Secretariat Policies

Pass/Fail Grades (Policy)

Posted on 28 March 2011
Topic: Academic Standards, Grades, Conduct of Examinations
Approval Authority: Senate
Approval Date: 1998
Effective Date: 1 September 2019
Last Revised: 26 September 2019
  1. Purpose
    1. This policy sets out the criteria for the Pass/Fail Grading Option, which allows students in undergraduate degree programs to receive credit for eligible courses without impacting their grade point average.
  2. Scope and Application
    1. Subject to limitations set out, this policy applies to all undergraduate students, except for those enrolled in the following degree programs
      1. BEd degrees,
      2. JD degrees, and
      3. BBA and iBBA degrees
  3. Definitions
    1. Applicable definitions are available in the Pan-university Academic Nomenclature.
  4. Policy
    1. The Pass/Fail grading option allows students in undergraduate degree programs to receive credit for eligible courses without impacting their grade point average.
    2. Students complete course work as usual and must achieve a passing grade, in accordance with the Common Grading Scheme for Undergraduate Faculties, in order to receive a “Pass” or “P” under this option. The result is adjusted to a “Pass” or “Fail” by the Registrar’s Office based on the final grade submitted by the instructor,
    3. Eligibility
      1. Undergraduate students may elect to take up to 12 credits on the Pass/Fail grading option.
      2. To qualify for the Pass/Fail grading option, students must:
        1. be in good academic standing and have completed at least 24 credits, and
        2. submit a request to opt for a Pass/Fail grade to the Registrar’s Office before the last day to drop a course without receiving a grade.
      3. Newly admitted students who have not yet completed 24 credits may submit a request for the Pass/Fail option for up to 3 credits.
        Students may not use the Pass/Fail option for the following categories of courses:

        1. courses which satisfy major or minor requirements (including for-credit practica not already on a pass/fail grading scheme)
        2. required courses outside the major
        3. courses taken to satisfy Certificate requirements
        4. required 1000-level science courses for students in the Faculty of Science, the Lassonde School of Engineering and the Faculty of Health
      4. Any courses covered by the Transfer Credit Guidelines must comply with the Guidelines and, consequently, must be taken on a graded basis, except in cases where the host institution employs a pass/fail or other assessment scheme.
      5. Students who do not meet the required conditions will not be approved to take the course on a Pass/Fail basis.
    4. Reversing a Pass/Fail Request
      1. Students who elect to complete a course on a Pass/Fail basis may request to revert to taking the course on a graded basis up until the last date of classes corresponding to the term of the course.
  5. Roles and Responsibilities
    1. Students are responsible for reviewing degree program requirements prior to submitting a request for the Pass/Fail option and for submitting their request to the Registrar’s Office before the last day to drop a course without receiving a grade.
    2. The Registrar’s Office is responsible for publishing sessional dates, including the last date to drop a course without receiving a grade, and instructions about submitting a request for the Pass/Fail option. The Registrar’s Office also is responsible for inputting “Pass” or “Fail” in the student’s record based on the final grade submitted by the instructor.
  6. Review
    1. This policy shall be reviewed every five years.
Legislative History: Approved by Senate 1998. Amendments approved by Senate 17 February 2011; 27 June 2019; 26 September 2019
Date of Next Review: 30 June 2024
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