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    Admissions Reconsideration

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    Requesting Reconsideration of a Negative Admissions Decision

    Bishop’s is unable to accept all eligible applicants for admission, as the process is competitive. The number of admissions offers is limited and the University is not bound to accept any or all applicants who may possess the minimum admission requirements.

    If you were denied admission to the University and feel that you have extenuating circumstances or have additional information that was not previously considered, you may request that your application to Bishop’s be reconsidered, as per the following section of the Senate’s Admissions Policy of Bishop’s University:

    Decisions made by the Academic Deans concerning admission to the University may be reconsidered if the applicant is in a position to provide additional information to the University that could lead it to reverse the initial admissions decision.

    To request reconsideration of a negative admissions decision, applicants must apply in writing to the Vice-Principal Academic, outlining the rationale for requesting reconsideration of an admissions decision. This request must be within 14 calendar days of receipt of a negative admissions decision.

    The Review Committee will consist of the following members of the Academic Standing and Admissions Policy Committee: Academic Deans who have not been involved in the initial admissions decision, the Vice-Principal Academic, the Vice-President Academic of the Students’ Representative Council, and the University Ombudsperson.

    The decisions of the Review Committee shall be final and are not appealable.

    Admission reconsideration may be considered at Bishop’s for one of the following reasons:

    • You have extenuating circumstances which impacted your academic performance and ability to meet the university’s admission requirements;
    • You have additional information that you feel was not previously considered;
    • You believe there was an error in processing your application.

    The following reasons are not acceptable for admission reconsideration:

    • No new information/supporting documentation is provided to support admissions reconsideration;
    • Dissatisfaction with University policies;
    • Failure to meet published deadlines;
    • Someone with similar grades to yours was given an offer of admission;
    • You really want to attend Bishop’s;
    • You were given offers of admission to other universities, so you feel you should get a Bishop’s offer of admission.

    Supporting documentation for reconsideration

    If you are submitting information for admission reconsideration based on extenuating circumstances or new information, you must provide Bishop’s with supporting documentation. The documentation must prove your claims, and must help Bishop’s reviewers understand the grounds for reconsideration. For example, if your request is due to illness, you must provide medical documentation, transcripts, letters of support, and/or email correspondence that clearly outlines:

    • Start and end dates of the illness;
    • Impact of the illness on your academic performance;
    • Treatment you received for the illness; and
    • Whether the illness is resolved and will no longer affect your academic performance.

    To request reconsideration of your application, please proceed as follows:

    • Submit a signed request to the Vice-Principal Academic at vpacademic@ubishops.ca within 14 calendar days of receipt of a negative admissions decision from Bishop’s. This signed request implies consent for Committee members to review your complete application. Please note that a request for reconsideration will be accepted from the applicant only.
    • Your request must include a rationale for requesting that your application be reconsidered. This rationale must include additional information that could lead the University to reverse the initial admissions decision.

    Only complete requests will be considered.

    The Review committee will make every attempt, but cannot guarantee, to render its decision within 30 days of receipt of a request for reconsideration of your application.

    For further information or to submit your application for admissions reconsideration, please contact the Office of the VP Academic at: vpacademic@ubishops.ca.