ACADEMIC STANDING POLICY

Students in Good Academic Standing

An academic status of Good Standing means that a degree-seeking student is meeting the semester GPA required for the number of courses being pursued, as stipulated on the schedule below. Students should bear in mind that the minimum cumulative GPA for graduation is 2.0, or a “C” average, and should therefore aim to also meet the semes- ter GPA standards stipulated below.

Students on Academic Probation

A full-time degree-seeking student whose GPA Falls below the standard on the schedule below will be placed on Probation I for the following semester. The student will be restricted to a maximum of 9 credits per semester until the GPA justifies an increase in course load to full-time status. Part-time students will be restricted to a single course. If the semester GPA does not improve to the minimum stipulated below, the student will be placed on Probation II in the following semester. Bachelor’s degree students fol- low the separate schedule outlined below.

Students not in good academic standing will be so advised in writing by the Regis- trar’s Office and the status added to their academic record for the semester(s). This information will not be placed on their transcripts.

Performance Improvement Plans

Letters from the Registrar’s Office to students advising them of their academic status will be copied to Student Services personnel who will determine whether the following should be developed in conjunction with the students:

1.           Remedial Action Plan (RAP)

2.           An Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Academic advisors will be copied all relevant documentation pertaining to their advisees.

Associate Degree students placed on Probation may be required to take courses in Study Skills and Time Management, both of which are available at the Student Services.

Students on Suspension

If the semester GPA of a student on Probation II remains below the required minimum for the following semester, s/he will be placed on suspension and required to sit out the next semester. Students suspended at the end of the Spring will also remain so dur- ing the Summer session.

Students on Dismissal

A student who returns from suspension but fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 will be dismissed from the University College. Application for readmission in either the Fall or Spring semester can be made to the Administrative and Academic Committee, through the Registrar, after one academic year has elapsed. The Registrar will convey the AAC’s decision to the student.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

Overview

The UCCI Grade Forgiveness policy, which applies to undergraduate degree students only, allows students the opportunity to repeat a course and substitute the second grade for the first one. The repeated course grade must be a “D” or better in order to qualify as a substitute. For example: If a student earned a grade of “D” in MAT 105 in Fall 2011, and then earns a Grade of “B-“ in Spring 2012, the student can apply to be granted a Grade Forgiveness. Once the Grade Forgiveness has been approved, the original/lower grade of “D” will be replaced with an asterisk (*) and the latter/higher Grade of “B-“will

be used in the student’s GPA calculation. However, If a student earned a grade of “D” in MAT 105 in Fall 2011, and then earns a grade of “F” in Spring 2012, BOTH grades will remain and be calculated in the student’s GPA. In other words, the student will not be approved for grade forgiveness if the repeated grade is an “F.”

Before any grade is forgiven, a student MUST have completed and submitted the Grade Forgiveness form and received approval from the Registrar. The form will not be accepted by the Registrar and Admissions Office if the substitute grade is not indicated.

Restrictions to the Policy

Grade forgiveness is limited to courses for which a grade of “C-”, “D” or “F” was earned. Courses with a grade of “C” or better will NOT be granted Grade Forgiveness. The max- imum number of times a course can be taken is three (3), and the LAST grade earned will be used for Grade Forgiveness.

Eligibility Limitations

There will be a time limit enforced in applying for Grade Forgiveness. Also, students will be allowed to apply for Grade Forgiveness a maximum of three (3) times. Those who commence their studies at the bachelor’s degree level will also have three (3) opportunities. In order for a grade to be eligible for forgiveness, it must have been earned no more than six (6) semesters or three (3) academic years prior to the semes- ter of application. In the case of a course that was failed twice, or thrice, the three-year period will commence from the date of the first failure. Once a degree has been conferred, there will be no further opportunity to apply for Grade Forgiveness.

Summary of Reasons for Denying Grade Forgiveness

1.            If the student has already been granted forgiveness for three (3) courses.

2.            If the original course grade is a “C” or better.

3.           If the student is applying for forgiveness while the repeated course is in progress.

4.           If the repeated course grade is an “F.”

5.           If the original course was taken at another institution.

6.           If the repeated course was taken at another institution.

7.           If the student has already completed a degree programme.

8.           If the grade to be forgiven was earned more than six semesters or three academic years prior to the semester of application.

9.           If the original grade was received as a result of a finding of academic dishonesty or misconduct.

10.        If the degree has already been conferred.

Grading System

New Grading Scale

In Fall 2013, UCCI implemented a new Grading System, which became applicable to all students enrolled from that semester going forward. Grades earned in prior semesters were to remain the same. The main features of the new scale are:

1.           Addition of an ‘A-‘ grade

2.           Higher cumulative GPA of 2.0 (a ‘C’ average) to qualify for graduation

3.           Minimum requirement of ‘D’ grade upped from 45% to 50%

Old Scale up to Summer 2013                                  New Scale Effective Fall 2013

The following grades have no numeric values and are therefore excluded from the GPA calculation.

How to Calculate Your Grade Point Average (GPA)

Each student from the second semester of attendance obtains a semester and cumula- tive Grade Point Average, which is the sum total of all grades earned over all semesters of attendance. These averages represent the quality of a student’s performance on a 4.0 scale, and determine his or her academic standing (good standing, probation, suspension, etc.), and eligibility for honours, such as the Dean’s List, President’s List, scholarships and graduation honours.

Letter Grades and Grade-Point Equivalents

Grades and numerical grade-point equivalents have been set for varying levels of academic achievement.

Semester/Session Grade-Point Average

A student’s grade-point average is the weighted mean value of all grade points earned in a semester/session.

GPA Calculation

To calculate a grade point average (see table below):

1.           Determine the grade points earned in each course by multiplying course credits by the corresponding grade point equivalent.

2.           Add the grade points earned in each course to calculate a semester total.

3.           Divide this sum by the number of credits taken to determine the semester/session grade-point average. In the example below, 40.75 grade points ÷ 17 credits = 2.39 grade point average.

GPA = 40.75/17.00 = 2.39

N.B. Four-credit courses have a disproportionate impact on a student’s GPA. Pass/Fail courses are excluded from the GPA calculation