FAQ

1. How do I make an appointment with my academic advisor?

  • Visit your Applicant and Student Self Serve page on your Brock portal and choose “Appointment Bookings”
  • Choose “Advising Services”
  • Choose the Advising Department you would like to book an appointment with (our team can be found under the “Academic Advising- Brock Academic Advising Team” Department)

2. Where can I find Brock’s academic regulations and University policies?

Brock’s academic regulations and University policies can be accessed from the current year’s undergraduate calendar

3. Where can I find my program’s degree requirements?

Undergraduate calendars for specific departments and programs can be accessed through the University’s undergraduate calendar webpage. Please note that you must follow the calendar year in which you were admitted to your program. It is important to be in continued contact with your academic adviser in order to ensure that you are meeting your degree requirements. The undergraduate calendar for the current year can be accessed here: https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/undergrad/

4. Where can I locate the academic timetable?

5. What is Brightspace, and how do I use it?

  • Brightspace is Brock’s web based learning management system; it facilitates learning by creating private communities for exchanging information such as dates, files, notes and other resources. Brightspace also provides communication tools like mail and discussion boards. Your professors will be using Brightspace to post relevant and often important course-based announcements, as well as providing grades for your assignments and updating your course marks. Further information can be found here: https://kumu.brocku.ca/sakai/FAQ

6. How do I declare a major/change my current major?

  • It is highly recommended that you consult with an academic advisor when you are considering a change of major. There is a process for changing your major and academic advising will help you understand the process and facilitate a smooth transition.
  • Application and approval for change of major is required.

7. What is a minor? How do I declare a minor?

  • A minor is distinct from a student’s major or combined major and requires from four to six credits as designated by the relevant academic Department/Centre.
  • Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine how a minor will fit into their program. Application and approval to carry a minor is required.

8. How do I add/drop courses?

Students are free to add or drop courses through the online registration system without financial penalty while the system is open (see the appropriate registration guide for details).

9. Can I request an override into a particular course if that course is not available to me (i.e. course is full, restricted)? How do I apply for an override?

Circumstances may arise where you are unable to register for a course you need/want to take. In most cases, you will require an override to register in the course. Overrides are granted through the department/centre offering the course and are subject to their approval (see departmental contact information). Overrides are generated on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed. Students requesting an override should contact the appropriate teaching department/centre directly. Once an override is granted, it is the student’s responsibility to register for the course.

10. What do I do if I am struggling with my course load?

Communication is key. Students are encouraged to reflect on their individual circumstances, some things to consider:

  • Underprepared
  • Overextended
  • Non-academic issues
  • Judgment mistakes
  • Other indicators

To further discuss your specific situation contact Brock Academic Advising by booking an appointment or utilizing walk-in advising hours.

11. What happens if I did not pass a course? How many times am I allowed to retake a course if I am unsuccessful the first time?

  • A student may repeat a failed course, but no course may be repeated more than once. Both grades will remain on the student’s transcript but the second grade will be used in the computation of the student’s average.
  • You should contact an academic advisor for assistance.

12. How do I withdraw from a course, and what are the implications of doing so?

  • After the active registration period, a student may voluntarily withdraw from courses without academic penalty via the “WithdrawalRequest” tab on their my.brocku.ca portal. Please note that the final date to withdraw without academic penalty is not the same as the final date to drop without financial penalty. All withdrawals have financial penalties. The date of withdrawal from a course, following the course change period, will be recorded on the student’s official transcript.
  • Students who withdraw from all courses after the appropriate drop date must contact the Brock Central team within the Office of the Registrar to ensure the complete withdrawal is processed correctly. To assist students and ensure all considerations have been made the complete withdrawal checklist can be used as a guide: https://brocku.ca//registrar/checklist/.