Student At Risk and Unsatisfactory Progress
Students at Risk
Some students experience academic difficulties when returning to university study. Students who fail a compulsory subject or more than 50% of the subjects attempted in a semester, or those who feel that their performance was well below expectations, are invited to discuss any problems and ways of improving their performance. Interviews with a program administrator will be held as soon as possible after the release of results. Interested students are invited to consult with the Teaching and Learning Unit regarding their progress.
Unsatisfactory Progress
The Student Progress Committee reviews the academic performance of students whose progress is considered unsatisfactory. It meets at the end of each semester, in July and December. The Committee's primary role is to determine the most suitable arrangements for a student's academic future and not to discipline a student for unsatisfactory progress.
Unsatisfactory progress is defined as:
- Failure in one half or more of a program load in two consecutive semesters in which a student is enrolled; or
- Failure in the same subject twice; or
- Failure in any subject after receiving a warning letter.
Procedures
Students who fail a compulsory subject for the first time receive a warning letter. Students whose unsatisfactory performance consists only of failing a non-compulsory subject twice may not be permitted to enrol in that subject for a third time.
The Committee will recommend to the Academic Board that a student be suspended from a program if:
- There is failure in all subjects attempted in two consecutive semesters.
- There is failure in a compulsory subject after two attempts, unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.
All other students whose progress is unsatisfactory will be considered individually by the Committee. Depending on what extenuating circumstances exist, the Committee may decide to recommend suspension, restriction or limitation of the subjects a student may take in the coming semester.
Students recommended for suspension by the Faculty to the Academic Board have the right to be heard by the Board, but, if the Board confirms the recommendation, the student is then excluded from the program.
Students suspended from a program may apply to be re-selected into the program in competition with other applicants during the selection period. However re-admission is normally gained after satisfactory completion of studies of a similar nature at another institution.
Right to be heard
All students may submit written evidence and if requested appear before the Committee detailing any extenuating circumstances which they feel should be taken into account by the Committee before it makes its decision.
Extenuating Circumstances
In considering a student's progress the Committee will normally take into account personal, financial and study problems. Students are advised, however, that excessive commitments outside their studies are not considered extenuating circumstances. In particular, full-time students should not take more than six to eight hours of employment per week in the academic year.