NOA, MSAF, Midterms – What’s the difference?

| January 25, 2023
Submitted by Ericka Wagner for McMaster University

When a student must miss coursework, they have two main options for requesting an absence.

The self-reported MSAF

  • Students can do this once per term. It is submitted through Mosaic, and can only be used for coursework that combined is 24% or less. If you miss three days of classes and assignments, all together it can’t equal more than 24%.

The Faculty Approved MSAF

  • If coursework does equal more than 24% or you’ve already used your MSAF, you must seek out a Faculty Approved MSAF. To do so you need to send a completed Notification of Absence form to buscom@mcmaster.ca. You have 5 business days from the day of the missed coursework to submit this form to the SE office. Please respect this deadline, our office will not approve NOA requests if it is submitted passed the deadline.

Midterms and Alternate Write Dates

If you must miss a midterm exam, please complete and submit a Notification of Absence Form at least ten (10) business days BEFORE your scheduled midterm to be eligible for an alternate write option. Any requests received within ten (10) business days, on the day of, or within five (5) business days after the originally scheduled midterm will be left to the discretion of the instructor for how the missed marks will be made up or reweighted.

Alternate write dates will only be provided for the follow reasons:

  • Class time conflicts with the date and time of a scheduled midterm.
  • Two midterms scheduled to take place on the same day and time.
  • Scheduled Varsity Event.
  • Scheduled medical procedure.

Unlike for final exams, McMaster has no policy regarding how many midterms a student may take in a 24-hour period. Personal obligations are not eligible for alternate write exams. If you are missing a midterm due to personal travel, or other personal events, you will need to submit an NOA form, and it will be at the discretion of the instructor how the missed marks will be made up.

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2 thoughts on "NOA, MSAF, Midterms – What’s the difference?"

  1. Ana says:

    I just found out I have a midterm on the day I’m flying out to DC to see family I haven’t seen in a really long time. (February 17th) is there any way I could do it on another day?

    1. Caitlin Costello says:

      Hi Ana,

      Please email buscom@mcmaster.ca with your question and a member of our team will be able to help.

      Thank you,

      Caitlin

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