each faculty member will inform students of their guidelines for submitting assignments and late submission rules within their Instructional Plan. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of the course requirements for each of their courses.

NOTE: An extension of time may be given at the discretion of faculty. An extension will not be considered if the request is made on the day the assignment is due.

Working Together on Group Assignments

Students will often work with their peers on various group assignments/projects throughout the program. Each group member is responsible for ensuring that they have an equal role in the group. All students in the group should review the completed work before it is submitted/presented. When concerns arise during the group process, it is the responsibility of group members to work together to resolve the concern as quickly as possible. If the concern cannot be resolved within the group, all group members must contact the faculty member for assistance well in advance of the due date.

Web-based Tools

Program courses may use web-based services with data centres outside of Canada. Students may be expected to complete assessments where information is transmitted outside of Canada. Students who do not wish to submit their information to other countries have the right to opt-out. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit an alternate assignment.

Course examinations may be administered through a remote proctoring service to assure academic integrity. Ensure that you meet the system requirements that will allow the recording of your computer screen, webcam, and microphone.

Accessible Learning

Conestoga College provides an equitable environment where all students have the opportunity to participate in College life. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Conestoga recognizes its responsibility and legal obligation to provide education, information and services in an accessible manner.

Conestoga's Accessible Learning services provide support for students with permanent and temporary disabilities who feel they are encountering barriers to learning. They work with students to understand the impact of a disability in the college environment and will help develop a success plan that considers student goals and required academic accommodations. Accessible Learning will also communicate necessary accommodations to professors on behalf of the student.

To consult with an Accessibility Advisor about accommodations please make an appointment by emailing accessibility@conestogac.on.ca or calling 519-748-5220 ext. 3232.

Exceptions for non-accessibility focused issues need to be consulted on with your professor. Final approval for exceptions unrelated to academic accommodations rests with the program chair.

Academic Expectations for Your Studies

Professionalism and Student Expectations

Rights and Responsibilities

As a student of Conestoga College, you are a member of the college community and as such you have Rights and Responsibilities.

Student Rights include the right to learn, to be safe, to be informed, to be heard and to appeal.
Student Responsibilities include respect for persons, respect for college learning and working environment and respect for property, facilities and college reputation.

For more information, please visit the Student Rights and Responsibilities page of the college website.

Professionalism

Throughout their studies, students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to apply themselves to academic achievement. The fundamental responsibility of the student is to gain additional knowledge and skills to be a competent professional. As professionals, it is imperative that behaviours and attitudes reflect standards that are endorsed by Conestoga College and your chosen profession. As a Conestoga College student, there are three areas of conduct you are expected to follow: Academic Conduct, Professional Conduct, and Social/Behavioural Conduct.

Professionalism Expectations

Attire: To dress professionally means to dress tastefully and respectfully and to adhere to the standards of health and safety as set out by your program. When you dress professionally, you are putting yourself in a professional mindset that will enhance/support your learning.

Attitude: It is expected that you will treat your experience in your program similar to that of a workplace. As you interact with peers and faculty, your attitude, behaviour and language should reflect that of a positive, hard-working professional.

Teamwork: You are expected to demonstrate effective teamwork strategies including taking on roles as a leader and as a member in group situations. You are to respect your colleagues and interact in a positive, encouraging, productive, and collaborative way.

Organization: Time management and organization are of the utmost importance throughout any program. Demonstrate appropriate time-management and organizational skills, allowing for the completion of tasks in a timely and effective manner.

Personal Device and Social Media Usage

To support a quality and respectful learning environment both in the classroom and in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences, the use of cell phones and laptop computers for social networking should only occur during break times, before/after class, and during formal break time during WIL experiences.

As a student and future professional, it is essential to maintain professional boundaries in all communication, including social media.

Make sure your posts reflect the professional image you want to project, as if a potential employer were viewing them.

Many types of social media encourage instantaneous, casual dialogue. It is important to remember that even an innocent comment may be easily misunderstood.
Assume that information you post or send can be accessed or altered by anyone.
Consider whether any posting may reflect poorly on you, your school, or your profession.
Avoid online criticism of other students, colleagues, professors or WIL experiences.
Avoid impulsive or inappropriate comments.
Pictures should not be taken, posted to social media sites or shared without the express permission of all individuals involved.
Remember that online sites you visit are not anonymous.
Make sure your online name and email reflect professionalism.
Ensure that your postings will not be considered harassment or defamation of a peer, colleague, faculty or others.

Maintain privacy of all care and service activities when in practical work experiences:

Do not take or post any pictures during WIL experiences or involved in lab activities
Maintain client-provider relationships and boundaries. The addition of a client to a 'friendship" status online is unacceptable.

Please respect the fact that your faculty and staff will not invite you to their personal web pages when you are a current student, nor will they accept any invitations to your personal sites.

Classroom Practices

Faculty responsibilities:

Provide to students at the start of each course an instructional plan, which indicates the due dates for all assessed items (assignments, tests, exams, case studies, presentations etc.) and the respective weighting of each item toward the student's final grade.
Return assessed items promptly and review with students – generally, students are not able to retain their tests/examinations/assignments and should review thoroughly at this time. It is the responsibility of the student to ask any questions regarding the assignment with the faculty member outside class time during posted office hours, if required.
Respond to student requests for consultations to discuss performance or questions in respect to their coursework and assessed items.
Respond to student emails/voicemails within 48 business hours.
Ensure course outcomes are covered in the assessment method.

Student responsibilities:

Attend and participate in lectures, labs, presentations, group work, field trips or other activities related to the course/program.
Students are not permitted to record lectures or take pictures without the consent of faculty and/or students. Content from the course is not to be posted on any external websites.
The use of an electronic translator is prohibited. Students must be able to communicate in English.
Electronic devices may be used for learning or instructional purposes. Faculty or technologists may request devices be put away when a safety issue or distraction occurs.
Adhere to all deadlines for assessed items.
Write final exams as per the schedule posted by the Program Coordinator/Faculty.
Please consult with the Program Coordinator/Faculty regarding final exam dates and times.
Unauthorized devices in a testing situation will result in an academic offence and a grade of zero.
Submit coursework in the requested format, described by the faculty member in the rubrics or guidelines, by the specified deadline.
Fully disclose and completely reference all sources used in submitted course assessments and not engage in plagiarism.
Advise faculty of circumstances that would prevent the completion of assessments, prior to the deadline and provide required documentation.

Classroom practices extend to online and hybrid learning environments. Students are expected to abide by the Student Expectations for Online Engagement guidelines available on the college website.

Please note: Students registered with Accessibility Services and have accommodations for approved electronic devices are permitted to do so with the faculty's knowledge.

What is Academic Integrity?

Academic integrity means the degree to which the outcomes of learning activities or scholarly work have authenticity and align with formal goals and objectives established by the College. It includes acting fairly and honestly when engaging in academic activities including but not limited to course work, work integrated learning, academic documents, and research. All members of the Conestoga community are responsible and accountable for upholding academic integrity.

As a current Conestoga student, you are expected to understand what constitutes an academic incident and to avoid any activities that may lead to an academic incident.

By having and applying an Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure, Conestoga ensures graduates complete their studies fairly and honestly through hard work and dedication, and thus are well-prepared for their future careers.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves knowingly presenting someone else's work as your own, be it text, an illustration, a photograph, part of a video, an audio track or a design. If within your assignment non-original work is permitted to be used, you must still credit the source of that work. You can provide this credit through a recognized citation format, like APA, or as directed by your Faculty.

Penalties for plagiarism can be severe and can include receiving a failing grade for the entire course. There are many resources that can help you with proper citation, and help you understand when you can and cannot use other sources as influence for your work.

For more information about plagiarism, consult the Academic Integrity page from Conestoga College Library Services.

Other forms of Academic Misconduct

There are other ways a student might cheat, including, but not limited to, Contract Cheating, Unauthorized Collaboration, Aiding and Abetting, and using Unauthorized Aids and Assistance. It is important to familiarize yourself with potential ways of cheating in order to know how to avoid it. For help, please contact the Academic Integrity Office for guidance and support.

Copyright at Conestoga

Conestoga facilitates access to print, media, and electronic resources to support and enrich learning, teaching, and research in compliance with the following:

The proper use of Intellectual Property (IP) is essential and reflects industry and legal standards.

Whether your work appears in print, broadcast, online, or in another form, copyright laws apply. These laws also protect the work you produce. Work submitted for assessments must conform to copyright requirements, unless otherwise stated by Faculty. Elements under copyright can include, but are not limited to: music, text, images, and designs. If in doubt, do not use elements that could be under copyright protection.

For further guidance, please see Conestoga's Academic Offences Policy or the Conestoga College Library Services' Academic Integrity page.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

GenAI tools are prohibited from being used for assignments unless you are specifically authorized to use GenAI tool for an assignment by your professor.

Please visit Conestoga's Gen AI for Students website to learn more.

Research

Some courses have a research component, which may be college-based and/or in collaboration with a host organization. Research must adhere to the highest level of ethical standards and is a reflection of Conestoga College. Faculty will provide more information relevant to the research requirements in the course. For further details regarding required citing and referencing, please contact Library Services.

For help with research, please Book a Research Help Appointment.

Academic Concerns During a Course

If a student has a concern regarding an assignment, lab, midterm, final exam, etc., the student must first meet with the faculty to discuss the situation. When contacting faculty, students should carefully consider the feedback provided and reflect on their submission.

A student who wishes to appeal an academic decision, such as a final course grade, academic integrity violation, or discontinuance from the program, should refer to the Academic Dispute Resolution and Appeal Policy and Procedure for instructions.

Academic Progress Through Your Studies

Academic Progression

The college's approach to academic progression is governed by the Academic Advancement and Achievement Policy.

A student's academic achievement results in a promotion decision, such as Promotion with Good Academic Standing, Promotion on Probation, Graduation, and Discontinuance.

Probation

Promotion on probation refers to students who do not achieve the minimum overall acceptable achievement for progression as identified in the Academic Advancement and Achievement Policy. Students who progress on probation can register in the next Term, but course registration is subject to course prerequisites.

First Probation: Students on probation for the first time are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Advisor (SSA) or Program Coordinator to map out a Learning Plan and discuss strategies they can use to support their success.
Consecutive Probation: Students on probation for a second consecutive Semester must meet with their Student Success Advisor (SSA) or Program Coordinator to develop a Learning Contract.

Discontinuance

A student can be discontinued from their program for either academic or non-academic reasons, as set out in the Discontinuance Procedure.

Academic Discontinuance may occur when a student fails to meet the specified academic Progression Requirements of their program.
Policy Violation Discontinuance may occur when a student has been found to have violated College policy and/or procedure, such as but not limited to:
- Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy and Procedure
- Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure

Supplemental Assessment

A student who has failed a course may be provided an opportunity to complete a supplemental assessment if they have met the established criteria in accordance with the Supplemental Assessment Policy and Procedure.

Withdrawal

Students considering withdrawing from a program should communicate with their Student Success Advisor prior to withdrawing. In order to formally withdraw from a program, the student must complete the Program Withdrawal form on the Student Portal by selecting the "Services" tab, "My Forms" button . It is your responsibility to make sure that you are aware of and adhere to deadlines for withdrawal. Deadlines for withdrawing from a program with/without an academic penalty or with/without a refund are posted on the website under Academic Dates.

Readmission

If you are discontinued or if you withdraw from the program, you must reapply for admission in accordance with the Readmission Procedure. Readmission is not guaranteed.

College-wide Policies and Procedures

A Student Protection Acknowledgement confirmation pop-up will appear when a student logs into the Student Portal on an annual basis. Students are advised to review and comply with all Conestoga policies and procedures.

All Conestoga academic policies and procedures are listed on the College website.

Academic Handbook Revision Log

Revision Date	Scope of Changes
Spring 2024	Updated
Spring 2023	Updated
Winter 2021	Created