2A. General Information

2A.1 About the Calendar

The Academic Calendar is published online, annually, usually by mid-May. It outlines current curriculum for the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), along with related policy and regulations. The Calendar includes changes that have been approved through academic governance processes since the previous publication. The 2023-24 Calendar is effective from September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024. Calendars in effect prior to September 2023 may be referenced in the Calendar PDF archives.  

Note that, as UTSC is a distinct Faculty (Division) of the University of Toronto, regulations governing students registered at UTSC may differ from those in the other arts and science Divisions, including the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS), and University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). UTSC students contemplating transfers to other Divisions are urged to consult Enrolment Services to understand how they may be affected by differences in regulations. 

The publication of information in the Calendar does not bind UTSC to the provision of any identified courses, programs or facilities. UTSC reserves the right to change, without notice, any information contained in the Calendar and other documents, offerings or websites that pertain to related policy and regulations, including any rules or regulations, as well as fees and other charges. Although every effort is made to ensure the Calendar is complete and correct at the time of publication, from time to time changes are necessary. Any amendments to the Calendar are posted on the Calendar Updates page of the online Calendar. Students are strongly advised to check this page regularly to keep be informed of changes.  

2A.2 How to Use the Calendar

The Academic Calendar is used to describe courses, programs, and other academic opportunities that are currently available at UTSC. The Calendar is useful for browsing programs to prepare for registration, checking programs requirements, finding courses of interest or courses to fit breadth requirements, reading course descriptions, reading University policies and regulations, and accessing information on academic-related topics. Some useful tools and sections found in the Calendar are:

• Calendar Sections provides a list of disciplines and their associated courses and programs.
• Program Search allows programs to be browsed, searched, or filtered.
• Course Search allows courses to be browsed, searched, or filtered.
• Calendar Updates provides a record of amendments to the Calendar that may be made after its initial publication.
• PDF & Archive provides access to PDF files of Academic Calendars published at UTSC for past academic years. Students currently enrolled in programs that have been suspended will need to access these archived Calendars to view their program requirements.
• General Information sections available on the left side of the webpage provide useful academic information for students, including rules and regulations, completing degrees, selecting programs, choosing courses, understanding marks and grades, and accessing academic support.

Other web pages that are essential and/or are recommended for a student’s academic career at UTSC include:

• UTSC Timetable provides the seasonal offerings of courses at UTSC. Each course description contains a link to the UTSC Timetable for the course’s schedule to be viewed.
• ACORN is the UofT platform used for managing course and program enrolment, viewing grades, requesting transcripts and viewing the student financial account.
• Quercus is a student learning management portal that is used to access course information such as the syllabus, as well as assignments and marks.
• Degree Explorer is a tool used to help students determine their progress in completing their degree and ensure that they are meeting their program and degree requirements.

2A.3 Student Responsibility

Students are responsible for keeping familiar with the curriculum requirements and related regulations in the Calendar and the information and instructions posted to the Office of the Registrar website, and for seeking guidance from a University advisor when in doubt as to any deadline or requirement. Designated undergraduate and graduate advising staff in the academic units, the Office of the Registrar, and the Academic Advising & Career Centre are best placed to assist students in interpreting UTSC academic regulations and explaining their application in particular cases. Where appropriate, they will help those who encounter difficulties to request special consideration.

2B. About Courses

2B.1 General Information

A course is a unit of teaching that focuses on a specific discipline area (e.g. English or Mathematics), and takes place within a specific timeframe. It will be led by an instructor (or instructors), and have a fixed roster of students, who may receive a grade and academic credit upon its completion.

Students are cautioned that some university programs and courses require the completion of certain high school prerequisites or their equivalents. Information about prerequisites are found in the descriptions of programs and courses in this Calendar.

Students select courses through ACORN, and are responsible for the accuracy of their registration. When selecting, adding and dropping courses in ACORN, students should always list their courses upon completing the transaction. Registration consists of two basic steps:

• Course selection
• Fees payment (or an arrangement of a fee payment deferment).

Both must be completed by the appropriate deadlines to be considered a "registered" student and to retain a place in any courses selected.

For additional information on registering in courses, as well as deadlines, see the Registrar's Guide or the Office of the Registrar website. 

Visit Section 6. Understanding Degrees, Programs and Courses to read about regulations concerning course selection, course load, course changes, and about taking courses at other UofT divisions or at other universities. 

2B.2 Understanding Course Descriptions

Course descriptions in this Calendar contain the following elements:

• The course code – a unique 8-character alpha-numeric code;
• The course title;
• The course content;
• Prerequisites – courses students must already have passed before taking the described course;
• Corequisites – courses students must take in the same semester as, or already have passed before taking the described course; 
• Exclusions – students who have already passed a course listed as an exclusion, or received transfer credit for a course listed as an exclusion, cannot take the described course for credit; 
• Recommended preparation – background material or courses that enhance a student's understanding of a course;
• Enrolment Limits – indicate the described course is limited to a specific number or group of students;
• Breadth Requirement – indicates the category of breadth requirement the described course fills; and
• Note: any additional non-curricular information about the course.

Interpreting Course Codes

All course codes are unique 8-character alpha-numeric codes. Consider the following examples: ANTA01H3, BIOB50H3, ENGC09H3.

Parts of the Course Code

Part	Description	What it means
1	The first three characters	Identifies the discipline the course area belongs to: ANT refers to Anthropology BIO refers to Biology ENG refers to English
2	The fourth character	Identifies the level of the course: A-level corresponds to the first year B-level corresponds to the second year C-level corresponds to the third year D-level corresponds to the fourth year
3	Characters five and six	The number assigned to the course in sequence, or as assigned, for example: 01, 50, 37.
4	The seventh character	Identifies the credit value of the course: H courses have a value of 0.5 credit Y courses have a value of 1.0 credit
5	The eighth character	Identifies the campus on which the course is offered: 3 indicates UTSC 1 indicates St. George (FAS, FASE, Daniels, etc) 5 indicates UTM
6	The section code. This appears in the timetable only.	Identifies the session in which the course will be taught: F = Fall (or the first semester of the Summer session) S = Winter (or the second semester of the Summer session) Y = both Fall and Winter (or both semesters of the Summer

 

Common Notations in Calendar Descriptions:

1. Prerequisites in Square Brackets [ ]:

Square Brackets are used in prerequisites to indicate aggregate or alternate choices; for example:

• [MGEB01H3 or MGEB02H3] and [MGEB05H3 or MGEB06H3] indicates that students must take either MGEB01H3 or MGEB02H3 AND either MGEB05H3 or MGEB06H3 (2 courses); but
• [MGEB01H3 and MGEB02H3] or [MGEB05H3 and MGEB06H3] indicates students must take either MGEB01H3 and MGEB02H3 OR MGEB05H3 and MGEB06H3 (2 courses).

2. Prerequisites, Corequisites and Exclusions in Round Brackets ( ):

Courses enclosed in round brackets; e.g., (POLB50H3) have been retired, and are no longer offered.

• Students who have completed, in a previous session, a prerequisite or corequisite course that is no longer being offered (i.e. appears in round brackets) may make use of the course to meet the requirements of the course being described.
• Students may not register for credit in any course, which lists as an exclusion, a course they are currently taking or have already passed, even if the excluded course is no longer offered (i.e. appears in round brackets). Such courses will count as “extra” (EXT).

3. Types of course meetings:

UTSC delivers courses using three types of instruction:

• A lecture/seminar is the most traditional method of delivering a course. They normally meet several times a week and are held in person. Some lectures may be delivered online.
• A tutorial provides a supervised review of course material, typically in small groups.
• A practical provides applied training.

2B.3 Course Variations

Supervised Reading, Supervised Research and Independent Study:

Generally offered at the C- or D-level. Students in these courses work under the direction of a faculty member with whom they meet periodically or in whose laboratory they work. Students must obtain written permission of instructors to be registered in these courses (forms are available from the Office of the Registrar website). Please note that some disciplines require submission of their own special application forms for courses of this type, in addition to or in place of, the Supervised Study form. 

Restricted Admission:

Some courses have restricted admission and may require approval before students are allowed to enroll in them. Enrolment in these courses will show as interim (INT) until a decision has been made by the academic department. Restricted courses and the approval required are listed in the Course Timetable. 

WebOption:

Some UTSC courses have WebOption sections intended to provide enhanced flexibility with respect to how and when students attend lectures. These sections are normally created by recording instructors as they give their traditional lectures, then posting these recorded lectures, along with any slides shown in class, on the internet for students to watch. This allows students to fit these classes into their lives and their schedules. 

Extra (EXT):

Extra courses are those for which students will not receive credit. The course and its grade will appear on the student's transcript (designated as an extra course) but the grade is not included in the student's grade point averages nor does the course count towards the degree. However, if appropriate, such courses may be used to satisfy program requirements. 

Class Modes of Delivery:

Modes of delivery of courses at UTSC include:

1. In-Person: This meeting section is in-person. You will be required to attend this meeting section at a specific time and location. The course outline will provide specific details.
2. Hybrid: This meeting section includes in-person and online activities. You will be required to attend some activities in-person at a specific time and location and some activities online (synchronous or asynchronous). The course outline will provide specific details.
3. Online Synchronous: This meeting section is online and requires attendance at a specific time for class activities.
4. Online Asynchronous: This meeting section is online and does not require attendance at a specific time for class activities.

Online courses may require an in-person final assessment. In the case of Y online courses, mid-term and final assessments may be in-person. The course outline will provide specific details.

2C. About Programs

2C.1 General Information

Programs, commonly referred to as Subject POSt(s) and sometimes as programs of study, are groupings of courses in one or more disciplines. Completing a program (or programs) will fulfill one component of the requirements necessary to earn a degree. Degree students must select their Subject POSt(s) when they have passed 4.0 credits, including transfer credits. The first period to select and/or apply to programs begins in March for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Winter session; the second period begins in June for students who expect to complete their fourth credit by the end of the Summer session.  

For a program to be considered complete, all of its program requirements must be fulfilled. Program requirements can be viewed on the Calendar on the page corresponding to the program in question.  

Program admission and course requirements can change from year to year; the requirements they must complete are those that are in place for the academic session in which they were first registered in the program(s) they have selected as a Subject POSt, or any subsequent year. When selecting courses, students who have not yet selected a Subject POSt should consider carefully the admission and program requirements of any programs they may later choose to follow. Program Supervisors/Directors, instructors in A-level courses and academic advisors from the Academic Advising & Career Centre may be consulted for assistance. 

Visit Section 6. Understanding Degrees, Programs and Courses for information about registration for Subject POSt(s), regulations regarding Subject POSt(s), changing programs within UTSC, and certification of program completion. 

2C.2 Types of Programs

Specialist:

Specialist programs are designed to provide depth and intensity of study within a limited area defined as a discipline, a group of disciplines, or a particular theme or area of study. They will normally require students to complete 12.0 to 16.0 credits, including at least 4.0 credits at the C- and/or D-level, of which 1.0 credit must be at the D-level.

Major:

Major programs are designed to provide a concentration in an area of study defined as a discipline, a group of disciplines or a particular theme or area of study. They will normally consist of 7.0 to 9.0 credits, including at least 2.0 credits at the C- and/or D-level.

Minor:

Minor offerings are designed to provide study in a specific area for students desiring wide-ranging but coherent programs in different areas of the curriculum.  They will normally consist of 4.0 to 5.0 credits, including at least 1.0 credit at the C- and/or D-level.

2C.3 Limited and Unlimited Enrolment

Programs are designated as either "limited" or "unlimited" enrolment. To determine if a program is limited or unlimited enrolment visit the Office of the Registrar website. 

Limited Enrolment:

Enrolment in some programs is limited to a maximum number of students. Such limits are generally defined by specified course and/or grades "enrolment" requirements, which are identified in the discipline areas of this Calendar and/or in descriptions of individual programs. Other admission requirements may also apply.

Unlimited Enrolment:

Beyond the overall limitations on program enrolment (see section 6B.6, items 1-3, below), unlimited enrolment programs will not have enrolment requirements, and will not limit the number of students who may enroll.

2C.4. Certificates

The University of Toronto offers two types of for-credit certificates:

Category 1:

A post-baccalaureate, stand-alone certificate that normally requires completion of an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, for admission.

• Successful completion of the certificate is recorded on the academic transcript;
• Students are registered as undergraduate students and receive a parchment at Convocation.

Category 2: 

A certificate offered in conjunction with an undergraduate degree program or programs:

• Successful completion of the certificate is recorded on the academic transcript as a component of the undergraduate degree;
• Students do not receive a separate parchment at Convocation.

For more information on specific offerings, please see the Certificates section of the Calendar.

2C.5 Language Citation

The Language Citation is intended to provide an incentive to students who are interested in intensive study of a particular language but who cannot, or may not wish to, complete a Specialist, Major, or Minor in the language. It is neither a substitute for a program in the language nor does it impede students wishing to complete such a program. It simply acknowledges language proficiency on the student's transcript.

The Language Citation is available to students who graduate in 2007 or in a later year. Students who graduated prior to 2007 may be eligible for this citation if they return to UTSC for further language study that contributes to the assessment of the Citation.

Requirements for the Language Citation:

The Citation may be earned in French or Mandarin.

1. Students must complete 2.0 credits in the language beyond the introductory level and must achieve a final grade of at least B- in each of the courses that make up those two credits.
2. The 2.0 credits may be language instruction or other courses (e.g. literature courses) where instruction is in the language to be assessed.

Students normally take 1.0 credit at the introductory level. Those who already have proficiency in a language and wish to proceed directly to courses beyond the introductory level should consult the relevant program supervisor about appropriate placement. Similarly, students who wish to include courses taken in a country where the language is spoken should consult the relevant program supervisor about appropriate study abroad options.

Assessment of the Language Citation:

The Language Citation will be assessed at the point of graduation. To apply for a Citation, students should contact the Department of Language Studies in advance of graduation, presenting the Department with a copy of their academic record (produced from ACORN through the Student Web Service) and indicating the courses they would like considered in the assessment. For more information contact dls-ua@utsc.utoronto.ca. 

The Language Citation will consist of a notation in the UTSC section of the transcript that reads: "Completed the requirements of the Language Citation in [Name of Language]."

2C.6 Co-operative Programs

General Information:

UTSC offers Co-operative Education (Co-op) programs in three distinct areas: Arts & Science, International Development Studies, and Management. These Co-op programs consist of two parts - an academic program of study and a Co-op work-term component, both of which are integral parts of the Co-op program curriculum. Practical work experience in an approved setting is undertaken to enhance academic studies through the opportunity to apply and develop concepts and/or skills that are important in the related program of study.
 
All Co-op programs are either Specialist or Major programs. Following UTSC Degree Requirements, Major Co-op programs must be combined with either another Major program or with two Minor programs. Credits associated with the successful completion of work-term requirements are in addition to the 20.0 credits required for a degree. For this reason, some Co-op programs may take up to five years to complete.

No student may be enrolled in more than one Co-op program and all Co-op students must be registered at UTSC to maintain their Co-op status. For a listing of Co-op programs visit section 3.2 Academic Units and Programs of this Calendar. Students should also visit the Calendar section for the related Co-op Office, and the Co-op Office website, to better understand the recruitment process, Co-op fees and best practices for success:

• Arts & Science Co-op
• International Development Studies Co-op
• Management Co-op

Admission to Co-op Programs:

Prospective Applicants

Enrolment in Co-op programs is limited. Students applying directly from secondary school, or transferring to UTSC from another University of Toronto division, or another post-secondary institution, can select Co-op when choosing their Admission Category on their application for admission. Co-op students still need to participate in Registration for Subject POSt(s) processes. See the Admissions and Student Recruitment website for further details.

As part of the application process, some Co-op programs require a Supplementary Application Form (SAF), which asks applicants to provide information in addition to the academic record. In some cases, an interview may be conducted.

Current UTSC Students

Students at UTSC, who are not already in a Co-op program, may apply for admission into a Co-op program following their first year of study. For minimum qualifications and admission requirements please see the description of the individual program in this Calendar. Application procedures can be found on websites for Arts & Science Co-op, International Development Studies Co-op and Management Co-op.

Work-Term Preparation Courses:

Students enrolled in a Co-op program must complete Co-op work-term preparation courses as specified by their respective Co-op Office, which are designed to prepare them for their job search and work-term experience and to maximize the benefits of their work-term. These courses will cover a variety of topics intended to help students develop the skills and tools needed to secure work-terms that are appropriate to their program of study, and to perform professionally in the workplace. Students must complete the work-term preparation course requirements noted by their Co-op Office before they are eligible to compete for work-terms. No academic credit is given for the courses and no additional course fee is assessed. For additional information about the work-term preparation courses, see the description of the individual program in this Calendar, and visit the related Calendar section for the related Co-op Office as well as the Co-op Office website.

Work-Terms:

Work-term opportunities are developed by the Co-op Office for the program, but students are required to apply and compete with other Co-op students for these opportunities. While on a work-term, students remain in contact with UTSC through their Co-op Office and the Program Supervisor of the program of study. In addition, the employer will evaluate the student's performance on work-terms. Also, while on work-term students must prepare for a work-term report/project/assignment that will be evaluated by their Program Supervisor or an academic marker designated by their Department. The work-term report/project/assignment must be submitted to the Co-op Office no later than the deadline noted by their respective Co-op Office. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a grade of NCR (No Credit) for the work-term. A failed work-term will be recorded on the transcript, and the student may be removed from the Co-op program.

Generally, work-terms begin in September, January, or May. Students are normally eligible to seek a work-term after three or four academic terms of full-time study, as specified by each program. Co-op students should review the descriptions of their program of study contained in this Calendar for all work-term eligibility requirements. To be eligible for later work-terms, students must be in good standing in the program, have completed any requirements specific to the program, and have received a grade of CR (Credit) on their earlier work-term(s).

For information regarding Co-op Fees and Co-op Program Requirements, refer to Section 6. Understanding Degrees, Programs and Courses.

2C.7 Joint Programs with Centennial College

UTSC and Centennial College collaborate to offer Joint programs. These programs build on the academic strengths of the University of Toronto degree together with Centennial College's strengths in technical and practical education. Students earn a University of Toronto degree, and also have the opportunity to qualify for a diploma or certificate from Centennial College, which in some cases may require the completion of an additional academic session.

All Joint Programs are limited enrolment Specialist or Major programs, and may be taken only as part of an Honours BA or BSc degree. Currently, the following Joint programs are offered:

• Specialist (Joint) Program in Journalism (Arts)
• Major (Joint) Program in New Media Studies (Arts)
• Specialist (Joint) Program in Paramedicine (Science)

For specific program details, including application procedures, admission requirements, and program requirements visit the Joint Programs website. Program admission and course requirements are also described in the relevant discipline sections of the Calendar.

Students in Joint programs will enroll in all degree credit courses at UTSC through ACORN, including those taken at Centennial College. It is recommended to meet regularly with your UTSC Program Supervisor/Director to ensure you are progressing appropriately through their program.

Registration and academic information for the Joint programs are shared with the relevant Program Supervisor and Departments at Centennial College.

Tuition and incidental fees are payable to the University in the normal way. In each session in which students are taking one or more courses at Centennial College, a program fee relating to the use of materials is charged. The amount of the fee varies by program.

2D. About Degrees

2D.1 General Information

Undergraduate students at UTSC work towards completing a degree, which certifies that a student has completed education to a certain level of satisfaction at an institution. At UTSC, there are three different types of degrees offered: 

• Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) 
• Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) 
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) 

To view the full list of degree requirements and to access information regarding double degree programs and combined degree programs, please visit Section 6. Understanding Degrees, Programs and Courses.

Year of Study: 

Year of study is defined by number of credits, as follows: 

• 1st year - has fewer than 4.0 credits
• 2nd year - has 4.0 to 8.5 credits
• 3rd year - has 9.0 to 13.5 credits
• 4th year - has 14.0 or more credits

2D.2 Degree Explorer

Degree Explorer is the University of Toronto's degree planning tool: students can use it to determine whether they are meeting their degree and/or program requirements (determination regarding the completion of degree requirements will be made by the Office of the Registrar). In addition, students can review their academic history, including any awarded transfer credits and course exclusions, or use the planner to determine how future course choices might meet their requirements. This service is a complementary tool for your regular academic advising sessions.

Students access Degree Explorer through the ACORN webpage using their UTORid and password. Degree Explorer enables students to:

• View any transfer credits and/or exclusions awarded through on-admission or post-admission (including exchange);
• Check progress in programs and degrees;
• Check prerequisites and exclusions, and plan the courses necessary for programs and degrees;
• Explore hypothetical "what if" scenarios (e.g. different programs, use different program requirements, adding courses, etc.); and
• After confirming their intent to graduate, prospective graduands can check Degree Explorer to see if their Subject POSts have been confirmed by the Office of the Registrar or relevant academic unit; they can also check Degree Explorer for confirmation of their eligibility for graduation by the Office of the Registrar.

2E. Additional Information

2E.1 UTSC Office of the Registrar

The vision of the Office of the Registrar is "Connecting Every Student to Success". The registrarial team supports the student enrolment journey and is responsible for admissions, student recruitment, transfer credit, registration services, TCard, financial aid and scholarships, examinations, accommodated tests and exams, student records, petitions and convocation. Students can receive information about all aspects of their application for admission, enrolment, registration and financial advising both in-person and through virtual services

The Office of the Registrar website is a robust source of information related to course enrolment and programs, deadlines, fees, policies, and the student card (TCard). Students can access a variety of services online to manage their application for admission, enrolment, financial plan, student record and academic journey. Additionally, students may meet in-person or connect virtually with service representatives specializing in admissions, registration and financial planning. Students may submit general inquiries to the Registrar’s Office via the available chat function or account specific inquiries by email to askRO.utsc@utoronto.ca (an email service supported by the ServiceNow ticketing system).

The Office of the Registrar online service portal allows UTSC students to request and, where necessary, pay for services without having to visit the office in person. Students may request a variety of services including but not limited to: clerical check of a final grade; ordering a final exam; requesting a change in degree type; late withdrawal from a course (LWD); reporting exam conflicts; requesting fee re-assessments for de-regulated programs; re-enrolling in studies; applying for a bursary; and submitting a petition.

ACORN

University of Toronto student records are maintained by a student-friendly web-based system called ACORN. These records are shared with Degree Explorer, a web-based academic audit and advising system.

• Students can use ACORN to access a variety of online enrolment services, such as:Course and program enrolment;
• Viewing grades, and academic status;
• Requesting transcripts;
• Viewing the financial account;
• Updating personal information;
• Listing ACORN transactions and viewing their Personal and Final Examination Timetable; and
• Requesting graduation.

2E.2 Notice of Collection of Personal Information

The University of Toronto respects your privacy. Personal information that you provide to the University is collected pursuant to section 2(14) of the University of Toronto Act (1971). It is collected for the purpose of administering admission, registration, academic programs, university-related student activities, activities of student societies, safety, financial assistance and awards, graduation and university advancement, and for the purpose of statistical reporting to government agencies.

In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities has asked that we notify you of the following: the University of Toronto is required to disclose personal information such as Ontario Education Numbers, student characteristics and educational outcomes to the Minister under s. 15 of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act (1990, last amended 2020). The Ministry collects this data for purposes such as planning, allocating and administering public funding to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational and training institutions, and to conduct research and analysis, including longitudinal studies, and statistical activities conducted by, or on behalf of, the Ministry for purposes that relate to post-secondary education and training. Further information on how the Minister uses this personal information is available on the Ministry's website.

At all times your personal information will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (1990, last amended 2020). If you have questions, please refer to the UTSC FIPPA website or contact the University FIPP Coordinator at 416-946-7303, McMurrich Building, Room 104, 12 Queen’s Park Crescent West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8. You can also view an expanded version of this Notice.

2E.3 Official University Correspondence With Students

University correspondence with students is governed by the Policy on Official Correspondence with Students (2006).

The University may use the postal mail system and email to correspond with students. Email is the primary method of communicating with students regarding registration, student accounts, and other important or time-critical business. All University of Toronto students are provided with an official University UTmail+ email address (@mail.utoronto.ca) and are expected to use it while conducting official University-related correspondence. Setting up this official account is mandatory for all University of Toronto students. For help with this, you can view the instructions for setting up your University of Toronto account. Students are expected to monitor and retrieve their official correspondence on a frequent and consistent basis.

In addition, students are responsible for maintaining current and valid contact information in ACORN. Neglecting to report changes in contact information in a timely manner will not be considered an acceptable reason for failing to act on official correspondence.