Undergraduate teaching term information

Course outlines

As of Spring 2026, outlines for all Faculty of Arts courses, including CEL courses, must be published in the Course Outline repository.

According to the Undergraduate Calendar, a course outline must be provided to all students in an undergraduate course, either electronically or hard copy, by the end of the first week of classes. This document has the weight of a contract and therefore needs to be unambiguous with respect to all aspects of course content, expectations, and methods of student assessment. Changes to due dates and times and value of graded elements cannot be made after the end of the first week of classes without the consent of the class or in the event of a University-wide emergency (e.g., covid).  

This online tool and repository, developed by Science Computing, allows instructors to create and edit course outlines using pre-formatted layouts. All mandatory and optional content is up-to-date; the cost of teaching materials is documented and can be extracted in one report; the outline will be AODA compliant. A user manual is available under the documentation tab in Outline. Questions or concerns about Outline can be sent to OutlineSupport@uwaterloo.ca. 

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Generative AI Use

Instructors take a variety of positions on the use of GenAI for assignments. Some instructors have assignments that encourage students to explore GenAI as a tool for academic work, whereas others do not permit any use of GenAI. Given this variability in approaches, it is important that your course outline and assignment instructions explain as clearly as possible what uses of GenAI, if any, are permitted in your course. 

There are recommended course outline statements on GenAI use that include statements for courses that allow general use of GenAI, courses that allow conditional use of GenAI, and courses that do not allow any use of GenAl. Instructors can select and adapt whichever of these statements best fits the approach in your course. We also recommend that instructors remind students that policies on GenAI use vary from course to course. 

The Writing and Communication Centre also provides guidelines on generative AI and the writing process, which instructors are encouraged to share with students. 

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Academic rules

Refer to the Undergraduate Calendar links below for all information about assignments, tests and final exams:

• The Formal Lecture Period
• The Final Examination Period
• Scheduled Pauses in the Academic Term (e.g. Reading Week)
• Parameters for Scheduling Tests During the Formal Lecture Period
• Rules for Test Conduct
• Additional Rules for Final Examinations
• Accommodations
• Student Access to Final Examination Papers
• Weather Closing Guidelines (Secretariat site)

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Arts Connect: Student Alert 

The Student Alert initiative runs each term through a widget in Learn. This is a targeted approach where students can self-select to receive support, can send an alert for a classmate, or an instructor can submit an alert for a student they are concerned about.  

Instructors will identify students who are:  

• Performing poorly academically 
• Chronically absent or disengaged from studies and class activity 
• Seemingly isolated 
• Exhibiting signs of distress  

When a Student Alert is sent by an instructor, the Arts Undergraduate Office (AUO) advising team receives an email message outlining the concern with the student and the student’s advisor will reach out promptly to provide support and make a connection.   

Learn how to add the Arts Connect widget to your course shell in Learn.

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Reading Week (Fall and Winter terms)

Refer to Important Dates for specific Reading Weeks (scheduled pauses in the academic term). Reading Week normally begins on a Saturday and ends on the following Sunday. During this time, normal class schedules and academic requirements are suspended. Student services such as student advising support, Health Services, Counselling Services, the library, and residences continue to provide service.

Instructors are not permitted to administer, and students are not required to sit for examinations, tests, or lectures during Reading Week. There are to be no compulsory academic events (e.g., classes, labs, tutorials, seminars, exams). Deadlines for assignments are not permitted during Reading Week (see Scheduled Pauses in the Academic Term).

Instructors should consider including their availability in their course outline, if possible. When instructors are not available to assist students during Reading Week, alternate arrangements for students seeking help should be made.

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Student Course Perception Surveys

• Refer to Resources for Instructors for more information about the teaching assessment process, including Student Course Perception (SCP) Surveys.
• Generally surveys will be opened near the end of each term, usually 2-4 weeks before the last day of courses.

• All instructors will be encouraged to provide time during class to complete the surveys, but you can also complete them on their own time. Survey timing will vary between faculties. You will be notified by email and in class that they are ready for your input.

• The evaluations can be completed using any computer, phone, or tablet device connected to the internet.

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Exams

Refer to the Registrar Resources for Faculty and Staff website (login required) for Final Exam Management information:

• Exam cover page
• Final exam evacuation procedures
• Proctor Instructions
• UW closures during exam period
• Retention rule: exams and other course work should be kept for a period of one year.

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