Grading System

A. Grading System

Grades will be awarded for every course in which a student is enrolled in accordance with the following system:

B. Grades of Incomplete

When a student does not complete all course requirements within the prescribed time limits, it is the responsibility of the Graduate Programme Director to approve the grade of "Incomplete". Grades of I are only available to students who fail to complete course requirements for reasons beyond their control relating to illness, etc. It is Programme policy that I grades must be approved by the Graduate Executive Committee of KAHS. Course directors will inform students at the first class meeting of the deadline for final submission of work and that an extension in the form of an I grade will not be granted except under extenuating circumstances. THE DEADLINE FOR REMOVAL OF AN I GRADE IS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FGS DUE DATE FOR REPORTING OF GRADES FOR A HALF COURSE, AND FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE FGS DUE DATE FOR REPORTING OF GRADES FOR A FULL COURSE. Please note that the course director must allow for sufficient time within the previously stated deadlines to receive the student's work, assess a grade, and have that grade relayed to the FGS Records Office. By the deadline date, the Programme must have submitted in writing to FGS one of the following: a grade for the course, a petition for further extension, or a grade of F. Unless a revised grade has been received by the Registrar's Office by the deadline date or an approved petition for extension of the Incomplete grade is on file, it will be deemed that the Programme has assigned a grade of F, and FGS will inform the Registrar's Office of the grades that should be converted.

The list of dates on which a grade of F will automatically be assigned for Incompletes are as follows:

• Fall half courses: March 15
• Winter half courses: July 15
• Fall/Winter full courses: September 15

C. Extensions of Incomplete Grades

Students who do require extensions must petition for an extension of the Incomplete in advance of the date when the conversion to an "F" is to occur. The acceptable reasons to petition include medical and compassionate grounds. Students who do petition should provide a letter which clearly explains why they were unable to complete the work on time and identifies a date for completion that is the earliest possible opportunity. There should also be a note form the instructor indicating support for the extension. This information, along with the petition form which includes the Graduate Programme Director's recommendation, is then forwarded to FGS. Students who carry Incompletes make themselves considerably less competitive for external funding and are not eligible for leave of absence, and are not able to withdraw in good standing, should that become necessary.

D. Combinations of C Grades which Require Withdrawal

A student who receives in total any of the following combinations of grades for graduate courses may not continue to be registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and in a graduate programme unless this continuation is recommended by the Graduate Programme Director concerned and approved by the Dean.

- two C grades for full courses;

- one C grade for a full course and one C grade for a half course;

- a total of three C grades for half courses.

In no cases will grades be averaged.

E. Combination of F and C Grades which Require Withdrawal

A student will be required to withdraw from a graduate programme, and registration in the Faculty of Graduate Studies will be terminated, if the student receives in total for graduate courses, during enrolment at York University:

- one F grade for a full course or two F grades for half courses; or

- one F grade for a half course and one C grade for a full or half course.

In no case will grades be averaged.

F. Grades Awarded for Additional Elective Courses

Regulations D. and E. do not apply to grades awarded for courses which students elect to and are authorized to enrol in upon registration, but which are additional to those specified by a faculty supervisor and programme director as constituting the minimum required program of studies.

G. Withdrawal in Good Standing

The symbol (W - "withdrew in good standing") will be recorded in place of a grade to indicate that a student was authorized to withdraw from a course in which she/he was registered.

H. Graduate Student Evaluation

1. Graduate student evaluations shall be conducted three times each year; once each in the middle of January, May and September.

2. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to collate information on the student in each of the following areas:

a. Course work marks;

b. An assessment of the assistantship responsibilities;

c. An assessment of the student's research and/or practicum involvement;

d. The progress of the student. This will include student objectives for the next term, whether or not objectives for the preceding term were met and, if not, why not. The purpose of this procedure is to help students complete the Programme in the shortest possible time.

This information will be entered on the Graduate Student Evaluation and Progress form along with a recommendation of proceed/probation/terminate. If the recommendation is probation then the supervisor will outline in writing the means to remedy the situation.

3. The supervisor will then discuss the collated material and the recommendation to be submitted to the Graduate Executive Committee with the student who will co-sign to acknowledge awareness of their status. The student may also add any comments that they deem appropriate and that they feel should be brought to the attention of the Graduate Executive Committee.

4. The supervisor will report his/her recommendation to the Committee who will evaluate the student and then vote on the recommendation.

5. Students will be informed that if they do not meet the standards of the graduate programme, they will be advised of such following the first evaluation ("Probation" status) and if they do not meet the standards at a subsequent evaluation, they will be terminated from the programme.

6. Students have the right to appeal a termination decision of the Graduate Executive Committee to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

I. Approval of Course Grades

1. At each evaluation meeting the Graduate Executive Committee will approve grades for all courses completed during the preceding term.

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