Grading and Academic Standing

Some of the policies UFV has established are listed below. For a complete list of UFV policies please see UFV's online policy manual. For more information about UFV regulations inquire at the Office of the Registrar. For additional regulations for graduate level programs, see the General regulations for Graduate studies in the Graduate studies section of this calendar.

• Grading and academic records
• Academic standing and undergraduate continuance
• Academic renewal

Grading and academic records

UFV’s grading system reflects a commitment to high academic standards while encouraging students to explore the curriculum. The following system is used for all courses taken at UFV:

Grade Points Interpretation

* These indicate a non-graded status. They are not included in calculation of the GPA nor are they removed from a transcript if the course is repeated.

A P grade does not, unless stated otherwise, permit the student to pursue another course for which the graded course was a prerequisite.

**Some courses may be offered on a Credit/No Credit basis. In such cases, students achieving a level equivalent to C- or better will be assigned a CR (credit) grade. Students achieving below the C- level will be assigned an NCR grade. Courses with CR grades may be used as a course prerequisite, provided the course prerequisite does not require a grade above a C-. There is no equivalent letter grade.

Grade point average

UFV calculates a grade point average (GPA) based on grades for all courses taken by a student. The semester and overall (cumulative) GPA show on the official transcript. The semester or term GPA (TGPA) is the grade point average for all UFV coursework completed in one semester.

The cumulative GPA (CGPA) is the grade point average for all coursework completed at UFV in which a letter grade was assigned. For repeated courses, only the course with the higher grade is used in this calculation. Course withdrawals and audit grades are not included in the calculations. A student who has only audit grades, has, by definition, a GPA of 0.

To calculate your GPA:

1. Multiply the number of credits for each course by the grade point value of the grade to determine course grade points. Omit any courses that have been repeated with a higher grade.
2. Add up the course grade points.
3. Divide the total course grade points by the total number of credits.

Incomplete grades

An I (incomplete) grade may be assigned by an instructor when a student has not completed all the requirements of a course but does not, in the opinion of the instructor, warrant an NC or other grade. Students given an I grade may earn a passing grade by fulfilling an agreement with their instructors to complete certain assignments within a specified time, normally not more than six weeks after the end of a course.

Final grade appeal

Students who have cause to appeal may appeal final grades. Students may not appeal individual items of work inclusive of examinations, quizzes, projects, assignments, practicums, or field work assessments except in the context of an appeal of the final grade.

For more information about final grade appeals see UFV's Final Grade Appeals policy (217) or visit the Office for Academic Integrity and Appeals website.

Amendment of permanent record

A course and accompanying grade may not be deleted from the permanent record. However, only the higher grade of a repeated course is calculated into the GPA.

An instructor may change the grade of a student with the consent of the appropriate department head.

A course and accompanying grade may not be deleted from the permanent record, except as follows:

• An instructor may change the grade of a student with the consent of the appropriate dean.
• A late withdrawal may be granted in extenuating circumstances. If granted, a grade of “W” (withdrawal) is assigned. For more information, please see the course withdrawal section.

Note: Although grades for all attempted courses remain on the student’s permanent record, only the higher grade of a repeated course is calculated into the GPA.

Transcripts

Students may obtain official transcripts of their permanent records from the Office of the Registrar at a cost of $10 each.

Academic standing and undergraduate continuance

UFV encourages students to take responsibility for success in their studies. To that end, UFV will encourage students who do not meet minimum requirements to stop and reassess their goals.

The Undergraduate Continuance policy applies to all undergraduate students attending UFV. A student’s academic standing, based on grade point averages, determines his or her enrolment status and any conditions associated with that status, including the ability to continue as a student of UFV. For additional details on Academic Standing, see ufv.ca/admissions/faq/academic-standing-faqs/.

Continuance requirements for graduate studies are in the General regulations for Graduate studies section of this calendar.

Standing required for continuance

All students accepted into a program at UFV are expected to maintain acceptable standards of scholarship. Specifically, they are expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 CGPA on all courses. Some programs may have a continuance requirement which is higher than the institutional standard.

Undergraduate continuance policy

Academic standing will be governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92). Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits.

The academic standing of all students covered under this policy for courses where letter grades are assigned will be determined at intervals of 9 credits at the start of a student’s academic career and then at the end of every term after 27 credits have been completed. Students will be assessed after every term enrolled, but Academic Standing will only change at the intervals noted above. Students’ academic standing will be permanently reflected on their student record and will appear on official and unofficial transcripts.

After each semester, students put on Academic Warning, Academic Probation, or Required to Withdraw status or who are continued on Warning or Probation will be notified by the Registrar.

For assistance, see an Advisor or contact advising@ufv.ca.

Required to withdraw

Students who have been Required to Withdraw from UFV under the Undergraduate Continuance policy (92) are subject to re-admission and continuance requirements as listed in the UFV academic calendar. Students are normally only readmitted once to the same program.

Academic renewal

Academic renewal is a provision to allow returning undergraduate students who performed poorly in the past to eliminate their previous low grade point average (GPA).

Academic renewal may be available to a student who:

• has returned to UFV undergraduate studies after at least three years (36 months) absence from UFV undergraduate studies; and
• had an undergraduate cumulative GPA (CGPA) below 2.0 at UFV prior to re-admission; and
• has completed at least 15 UFV undergraduate credits applicable to the GPA, with a minimum 2.0 GPA calculated on all undergraduate courses attempted, since re-admission.

Students who have graduated with a credential are not eligible, except when the credential was developmental level or non-credit and none of the previous undergraduate courses were used to meet graduation requirements.

A student who wishes to request academic renewal must first consult with an Advisor, then submit a request to academicwarning@ufv.ca.

Academic renewal, if approved, excludes all undergraduate UFV courses taken prior to re-admission, including passed courses, from the calculation of CGPA and program requirements. Academic renewal will be granted to a student only once.

For full details on academic renewal, see UFV's Academic Renewal policy (224).