Faculty of Arts & Science
2016-2017 Calendar |
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While Departmental counsellors and the Registrars of the Colleges are always available to give advice and guidance, it must be clearly understood that THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE STUDENT for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with prerequisite, co-requisite requirements, observance of exceeded courses, etc., for completion of Program details, for proper observance of degree requirements, the Distribution/Breadth Requirement and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc. Students are responsible for seeking guidance from a responsible officer if they are in any doubt; misunderstanding, or advice received from another student will not be accepted as cause for dispensation from any regulation, deadline, program or degree requirement.
Students should also note the Important Notices section of this Calendar.
Details of the procedures by which students of the Faculty of Arts & Science register -- enrol in courses for which they are eligible, and pay or make arrangements to pay fees -- are found in the Registration Instructions online: www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/timetable.
Courses at University of Toronto Scarborough and University of Toronto Mississauga
Students registered on the St. George campus of the Faculty of Arts & Science may enrol in most courses offered by University of Toronto Mississauga and University of Toronto Scarborough, provided that they meet the enrolment controls and prerequisites established by those divisions. These courses count towards the 20 credits required for a St. George degree and are included in the CGPA. These courses may also count towards St. George program requirements; students should check with their program office before enrolling. Students enrolling in UTM and UTSC courses should also note that, although academic and course refund deadlines may be different for UTM/UTSC students, Arts & Science must adhere to all Faculty of Arts & Science deadlines when taking UTM/UTSC courses (e.g. enrolment deadlines, drop deadlines, CR/NCR deadlines, refund deadlines, etc.)
Courses of Other Divisions
Students should select their courses from those offered in the Faculty of Arts & Science (except courses that are required for an Arts & Science program). If, however, they identify a course(s) offered in another division, faculty or school of the University that may be appropriate for inclusion in their program(s), they must petition for permission to enrol or remain enrolled in the course for degree credit. In the petition, students must establish that the content and aims of the course(s) are valid for an Arts & Science program and cannot be met by courses offered within the Faculty of Arts & Science. The students should initiate the procedure well in advance of the beginning of classes, so that they may choose alternate courses should the request be denied. The Faculty will not accept as reasons for taking courses in other divisions the wish to satisfy qualifying requirements for programs and organizations outside the Faculty or to prepare for non-academic or professional purposes. Students should seek the approval of their program sponsor to count such a course toward the program’s requirements, before petitioning and well before the course begins.
Non-degree students in this Faculty may enrol in courses given by this Faculty or the University of Toronto Mississauga or the University of Toronto Scarborough only. They may not request permission from the Faculty to enrol in courses from other divisions.
Graduate Courses
In exceptional circumstances, undergraduate degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may be granted permission to count a graduate course toward their undergraduate degree. Permission to enrol in a graduate course sponsored by graduate departments in divisions other than the Faculty of Arts & Science requires a petition, as above. Permission to enrol in a graduate course sponsored by a Faculty of Arts & Science department requires the written permission of the sponsoring department. Not all departments allow this, even in exceptional circumstances; others may require a minimum GPA and/or the instructor’s permission.
Students making such requests should use the form available on the Faculty website at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/forms-services/pdfs/Grad_course_request_form.pdf. Students are expected to have already exhausted all undergraduate courses available in the Faculty in the relevant subject area before requesting to enrol in a graduate course.
Note that permission to count a graduate course toward a student’s program requirements is a separate matter and at the discretion of the relevant program. For degree requirement purposes, a graduate course will count as a 400-level course.
Courses of Other Universities (Letters of Permission and Transfer Credit)
Degree students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.50 may take a maximum of 5.0 full-course equivalents elsewhere for transfer credit. Students admitted with transfer credit may be limited in the number of courses that they may transfer after admission and should consult the chart available on the web at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/tc/postadmission/eligibility. Prior to taking courses at another Canadian or U.S. university, students are advised to request a Letter of Permission to confirm acceptability of those courses for transfer credit. For other universities, students may submit a request for transfer credit after completing courses elsewhere. Permission obtained from an instructor or from a department for program purposes, however, does not obligate the Faculty to grant transfer credit. There is a $40.00 non-refundable charge for each Letter of Permission and associated Addendum request and a $25.00 non-refundable fee for each Transfer Credit request. Assessments of transfer credit may take several weeks to process depending on the time of year and the nature of the request. Applicants are responsible for submitting requests well in advance of any deadlines they must meet and for obtaining the appropriate counselling concerning the Letter of Permission and/or Transfer Credit process.
Note:
Only one transfer credit may be used to satisfy the requirement of 300+ series courses for the degree. Please refer to the Letters of Permission and Transfer Credit (Post-Admission) Guidelines on the Registrar’s Office web site at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/tc/postadmission.
International Opportunities
See the section on Student Services & Resources for international opportunities for Arts & Science.
For more information on course loads please refer to the Guide to Programs & Courses section.
Fall/Winter session
The maximum course load in the Fall/Winter session is six courses (6.0 FCEs). The recommended course load for full-time students in each of the Fall and Winter terms is no more than five courses. Students are limited to a term load of six courses in each of the Fall and Winter terms; those who exceed this term load limit will be removed from excess courses.
Summer session
The maximum course load during the Summer session is two courses (2.0 FCEs).
Cancelling Courses
Students who do not intend to complete a course or courses must cancel the course on ACORN (www.acorn.utoronto.ca) before the final date to cancel courses from the academic record (see Sessional Dates). Students still enrolled in a course after the final date to cancel the course will receive a grade for that course (unless Late Withdrawal is requested: see below for details). Not attending classes or ceasing to complete further course work or not writing the examination do not constitute grounds for cancellation without academic penalty from a course; the course remains on the record with the grade earned, including “0” for incomplete work.
Students are not permitted to cancel or withdraw from a course in which an allegation of academic misconduct is pending from the time of the alleged offence until the final disposition of the accusation.
Cancelling Registration
Students who wish to cancel all their current courses in a Fall/Winter or Summer session, and do not intend to enrol in any other courses for the rest of the session must cancel their registration on ACORN (www.acorn.utoronto.ca) or notify their College Registrar in writing. The cancellation of registration must be completed by the appropriate deadline in order for the student not to incur an academic penalty. When cancelling their registration, students must:
Please note: Students who have not achieved final standing (e.g. a final grade or CR/NCR) in at least one course in the Faculty previously must re-apply for admission through the Ontario Universities Application Centre if they wish to return in the future.
Fees are subject to change at any time by approval of the Governing Council. Tuition fees normally consist of academic fees (including instruction and library) and incidental/ancillary fees (including Hart House, Health Services, Athletics and student organizations). Additional ancillary fees may also be assessed for enrolment in some specific courses. Consult the Student Accounts web site or the Bursar of Trinity College (Trinity students).
Fees and Payment
Payments to cover fees may only be made at financial institutions, not in person — consult the Registration Instructions & Timetable or the Office of Student Accounts website (www.fees.utoronto.ca) for further details.
Payment Deadlines
Deadlines are available from the Student Accounts Office or from the Trinity College Bursar’s Office (Trinity students).
To avoid delays, students are advised to pay fees early.
All fees and charges posted to your account are deemed payable. If not paid in full, any outstanding account balance is subject to a monthly service charge of 1.5% per month compounded (19.56% per annum). Outstanding charges on your account from prior sessions are subject to a service charge as of the 15th of every month until paid in full.
Students with outstanding accounts may not receive official transcripts and may not re-register at the University until these accounts are paid.
Fees for International Students
In accordance with the regulations of the Government of Ontario, certain categories of students who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents of Canada are charged higher academic fees. Refer to the Student Accounts web site at www.fees.utoronto.ca for details.
Further information on fees may be obtained by students of Innis, New, St. Michael’s, University, Victoria and Woodsworth Colleges from the Student Accounts Office, University of Toronto, 215 Huron St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A2; 416-978-2142. Students of Trinity College should consult their College Bursar.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of in-course bursaries, scholarships and awards is available to students who need financial assistance or who qualify for them on the basis of academic merit. Information on these, and the Ontario Student Assistance Program, is available on the following web sites:
Faculty of Arts & Science web site (www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/scholarships)
Enrolment Services web site (www.adm.utoronto.ca)
College Registrars’ office web sites (www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/advising/colleges)
Sanctions on Account of Outstanding Obligations
The following are recognized University obligations:
The following academic sanctions are imposed on Arts & Science students who have outstanding recognized University obligations:
Payments made by continuing or returning students will first be applied to outstanding University debts and then to current fees.
Term Work and Term Test Regulations
The following regulations summarize the Faculty’s implementation of the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy, Parts A and B, available on the Governing Council web site at www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.htm (however grade scales relevant to the Faculty of Arts & Science can be seen below).
Marking Schemes
As early as possible in each course, and no later than the last date to enrol in the course, the instructor shall make available to the class, and shall file with the division/faculty or department, the course marking scheme, i.e., methods by which student performance shall be evaluated. This should include whether the methods of evaluation will be essays, tests, class participation, seminar presentations, examinations, or other requirements; the relative weight of these methods in relation to the overall grade; and the timing of each major evaluation.
No essay, test, examination etc. in the marking scheme may be assigned a weight of more than 80% of the course grade. This limit does not apply when an instructor makes an accommodation at a student's request to take into account assessments missed for legitimate, documented reasons.
After the marking scheme has been made known by the last date to enrol in the course, the instructor may not change it or the relative weight of assessments without the consent of a simple majority of students attending the class, provided the vote is announced no later than in the previous class. Any changes must be reported to the division or the department. The only exception to this is in the case of the declaration of a disruption. [Please see the University’s Policy on Academic Continuity.]
In the event that this policy has not been followed, a student may petition to have the course removed from the record, provided such a petition is filed no later than the last day of classes.
Term Work
Instructors shall return by the deadline one or more marked assignments worth a combined total of at least 10% of the total course mark for H courses and 20% for Y courses.
The deadline for returning such marked work shall be the last regularly-scheduled class meeting prior to the deadline to cancel without academic penalty, with one exception: for courses that run the entire Fall/Winter Session (Y1Y or H1Y courses), the deadline shall be the last regularly-scheduled class meeting of the first week of classes in January.
All term work must be submitted on or before the last day of classes in the course concerned, unless an earlier date is specified by the instructor. Students who for reasons beyond their control are unable to submit an assignment by its deadline must obtain approval from their instructor for an extension of the deadline. This extension may be for no longer than five working days after the end of the Final Examination period. If additional time beyond this period is required, students must petition through their College Registrar within five working days after the end of the examination period for a further extension of the deadline. (See section below on Petitions)
Students are strongly advised to keep rough and draft work and copies of their essays and assignments, as these may be required by the instructor.
All written work that has been evaluated should be returned to the student with such detailed comment as the instructor deems appropriate, and time made available for discussion of it. Any enquiries or appeals about a graded piece of work must be made to the instructor as soon as possible and no later than two weeks after the work was returned. Instructors must keep unclaimed term work for at least six months beyond the end of the course.
Term Tests
No term test or combination of term tests held in the last two weeks of classes at the end of any term may have a total weight greater than 25% of the final mark. This includes term tests in Y courses held in December, and also includes “take-home tests” and assignments where the topics or questions are both assigned and due with the last two weeks of classes.
All term tests must be held on or before the last day of classes. No term test may be held during Reading Week in February, during the Study Break in April, or during Faculty Examination Periods, except for those in F or Y-courses scheduled by the Faculty in the December Examination Period.
Missed Term Tests
Students who miss a term test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they satisfy the following conditions:
Requests for Re-Marking of Term Work
A student who believes an individual item of work has been incorrectly or unfairly marked may request that it be remarked. Such requests should be made initially to the instructor in the course as soon as possible after the work was returned, and no later than two weeks after it was returned.
If an instructor refuses the request to remark a piece of work, or if the student believes the remarking was incorrect or unfair, the student may appeal to the Undergraduate Coordinator (e.g. Associate Chair who is acting on behalf of the Chair) of the department or program sponsoring the course.
Appeals beyond the program or department should be made to the Office of the Dean. Such appeals about the marking of term work must be made in writing. They will be reviewed to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed in earlier appeals, that the student has been treated fairly, and that the standards applied have been consistent with those applied to other students doing the assignment. The Office of the Dean is the final level of appeal for marks in the Faculty of Arts & Science; no further appeal is possible.
An appeal of a mark beyond the instructor for term work may only be made for an item worth at least 20% of the course mark.
All appeals beyond the instructor must be made in writing in a timely manner, and no later than two weeks after the work was returned, explaining why the student believes the mark was inappropriate and summarizing all previous communications in the matter.
Students making a request for a remarking must accept that the resulting mark will become the new mark, whether it goes up or down or remains the same.
A Faculty final examination counting for between one-third and two-thirds of the final mark must be held in each 100-series course, unless exemption has been granted by the Faculty of Arts & Science. Courses in the 200-series will normally have a final examination. In 200-, 300- and 400-series courses, the Departments will decide whether or not an examination is appropriate. The ratio of term work to examination mark will be the same for all sections of multi-section courses that have final examinations. The relative value of each part of a written examination must be indicated on the question paper.
Final examinations are held at the end of each session or sub-session. Students taking courses during the day may be required to write evening examinations, and students taking evening courses may be required to write examinations during the day. Examinations may be held on Saturdays. Students who make personal commitments during the examination period do so at their own risk. No special consideration is given and no special arrangements are made in the event of conflicts resulting from personal commitments.
Students who are unable to write their examinations due to illness, etc., should contact their College Registrar (see "Petitions Regarding Examinations", below).
Students who have two Faculty final examinations at the same time, or three consecutive Faculty final examinations (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening; or afternoon, evening, next morning) should report the conflict to the Office of the Faculty Registrar by the deadline shown on the examination schedule. Information regarding dates, times and locations of examinations will not be given by telephone or email; for the most up to date examination timetable consult the Faculty's current students web site at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current.
Students who cannot write a final examination at the scheduled time because of a religious obligation should report this conflict to the Office of the Faculty Registrar as soon as the conflict is known, and no later than the deadline shown on the examination schedule.
Rules for the Conduct of Examinations
THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY LEFT IN EXAMINATION ROOMS
Degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may select up to 2.0 full-course equivalents of their degree credits to be assessed on a Credit/ No Credit basis. This option is available for Arts & Science students taking courses offered by the St. George Campus Faculty of Arts & Science, the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, the University of Toronto Mississauga, or the University of Toronto Scarborough. Some courses may not be eligible for CR/NCR -- check with the course Calendar or the relevant division.
Students must choose this mode of assessment no later than the last date to cancel the relevant course. Once the deadline has passed, students may not reverse this decision. Students may add or remove the CR/NCR option on ACORN (www.acorn.utoronto.ca). See the Faculty's website for full details of the CR/NCR option: www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/forms-services/crncr
To achieve a status of CR (Credit), a student must achieve a final mark of at least 50%. Marks below that will be assessed as NCR (No Credit). Courses with a final status of CR will count as degree credits but will have no effect on the student’s GPA. They will count as Distribution Requirements, Breadth Requirements, and degree credits, but cannot be used to satisfy program requirements or the 12.0 different FCE requirement between programs for a student's degree unless explicitly permitted by the program.
Courses with a final status of NCR will not count as degree credits but will not count as failures, and will also not be included in the GPA calculation.
Students may exercise this option to a total of 2.0 full-course equivalents throughout their degree studies. The choice is not restricted as to year or level of course.
Students taking a course on a CR/NCR basis will not be identified individually to the instructor teaching that course; they will be assessed in the same way as all other students in the course, i.e. will have the same assignments and tests and will be evaluated with the same expectations.
This option is not available to Arts & Science non-degree students or to students from other faculties/divisions of the University of Toronto, except for undergraduate degree students in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
Note to graduating students: The CR/NCR option is only open to degree students. Once students have graduated, they become non-degree students and they may not complete courses on a CR/NCR basis, even if they enrolled in the course before their graduation. This means if a student is graduating in June and they select a summer course as CR/NCR or if a student is graduating in November and they enroll in a fall or winter course as CR/NCR, the CR/NCR option will be removed and a percentage grade will appear on the student’s record.
Students opting to do courses on a CR/NCR basis should be aware that their underlying percentage/letter grade will not be released or reported in any way. If a specific grade may be required in a course for professional/graduate school applications or for other reasons in the future, students should NOT choose the CR/NCR option.
Students who transfer to the Faculty of Arts & Science from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) or University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) will have all Daniels Faculty/UTM/UTSC CR/NCR options (if any) included in their Arts & Science academic record. These CR/NCR options are counted towards the 2.0 FCE maximum.
The CR/NCR option cannot be used for a course in which the student has committed an academic offence. If a student has specified the CR/NCR option in a course in which he or she commits an academic offence, the CR/NCR option will be revoked and the percentage grade will stand as the course grade.
The following courses are not eligible to be taken as CR/NCR: courses where an individual student works on independent study or individual research superrvised by a professor; First Year Seminars (199s)/Research Opportunity Program (299s)/Research Excursions (399s); Foundational Year Program courses (College Ones, Munk One); Rotman Commerce (RSM) courses; field courses; courses evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.
The Faculty of Arts & Science has a mechanism to assist students, in conjunction with their college registrars, to remedy situations, particularly in their early years at university, where personal or other circumstances mean they are irretrievably behind in a course.
Degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science may request to withdraw without petition from a total of no more than 3.0 FCEs, provided such a request is made by the last day of classes in the relevant term. Non-degree students may also request LWD, provided they do not exceed the 3.0 FCE maximum throughout their combined degree and non-degree studies.
Students will make such requests to their college registrar, who has the authority to approve such requests if the circumstances warrant approval of an exception to the normal Drop deadlines.
Withdrawals approved under this procedure will be noted on the academic record by the course status LWD (Late Withdrawal). This course status will have no effect on the GPA or other elements of the academic record.
Students who have fallen behind with assignments or are not at all prepared to write exams in one or more of courses will be expected to make use of this remedy, and should contact their college registrar’s office immediately.
Students seeking to avail themselves of this remedy will be expected to work with their college registrarial advisor to analyze what led to their predicament, to discuss what steps they can take to prevent it from happening again, and to learn from their experiences.
Students who transfer to the Faculty of Arts & Science from University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) or University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) will have all UTM/UTSC LWD requests (if any) included in their Arts & Science academic record. These LWD requests are counted towards the 3.0 FCE maximum.
Future petitions for Withdrawal, Deferred Exams, or Extensions for Term Work will be considered in light of the fact that the student has previously been granted such an opportunity.
Note that the option for Late Withdrawal is not available if an allegation of academic misconduct is under investigation. If LWD was previously granted in the course, it will be revoked and the percentage grade will stand as the course grade.
Please note: Students who have not achieved final standing (e.g. a final grade or CR/NCR) in at least one course in the Faculty previously must re-apply for admission through the Ontario Universities Application Centre if they wish to return in the future. Late Withdrawal (LWD) does not constitute final standing in a course.
"Extra" courses are ones that do not count for degree credit. Such courses appear on a student's permanent academic record with the final course mark, and are noted as "EXT", but do not count as accumulated degree credits and are not included in calculating a student's Grade Point Average. However, Extra courses may count in other respects, such as to satisfy program requirements or breadth/distribution requirements.
Each course with a passing mark or CR counts for credit towards a degree unless:
Grades Review Procedure
The Faculty of Arts & Science implements the Grading Regulations, reviews course grades submitted by Departments and posts the official grades. Official grades are communicated to the students via the Student Web Service.
Each Department has an appointed faculty member (e.g. a Chair, Program Director, Vice Principal) who is responsible for reviewing grades submitted by instructors. This appointed faculty member may ask for clarification of any anomalous results or distributions, or disparity between sections of the same courses. Both the appointed faculty member and the Dean have the right, in consultation with the instructor of the course, to adjust marks where there is an obvious and unexplained discrepancy between the marks submitted and the perceived standards of the Faculty. Final marks are official, and may be communicated to the students only after the review procedure has taken place. Grades, as an expression of the instructor’s best judgment of each student’s overall performance, will not be determined by any system of quotas.
GPA Equivalency Chart
Percentage | Letter Grade | Grade Point Value * |
Grade Definition |
|
90-100 | A+ | 4.0 |
Excellent |
Strong evidence of original thinking; good organization; capacity to analyze and synthesize; superior grasp of subject matter with sound critical evaluations; evidence of extensive knowledge base. |
85-89 | A | 4.0 | ||
80-84 | A- | 3.7 | ||
77-79 | B+ | 3.3 | Good | Evidence of grasp of subject matter, some evidence of critical capacity and analytic ability; reasonable understanding of relevant issues; evidence of familiarity with literature. |
73-76 | B | 3.0 | ||
70-72 | B- | 2.7 | ||
67-69 | C+ | 2.3 | Adequate | Student who is profiting from his/her university experience; understanding of the subject matter; ability to develop solutions to simple problems in the material. |
63-66 | C | 2.0 | ||
60-62 | C- | 1.7 | ||
57-59 | D+ | 1.3 | Marginal | Some evidence of familiarity with subject matter and some evidence that critical and analytic skills have been developed. |
53-56 | D | 1.0 | ||
50-52 | D- | 0.7 | ||
0-49 | F | 0.0 | Inadequate | Little evidence of even superficial understanding of subject matter; weakness in critical and analytic skills; with limited or irrelevant use of literature. |
* The grade point values above apply to marks earned in individual courses; grade point averages (SGPAs/AGPAs/CGPAs) are weighted sums of the grade points earned (see below), and thus do not necessarily correspond exactly to the scale above.
Note:
In order to “obtain standing” in a course, a student must receive at least a passing grade (50%) in that course. A Grade of “F” is a failure. There are no supplemental examination privileges in the Faculty.
Other notations, which have no grade point values, and which may be authorized only by petition, are:
AEG - Aegrotat Standing on the basis of term work and medical evidence
CR/NCR - Credit/No Credit; see above
EXT or XTR or X - Extra course, not for degree credit; course has no effect on status or grade point average.
GWR - Grade withheld pending Review
IPR - (Course) In Progress
LWD - Late withdrawal without academic penalty
NGA - No grade available
P/FL - Pass/Failure. In cases where the FL grade is used in calculating grade point averages, the symbol “FL %” is used and a grade point value of 0.0 is assigned
SDF- Standing Deferred granted by petition
WDR - Late Withdrawal without academic penalty after the relevant deadline. Removal of a grade for incomplete work when withdrawal before the end of the course has been caused by circumstances beyond the student’s control, arising after the last date for course cancellation. Changes to the record will be authorized by petition only in exceptional circumstances.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the weighted sum (a full course is weighted as 1, a half-course as 0.5) of the grade points earned, divided by the number of courses in which grade points were earned.
Courses that are not included in the GPA are: courses noted with the “AEG” standing, transfer credits, courses taken elsewhere on a Letter of Permission or as part of an exchange program, courses designated as “extra”, and courses taken as CR/NCR.
Courses evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis: if a grade of Pass (P) is achieved, the course is not included in the GPA; if a grade of Fail (FL) is achieved, a grade point value of 0.0 is assigned and the course is included in the GPA.
Courses taken as Non-degree students and Non-degree visiting students are included in the GPA.
Four types of grade point averages are used:
1. The Sessional GPA is based on courses taken in a single term or session (Fall, Winter or Summer);
2. The Annual GPA is based on courses taken in the Fall/Winter Session;
3. The Cumulative GPA takes into account all courses taken in the Faculty, except those marked "extra" or taken as CR/NCR;
4. The Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP) GPA takes into account all B.Ed. courses. This GPA is only used for CTEP students.
A Sessional, Annual, and Cumulative GPA is also calculated for all Non-degree and Non-degree visiting students. For Non-degree students who have completed a degree in the Faculty, the Cumulative GPA includes all courses taken both as a degree student and as a non-degree student.
There are four kinds of academic standing: In Good Standing; On Probation; On Suspension; Refused Further Registration. Academic standing is assessed for the first time at the end of the session in which a student achieves final standing in at least 0.5 credit (excluding Credit/No Credit, Pass/Fail, and courses marked extra) in the Faculty.
Academic standing is assessed twice a year:
In Good Standing:
Students are described as In Good Standing if they are neither On Probation, Suspended nor Refused Further Registration; these terms are explained below. For students with particularly noteworthy academic results, there are three specific forms of recognition, which are described in the “Student Services & Resources” section.
Probation; Suspension; Refused Further Registration
This image shows how Academic Standing is determined.
NOTE: Students “On Academic Probation” may take no more than five courses in each of the Fall and Winter terms, and no more than two courses in each of the Summer terms.
Students are responsible for observing sessional dates, course prerequisites, and exclusions, satisfying the degree requirements and following the rules and regulations in the Calendar and the Registration Instructions. Failure to follow regulations, requirements and deadlines may result in academic and/or financial consequences or penalties, and failure to inform oneself about these will not be accepted as sufficient excuse to avoid these consequences. Students should always consult their College Registrar immediately for guidance if anything happens that interferes with continuing or completing their courses, or that appears to be contrary to rules, regulations and deadlines.
Departmental Appeals
Academic appeals concern issues arising within a course that relate to the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as the organization of a course, grading practices, or conduct of instructors. These fall within the authority of the department or college sponsoring the course and are not the subject of petitions. Students are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding the academic aspects of a course first with the instructor. It is recommended that such discussions should be documented in writing where appropriate. The successive stages of appeal after the course instructor must be documented in writing. These successive stages are: the Undergraduate Coordinator or Associate Chair; the Chair of the Department or the College Program Director; then the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science. An appeal must have been reviewed at the departmental level before being referred to the Dean’s Office; appeals to the Dean’s Office must be in writing.
Petitions to the Faculty
Petitions concern issues relating to degree requirements, academic regulations, examinations, and administrative rules. These may be petitioned to the Faculty, provided this is done prior to the specified deadlines. The Faculty recognizes that an exception may be required in the face of unpredictable, exceptional circumstances. In submitting a petition to have regulations waived or varied, students must present compelling reasons and relevant documentation, and must demonstrate that they have acted responsibly and with good judgment in attempting to observe Faculty regulations. Students are requested to present their entire case from the outset so their circumstances may be reviewed adequately for an equitable decision. The Committee on Standing routinely denies petitions that in its view do not present a valid reason for an exception to the regulations. Students are encouraged to seek advice on all such matters from the office of their College Registrar.
Petitions must 1) state the student’s request; 2) provide the reasons why an exception should be made in a clear and concise manner; and 3) be accompanied by relevant supporting documentation. A petition is considered in confidence by the Committee on Standing, which is charged with interpreting and administering the regulations of the Faculty. The Committee has the authority to grant exceptions and to attach conditions to its decisions.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide a valid UofT email address to which a petition decision may be sent. Only UofT email will be used to reply to petitions. Non-receipt of a decision due to incorrect email address is not grounds for reconsideration.
Deadlines to File Petitions
The deadlines for petitions are strictly enforced. If there are compelling reasons why a petition is being filed after the deadline, a covering letter explaining the reasons and requesting late consideration must accompany the petition. The issue of lateness must be satisfactorily resolved before the substance of the petition may be considered. Late petitions without sufficient reason for lateness will not be considered, no matter how compelling.
Petitions for Term Work
Petitions for Examinations
Petitions for Withdrawal (see also Late Withdrawal above)
All documentation supporting petitions must be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than three weeks after the date the student initiates the petition.
Late petitions and petitions with late documentation will not be considered (as above).
Documentation in Support of Petitions
The Faculty seeks documentation that provides pertinent evidence for decisions determining whether or not an exception should be made to regulations that are designed to ensure equitable treatment for all students. Acceptable forms of documentation are of two types:
1) Medical:
2) Non-Medical:
Medical Documentation:
If illness is being presented as the reason for the request for an exception or an accommodation, the claim of illness itself is not necessarily sufficient grounds to guarantee approval of the request. All cases are examined in their entirety before a decision is made: an illness or injury’s duration and resulting incapacitation are taken into account along with other relevant factors in the context of the course at issue. Note that the physician’s report must establish that the patient was examined and diagnosed at the time of illness, not after the fact. The Faculty will not accept a statement that merely confirms a later report of illness made by the student to a physician.
Petitions Regarding Courses in Other Divisions–see above.
Petitions Regarding Term Work (see also Term Work)
Matters concerning term work normally fall within the authority of the instructor. Students unable to comply with given deadlines must contact their instructor prior to the deadline if an extension to the deadline is being requested. Students should expect no consideration if an issue is raised after the assignment deadline.
Normally, all term work must be submitted by the last day of classes, unless an earlier date has been specified by the instructor. Instructors may grant extensions beyond their own deadlines or beyond the last day of classes up until five working days after the last day of the examination period, provided that a student presents legitimate reasons, e.g. illness, with appropriate documentation as determined by the instructor.
Extensions beyond the deadline (five working days after the last day of the examination period) can be approved only through a petition. Such petitions for an extension of time for term work must be initiated within five working days after the last day of the relevant examination period. Late requests will not be accepted. Students must file the petition after consultation with the instructor regarding a suitable extension date. The Committee on Standing consults the department concerned for information about the status of the course work, and the steps, if any, that must be taken to complete the course. Students seeking an extension of time for term work are expected to have been in contact with their instructor before the initial deadline and must continue working on the outstanding assignments while they await a decision.
Petitions Regarding Examinations (see also Examinations)
Students are expected to write their examinations as scheduled. Only in cases of documented debilitating illness or legitimate conflict should a student request a deferral of a final examination. Students who are too ill and/or incapacitated at the time of the examinations should petition to defer the examination they are unable to attend due to their medical condition. Petitions based on travel, employment, or personal plans will not be considered as students are expected to make themselves available during the published Examination Period to write final examinations.
In response to a petition for a deferred examination, a student may be granted the opportunity to write a special examination at a subsequent examination period or the regular examination in the next offering of the course. Satisfactory documentation must be provided to corroborate illness (see above). Students with chronic illnesses must provide medical documentation for the specific date on which the illness was acute, or a letter from Accessibility Services for those registered for such a disability (indicating they were seen at the time of flare up, etc.).
Students who have missed an examination and are requesting a deferral must submit a petition no later than one week after the end of the examination period through their college registrar. There is a fee of $70.00 per deferred examination (maximum $140.00 for multiple deferral requests in the same petition).
In the petition decision students are notified of the examination period in which the deferred examination will take place, and if the examination will be a regular or special examination. They must register to take the deferred examination and pay the fee by the deadline given, in order that arrangements can be made. The Faculty will notify those who do not register by the deadline that they have lost their privilege of a deferred examination and will revert the grade to one that includes a “0” for the final examination. No further consideration will be given.
The Faculty posts personal deferred examination schedules online for students who have paid the deferred examination fee as soon as possible after the regular examinations have been scheduled. We use the table below as a guideline. N.B. exams may occur outside of this timeline.
Final Examination |
Deferred Examination |
April |
|
June |
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August |
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December |
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Students who must write a deferred examination in a course that serves as a prerequisite for subsequent courses may enrol in those courses provided they obtain the approval of the department concerned and provided the term mark in the prerequisite (deferred) course is at least 60%. If students are enrolling in courses for which the deferred examination is a prerequisite, they are advised to consult the department sponsoring the upcoming course: as they do not have the stated prerequisite, they may be removed during a pre-requisite check and reinstatement may not be possible if the course is full.
Special Accommodations Fee
Students who request permission to write an examination outside the normal examination arrangements, e.g. at an Outside Centre, must submit a petition making their request at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the examination period. Late requests cannot be accommodated. A non-refundable fee of $30.00 for each examination is charged at the time of application. Students who have been granted permission to write a deferred examination will pay this fee in addition to the deferred examination fee of $70.00 per examination. These fees do not apply for accommodations resulting from conflicts with religious obligations or from arrangements made through Accessibility Services.
If permission has been granted for the examination to be written at an “Outside Centre,” students are also responsible for all costs for invigilation, postage, etc. charged by the Outside Centres involved. Students are advised to determine the total cost before petitioning. Such permission is granted only in the most extreme circumstances.
Notes:
Appeals Against Petition Decisions
Appeals against petition decisions progress as follows:
REQUESTING A RECHECK OR REREAD
If a student believes an error has been made in the calculation of marks or in the marking of a Faculty final examination, there are two procedures which can be followed to request a review of marks.
Recheck of Course Mark
If a student believes that there has been an arithmetical error in calculating the course mark, he/she may request a “recheck.” This can be done with or without requesting a photocopy or viewing of the final examination. The student must fill out a “Request for Recheck of Course Mark” form and submit it to the Office of the Faculty Registrar within six months of the final examination (see list of deadlines below). Whenever possible, the student should indicate precisely where he/she thinks the error has occurred. The Department concerned will check that the examination marks have been added correctly; the examination will not be reread. The Department will also check that all term work marks have been correctly calculated. There is no fee for this procedure. If the mark is changed as a result of this review, the $15.00 exam photocopy fee (if paid) will be refunded.
Reread of Faculty Final Examination
If a student believes that a final examination has been incorrectly marked in its substance, or that a portion of an examination has not been marked, he/she may request a “reread.” The student must first purchase a photocopy or request a supervised viewing of the exam. The student must then fill out a “Request for Reread of Final Examination” form and submit it to the Office of the Faculty Registrar within six months of the final examination (see list of deadlines below). The student must demonstrate that his/her answers are substantially correct by citing specific instances of disagreement, supported by such documentary evidence as course handouts, textbooks, lecture notes, etc. The student must do more than simply assert that “I disagree with the marking,” or that “I believe I deserve more marks.” The Department concerned will reread the examination in light of the arguments presented. There is a $36.00 fee for this procedure, which is in addition to the fee of $15.00 charged for a photocopy of the final examination. If the mark is changed as a result of this review, both the photocopy fee (if paid) and the reread fee will be refunded. It should be noted that when a course is failed, the examination must be reread before the mark is reported.
NOTE: A recheck or reread may result in a raised mark, a lowered mark, or no change. By requesting a reread or recheck a student agrees to abide by the outcome.
For some examinations, particularly those with multiple-choice questions and/or designed to be read mechanically, there may be an answer key that is essential to the understanding of the marking of the examination. In such cases, an answer key should be included with your photocopy. If it is not, you may contact the relevant department to see if one is available.
Forms are available at the Office of the Faculty Registrar, or on the web at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/exams/rr
Deadlines for requesting a recheck or a reread:
The University's Policy on Access to Student Academic Records can be found on the Governing Council web site at http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.
Mailing Address
Address information (mailing and permanent) must be viewed and updated on ACORN at www.acorn.utoronto.ca or in your College Registrar’s Office. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the mailing address is kept up-to-date on ACORN.
E-Mail Address
As a student at the University of Toronto, you have automatic access to the Information Commons, which is your passport to e-mail, the library and the Internet. Once you have your TCard, you must activate your University of Toronto e-mail account. Setting up a UTmail+ account is mandatory; see "University Policy on Official Correspondence with Students" at: http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.htm.
TCard
The TCard is the official University of Toronto student ID card, bearing student information including name, student number, and image. It serves various functions, including library card, meal plan card & access card (if applicable). It is used for identification purposes within the University, such as Faculty examinations, student activities, and Athletic Association privileges. In order to get your first TCard you will be required to present documentation to validate your identity and citizenship status. The loss of the card must be reported promptly to the College Registrar or TCard office, the Library, and Meal Plan provider (if applicable). There is a fee for the replacement of lost cards. For more information on TCard issuance and services, visit http://sites.utoronto.ca/tcard/
Statement of Results
The Faculty of Arts & Science does not mail Statements of Results to students in good standing. Students are able to check their course results, grade point averages, and academic status by accessing their academic record online through ACORN. Final course results will be available for viewing on ACORN as soon as possible after they are received and posted by the Office of the Faculty Registrar. Note that academic status is only assessed in May (for the Fall/Winter session) and in August (for the Summer session).
Students not in good standing (i.e. on probation, or suspended, or refused further registration) will receive notification by email to their UTMail+ account and in writing by surface mail to their mailing address listed on ACORN.
Transcripts
The transcript of a student’s record reports their complete registration history at the university including courses in progress and the standing in all courses attempted along with course average, information about the student’s academic status including records of suspension and refusal of further registration, current academic sanctions, and completion of degree requirements and of program(s).
Marks are posted and a sessional GPA is calculated at the end of each session. An annual GPA is calculated only at the end of the Winter session and includes only the results earned in the Fall and Winter sessions. Academic standing is assessed at the end of the Fall/Winter session and at the end of the Summer session.
The University of Toronto issues consolidated transcripts, including a student’s total academic record at the University. However, graduate students (who were previously enrolled at the University of Toronto as an undergraduate) may request that only the graduate portion of their record be issued. Students may request their transcript online at www.acorn.utoronto.ca. Requests may also be made in person or by mail to:
University of Toronto Transcript Centre
Room 1006, Sidney Smith Hall
100 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3G3
Email: transcripts@utoronto.ca
Further information can be obtained at www.transcripts.utoronto.ca.
A fee of $12.00 (subject to change), which includes PST is charged for each transcript. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to the University of Toronto.
The University of Toronto cannot be responsible for transcripts lost or delayed in the mail. Transcripts are not issued for students who have outstanding financial obligations with the University.
Course descriptions
Copies of course descriptions are issued at the student’s request. The cost is $5.00/session (with an unlimited number of courses within each session). Requests listing all courses/sessions needed may be made in person or by mail to:
University of Toronto Transcript Centre
Room 1006, Sidney Smith Hall
100 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3G3
Email: transcripts@utoronto.ca
Request forms can be obtained online at www.transcripts.utoronto.ca.
Each request should also include the student’s surname and given names (or previous surname, if applicable), student ID, address of where to mail the course descriptions, daytime/cell phone number and email address.
As members of the University of Toronto community, students assume certain responsibilities and are guaranteed certain rights and freedoms.
The University has several policies that are approved by the Governing Council and which apply to all students. Each student must become familiar with the policies. The University will assume that he or she has done so. The rules and regulations of the Faculty are listed in this calendar. In applying to the Faculty, the student assumes certain responsibilities to the University and the Faculty and, if admitted and registered, shall be subject to all rules, regulations and policies cited in the calendar, as amended from time to time.
All University policies can be found at: http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/policies.htm
Those which are of particular importance to students are:
More information about students’ rights and responsibilities can be found at http://life.utoronto.ca/get-help/rights-responsibilities.htm.