Policies & Procedures

Find policies on academic conduct, personal behaviour, cheating, attendance, accommodations for apprentices and interpreters/readers for exams.

Academic Conduct and Personal Behaviour

Technical Training Performance

To be successful in technical training, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam.
The passing grade in each course is 65%.
The passing grade on the AIT and Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) exams is 70%.
Exams are only offered in English. Competency in both English and Math help ensure success in technical training.

If an apprentice does not achieve the minimum passing grade, the instructor along with AIT can:

set up a meeting with the apprentice to discuss the problem,
identify the apprentice’s area of difficulty and provide assistance or issue a reprimand as necessary, and
recommend termination if it is believed that the apprentice is not applying him/herself.

Apprentices who have been terminated from class:

have the right to appeal, and
may have a restriction placed on their file that will require them - and possibly their employer - to be interviewed by AIT before attending technical training in the future.

Cheating

Cheating in any form is unacceptable and is taken very seriously.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training will not tolerate cheating on apprenticeship exams and has established a AIT Policy on Cheating to clearly identify the behaviours that constitute cheating - and the consequences.

Personal Behaviour

Apprentices are required to follow the rules and policies of each training provider regarding academic conduct and personal behaviour. Copies of these policies may be obtained from the training provider.
Apprentices who are disrespectful or disruptive will be asked to leave class and meet with the Head of Trades. A Special Report will be submitted to AIT that clearly describes the events and/or actions that required the apprentice’s removal from class.
The Head of Trades, along with senior institutional officials and the instructor, will decide if the apprentice can return to class. If an apprentice is not allowed to return, a recommendation to terminate will be made to AIT.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is NOT tolerated.

Any physical abuse will result in immediate termination. If an incident of physical abuse occurs, the apprentice will immediately be removed from class and will meet with the Head of Trades, who will recommend termination to AIT.

Special Requirements for Apprentices

Accommodations for examinations could include audio format or an interpreter/reader, extra time or a private room when available. (See Special Requirements for more information)

Special requirements during technical training: Arrangements for support services during technical training (deaf interpreter, tutor, scribe, etc.) must be made with the counseling services at the appropriate training provider three or four months in advance of the class start date. These special requirements or accommodations will be forwarded to the appropriate Apprenticeship and Industry Training office on your behalf. (See the Accommodation Form for Apprentices)

For general inquiries about accommodation services offered by Apprenticeship and Industry Training, call the AIT Information Line.

Attendance Policy

Apprentices may miss up to 18 hours (3 days) of class time without penalty for health reasons or family issues. Apprentices missing more than 18 hours (3 days) of technical training classes may have their enrolment in technical training terminated.

For the purpose of this policy each part of an hour missed from class will be recorded as one hour of missed time. Each day of missed time is equal to six hours of missed time.

Policy Rationale

Ensures fairness and reduces the potential for unmanageable workloads for instructors.
Guards against apprentices falling behind in their studies which may adversely affect not only the apprentice who is absent but also the class in which the apprentice is enrolled.

As many apprentices are sponsored in whole or in part while attending technical training, the expectation is there for these apprentices to complete their training. Sponsors may include:

employers,
trade, employer or employee organizations,
Employment Insurance (Employment and Social Development Canada),
grants, and
scholarships.

Process

Training providers monitor and record attendance on an hourly basis for each apprentice attending technical training.

The attendance record for each apprentice in each class will form a part of each apprentice's student record and will be managed according to policies in effect with each training provider.

The instructor must submit to an apprenticeship officer a Special Report (copy to the apprentice) outlining the number of hours missed and the outcomes of any counselling discussions (required for special reports in response to 12 hours or 18 hours of accumulated absenteeism).

Special Reports are to be generated when absenteeism reaches the following levels:

6 hours (1 day)
12 hours (2 days)
18 hours (3 days)

Upon receipt of a Special Report for absenteeism, at the discretion of the apprenticeship officer, either the instructor's program head (or designate) or the apprenticeship officer will interview the apprentice:

to discuss the consequence of continuing to miss class time (Special Report for 12 hours of absenteeism),
to counsel the apprentice and determine the criteria for termination of enrollment if further instances occur (Special Report for 18 hours of absenteeism), and
to terminate the enrollment of the apprentice in technical training (Special Report for 18 hours of absenteeism).

Appeals

An apprentice may appeal a decision to terminate enrolment in technical training by submitting an appeal in writing, via fax, email or hand delivery, within one business day of the date of termination.

On receipt of the appeal, the Director or Associate Director (or designate) will provide a written response to the apprentice within one business day. The decision of the Client Services Director or Associate Director is final.

During the appeal process, the apprentice is not permitted to attend the technical training class from which their enrolment has been terminated; Advanced Education will conduct the appeal process without delay.

Appeal Addresses

Appeals should be directed to the Client Services Director or Associate Director, Apprenticeship and Industry Training of the region where the training provider is located.

Client Services Director	:
Dan Gemmell Willow Park Centre, Suite 200, Floor 2 10325 Bonaventure Drive SE, Calgary, T2J 7E4

Consequences of Termination

Termination of enrolment in apprenticeship technical training has significant consequences, including:

loss of tuition and other related fees,
lost wages during time spent at technical training,
risk to their employability as some employers may not retain an employee whose enrollment in technical training was terminated,
need to repeat technical training in order to progress in the program, and
delayed completion and certification.

Attendance Reporting to Service Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is the federal department responsible for providing temporary financial assistance for unemployed Canadians while they look for work or upgrade their skills. Service Canada delivers the program that provides the temporary financial assistance.

AIT and Service Canada share information respecting apprentices and their attendance at technical training. Each has specific responsibilities regarding reporting changes to an apprentice's training status.

Apprentice Responsibilities

Apprentices are responsible for accurate and timely reporting of any changes in their training status to Service Canada.

The normal process is for apprentices to complete biweekly reports providing information to Service Canada about their attendance at technical training.

An apprentice who chooses not to complete biweekly reports must contact Service Canada if they worked or had earnings

Failure to correctly report a change of status (withdrawal, termination, etc.) may result in Service Canada requiring repayment of any overpayment of EI funds.