2001/2002 Calendar
Calendar Home Calendar Contents Contact Us Arts and Science Home

RULES AND REGULATIONS

| Important University Notice |
| Registration, Enrolment, Courses Elsewhere |
| Cancelling Courses; Withdrawing |
| Fees & Financial Assistance |
| Term Work, Tests |
| Final Examinations  |
| Grading Regulations, GPA |
| Appeals, Petitions |
| Petitions on Term Work and Examinations; Deadlines |
| Re-Assessment of Marks |
| Student Records |
| Student TCard., Statement of Results; Transcripts |
| University Grading Practices Policy |
| Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters |
| Code of Student Conduct |

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 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.

  IMPORTANT NOTICES

Changes In Programs Of Study, Or "Subject Posts"
The subject POSts, or programs of study, that our calendar lists and describes are available for the years to which the calendar applies. They may not necessarily be available in later years. If the University or the Faculty must change the content of programs of study or withdraw them, all reasonably possible advance notice and alternative instruction will be given. The University, however, will not be liable for any loss, damages, or other expenses that such changes might cause.

Changes In Courses
For each program of study offered by the University through the Faculty, the courses necessary to complete the minimum requirements of the program will be made available annually. We must, however, reserve the right otherwise to change the content of courses, instructors and instructional assignments, enrolment limitations, pre-requisites and co-requisites, grading policies, and timetables without prior notice.

Changes In Regulations And Policies
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 displayed here. Applicable University policies are either fully displayed here or listed here. 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 the rules, regulations, and policies cited in the calendar.

Calendar Limitations
The University makes every reasonable effort to plan and control enrolment to ensure that all of our students are qualified to complete the programs to which they are admitted, and to strike a practicable balance between enrolment and available instructional resources. Sometimes such a balance cannot be struck and the number of qualified students exceeds the instructional resources that we can reasonably make available while at the same time maintaining the quality of instruction. In such cases, we must reserve the right to limit enrolment in the programs, courses, or sections listed in the calendar, and to withdraw courses or sections for which enrolment or resources are insufficient.

Copyright In Course Lectures
If a student wishes to tape-record, photograph, video-record or otherwise reproduce lecture presentations, course notes or familiar materials provided by instructors, he or she must obtain the instructor's written consent beforehand. Otherwise all such reproduction is an infringement of copyright and is absolutely prohibited. In the case of private use by physically disabled students, the instructor's consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

Student Number
Each student at the University is assigned a unique identification number. The number is confidential. The University, through the Policy on Access to Student Records, strictly controls access to student numbers. The University assumes and expects that students will protect the confidentiality of their student numbers.

REGISTRATION

Details of the procedures by which students of the Faculty of Arts and Science register and enrol in courses for which they are eligible, and pay or make arrangements to pay fees, are found in the "Registration Handbook and Timetable", which students receive from their college. (Any student allowed to register one day after the end of the first week of classes is charged a late fee of $43.00; for each day thereafter the fee is an additional $5.00.)

Passed Courses May Not Be Repeated
Students may not repeat any course in which they have already obtained a mark of 50% or higher. The only exception occurs when students require a 100-series course with a specific grade higher than "D" for entry to a limited-enrolment Program. Students may repeat such a course once as an "extra" course, which will have no effect on status or Grade-Point Average. There are no supplemental examinations or provisions to "upgrade" a mark. All courses taken, except those officially dropped, remain on the record.

Degree Courses And Extra Courses: Chronological Principle
Courses are credited towards a degree chronologically. For example, if a student has already passed six 100-series courses and then enrols in further 100-series courses, the more recent courses are counted as "Extra" courses. An exception occurs when a student who has completed 5.5 100-series courses enrols in a full course at the 100-level in a subsequent session; the most recently taken half-course becomes "extra."

Courses Outside The Faculty
See also the section on the Study Elsewhere Program

Courses Of Other Campuses
Subject to approval, St. George Campus students may include a limited number of courses from the Mississauga and Scarborough Campuses for degree credit. Students are responsible for ensuring that courses taken on the other campuses do not duplicate, nor are exclusions of, their St. George campus enrolments. Students require the written permission of the St. George campus department if courses from the other campuses are to be used for the fulfillment of Subject POSt requirements> Students should consult the Subject POSt sponsor before enrolling in such courses.

Courses Of Other Divisions
Certain courses offered in other Faculties and Schools of the University may be appropriate for degree credit for students in Arts and Science. After consulting an academic advisor, students must petition to take these courses through their College Registrar. The procedure must be initiated well in advance of the beginning of classes, so students may choose alternate courses in case the request is rejected. Permission to take such courses for degree credit is granted when students can establish that their particular aims are valid for an Arts and Science program but cannot be met by courses offered within the Faculty of Arts and Science. The Faculty will not accept as reasons for taking courses in other divisions the wish to satisfy requirements to qualify for programs and organizations outside the Faculty or to prepare for non-academic or professional purposes. Acceptance of petitions to take graduate courses is further subject to the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. Non-Degree students may enrol through this Faculty only in courses given by this Faculty or by the University of Toronto at Scarborough.

Courses Of Other Universities (Letters Of Permission And Transfer Credit)
Degree students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.50 prior to studying elsewhere may take a maximum of 5.0 courses 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 their College Registrar about the number of courses they may subsequently take elsewhere. Prior to taking courses at another Canadian or American university, students are advised to request a Letter of Permission to confirm acceptability of those courses for transfer credit. Otherwise, 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 $30.00 non-refundable charge for each 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 information sheets on the Request for a Letter of Permission and the Request for Transfer Credit in the Office of your College Registrar. Study Elsewhere Program Participants should consult the Study Elsewhere Information Booklet for the regulations that apply to them.

CANCELLING COURSES OR REGISTRATION

Cancelling Courses
Students who do not intend to complete a course or courses must use the Student Telephone Service or the Student Web Service to withdraw from the course before the final date to remove courses from the academic record (See Sessional Dates at front of Calendar). Students still enrolled in a course after the final date to cancel the course will receive a grade for that course. Not attending classes or ceasing to complete further course work or not writing the examination do not constitute grounds for withdrawal without academic penalty from a course; the course remains on the record with the grade earned, including "0" for incomplete work.

Cancelling Registration
Students who wish to cancel all their current courses, and do not intend to enrol in any other courses for the rest of the session (Fall, Winter or Summer) must cancel their registration by notifying their College Registrar in writing or by using the Student Telephone Service or the Student Web Service. The cancellation of registration must be completed by the appropriate deadline in order for the student not to incur an academic penalty. Before any refund is authorized, they must:

  • pay any outstanding fees;
  • return any books to the Library and pay any outstanding fines;
  • vacate any laboratory or athletic lockers and return any equipment in their possession.

Corrections To The Academic Record
The Faculty will accept requests for corrections to an academic record of the Fall-Winter Session up to the following 15 November, and corrections to their record of the Summer Session up to the following 28/29 February.

NOTE: students are responsible for ensuring that they provide a valid mailing address to assure that they receive a Statement of Results at the end of the Fall-Winter and Summer Sessions. Students who cease attending a course without officially withdrawing or after the withdrawal deadline will be considered to be enrolled in that course and it will be included in their official Statement of Results.

FEES

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 material published by Student Accounts or the Bursars of St. Michael's, Trinity and Victoria Colleges.

Fees Invoice And Method Of Payment
All students receive an invoice detailing fees for their specific program and selection of courses. Payment is made at a financial institution - consult the instructions sent with the invoice.

Payment Deadlines (For The Fall-Winter Session)
Fees payment is due September 1. All accounts must be paid by April 30.

To avoid delays and line-ups students are advised to pay fees early. All outstanding balances, regardless of source of payment, are subject to a service charge of 11/2% per month compounded, first assessed on October 15 and on the 15th of each month until the account is 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 Foreign Students
In accordance with the recommendation 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 material published by Student Accounts or consult the Faculty Website for details.

Further information on fees may be obtained by students of Innis, New, University and Woodsworth Colleges from the Fees Department, University of Toronto, 215 Huron St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A2; 416-978-2142. Students of St. Michael's, Trinity and Victoria Colleges should consult their College Bursar.

Residence Fees
Detailed student residence information is contained in College brochures or College Websites; consult the Faculty Website.

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 Faculty Website or from the Office of the Faculty Registrar, Admissions and Awards, or the College Registrars' offices.

Sanctions On Account Of Outstanding Obligations
The following are recognized University obligations: (a) tuition fees; (b) academic and other incidental fees; (c) residence fees and charges; (d) library fines; (e) loans made by Colleges, the Faculty or the University; (f) Health Service accounts; (g) unreturned or damaged instruments, materials and equipment; (h) orders for the restitution, rectification or the payment of damages, fines, bonds for good behaviour, and requirement of public service work imposed under the authority of the Code of Student Conduct.
The following academic sanctions are imposed on Arts and Science students with outstanding University obligations:

  1. Official transcripts of record will not be issued;
  2. Registration will be refused to continuing or returning students. Payments made by continuing or returning students will first be applied to outstanding University debts and then to current fees.

COURSE MARKS: TERM WORK & TERM TEST REGULATIONS

The following regulations summarize the Faculty's implementation of the University's Grading Practices Policy, Parts I and II of which are reprinted in full below.

Marking Schemes

  • Both essays (or equivalent work) and examinations (including term tests) are normally required for standing in courses. In courses where only one form of evaluation is used, a single piece of work cannot count for all of the final mark.
  • Self-evaluation by individual students or by groups of students is not permissible unless the specific consent of the Committee on Academic Standards is received.
  • As early as possible in each course, and no later than the last date to enrol in courses, the instructor must announce in a regularly-scheduled class the methods by which student performance will be evaluated, their relative weight in the final mark, including any discretionary factor, and the due dates. These methods must be in accord with applicable University and Faculty policies (See TERM WORK and TERM TEST below, especially bold-faced items.) Instructors must file a copy of their marking scheme for each course with the Departmental or Program Office at the beginning of the term.
  • Once the weight of each component of the course work is given, it may not be changed unless approved by a majority of the students present and voting at a regularly-scheduled meeting of the class.
  • After the last date to withdraw from the course without academic penalty, no change in marks weighting may take place unless there is unanimous consent of all students present and voting, and notice must be given at the regularly-scheduled class meeting previous to that at which the issue is to be raised.
  • Students may petition for deletion of the course from their record and receive an appropriate fees refund, should an infraction of the Grading Practices Policy occur. Petitions must be filed by the last day of classes, before all course work has been completed.

Term Work

  • Instructors MUST assign, grade and return at least one significant assignment as early as possible, and at the latest BEFORE the final date to withdraw without academic penalty.
  • 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 the end of the Final Examination period. If additional time beyond this period is required, students must petition through their College Registrar before the end of the examination period for a further extension of the deadline.
  • 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 with such detailed comment as the instructor deems appropriate, and time made available for discussion of it. Any enquiries about a graded piece of work must be made within one month of the return date of the work. 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.

All term tests must be held on or before the last day of classes. No term test may be held during the "Reading Week" in February, during the "Study Week" in April, or during Faculty Examination Periods, except for those in Y-courses scheduled by the Faculty in December.

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:

    1. Students who miss a term test for reasons entirely beyond their control may, within one week of the missed test, submit to the instructor or department/program a written request for special consideration explaining the reason for missing the test, and attaching appropriate documentation, such as a medical certificate.
    2. If a written request with documentation cannot be submitted within one week, the department may consider a request to extend the time limit.
    3. A student whose explanation is accepted by the department will be entitled to one of the following considerations:
        1. In courses where there is no other term work as part of the evaluation scheme, a makeup test must be given.
        2. In other courses, the department/program may either give a makeup test OR increase the weighting of other graded work by the amount of the missed test. In no case may the weighting of the final examination in a 100-level course be increased beyond 2/3 of the total course mark.
    4. If the student is granted permission to take a makeup test and misses it, then he or she is assigned a mark of zero for the test unless the department/program is satisfied that missing the makeup test was unavoidable. No student is automatically entitled to a second makeup test.*
    5. A student who misses a term test cannot subsequently petition for late withdrawal from the course without academic penalty on the grounds that he or she has had no term work returned before the drop date.

*NOTE: this means that if a department is persuaded of the student's grounds for missing the makeup test, it may decide to compensate for the missed test in whatever way it chooses, which could be by giving another makeup test; the student cannot demand another makeup test.

FACULTY FINAL EXAMINATIONS and OUTSIDE EXAMINATION CENTRES

Students taking courses during the day may be required to write evening examinations, and students taking evening courses may be required to write day examinations. Students should consult their College Registrar immediately if illness is affecting their ability to write final examinations.

A Faculty final examination common to all sections of the course and 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 Committee on Academic Standards. In 200-, 300- and 400-series courses, the Departments will decide whether or not an examination is appropriate, and report to the Committee.

Final examinations are held at the end of each session or subsession. 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. Information regarding dates, times and locations of examinations will not be given by telephone.

Students who have two Faculty final examinations in the same time slot, or three consecutive Faculty final examinations (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening; or afternoon, evening, next morning) should contact the Office of the Faculty Registrar.

The ratio of term marks 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.

Rules For The Conduct Of Examinations

    1. No person will be allowed in an examination room during an examination except the candidates concerned and those supervising the examination.
    2. Candidates must appear at the examination room at least twenty minutes before the commencement of the examination.
    3. Candidates shall bring their signed student cards and place them in a conspicuous place on their desks. Candidates registered in the Faculty of Arts and Science must have a student registration card bearing their photograph.
    4. Bags and books are to be deposited in areas designated by the Chief Presiding Officer and are not to be taken to the examination desk or table. Students may place their purses on the floor under their chairs.
    5. The Chief Presiding Officer has authority to assign seats to candidates.
    6. Candidates shall not communicate with one another in any manner whatsoever during the examination.
    7. No materials shall be brought into the room or used at an examination except those authorized by the Chief Presiding Officer or Examiner.
    8. Candidates who bring any unauthorized material into an examination room or who assist or obtain assistance from other candidates or from any unauthorized source are liable to penalties under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, including the loss of academic credit and expulsion.
    9. No cellular telephones or pagers shall be brought into an examination room by candidates.
    10. In general, candidates will not be permitted to enter an examination room later than fifteen minutes after the commencement of the examination, nor to leave except under supervision until at least half an hour after the examination has commenced.
    11. Candidates shall remain seated at their desks during the final ten minutes of each examination.
    12. At the conclusion of an examination, all writing shall cease. The Chief Presiding Officer may seize the papers of candidates who fail to observe this requirement, and a penalty may be imposed at the discretion of the instructor.
    13. Examination books and other material issued for the examination shall not be removed from the examination room except by authority of the Chief Presiding Officer.

Outside Centre/Special Accommodations Fee
Students who request permission to write an examination outside the normal examination arrangements 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.

For "Outside Centre" examinations, students are also responsible for all costs for invigilation, postage, etc. charged by the centres involved. These costs can reach as high as $100.00 per examination; students are advised to determine the total cost before petitioning. Such permission is granted only in the most extreme circumstances.

Year Equivalencey
The University of Toronto uses the following to define the year equivalency and therefore the academic status of a student:

  • 4th year St. George degree student: 14.0 full course equivalents or more;
  • 3rd year St. George degree student: 9.0 to 13.5 full course equivalents;
  • 2nd year St. George degree student: 3.5 to 8.5 full course equivalents;
  • 1st year St. George degree student: less than 3.5 full course equivalents.
  • Part-time status: a student enroled in 3.5 full course equivalents or fewer is considered to be part-time.
  • Full-time status: a student enroled in 4.0 full course equivalents or more is considered to be full-time.

Grading Regulations

Grades review procedure
The Committee on Academic Standards administers the Grading Regulations, and reviews course grades submitted by Departments. The Faculty, through this Committee, is responsible for assigning the official course grades, which are communicated to the students by the Faculty Registrar.

Each Chair appoints a departmental review committee to review grades submitted by instructors. The committee may ask for clarification of any anomalous results or distributions, or disparity between sections of the same courses. Both the departmental review committee, through the Chair, and the Faculty review committee, through 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.

Marks And Grades

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 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.

(Credit/No Credit: CR/NCR is not in general use in the Faculty)

* The grade point values above apply to marks earned in individual courses; grade point averages are weighted sums of the grade points earned (see below), and thus do not necessarily correspond exactly to the scale above. For example, a B+ average would include grade point averages from 3.20 to 3.49, while the lowest B- average would be 2.50.

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
  • NGA = No Grade Available
  • GWR = Grade withheld pending Review
  • IPR = (Course) In Progress
  • 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 normal withdrawal. Changes to the record will be authorized by petition only in exceptional circumstances.)
  • XTR or X = Extra Course not for degree credit

Grade Point Average
The Grade Point Average is the weighted sum (a full course is weighted as 2, a half-course as 1) of the grade points earned, divided by the number of courses in which grade points were earned. However, courses noted "AEG" are not included in the average, nor are transfer credits, courses taken elsewhere on a Letter of Permission, nor courses designated as "extra." Courses taken as Non-degree students and Non-degree visiting students are included in the CGPA.
Three types of grade point averages are used:

    1. The Sessional GPA is based on courses taken in a single session (Fall, Winter or Summer);
    2. The Annual GPA is based on courses taken in the Fall-Winter Sessions;
    3. The Cumulative GPA takes into account all courses taken for degree credit in the Faculty.

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.

ACADEMIC standing:
There are four kinds of academic standing:
In Good Standing; On Probation; On Suspension; Refused Further Registration
Academic standing is assessed twice a year:

    1. at the end of the Winter Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the annual and the cumulative GPAs.
    2. at the end of the Summer Session; the GPAs used for this status assessment are the sessional and the cumulative GPAs.

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 Section 2.

Probation; Suspension; Refused Further Registration:
The following regulations apply to Degree, Non-degree students and Non-degree visiting students who have attempted at least four courses* in the Faculty.

    1. A student shall be on academic probation who
        1. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 or
        2. returns from suspension.
    2. A student who, at the end of the Winter or Summer Session during which he or she is on probation
        1. has a cumulative GPA of 1.50 or more shall be in good standing
        2. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 but an annual GPA of 1.70 or more (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of 1.70 or more (Summer Session) shall continue on probation.
        3. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 and an annual GPA of less than 1.70 (Winter Session)/sessional GPA of less than 1.70 (Summer Session) shall be suspended for one calendar year unless he or she has been so suspended previously, in which case he or she shall be suspended for three years.
    3. A student who, having been suspended for three years, is again liable for suspension shall be refused further registration in the Faculty.

* Courses attempted are those in which a student remains formally enrolled on the last date for withdrawal, unless the academic penalty normally attached to a later withdrawal is removed by petition.

APPEALS AND PETITIONS

Students are responsible for following the rules and regulations in the Calendar and the Registration Handbook and Timetable; failure to observe them may result in academic and/or financial penalties. Students should always consult their College Registrar 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
Issues arising within a course that concern the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as the organization of a course, grading practices, or conduct of instructors, fall within the authority of the department or college sponsoring the course. Students are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding the academic aspects of a course with the instructor. It is recommended that if appropriate an issue should be documented in writing. The successive stages of appeal after the course instructor are as follows: the Undergraduate Secretary; the Chair of the Department or the College Program Director; then the Dean of the Faculty. An appeal must have been reviewed at the departmental level before referral to the Dean; appeals to the Dean MUST be in writing.

PETITIONS TO THE FACULTY

Issues relating to degree requirements and administrative regulations may be petitioned to the Faculty within specific time limitations. The Faculty considers petitions to have regulations waived or varied, if a student presents compelling reasons; however, students must convince the Faculty that they have acted responsibly and with good judgment in observing Faculty regulations. The Committee on Standing routinely denies petitions that in its view do not present a valid reason for an exemption from the regulations. Students are encouraged to seek counselling and, if necessary, to initiate a petition through the office of their College Registrar.

Petitions must 1) state the student's request; 2) the reasons for the request in a clear and concise manner; and 3) be accompanied by relevant supporting documentation. The 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 an accurate address to which a petition decision may be sent. Non-receipt of a decision due to postal error or incorrect address is not grounds for reconsideration.

Deadlines to File Petitions

Term Work The last day of the examination period
Examinations Within one week of the end of the examination period
End of first week of classes in January for the December examination period
Withdrawal Winter Session courses: the following 15 November
Summer Session courses: the following 28/29 February

All Supporting Documentation Must Be Submitted Within Three Weeks Of The Date Of Initiating The Petition. Late Petitions And Petitions With Late Documentation Will Not Be Considered.

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.

Medical Documentation:

The University of Toronto Student Medical Certificate must be submitted in support of a request for an exemption from Faculty regulations, if illness is being used as the reason for the request. The claim of illness, however, is not sufficient grounds in itself to guarantee approval of the request. This certificate is available at Health Services, the Office of the Faculty Registrar, College Registrar's Offices, departments and other offices of the University as well as in the Registration Handbook and Timetable. The certificate is titled as follows:

University Of Toronto Student medical certificate

Other medical notes will not be accepted. 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 report of illness made by the student for documentation by the physician.

N.B. Students who are granted DEFERRED STANDING (i.e., a grade of "SDF", for an extension of time for term work or for a deferred examination) or permission to re-write an examination and who have earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average of less than 1.50 will not be permitted to enrol in further courses until the outstanding course work has been completed and final cumulative and sessional GPAs and status for the session have been assessed. 

PETITIONS REGARDING 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 requested. All term work must be submitted by the last day of classes, unless an earlier date has been specified. Instructors may grant extensions beyond their own deadlines or beyond the last day of classes up to the last day of the examination period provided that a student presents reasons of illness, etc., with appropriate documentation. Extensions beyond the last day of the examination period interfere with the Faculty's schedule for the submission of final grades and must therefore be approved by petition. These petitions for an extension of time for term work must be initiated by 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 continue their course work while they await a decision. They will not be granted additional time after the petition decision has been issued.

Petitions Regarding Examinations
Petitions regarding final examinations must be submitted within five days after the end of the examination period. Late requests will not be accepted.
Petitions based on travel, employment, or personal plans will not be considered. Students who for legitimate reasons are unable to write an examination may petition to write a deferred examination at the next available opportunity. These are normally scheduled as follows:
Final Examinations; Deferred Examinations

April/May June examination period, if course is offered in Summer Session May to June;
August examination period for all others
June August examination period, if course offered in Summer Session May/July - August
December examination period, if course offered in Fall Session
August examination periods for all others
August December examination period
December April/May examination period, if course offered in Winter Session
Reading Week for all others

Students are required to confirm their intent to write a deferred examination and to pay a fee of $70.00 for each deferred examination by a specified date prior to the examination period. Those who do not respond lose the privilege of a deferred examination and their grade reverts to one that includes a "0" for the final examination. Students are informed as early as possible of the date, time and location of the deferred examination.

Students who must write a deferred examination in a course that serves as a prerequisite for subsequent courses may enrol in those courses with the approval of the department concerned and provided that the term mark in the prerequisite (deferred) course is at least 60%.

Students who miss a deferred examination receive a grade of "0" for the examination in the calculation of the final grade. If the Faculty accepts the student's reasons for missing a deferred examination as legitimate, a further deferred examination may be permitted; however, the "SDF" notation will be replaced by the original grade. Students are charged a further fee for each subsequent deferred examination. Note that in such situations of further deferrals the Committee on Standing regularly prohibits registration in further sessions until the outstanding course work has been completed.

Appeals Against Petition Decisions
Appeals against petition decisions progress as follows:

    1. First petition to the Committee on Standing by appropriate deadline submitted through College Registrar;
    2. Appeal to the Committee on Standing within ninety days of the first decision; second petition submitted through the College Registrar;
    3. Appeal to the Faculty Academic Appeals Board within ninety days of the second decision; written request for a hearing submitted through the College Registrar;
    4. Appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee of Governing Council within ninety days of the decision of the Faculty Academic Appeals Board; written request for a hearing submitted directly to the Governing Council Office in Simcoe Hall.

REASSESSMENT OF MARKS

Reread of Final Examination
If a student believes that a final examination has been incorrectly marked in its substance, he/she may request a "reread." The student must first purchase a photocopy of the final examination from the Office of the Faculty Registrar, for a fee of $13.00 per course. The student must then fill out a "Request for Reread of Final Examination" form, which is available at College Registrar's Offices and at the Office of the Faculty Registrar. 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 $35.00 fee for this procedure, which is in addition to the fee of $13.00 charged for the photocopy of the final examination. The fee must be submitted, with the completed form, to the Office of the Faculty Registrar within six months of the final examination period. If the mark is changed as a result of this review both the photocopy and reread fees will be refunded. It should be noted that when a course is failed, the examination must be reread before the mark is reported.

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 purchasing a photocopy of the final examination. The student must fill out a "Request for Recheck of Course Mark" form, which is available at College Registrar's Offices and at the Office of the Faculty Registrar. The student must indicate precisely where he/she thinks the error has occurred. The Department concerned will check that all answers have been marked, and that the 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 a $13.00 fee for this procedure, which is in addition to the $13.00 fee charged for the photocopy of the final examination. The fee must be submitted, with the completed form, to the Office of the Faculty Registrar within six months of the final examination period. If the mark is changed as a result of this review, both the photocopy and recheck fees will be refunded.
NOTE: A reread or recheck may result in a raised mark, a lowered mark, or no change.
Deadlines for requesting a photocopy of a final examination, a reread or a recheck:

February examinations the following August 30
April/May examinations the following November 15
June examinations the following January 15
August examinations the following February 28/29
December examinations the following June 30

STUDENT RECORDS

The "official student academic record" is maintained by the Faculty, which shall designate the document, form or medium containing the official version and how official copies of such information will be identified.
Student academic records refer to information concerning admission to, and academic performance at, this University. The "official student academic record" contains:

  1. personal information which is required in the administration of official student academic records such as name, student number, citizenship, social insurance number;
  2. registration and enrolment information;
  3. results for each course and academic period;
  4. narrative evaluations of a student's academic performance, used to judge his or her progress;
  5. basis for a student's admission such as the application for admission and supporting documents;
  6. results of petitions and appeals;
  7. medical information relevant to a student's academic performance, furnished at the request or with the consent of the student;
  8. letters of reference, whether or not they have been provided on the understanding that they shall be maintained in confidence;
  9. personal and biographical information such as address, and telephone number.

Access To Student Academic Records

  1. Access by a student. (i) Students may examine and have copies made of their academic record as defined above, with the exception of those portions of the record which comprise letters of reference 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) Students' requests to examine any part of their "official student academic record" shall be made in writing and shall be complied with within thirty days of receipt. (iii) Students may challenge the accuracy of their academic record with the exception of the materials specifically excluded above and may have their 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 would not necessarily appear on official academic reports such as the transcript or the Statement of Results. (Note that access to medical information shall only be granted to members of the teaching and administrative staff 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.) (iv) It is assumed that all documents relating to petitions and appeals and not provided on the understanding that they shall be maintained in confidence will be retained within the division, and when needed by the 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 part is entitled to be furnished prior to the hearing with "reasonable information" of any allegations with respect hereto.
  2. Access by University Staff. Members of the teaching and administrative staff of the University shall have access to relevant portions of a student's academic record in the performance of their duties.
  3. Access by U. of T. campus organizations. Student organizations in the U. of T. may have access to all information available freely to persons outside the university and to the residence address and telephone number of the student, for the legitimate internal use of that organization.
  4. Access by Others
    1. By the act of registration, a student gives implicit consent for a minimal amount of information to be made freely available to all inquirers:
      • the academic divisions(s) and the session(s) in which a student is or has been registered,
      • degree(s) received and date(s) of convocation.
    2. Any other information 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. A record shall be kept of permissions granted to any persons or agencies outside the university for access to a student's academic record.
    3. General statistical material drawn from academic records not disclosing the identities of students may be released for research and informational purposes.

Refusal Of Access

The University reserves the right to withhold transcripts of students who have outstanding debts.

Custody Of Student Academic Records

Academic records are normally under the custodial responsibility of the academic divisions. Seventy-five years after a student has ceased to be registered, all such records become the responsibility of the University Archivist and become open to researchers authorized by the University of Toronto.

Personal Information

Personal information is a vital part of the student's official University record and is used to issue statements of results, transcripts, graduation information, diplomas and other official documents. The University is also required by law to collect certain information for the Federal and Provincial Governments; this is reported only in aggregate form and is considered confidential by the University.
Any change in the following must therefore be reported immediately to the College Registrar:

  • legal name
  • Social Insurance Number
  • citizenship status in Canada
  • Address Change: Address information (sessional and home) may be viewed and changed on the Student Web Service (see Web address at bottom of this page) or in your College Registrar's Office.

STUDENT TCARD., STATEMENT OF RESULTS; TRANSCRIPTS

T-Card

The T Card is a wallet-sized card bearing the student's photograph, and serves as evidence of registration in the Faculty and as a library card. It is used for identification purposes within the University, such as Faculty examinations, student activities, and Athletic Association privileges. The loss of the card must be reported promptly to the College Registrar, and the card must be surrendered if a student withdraws from the University or transfers to another College or Faculty. There is a fee for the replacement of lost cards.

Statement Of Results

Statements of Results are sent to students at their mailing address at the end of the Winter and Summer Sessions. Students should expect to receive their Statements within six weeks of the end of the examination period, and should contact their College Registrar immediately if the Statement of Results has not been received. Statements of Results are not issued at the end of the Fall Session. Results for "F" courses are available on the Student Telephone Service and Web Service and at College Registrars' offices in January for the Fall Session and in July for the first subsession of the Summer Session. 

TRANSCRIPTS

The transcript of a student's record reports courses in progress and the standing in all courses attempted along with course average, information about the student's academic status including record of suspension and refusal of further registration, and completion of degree requirements and of a subject POSt.

Final course results are added to each student's record at the end of each session and Summer subsession. GPAs are calculated at the end of each session. Individual courses that a student cancels within the normal time limit are not shown.
Copies of the transcript are issued at the student's request, subject to reasonable notice. In accordance with the University's policy on access to student records, the student's signature is required for the release of the record.

The University of Toronto issues only a consolidated transcript, including a student's total academic record at the University. Students may request consolidated transcripts on the Student Web Service. Requests may also be made in person or by writing the University of Toronto Transcript Centre at Room 1006, Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street, Toronto M5S 3G3. A fee of $8.00, which includes G.S.T. and P.S.T., is charged for each transcript. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to the University of Toronto. Students must indicate at the time of the request if the purpose of the transcript is for enclosure in a self-administered application. Such transcripts are issued in specially sealed envelopes.

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.

UNIVERSITY GRADING PRACTICES POLICY

Purpose
The purpose of the University Grading Practices Policy is to ensure:

  1. that grading practices throughout the University reflect appropriate academic standards;
  2. that the evaluation of student performance is made in a fair and objective manner against these academic standards;
  3. 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.

Application of Policy
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).

Amendment to Policy
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.

Distribution of Policy
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 Provost.

PART I: GRADES

Meaning of Grades
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.
Grade Scales

I.3 Once a judgment on the performance of the student has been made, the following grade scales are to be used:

    1. the refined letter grade scale: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F;
    2. the numerical scale of marks, consisting of all integers from 0 - 100; and/or
    3. for graduate divisions only, a truncated refined letter grade scale in which FZ replaces the C, D and F grades in (a) above.
    4. the scales Honours/Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit.

Grades vs. Scores

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. (NOTE: A table of correspondence and a translation table are defined (under "Grading Regulations" in Section Six of the Calendar) for each of the letter grade scales referred to in I.3(a) in order to allow the conversion, when necessary, of a grade assigned from one scale to the corresponding grade in another. It should be noted that these tables are not to be used to translate a score to a grade directly.)

Grade Reporting

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. 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 (see Arts & Science Calendar, page $$$).

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:

    1. an enrolment history, which traces chronologically the student's entire participation at the University;
    2. a "grade point average" based on a 4-point scale for all undergraduate divisions (Note: grade point average values will be assigned as follows A+/A = 4.0; A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C= 2.0, C= 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0),
    3. an average grade for each course expressed using the refined letter grade scale (Note: these calculations should be restricted to courses of a specific size),
    4. both numeric mark and its letter grade equivalent, where possible, for all courses,
    5. course weight values, expressed using a uniform system of values allowing for the relative values needed by each division,
    6. transfer credits granted,
    7. academic honours, scholarships and awards sanctioned by the University,
    8. a comprehensive guide explaining all grades and symbols used on the transcript.

PART II: GRADING PROCEDURES

Approval of Grades
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.

Divisional Review Committee

II.1 In each division, a committee chaired by the divisional head or 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:

    1. administer the implementation of the University Grading Practices Policy at the divisional level and oversee the general consistency of grading procedures with the division;
    2. 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 approval methods of evaluation;
    3. 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.

Classroom Procedures

II.2 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.

    1. 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.
    2. After the methods of evaluation have been 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Commentary on assessed term work and time for discussion of it shall be made available to students.
    6. At least one piece of term work which is a part of the evaluation of a student 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.
    7. Grades shall be recommended by the instructor in reference to the approved grades 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).

Procedures in the Event of Disruptions

II.3 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:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Where consensus on changes has not been arrived at, or where a vote is not feasible, the instructor, after 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 the classroom votes. The chair or division head shall then make a decision.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Where a declared disruption occurs in a specific course after the last date 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. Students who withdraw from a course prior to the last day of classes as a result of declared disruption in that course shall receive a full refund of the course tuition fee.
    8. 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.
    9. A student who considers that 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.

Assessment in Clinical and Field Settings

II.4 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 a student's performance in a clinical or field setting is to be assessed for credit, the evaluation must encompass as a minimum:

    1. a formal statement describing the evaluation process, including the criteria to be used in 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;
    2. a mid-way performance evaluation with feedback to the student;
    3. written documentation of the final assessment.

In addition, for such clinical and field experiences, divisions must ensure that:

    1. 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.

Grade Review and Approval Process

II.5 The following principles and procedures shall govern the grade review and approval process.

    1. The distribution of grades in any course shall not be predetermined by any system of quotas that specifies the number or percentage of grades allowable at any grade level.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Membership on the Divisional Review Committee may include students but should not include members of the divisional appeals committee(s).
    5. Where grades have been adjusted by a divisional committee, the students as well as the instructor shall be informed. On request, the students or the instructor shall be given the reason for the adjustment of grades, a description of the methodology used to adjust the grades, and a description of the divisional appeal procedure.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.

Appeal Procedure

II.6 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.

Student Access to Examination Papers

II.7 a) All divisions should provide access to copies of the previous year's final examination papers and other years' papers where feasible. Exemptions may be granted by an appropriate committee of the division or department.

    1. 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.
    2. 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.

Conflict of Interest

II.8 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.

 

DISCIPLINE: CODE OF BEHAVIOUR ON ACADEMIC MATTERS

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto has approved a Code of Behaviour, which sets out clearly the standard of conduct in academic matters expected of members of the University community. The Code is enforced by the Provost and the Disciplinary Tribunal. Below are extracts from the Code, covering offences, sanctions and procedures as they apply to students. The full text is available from the Office of the Dean, and the Offices of College Registrars.

The University and its members have a responsibility to ensure that a climate that might encourage, or conditions that might enable, cheating, misrepresentation or unfairness not be tolerated. To this end all must acknowledge that seeking credit or other advantages by fraud or misrepresentation, or seeking to disadvantage others by disruptive behaviour is unacceptable, as is any dishonesty or unfairness in dealing with the work or record of a student.

Wherever in the Code an offence is described as depending on "knowing", the offence shall likewise be deemed to have committed if the person ought reasonably to have known.

B.I. Offences

  1. It shall be an offence for a student knowingly:
      1. to forge or in any other way alter or falsify any document or evidence required for admission to the University, or to utter, circulate or make use of any such forged, altered or falsified document, whether the record be in print or electronic form;
      2. to use or possess an unauthorized aid or aids or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work;
      3. to personate another person, or to have another person personate, at any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work;
      4. to represent as one's own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work, i.e. to commit plagiarism;
      5. to submit, without the knowledge and approval of the instructor to whom it is submitted, any academic work for which credit has previously been obtained or is being sought in another course or program of study in the University or elsewhere;
      6. to submit for credit any academic work containing a purported statement of fact or reference to a source which has been concocted.
  2. It shall be an offence for a faculty member knowingly:
      1. to approve any of the previously described offences;
      2. to evaluate an application for admission or transfer to a course or program of study by other than duly established and published criteria;
      3. to evaluate academic work by a student by reference to any criterion that does not relate to its merit, to the time within which it is to be submitted or to the manner in which it is to be performed.
  3. It shall be an offence for a faculty member and student alike knowingly:
      1. to forge or in any other way alter or falsify any academic record, or to utter, circulate or make use of any such forged, altered or falsified record, whether the record be in print or electronic form.
      2. to engage in any form of cheating, academic dishonesty or misconduct, fraud or misrepresentation not herein otherwise described, in order to obtain academic credit or other academic advantage of any kind.
  4. A graduate of the University may be charged with any of the above offences committed intentionally while he or she was an active student, when, in the opinion of the Provost, the offence, if detected, would have resulted in a sanction sufficiently severe that the degree would not have been granted at the time it was.

B.II. Parties to Offences

  1. a) Every member is a party to an offence under this Code who knowingly:
    (i) actually commits it;
    (ii) does or omits to do anything for the purpose of aiding or assisting another member to commit the offence;
    (iii) does or omits to do anything for the purpose of aiding or assisting any other person who, if that person were a member, would have committed the offence;
    (iv) abets, counsels, procures or conspires with another member to commit or be a party to an offence; or
    (v) abets, counsels, procures or conspires with any other person who, if that person were a member, would have committed or have been a part to the offence.
  2. Every party to an offence under this Code is liable upon admission of the commission thereof, or upon conviction, as the case may be, to the sanctions applicable to that offence.
  1. Every member who, having an intent to commit an offence under this Code, does or omits to do anything for the purpose of carrying out that intention (other than mere preparation to commit the offence) is guilty of an attempt to commit the offence and liable upon conviction to the same sanctions as if he or she had committed the offence.
  2. When a group is found guilty of an offence under this Code, every officer, director or agent of the group, being a member of the University, who directed, authorized or participated in the commission of the offence is a party to and guilty of the offence and is liable upon conviction to the sanctions provided for the offence.

C.I.(a) Divisional Procedures
NOTE: Where a student commits an offence, the faculty in which the student is registered has responsibility over the student in the matter. In the case of Scarborough and Erindale colleges, the college is deemed to be the faculty.

  1. No hearing within the meaning of Section 2 of the Statutory Powers of Procedures Act is required for the purposes of, or in connection with, any of the discussions, meetings and determinations referred to in Section C.I.(a), and such discussions, meetings and determinations are not proceedings of the Tribunal.
  2. Where an instructor has reasonable grounds to believe that an academic offence has been committed by a student, the instructor shall so inform the student immediately after learning of the act or conduct complained of, giving reasons, and invite the student to discuss the matter. Nothing the student says in such a discussion may be used or receivable in evidence against the student.
  3. If after such discussion, the instructor is satisfied that no academic offence has been committed, he or she shall so inform the student and no further action shall be taken in the matter by the instructor, unless fresh evidence comes to the attention of the instructor, in which case he or she may again proceed in accordance with subsection 2.
  4. If after such discussion, the instructor believes that an academic offence has been committed by the student, or if the student fails or neglects to respond to the invitation for discussion, the instructor shall make a report of the matter to the department chair or through the department chair to the dean. (See also Section C.I.(b)1.)
  5. When the dean or the department chair, as the case may be, has been so informed, he or she shall notify the student in writing accordingly, provide him or her with a copy of the Code, and subsequently afford the student an opportunity for discussion of the matter. In the case of the dean being informed, the chair of the department and the instructor shall be invited by the dean to be present at the meeting with the student. The dean shall conduct the interview.
  6. Before proceeding with the meeting, the dean shall inform the student that he or she is entitled to seek advice, or to be accompanied by counsel at the meeting, before making, and is not obliged to make, any statement or admission, but shall warn that if he or she makes any statement or admission in the meeting, it may be used or receivable in evidence against the student in the hearing of any charge with respect to the offence or alleged offence in question. The dean shall also advise the student, without further comment or discussion, of the sanctions that may be imposed under Section C.I.(b), and that the dean is not obliged to impose a sanction but may instead request that the Provost lay a charge against the student. Where such advice and warning have been given, the statements and admissions, if any, made in such a meeting may be used or received in evidence against the student in any such hearing.
  7. If the dean, on the advice of the department chair and the instructor, or if the department chair, on the advice of the instructor, subsequently decides that no academic offence has been committed and that no further action in the matter is required, the student shall be so informed in writing and the student's work shall be accepted for normal evaluation or, if the student was prevented from withdrawing from the course by the withdrawal date, he or she shall be allowed to do so. Thereafter, the matter shall not be introduced into evidence at a Tribunal hearing for another offence.
  8. If the student admits the alleged offence, the dean or the department chair may either impose the sanction that he or she considers appropriate under Section C.I.(B) or refer the matter to the dean or Provost, as the case may be, and in either event shall inform the student in writing accordingly. No further action in the matter shall be taken by the instructor, the department chair or the dean if the dean imposes a sanction.
  9. If the student is dissatisfied with a sanction imposed by the department chair or the dean, as the case may be, the student may refer the matter to the dean or Provost, as the case may be, for consideration.
  10. If the student does not admit the alleged offence, the dean may, after consultation with the instructor and the department chair, requires that the Provost lay a charge against the student. If the Provost agrees to lay a charge, the case shall then proceed to the Trial Division of the Tribunal.
  11. Normally, decanal procedures will not be examined in a hearing before the Tribunal. A failure to carry out the procedures referred to in this Section, or any defect or irregularity in such procedures, shall not invalidate any subsequent proceedings of or before the Tribunal, unless the chair of the hearing considers that such failure, defect or irregularity resulted in a substantial wrong, detriment or prejudice to the accused. The chair will determine at the opening of the hearing whether there is going to be any objection to defect, failure or irregularity.
  12. No degree, diploma or certificate of the University shall be conferred or awarded, nor shall a student be allowed to withdraw from a course from the time of the alleged offence until the final disposition of the accusation. However, a student shall be permitted to use University facilities while a decision is pending, unless there are valid reasons for the dean to bar him or her from a facility. When or at any time after an accusation has been reported to the dean, he or she may cause a notation to be recorded on the student's academic record and transcript in a course and/or the student's academic status is under review. A student upon whom a sanction has been imposed by the dean or the department chair under Section C.I.(b) or who has been convicted by the Tribunal shall not be allowed to withdraw from a course so as to avoid the sanction imposed.
  13. A record of cases disposed of under Section C.I.(a) and of the sanctions imposed shall be kept in the academic unit concerned and may be referred to by the dean in connection with a decision to prosecute, or by the prosecution in making representations as to the sanction or sanctions to be imposed by the Tribunal, for any subsequent offence committed by the student. Information on such cases shall be available to other academic units upon request and such cases shall be reported by the dean to the Secretary of the Tribunal for use in the Provost's annual report to the Academic Board. The dean may contact the Secretary of the Tribunal for advice or for information on cases disposed of under Section C.II. hereof.
  14. Where a proctor or invigilator, who is not a faculty member, has reason to believe that an academic offence has been committed by a student at an examination or test, the proctor or invigilator shall so inform the student's dean or department chair, as the case may be, who shall proceed as if he or she were an instructor, by analogy to the other provisions of this section.
  15. In the case of alleged offences not covered by the above and not involving the submission of academic work, such as those concerning forgery or uttering, library or computer material or library or computer resources, and in cases involving cancellation, recall or suspension of a degree, diploma or certificate, the procedure shall be regulated by analogy to the other procedures of this section.

C.I.(b) Divisional Sanctions

  1. In an assignment worth 10 percent or less of the final grade, the department chair may handle the matter if:
      1. the student admits guilt; and
      2. the assignment of a penalty is limited to at most a mark of zero for the piece of work.


    If the student does not admit guilt, or if the department chair chooses, the matter shall be brought before the dean.

    1. One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed by the dean where a student admits to the commission of an offence:
        1. an oral and/or written reprimand;
        2. an oral and/or written reprimand and, with the permission of the instructor, the resubmission of the piece of academic work, in respect of which the offence was committed, for evaluation. Such a sanction shall be imposed only for minor offences and where the student has committed no previous offence;
        3. assignment of a grade of zero or a failure for the piece of academic work in respect of which the offence was committed;
        4. assignment of a penalty in the form of a reduction of the final grade in the course in respect of which the offence was committed;
        5. denial of privileges to use any facility of the University, including library and computer facilities;
        6. a monetary fine to cover the costs of replacing damaged property or misused supplies in respect of which the offence was committed;
        7. assignment of a grade of zero or a failure for the course in respect of which the offence was committed;
        8. suspension from attendance in a course or courses, a program, an academic division or unit, or the University for a period of not more than twelve months. Where a student has not completed a course or courses in respect of which an offence has not been committed, withdrawal from the course or courses without academic penalty shall be allowed.
    2. The dean shall have the power to record any sanction imposed on the student's academic record and transcript for such length of time as he or she considers appropriate. However, the sanctions of suspension or a notation specifying academic misconduct as the reason for a grade of zero for a course shall normally be recorded for a period of five years.
    3. The Provost shall, from time to time, indicate appropriate sanctions for certain offences. These guidelines shall be sent for information to the Academic Board and attached to the Code as Appendix "C".

CONDUCT: CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

Summary of Code of Student Conduct
Non-academic offences are defined in the University's Code of Student Conduct (1992), the full text of which may be obtained from the Office of the Assistant Vice-President, Student Affairs. A summary of the Code is provided below.
Extracts from the Code are printed here in ordinary type, and additional comments etc., are in italics. References in square brackets are to original section numbering in the Code.

[B.] Offences
The following offences constitute conduct that shall be deemed to be offences under this Code, when committed by a student of the University of Toronto, provided that such conduct:
(i) has not been dealt with as failure to meet standards of professional conduct as required by a college, faculty or school; and
(ii) is not specifically assigned to the jurisdiction of the University Tribunal, as in the case of offences described in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, or to another disciplinary body within the University of Toronto, as in the case of sexual harassment as described in the Policy and Procedures: Sexual Harassment; and
(iii) except as otherwise provided herein, occurs on premises of the University of Toronto or elsewhere in the course of activities sponsored by the University of Toronto or by any of its divisions.

  1. Offences Against Persons
      1. No person shall assault another person sexually or threaten any other person with sexual assault.
      2. No person shall otherwise assault another person, threaten any other person with bodily harm, or knowingly cause any other person to fear bodily harm.
      3. No person shall knowingly create a condition that unnecessarily endangers the health or safety of other persons.
      4. No person shall threaten any other person with damage to such person's property, or knowingly cause any other person to fear damage to her or his property.
      5. No person shall engage in a course of vexatious conduct that is directed at one or more specific individuals, and that is based on the race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, age, marital status, handicap, receipt of public assistance or record of offences of that individual or those individuals, and that is known to be unwelcome, and that exceeds the bounds of freedom of expression or academic freedom as these are understood in University policies and accepted practices, including but not restricted to, those explicitly adopted.

    (Note: terms in this section are to be understood as they are defined or used in the Ontario Human Rights Code.)

      1. (i) No person shall, by engaging in the conduct described in subsection (ii) below, whether on the premises of the University or away from the premises of the University, cause another person or persons to fear for their safety or the safety of another person known to them while on the premises of the University of Toronto or in the course of activities sponsored by the University of Toronto or by any of its divisions, or cause another person or persons to be impeded in exercising the freedom to participate reasonably in the programs of the University and in activities in or on the University premises, knowing that their conduct will cause such fear, or recklessly as to whether their conduct causes such fear.
        (ii) The conduct mentioned in subsection (i) consists of:
      2. repeatedly following from place to place the other person or anyone known to them;
      3. repeatedly and persistently communicating with, either directly or indirectly, the other person or anyone known to them;
      4. besetting or repeatedly watching the dwelling-house, or place where the other person, or anyone known to them, resides, works, carries on business or happens to be; or
      5. engaging in threatening conduct directed at the other person or any member of the family, friends or colleagues of the other person.
  2. Disruption

No person shall cause by action, threat or otherwise, a disturbance that the member knows obstructs any activity organized by the University of Toronto or by any of its divisions, or the right of another member or members to carry on their legitimate activities, to speak or to associate with others.

For example, peaceful picketing or other activity outside a class or meeting that does not substantially interfere with the communication inside, or impede access to the meeting, is an acceptable expression of dissent. And silent or symbolic protest is not to be considered disruption under this Code. But noise that obstructs the conduct of a meeting or forcible blocking of access to an activity constitutes disruption.

  1. Offences Involving Property
    1. No person shall knowingly take, destroy or damage premises of the University of Toronto.
    2. No person shall knowingly take, destroy or damage any physical property that is not her or his own.
    3. No person shall knowingly destroy or damage information or intellectual property belonging to the University of Toronto or to any of its members.
    4. No person, in any manner whatsoever, shall knowingly deface the inside or outside of any building of the University of Toronto.
    5. No person, knowing the effects or property to have been appropriated without authorization, shall possess effects or property of the University of Toronto.
    6. No person, knowing the effects or property to have been appropriated without authorization, shall possess any property that is not her or his own.
    7. No person shall knowingly create a condition that unnecessarily endangers or threatens destruction of the property of the University of Toronto or of any of its members.
  2. Unauthorized Entry or Presence

No person shall, contrary to the expressed instruction of a person or persons authorized to give such instruction, or with intent to damage or destroy the premises of the University of Toronto or damage, destroy or steal any property on the premises of the University of Toronto that is not her or his own, or without just cause knowingly enter or remain in or on any such premises.

  1. Unauthorized Use of University Facilities, Equipment or Services
    1. No person shall knowingly use any facility, equipment or service of the University of Toronto contrary to the expressed instruction of a person or persons authorized to give such instruction, or without just cause.
    2. No person shall knowingly gain access to or use any University computing or internal or external communications facility to which legitimate authorization has not been granted. No person shall use any such facility for any commercial, disruptive or unauthorized purpose.
      Appropriate uses for University connections to external networks are described, for example, in the policy document "Appropriate Use Policy for the ONet Network."
    3. No person shall knowingly mutilate, misplace, misfile, or render inoperable any stored information such as books, film, data files or programs from a library, computer or other such information storage, processing or retrieval system.
  2. False Charges

No person shall knowingly or maliciously bring a false charge against any member of the University of Toronto under this Code.

  1. Aiding in the Commission of an Offence
  2. No person shall counsel, procure, conspire with or aid a person in the commission of an offence defined in this Code.

  1. Refusal to Comply with Sanctions

No person found to have committed an offence under this Code shall refuse to comply with a sanction or sanctions imposed under the procedures of this Code.

  1. Unauthorized Possession or Use of Firearms or Ammunition

No person other than a peace officer or a member of the Canadian Forces acting in the course of duty shall possess or use any firearm or ammunition on the premises of the University of Toronto without the permission of the officer of the University having authority to grant such permission.

[C.] Hearing Procedures

  1. Whenever possible and appropriate, reason and moral suasion shall be used to resolve issues of individual behaviour before resort is made to formal disciplinary procedures.
  2. An Investigating Officer, who may be a student, shall be appointed for a term of up to three years by the principal, dean or director (hereinafter called "head") of each faculty, college or school, in which students are registered (hereinafter called "division"), after consultation with the elected student leader or leaders of the division, to investigate complaints made against student members of that division.
  3. A Hearing Officer, who may be a student, shall be appointed for a term of up to three years by the council of each division to decide on complaints under this Code made against the student members of that division. Hearing Officers shall hold office until their successors are appointed.
  4. If the Investigating Officer is, for any reason, unable to conduct an investigation, then the head of the division shall appoint another person as Investigating Officer for that particular case. If the Hearing Officer is, for any reason, unable to chair the hearing of any case, then the senior chair of the University Tribunal shall appoint another person as Hearing Officer for the particular case.
  5. Where the head of a division has reason to believe that a non-academic offence as defined in this Code may have been committed by a student member or members of the division, the Investigating Officer will conduct an investigation into the case. After having completed the investigation, the Investigating Officer shall report on the investigation to the head of the division. If the head of the division concludes, on the basis of this report, that the student or students may have committed an offence under the Code of Student Conduct, the head of the division shall have the discretion to request that a hearing take place to determine whether the student or students have committed the offence alleged.
  6. The hearing will be chaired by the Hearing Officer. The case will be presented by the Investigating Officer, who may be assisted and represented by legal counsel. If the right to a hearing is waived, or after a hearing, the Hearing Officer will rule on whether the student or students have committed the offence alleged and may impose one or more sanctions as listed below. The accused student or students may be assisted by another person, who may be legal counsel.
  7. Appeals against decisions of bodies acting under authority from the council of a division to hear cases arising out of residence codes of behaviour may be made to the Hearing Officer of the division, where provision therefor has been made by the council of the division.
  8. Appeals against the decision of the Hearing Officer may be made to the Discipline Appeals Board of the Governing Council.
  9. Where the head of a division has reason to believe that a non-academic offence may have been committed by a group of students including students from that division and from another division or divisions, the head may consult with the head of the other division or divisions involved and may then agree that some or all of the cases will be investigated jointly by the Investigating Officers of the divisions of the students involved and that some or all of the cases will be heard together by the Hearing Officer of one of the divisions agreed upon by the heads and presented by one of the Investigating Officers agreed upon by the heads.

[D.] Sanctions
The following sanctions or combinations of them may be imposed upon students found to have committed an offence under this Code. In addition, students found to have committed an offence may be placed on conduct probation for a period not to exceed one year, with the provision that one or more of the following sanctions will be applied if the conduct probation is violated.

  1. Formal written reprimand.
  2. Order for restitution, rectification or the payment of damages.
  3. A fine or bond for good behaviour not to exceed $100.
  4. Requirement of public service work not to exceed 25 hours.
  5. Denial of access to specified services, activities or facilities of the University for a period of up to one year.


The following two sanctions, which would directly affect a student's registration in a program, may be imposed only where it has been determined that the offence committed is of such a serious nature that the student's continued registration threatens the academic function of the University of Toronto or any of its divisions or the ability of other students to continue their programs of study.

  1. Suspension from registration in any course or program of a division or divisions for a period of up to one year.
  2. Recommendation of expulsion from the University.

Calendar Home ~ Calendar Contents~ Contact Us ~ Arts and Science Home
Copyright © 2001, University of Toronto