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Grade point averages (GPA's)
1 A grade point average is calculated as follows: the grade points earned in each full course and one-half the grade points earned in each half course are added together and this total is divided by the number of full courses (or equivalent) taken.
The following grade point averages will be calculated for all students at the end of each session and shown on the student's transcript:
Summer Session - Sessional & cumulative GPA
Fall Session - Sessional & cumulative GPA
Winter Session - Sessional, Annual & Cumulative
GPA
Academic status will be determined as follows for
students who have attempted at least two and one-half full courses
(or equivalent) since beginning their studies at University of
Toronto at Scarborough or at the University of Toronto's Faculty
of Arts and Science. It is determined at the end of each Summer
and each Fall/Winter Session:
Students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 1.60 or better are said to be "in good standing".
- Students who have attempted at least two and one-half courses in the College and have a cumulative GPA of less than 1.60 are placed on probation.
- Students returning from suspension (under 5) below (or under any provision in previous College rules) shall be placed on probation again.
Students may clear probation by achieving a cumulative GPA of 1.60 or better. Students who have cleared probation shall be said to be again "in good standing".
Students may continue on probation by achieving an annual grade point average of at least 1.60 in each Fall/Winter Session and a sessional grade point average of at least 1.60 in each Summer Session until such time as they return to good standing.
Students who, by the end of a given session, whether Summer (May to August) or Fall/Winter (September to May), have not either cleared probation or achieved a Fall/Winter annual grade point average or a Summer sessional grade point average of at least 1.60 shall be liable for suspension or refusal of further registration as follows, regardless of the number of courses taken in the session:
- Students who have incurred no previous suspension will be suspended for one year.
- Students who have previously incurred (at worst) a one-year suspension will be suspended for three years.
- Students who have previously incurred a three-year suspension will be refused further registration in the College.
In certain circumstances, students who do not meet normal admission requirements may be admitted "on condition". The academic status of such students is determined according to the following rules:
1 The status of students admitted on condition will be assessed at the end of the session in which such students complete their second full-course equivalent.
2 Where such students earn a cumulative grade point average of 1.70 or better, their conditional status will be removed, and they will be said to be "in good standing".
3 Where such students earn a cumulative grade point average of less than 1.70, they will be suspended for one year.
4 Upon
their return from suspension, their academic status will be assessed
as it is assessed for any other student returning from suspension.
Students who have studied at other institutions since
their last registration at Scarborough must arrange for official
transcripts of other post-secondary studies to be sent to University
of Toronto at Scarborough upon application for re-enrolment. Performance
in courses taken elsewhere (including other divisions of the University
of Toronto) will be taken into consideration in determining whether
to approve the application and whether to make any change in the
student's academic status. Students who study at other universities
without prior permission from University of Toronto at Scarborough
are unlikely to be eligible for transfer credit for such study.
See also the section "Study at other universities".
Courses taken for credit by degree students while
registered at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts and
Science or at Woodsworth College are included in University of
Toronto at Scarborough grade point averages as are all University
of Toronto courses taken for credit while registered at University
of Toronto at Scarborough. Courses taken while registered at other
institutions or other divisions of the University of Toronto are
not included in grade point averages.
Students are permitted to take some courses on other
campuses of the University of Toronto subject to the following
rules. Students may be withdrawn from courses after classes have
started if their registration violates these rules.
At all times throughout their University career,
students who are registered as University of Toronto at Scarborough
students must adhere to the requirement that at least half their
courses (defined as the total number of courses that they have
passed plus those in which they are currently enrolled) are University
of Toronto at Scarborough courses. Students are not permitted
an imbalance of courses with the intention of achieving the required
distribution in a future session or by the time of graduation.
Students are not permitted to register for courses
in Faculties other than Arts and Science unless they have received
permission or unless the courses are required by their Specialist
or Major Programme.
Students who are contemplating transfers to other
Colleges in the University should be aware that University of
Toronto at Scarborough is in fact a separate faculty and rules
covering students at University of Toronto at Scarborough differ
from those in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Students are urged
to consult the Office of Admissions and Awards at 315 Bloor Street
West to establish how they will be affected by transferring from
one faculty of Arts and Science to another.
Students who wish to take courses at another university and have credits transferred to the University of Toronto must receive permission from the University of Toronto to do so prior to taking the courses. Students who study at other institutions without the University of Toronto's approval in advance do so at their own risk since permission to transfer credit is not usually granted after the course has been taken. Students should also be aware that duplication of previous study is not permitted. Students who study at another institution after leaving University of Toronto at Scarborough are required to supply official transcripts upon re-enrolment. Grades attained at other universities may affect a student's academic status.
There are three types of programmes where credit
transfer is considered. The Study Elsewhere programme allows a
student to study full-time at an accredited university in a different
cultural setting to enhance the student's educational experience.
A Letter of Permission allows a student to study at a university
similar in setting to the University of Toronto. Student Exchange
Programmes, similar to Study-Elsewhere Programmes or full-time
Letter of Permission programmes, have the advantage that students
pay fees at the home university. The regulations governing the
programmes are different.
To take a course at another university, students must, in advance, apply for and receive a "Letter of Permission" from University of Toronto at Scarborough. Requests should be addressed to the Assistant Registrar - Admissions, Room S303F. Requests should include the name of the university, the course number, title and description. Courses requested must be appropriate for Arts and Science degree credit at this university. In addition the student must give reasons why the Letter of Permission is necessary.
To be considered, a student must have completed the equivalent of one year of full-time study and be in good standing. A maximum of 5.0 credits may be obtained on a Letter of Permission. If a student has received 5.0 or more transfer credits upon admission, it is unlikely that a Letter of Permission will be allowed. Letters of Permission are not normally granted for study at institutions within Metropolitan Toronto and surrounding regions. Only 1.0 credit at the C- or D-level will be permitted to be taken on a Letter of Permission. A student who completes the final course(s) for the degree during the Winter Session may not apply to graduate at the June convocation but may apply for graduation at the November convocation.
A fee will be charged for each Letter of Permission.
The Summer Language Bursary Program is funded by
the Official Languages in Education Program of the Government
of Canada in co-operation with the appropriate provincial department.
In Ontario, this is the Ministry of Education and Training. Students
interested in this six-week immersion programme (in Quebec or
elsewhere in Canada) should complete the bursary forms promptly
upon distribution by the Ministry. (Check with the Resource Centre,
Room S302 in December for expected date of arrival.) Speak to
the Assistant Registrar- Admissions and the Study-Elsewhere Supervisor
in French for advice about choosing three universities offering
courses which most closely correspond to the curriculum at the
University of Toronto. Submit the form to the Registrar's Office
(Room S303) to verify registration and mail promptly to enhance
your chances of obtaining your first choice of university. Once
you know the university to which you have been accepted and at
least three weeks before your departure, apply for a Letter of
Permission. You will be advised of the level in which you must
register in order to be eligible for the credit to be transferred.
To apply for a Study Elsewhere programme, students may obtain an application from the Assistant Registrar-Admissions or the Vice-Principal and Vice-Dean. The application requires details about the proposed course of study and asks students to show how the intended studies will enhance their studies at University of Toronto at Scarborough. Students who intend to count the courses towards programme requirements must obtain the approval of the Programme Supervisor before submitting the application. Students normally apply for a Study Elsewhere year during the third year of a four-year programme. However students may apply after completing four full-course equivalents at University of Toronto at Scarborough. To be eligible a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better. Students must normally return to University of Toronto at Scarborough to complete the final year of study. A maximum of 5.0 full-course equivalents will be considered for transfer.
Completed applications should be submitted to the Vice-Principal and Vice-Dean by March 1. The proposed programme will be reviewed by the Study Elsewhere Committee.
Since there is often limited information about foreign
universities, students should begin the process early in October.
Most often students register at the host university and follow
its courses for credit. It is possible that students may arrange
to take University of Toronto independent study or supervised
reading courses under supervision from University of Toronto faculty.
The University of Toronto operates several institution-wide
student exchange programs. A student must receive approval from
UofT at Scarborough and the International Student Exchange Office
to undertake an exchange program. Undergraduate programmes include:
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- University of Hong Kong
- National University of Singapore
- Kyoto University (Japan)
- Humboldt University, Germany
- The Canadian-Taiwan Student Exchange Program An
exchange program that includes 36 institutions in Taiwan
- Ontario/Baden W¸rttemberg Exchange Program (Germany) A regional exchange program that includes 9 German universities
- University of the West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica & Trinidad)
- University of Melbourne (Australia)
- University of New South Wales (Australia)
- Lancaster University (United Kingdom)
(Group of Ten Student Exchange Program - GOTSEP)
- McGill University
- McMaster University
- Queen's University
- UniversitÈ Laval
- UniversitÈ de Montreal
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
- University of Waterloo
- University of Western Ontario
For further information, applications, and a list
of current exchange programs, please contact:
International Student Exchange Office
Office of the Vice-President and Provost
Room 202 Koffler Student Services Centre
214 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9
Telephone: (416) 946-3138
Fax: (416) 978-6110
http://www.utoronto.ca/student.exchange/
E-mail: student.exchange@utoronto.ca
or
Admissions and Liaison, Room S303F
Students registering in courses offered by the University of Toronto receive grades in the normal manner.
To receive credit for other courses, the student
must earn one full grade higher than the minimum passing grade
(i.e. a C minus or better at universities using a grading scale
similar to that of the University of Toronto). Grades are not
recorded on transcripts and are not included in any grade point
averages. The student must arrange for the host university to
send an official transcript to University of Toronto at Scarborough
promptly after completion of the course. Students who do not register
or who withdraw without academic penalty must arrange for a letter
from the Registrar of the host university confirming this. Failure
to meet this or the minimum grade requirement will result in the
notation of "no credit" being entered on the student's
transcript at University of Toronto.
Students pay the appropriate fees to the host university
and a Study Elsewhere fee or Letter or Permission fee will be
charged by the University of Toronto at Scarborough. Students
who would be eligible for financial assistance through the Ontario
Student Assistance Programme for study at University of Toronto
at Scarborough may be eligible for similar assistance in their
Study Elsewhere year. (Consult the Student Awards division of
Admissions and Awards at 978-2190.)
The academic transcript is the official statement
of the academic record of each student.
The transcript records the following information:
1 Information to identify the student: full name and university student number.
2 The student's academic record, listed chronologically by session.
- each course attempted, its abbreviated title, and its grade;
- the sessional grade point average;
- the cumulative grade point average at the end of the session;
- the annual grade point average
- the student's academic status at the end of the session: in good standing, on academic probation, suspended for one year, suspended for three years, refused further registration, or suspension deferred;
- completion of degree and Programme requirements, and date of conferral of the degree;
- graduation with high distinction or with distinction.
3 The following kinds of special consideration granted by petition. (See "Special Consideration, Petitions and Appeals" on page 226.)
- withdrawal without academic penalty from a course after the relevant deadline. (See "Standing in a course" on page 212.);
- other consideration deemed to have altered the
academic record.
Students may obtain copies of their academic transcripts, subject to reasonable notice and upon payment of a fee. With the introduction of the new Student Web Service (SWS) in the Spring of 1999, all requests for transcripts are processed centrally at the University of Toronto Transcript Centre on the St. George Campus. Copies of transcripts may be requested via the Student Requests may also be made in person, or by writing to the University of Toronto Transcript Production Centre, 100 St. George Street, Room #1006, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3.
Payment by mail should take the form of a cheque
or money order payable to "The University of Toronto".
A fee of $8.00 which includes the PST and GST is charged per transcript.
Telephone requests cannot be accepted. To prevent tampering, most
institutional recipients insist that the transcript copy be sent
directly to them.
With the introduction of the Student Web Service (SWS) in the Spring of 1999, currently enrolled students can obtain an unofficial copy of their academic results at no cost directly
1. Preamble
(a) Academic records of students are ultimately the property of the University, and it is the responsibility of the University to establish overall University policy in this area. This policy establishes university-wide aims, objectives, criteria and procedures which shall apply to the academic records of students of academic divisions of the University.
(b) The purpose of this policy is to combine consistency with flexibility in such a way as to ensure that:
(i) Students, alumni and former students are allowed as great a degree of access to their own academic records as is academically justifiable and administratively feasible.
(ii) A student's right to privacy in relation to his or her academic records is safeguarded as far as both internal university access and external public access are concerned.
(iii) There will be a basic university-wide consistency in the kinds of information collected, recorded, filed and made available.
(iv) In keeping with the pluralistic nature of the University academic divisions may retain some flexibility in the implementation and application of the policies established within this document.
(c) Individual divisional regulations and procedures on access to student academic records, including the statement in the divisional calendar concerning such, shall be reported by the Provost to the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs. Any subsequent revisions shall also be reported.
(d) This policy supersedes the 1979 access policy
for undergraduate student records and the 1981 access policy for
graduate student records.
2. For the purposes of this policy:
(a) "student" means any person registered at the University for full-time or part-time study in a program that leads to a degree or post-secondary diploma or certificate of the University or in a program designated as a program of post-secondary study at the University by the Governing Council or other University body having delegated authority. On the date of an enquiry or request relevant to this policy, persons who have been registered within a period of two calendar years shall be included in the provisions which relate to "students".
(b) "alumnus or alumna" means any person who has received a degree or post-secondary diploma or certificate from the University, or any person who has completed one year of full-time studies or the equivalent thereof as determined by the Governing Council, towards such a degree, diploma or certificate, and is no longer registered at the University.
(c) "former student" means any person who is not a student or an alumnus or alumna who has been registered at the University in a program as defined in Section 2 (a), and is no longer registered at the University.
(d) "academic division" means a college,
school, institute, faculty or other division of the University
that has academic autonomy (i.e. the right to administer its own
degrees, diplomas, certificates and other programs of study),
subject only to the authority of the Vice-President and Provost,
the President and the Governing Council.
3. Definition of the official student academic records
The official student academic record refers to information relating to a student's admission to and academic performance at this University.
The "official student academic record" shall contain:
(a) (i) Personal information which is required in the administration of official student academic records such as name, student number, citizenship, social insurance number
(ii) Registration and enrolment information
(iii) Results for each course and academic period.
(b) (i) Narrative evaluations of a student's academic performance subsequent to his or her admission, used to judge his or her progress through an academic program.
(ii) Basis for a student's admission such as the application for admission and supporting documents.
(iii) Results of petitions and appeals filed by a student.
(iv) Medical information relevant to a student's academic performance which has been furnished at the request or with the consent of the student concerned.
(v) Letters of reference which may or may not have been provided on the understanding that they shall be maintained in confidence.
(vi) Personal and biographical information such as address and telephone number.
The "official student academic record"
shall be maintained by the University. For each type of information,
academic divisions shall designate which document, form or medium
contains the official version and how official copies of such
information will be identified.
4. Access to official student academic records
(a) Access by a student
(i) A student may examine and have copies made of his or her official student academic record defined in Section 3 above, with the exception of those portions of the record which comprise letters of reference (Section 3(b)(v)) which have been provided or obtained on the expressed or implied understanding that they shall be maintained in confidence. A student may, however, be advised of the identity of the authors of any confidential letters contained in his or her official academic record.
(ii) A student's request to examine a part of his or her official student academic record shall be made in writing and shall be complied with by the responsible authorities within a division. Such compliance shall occur within 30 days of receipt of the request, or within such lesser period as a division may determine.
(iii) A student has the right to challenge the accuracy of his or her official student academic record with the exception of the material specifically excluded in Section 4(a)(i) and to have his or her official student academic record supplemented with comments so long as the sources of such comments are identified and the official student academic record remains securely within the custody of the academic division. Reference to such comments does not appear on reports such as transcripts or statements of results.
(iv) It is assumed that all documents relating to petitions and appeals (Section 3(b)(iii)) and not provided on the understanding that they shall be maintained in confidence will be retained within a division, and when needed by a student, will be made freely available. In addition, The Statutory Powers Procedure Act, 1971 of Ontario requires that where the good character, propriety of conduct or competence of a party is in issue in any proceedings in a tribunal to which the Act applies (such as the Academic Appeals Board of the Governing Council), the party is entitled to be furnished prior to the hearing with "reasonable information" of any allegations with respect thereto.
(b) Access by alumni and former students
(i) An alumnus of alumna or a former student may examine and have copies made of the portion of his or her official student academic record as defined in Section 3(a) above.
(ii) A request from an alumnus or alumna or a former student to examine the portion of the official student academic record as defined in Section 3(a) shall be made in writing and shall be complied with by the responsible authorities within a division. Such compliance shall occur within 30 days of receipt of the request, or within such lesser period as a division may determine.
(iii) An alumnus or alumna or a former student shall have the right to challenge the accuracy of his or her official student academic record only under such terms and conditions as the academic division may determine and publish in the divisional calendar.
(c) Access by University Staff and members of official University and divisional councils and standing committees
Members of the teaching and administrative staff of the University and members of official University and divisional councils and committees shall have access to relevant portions of an official student academic record for purposes related to the performance of their duties. A staff member requesting information must have a legitimate need to have the requested information for the effective functioning of the position or office.
Access to medical information as defined in Section 3(b)(iv) shall be granted to members of the teaching and administrative staff only with the prior expressed or implied consent of the student and, if applicable, in the case of a medical assessment, the originator (physician, etc.) of such.
The Department of Alumni and Community Relations shall have access to appropriate personal information on students and alumni for the purpose of maintaining contact with alumni.
(d) Access by University campus organizations
Recognized campus organizations in the University of Toronto shall have access to the information referred to in Section 3(a)(ii) as well as to the sessional address and telephone number of students named by that organization for that legitimate internal use of that organization. The Students' Administrative Council, Graduate Students' Union, Association for Part-time Undergraduate Students, and The Newspaper shall be entitled to publish and distribute within the University community a University-wide directory of students (including undergraduate, graduate, full-time and part-time) giving the sessional address and telephone number of students as long as there is a realistic provision for students to decline to consent to the disclosure of that information.
Names and addresses of students will also be provided to recognized campus organizations for the purpose of distributing information when all of the following conditions are met:
- The name and address information is not released to a third party.
- The name and address information is not used for commercial purposes.
- The organization proposes to distribute information which, in the opinion of the Assistant Vice-President (Planning) and University Registrar, the University would be willing to distribute if reimbursed by the organization.
- The information to be distributed is intended to provide information about the University and is not primarily advertisements for non-University organizations.
- The campus organization agrees to use the name and address information only for the specific purpose for which it was provided.
(e) Access by others
(i) By the act of registration, a student gives implicit consent for a minimal amount of information to be made freely available to all enquirers:
- the academic division(s), degree program(s) and the session(s) in which a student is or has been registered,
- degree(s) received and date(s) of convocation.
(ii) Any other information contained in the official student academic record (including any comments generated under Section 4(a)(iii) but with the exception of the material specifically excluded in Section 4(a)(i)), shall be released to other persons and agencies only with the student's prior expressed written consent, or on the presentation of a court order, or in accordance with the requirements of professional licensing or certification bodies, or the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for an annual enrolment audit, or otherwise under compulsion of law. Requests granted to any persons or agencies outside the University for access to a student's academic record shall be kept on file within a division. The release of the information concerning alumni and former students contained in the portions of the academic record as defined in Section 3(a)(i) shall also be governed by the above provisions.
(iii) General statistical material drawn from academic records not disclosing the identities of students, alumni and former students may be released for research and informational purposes authorized by the University by the academic division maintaining these records.
(iv) In the event that a student, alumnus or alumna
or a former student is deceased, the executors of his or her estate
shall have access to the official student academic record under
the same terms as would the individual if he or she were still
living.
(f) Refusal of access
The University reserves
the right to withhold access to the statements of results and
transcripts of students, alumni and former students who have outstanding
debts or obligations to the University in accordance with the
Policy on Academic Sanctions for Students Who Have Outstanding
University Obligations. The University may also choose not to
release the official diploma to such persons nor to provide written
or oral certifications of degree on their behalf.
5. Custody and retention of official students academic records
(a) Academic records of students are normally under the custodial responsibility of the academic division. Every academic division maintaining official student academic records shall draw up plans for the eventual disposition of their records in consultation with the University Archivist and in accordance with an approved records schedule which is in compliance with this policy.
(b) Those portions of the official student academic record as defined in Section 3(a) shall be maintained permanently. Each academic division's records schedule shall specify the document, form or medium in which these records will be maintained.
(c) Official student academic records preserved
in the University Archives because of their archival value shall
become open to researchers authorized by the University seventy-five
years after a student has ceased to be registered.
6. The University's responsibilities with reference to the official academic records of students, alumni and former students
(a) Students shall be informed of University policy and divisional procedures with respect to their official student academic records.
(b) Academic divisions, administrative divisions which handle student academic records and campus organizations shall develop administrative procedures in support of this policy.
(c) Academic records shall be kept at all times under appropriate security.
The following is the text of the University grading
practices policy. Square brackets [ ] indicate additions to the
policy to clarify or interpret as it applies specifically to the
University of Toronto at Scarborough.
The purpose of the University Grading Practices Policy is to ensure:
a) that grading practices throughout the University reflect appropriate academic standards;
b) that the evaluation of student performance is made in a fair and objective manner against these academic standards;
c) that
the academic standing of every student can be accurately assessed
even when courses have been taken in different divisions of the
University and evaluated according to different grade scales.
The Policy applies to all individuals and committees
taking part in the evaluation of student performance in degree,
diploma, and certificate credit courses (hereafter referred to
as courses).
Amendments to the Policy shall be recommended to
the Academic Board.
Changes to the divisional regulations on grading
practices shall be forwarded to the Committee on Academic Policy
and Programs.
A copy of the Grading Practices Policy as well as
the description of the grade scales and the substance of divisional
regulations indicated in Part II of this Policy shall be published
in the Calendar of the division. Similarly a copy shall be given
to all students upon initial registration and to all instructors
and others, including teaching assistants, involved in the evaluation
of student performance.
The Policy is in three parts: Part I deals with grades, Part II outlines grading procedures to be adhered to in divisional regulations adopted as part of this Policy, and Part III is an administrative appendix available upon request from the Office of the Vice-President and Provost.
Grades are a measure of the performance of a student
in individual courses. Each student shall be judged on the basis
of how well he or she has command of the course materials.
I.1 A
grade assigned in a course is not an assessment of standing within
a program of studies. To determine the requirements for credit
and standing in a program of studies, the academic regulations
of the division in which the program is offered should be consulted.
I.2 Grades
for each course shall be assigned with reference to the following
meanings (which may be expanded in the divisional regulations
under Part II):
Excellent,
Good,
Adequate,
Marginal,
Inadequate,
I.3 Once a judgment on the performance of the student has been made, the following grade scales are to be used:
(a) the refined letter grade scale A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F;
and/or
(d) the scales Honours/Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit.
I.4
Grades should always be
based on the approved grade scales. However, students may find
that on any one evaluation they may receive a numerical or letter
mark that reflects the score achieved on the test or essay. The
cumulative scores may not be directly identified with the final
grade. Grades are final only after review by the divisional review
committee described below.
I.5
Grades will be assigned according to the numerical scale of marks
referred to in I.3 (b) above, and converted to the refined letter
grade scale of I.3 (a) above. In graduate divisions, grades may
be assigned according to the truncated refined letter grade scale
if I.3 (c) above. The H/P/FL and CR/NCR scales of I.3 (d) above
may also be used. However, the grades assigned in a course must
all be from the same scale.
I.6 All
non-grade designators used in reporting course results must correspond
to the University-wide standard. A list of the currently approved
designators and their meanings is given in the Appendix A.2.
I.7 The
information in grade reports and transcripts must be communicated
to the user, whether within or outside the University, in a clear
and meaningful way. To that end, transcripts must include:
Grades shall be recommended by the instructor to
the chair or division head. The grades shall then be reviewed
and approved following the divisional review procedure. Grades
shall not be reported or released to students as official until
the divisional review procedure has been carried out. The divisional
review constitutes final approval of grades except when grades
are changed on appeal.
In each division, a committee chaired by the divisional head or a designate, and where appropriate, an additional committee structure, with the chairs (or their designates) of departments or other academic units of divisions serving as chairs, shall:
(a) administer the implementation of the University Grading Practices Policy at the divisional level and oversee the general consistency of grading procedures with the division;
(b) approve and administer the University's specific regulations concerning the grade scale or scales to be used, the assignment of non-grade designators for course work, classroom procedures and approved methods of evaluation;
(c) review, adjust and approve course grades recommended
by instructors. The grades recommended for any individual student
in the professional faculties may be adjusted according to his
or her performance in the course or program as determined by the
committee. The divisional committee has the final responsibility
for assigning the official course grade.
To ensure that the method of evaluation in every course reflects appropriate academic standards and fairness to students, divisional regulations governing classroom procedures must be consistent with the practices below.
(a) As early as possible in each course (and no later than the division's last date for course enrolment) the instructor shall make available to the class, and shall file with the division or department, the methods by which student performance shall be evaluated. This should include whether the methods of evaluation shall be essays, tests, examinations, etc., the relative weight of these methods in relation to the overall score, and the timing of each major evaluation.
(b) After the methods of evaluation have been made known, the instructor may not change them or their relative weight without the consent of at least a simple majority of the students enrolled in the course. Any changes shall be reported to the division or the department.
(c) Student performance in a course shall be assessed on more than one occasion. No one essay, test, examination, etc. should have a value of more than 80% of the grade. Criteria for exemption may be determined by the division.
(d) In courses that meet regularly as a class there shall be an examination (or examinations) conducted formally under divisional auspices and worth (alone or in the aggregate) at least one-third of the final grade. Criteria for exemption may be determined by the division. The relative value of each part of an examination shall be indicated to the student. In the case of a written examination, the value shall be indicated on the examination paper.
(e) Commentary on assessed term work and time for discussion of it shall be made available to students.
(f) At least one piece of term work which is a part of the evaluation of a student's performance, whether essay, lab report, review, etc., shall be returned to the student prior to the last date for withdrawal from the course without academic penalty.
(g) Grades shall be recommended by the instructor
in reference to the approved grade scales on the basis of each
student's overall performance.
In formulating their own regulations divisions may
add to items (a) to (g) and may adopt fuller or more specific
provisions, for example in place of such terms as "a simple
majority" (b), "one-third of the final grade" (d),
or in particularizing the evaluation methods referred to in (a)
and (b).
The following principles shall apply in the event of disruption of the academic program:
i) The academic integrity of academic programs must be honoured; and
ii) Students must be treated in a fair manner recognizing
their freedom of choice to attend class or not without penalty.
Procedures
(a) The Vice-President and Provost, or the Academic Board, shall declare when a disruption of the academic program has occurred. The Provost shall take steps to inform the University community at large of the changes to be implemented, and will report to the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs regarding the implementation of the procedures and changes to the status of the academic programs.
(b) Individual instructors or multi-section co-ordinators responsible for courses that are disrupted shall determine, as the disruption proceeds, whether any changes to classroom procedures are needed to complete the course.
(c) Changes to the classroom procedures should, where possible, first be discussed with students prior to the class in which a vote of the students present on the proposed changes is to be taken. Changes agreed upon by consensus should be forwarded to the department or division with a report on the attendance at the class where the vote was taken.
(d) Where consensus on changes has not been arrived at, or where a vote is not feasible, the instructor, after the class discussion, will provide the division head or chair of the department in multi-departmental faculties, with his or her recommendation, along with the results of any classroom votes. The chair or division head shall then make a decision.
(e) Where classes are not able to convene, the instructor, with the prior approval of the chair in multi-departmental faculties or the division head, shall make changes deemed necessary to the classroom procedures. In the absence of the instructor such changes will be made by the divisional head and require the approval of the Provost. Where courses are to be cancelled, approval of the divisional council is required. If the divisional council cannot meet, approval of the division head, or in the absence of the division head, the approval of the Provost, is required.
(f) Students must be informed of changes to classroom procedures. This may be done by circulating the changes in writing to the class, posting in the departmental and faculty offices, reporting to the divisional council, as well as listing in the campus press. Should classes resume students must be informed, at class, of any changes made during the disruption.
(g) Where a declared disruption occurs in a specific course after the last day to drop courses for the academic term or session, students who do not wish to complete the course(s) during that term or session, may, prior to the last day of classes, withdraw without academic penalty. Such students shall receive a full refund of the course tuition fee.
(h) Where students have not attended classes that are meeting, they nonetheless remain responsible for the course work and meeting course requirements. However, where possible, reasonable extension of deadlines for the course requirements, or provision of make-up tests shall be made and reasonable alternative access to material covered should be provided.
(i) A student who considers that a disruption has
unreasonably affected his or her grade in a course may appeal
the grade following the procedures as set out in each division.
If the petition is approved, the student's original grade will
be replaced by either an assessed grade or by a grade of CR/NCR,
or as deemed appropriate in the particular circumstances.
Divisions may make reasonable exemptions to the classroom procedures described above in circumstances such as field or clinical courses where adherence to these procedures is not possible. Nevertheless, it is obligatory that the assessment of the performance of students in clinical or field settings should be fair humane, valid, reliable and in accordance with the principles enunciated in the University Grading Practices Policy. Accordingly, where student's performance in a clinical or field setting is to be assessed for credit, the evaluation must encompass as a minimum:
(a) A formal statement describing the evaluation process, including the criteria to be used assessing the performance of students and the appeal mechanisms available. This statement should be available to all students before or at the beginning of the clinical or field experience;
(b) A mid-way performance evaluation with feedback to the student;
(c) Written documentation of the final assessment. In addition, for such clinical and field experiences, divisions must ensure that:
(d) Clinical and field assessors are fully informed regarding University, divisional and course policies concerning evaluation procedures, including the specific assessment procedures to be applied in any particular field or clinical setting.
Any exception from the above would require a divisional
request with explanation for approval by the Governing Council.
The following principles and procedures shall govern the grade review and approval process.
(a) The distribution of grades in any course shall not be predetermined by a system of quotas that specifies the number or percentage of grades allowable at any grade level.
(b) However, a division may provide broad limits to instructors setting out a reasonable distribution of grades in the division or department. Such broad limits shall recognize that considerable variance in class grades is not unusual. The division may request an explanation of any grades for a course that exceed the limits and hence appear not to be based on the approved grade scales or otherwise appear anomalous in reference to the Policy. It is understood that this section shall only be used when the class size is thirty students or greater. Each division shall make known in the divisional Calendar the existence of any such limits.
(c) The criterion that the Divisional Review Committee shall employ in its evaluation is whether the instructor has followed the University Grading Practices Policy. The Review Committee shall not normally adjust grades unless the consequences of allowing the grades to stand would be injurious to the standards of the University, or the class in general.
(f) Where a departmental review committee changes course grades, the faculty office shall be so informed. Having done so, the faculty office shall relay this information, upon request, to the students or the instructor with a description as to the reason for the change and the methodology used.
(g) Past statistical data, including drop-out rates, mean arithmetic average, etc., should be provided to the Divisional Review Committee as background information where available. The committee will not use this information exclusively to judge whether a specific grades distribution is anomalous. Rather, the information should provide part of the basis for an overall review of grades in a division.
(h) Where class grades have been changed, or when
the Divisional Review Committee had reservations about the grades,
the issue will be taken up with the instructor by the division
or department head, with a view to ensuring that the Grading Practices
Policy is followed in future.
Every division shall establish divisional appeal
procedures. Students may appeal grades according to the procedures
established for that purpose in the division. The appeal may be
made whether marks have been altered by the review process or
not. These procedures shall be outlined in the divisional Calendar,
and available upon request at the faculty or registrar's office.
(a) All divisions should provide access to copies of the previous years' final examination papers and other years' papers where feasible. Exemptions may be granted by an appropriate committee of the division or department.
(b) All divisions should provide students with the opportunity within a reasonable time to review their examination paper where feasible. A recovery fee should be set to cover administrative costs including photocopying.
(c) All divisions should provide, in addition to
the customary re-reading of papers and the re-checking of marks,
the opportunity for students to petition for the re-reading of
their examination where feasible. A cost recovery fee should be
set and returned where appropriate.
Where the instructor or a student has a conflict
of interest, or is in a situation where a fair and objective assessment
may not be possible, this should be disclosed to the chair or
division head who shall take steps to ensure fairness and objectivity.
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