OISE/UT Bulletin 2000/2001 -- University of Toronto Graduate Studies in Education | |||
Policies and Regulations | |||
<<Previous section: Student Services and Facilities |
Bulletin Contents | Index | OISE/UT Homepage |
Next section >> Academic Staff |
NOTE: Students should consult the 2000/2001 School of Graduate Studies Calendar when it becomes available, for full details on the following policies and for additional Policies and Regulations governing graduate studies at the University of Toronto, e.g.:
• Research Ethics
• Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (which includes offences such as plagiarism)
• Code of Student Conduct
• Intellectual Property
Updates to the following policies were not available at the time this Bulletin went to press.
The OISE/UT Graduate Studies Grading Practices falls within the general framework of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies (SGS) grading system, and has the following features:
A. Evaluation Procedures
1) As early as possible in each course, and no later than the final date to enrol in courses, the instructor will make available to the class the methods by which student performance will be evaluated and the relative weight of these methods.
2) After the methods of evaluation have been made 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.
3) Commentary, appropriate in the instructor's judgment, on assessed work, other than final examinations, and time for discussion of it will be made available to students. Commentary, appropriate in the instructor's judgment, on final examinations and time for discussion of it will be made available to students at their request.
4) The deadline for submission of papers will be determined by the instructor to allow for sufficient time to meet the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies grade submission deadlines.
5) Grades are to be determined on the basis of the instructor's best judgment according to the evaluation procedure established in the course. The assigning of grades is solely the instructor's prerogative and will not be based on any system of quotas.
6) Should a dispute over an academic or procedural matter relating to a grade not be resolved through the recommended channel of discussions with the instructor and within the OISE/UT department, the student may make an appeal through the Associate Dean of Division II of the School of Graduate Studies (see Student Appeals on the following page).
Any student whose work is judged to be unsatisfactory by OISE/UT may be required to withdraw at any time.
B. Conditions for Final Standing
1) The grading system has a primary classification of A, B, and FZ, which have the following meanings:
A: original work, very well organized and expressed, sound critical evaluations, clear command of techniques and principles of the discipline, etc.
B: good grasp of the topics, accurate knowledge, some evidence of critical evaluation, ability to synthesize and to discriminate relevant issues, etc.
FZ: glaring inaccuracy and confusion, little or no grasp of techniques and principles, trivial and irrelevant treatment of topics; in general, a failure to demonstrate the minimal knowledge and skills for effective work in the discipline.
2) The instructor is asked to make secondary distinctions within the first two classes, A and B, by using + and - to signify a grading within each class from high to low, and will assign a letter grade of A+, A, A-; B+, B, B-; or FZ.
3) A small number of graduate courses, graded as Credit/No Credit (CR or NCR) are offered at OISE/UT. Such courses must have the prior approval of OISE/UT and the School of Graduate Studies before they can be offered in this manner.
The School of Graduate Studies defines the following non-grade course reports that may appear on transcripts. All grade revisions must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies according to these revised grading procedures.
INC-Incomplete: May be assigned by the Associate Dean when a grade has not been submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the appropriate deadline. It may also be assigned by a graduate unit review committee on the basis of incomplete course work upon an instructor's recommendation in special circumstances (e.g., medical reasons or when there are no grounds for assigning a failing grade).
The instructor may replace the INC by a regular grade within eight months following the end of the session in which the course is offered. If the incomplete is not replaced by a regular grade within this period of time, the INC becomes a final report.
IPR-In Progress: Assigned by the instructor as the report for a course that is continued in a subsequent session or program. The final grade for the course will appear only once and only for the last enrolment period. IPR carries no credit for the course and is not considered for averaging purposes.
WDR-Withdrawal without academic penalty: Assigned, when there are extenuating circumstances, by the departmental review committee upon approval of a student's request for a late withdrawal from a course. It carries no credit for the course and is not considered for averaging purposes.
XMP-Exemption: Granted on the basis of credit for work done elsewhere. It carries credit for the course but is not considered for averaging purposes.
NOTE: An Incomplete or Failed course may be taken again, but a course resulting in a passing grade cannot be repeated.
Should a dispute arise over an academic or procedural matter, OISE/UT and the university offer students a formal appeals procedure.
The student appeals process consists of five levels:
1. The first level involves dialogue with the immediate source of the disagreement (typically the instructor).
2. If the appellant is not satisfied, a formal appeal can be made to the appropriate OISE/UT department or unit.
3. If a satisfactory resolution at this level cannot be found, further appeals may be made through the Associate Dean of Division II of the School of Graduate Studies.
4. Subsequently, cases may be taken to the Applications and Memorials Committee of the School of Graduate Studies no later than six months after the decision being appealed has been communicated in writing to the appellant. Instructions and forms for an appeal may be obtained from the Secretary of the School of Graduate Studies' Council.
5. Should the problem still not be resolved, a notice of appeal should be filed by the student with the secretary of the Governing Council's Academic Appeals Committee of the University of Toronto in accordance with its guidelines and procedures. This must be done within ninety days of the decision from which the appeal is being taken, and the communication of that decision in writing to the appellant.
Further information on the appeals procedures is available from the OISE/UT Registrar's Office, Graduate Studies Registration Unit, or from a department chairperson. See also the School of Graduate Studies Calendar. At any stage, students have the right to appeal to:
The Office of the Ombudsperson
University of Toronto
Fields Institute Building
222 College Street, Suite 161
Toronto, Ontario M5T 3J1
Telephone (416) 978-4874
The following academic sanctions will be imposed on students who have outstanding financial obligations to OISE/UT and the university (including fees, residence charges, library fines, loans, bookstore debts, health service accounts, and unreturned or damaged instruments, materials, and equipment) See also page 240.
OISE/UT Bulletin 2000/2001 -- University of Toronto Graduate Studies in Education | |||
<<Previous
section: Student Services and Facilities |
Bulletin Index | OISE/UT Homepage |
Next section >> Academic Staff |