Grading, Promotion and Academic Standing
Ryerson Senate Policy #46 Undergraduate Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing (The “GPA Policy”) defines the standards for acceptable overall academic performance and provides a fair system for determining academic standing and eligibility to graduate based on uniform definitions and categories. Highlights of this policy are below:
Final academic performance in each course is recorded as one of the following letter grades or as one of the 'other' designations listed under Additional Grading Categories below.
Performance on term work or specific assignments may be marked on a numeric scale. The weighting of each assignment, test, and/or other unit of evaluation will be described on the course outline. The resulting overall percentage achieved will be converted to a letter grade as indicated above. If any other numeric scale is to be used, its ranges of conversion to letter grades will be defined for the students in writing at the start of the course. See (PDF file) Senate Policy #46.
Non-graded designations
These non-graded designations are used for transfer credit purposes and in the assessment of eligibility to graduate, but are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.
Other course performance designations
Other course performance designations which may be assigned at the discretion of the teaching Department:
Designations assigned by the Registrar
Designations assigned by the Office of the Registrar (opens in new window) that are not included in GPA calculations, nor in establishing Academic Standing, nor as academic program credit:
A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is calculated as an indicator of overall academic performance and is used as a criterion for
- graduation requirements,
- academic awards and distinctions, and
- determining academic standing during study in a program.
For purposes only of calculating grade point averages, courses of single-term and multi-term duration will be given GPA weights of 1.00 and 2.00 respectively, with provision for variation from this norm under exceptional circumstances.
The grade point average is calculated as the sum of the products of course weights and earned grade points, divided by the sum of the course weights, and rounded up to the next higher second decimal place.
The following course performance designations are NOT included in calculating the grade point average -- AEG, AUD, CNC, CHG, CRT, DEF, INC, INPand PSD.
Courses completed before formal program admission will not be included in the calculation of grade point averages. Such courses may qualify for credit toward graduation requirements. The designation F-S is counted as an interim failure and included in the grade point average at zero grade points until a final grade is assigned.
The designation FNA is included in the grade point average at zero grade points and counts as a failure when evaluating academic standings.
The grade earned for a repeated course is substituted for the previous grade in calculating subsequent grade point averages even if the later grade is lower, but both attempts are recorded on the transcript. No course can be repeated more than twice. If at least one of the course attempts results in a passing grade, the course will count toward graduation requirements irrespective of the sequence of grades earned.
An initial grade point average is not calculated until the student has received three or more course grades.
The cumulative grade point average is calculated at the end of each academic term for which additional course grades have been recorded on the student's transcript, and is calculated on all of the student's formal Ryerson course grades in the program in which the student is registered.
See "How to Calculate Your Grade Point Average (opens in new window) ".
See (PDF file) Senate Policy #46.
Students are required to submit a (PDF file) GPA Adjustment Form (opens in new window) to Student Records c/o the ServiceHub (POD 150) no later than the final date to add a course for the term, to advise which courses are being substituted for previously failed courses, or of courses which are not in their curriculum. Please refer to Undergraduate Significant Dates for enrolment deadline dates.
No course can be repeated more than twice (three completions in total when the original attempt is included). If at least one of the course attempts results in a passing grade, the course will count towards graduation requirements irrespective of the sequence of grades earned. A student will receive a PERMANENT PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL Academic Standing after three failures in the same course. Equivalent courses taken and failed elsewhere under a Letter of Permission will also be included in the three failure count.
Each student's academic standing will be established from the student's official course grades at the end of each academic term on the basis of the following categories and criteria for overall academic performance:
Probationary Contract
Students with Probationary standing are required to have a developmental Probationary Contract outlining a specific plan for studies and academic supports authorized by their program School or Department, and signed by the student. Students who fail to have such a Probationary Contract within five (5) working days of the first day of the semester will have their course registrations and course intention requests cancelled for the term in question.
Eligibility to continue studies in a subsequent semester
Students with a Probationary standing at the start of any semester will be eligible to continue their studies in a subsequent semester as long as they achieve a term grade point average (TGPA) of 1.67 or higher and provided they meet the terms of their Probationary Contract and do not violate approved Department/School standing variations. Failure to meet the terms of the Probationary Contract as set out by the School or Department will result in the student being RTW from their Ryerson program.
Reinstatement to program after an RTW standing
Except for students who follow the Student Success Program outlined below, who may attain a Clear standing, students who are reinstated to their program after an RTW standing return on Probation. Some programs may reinstate students with a probationary contract which may significantly restrict course load and require successful completion of specific program course. Programs may also specify grades which must be achieved.
First semester at Ryerson
No student in their first semester at Ryerson will be Required to Withdraw in December. Students with a GPA of less than 1.00 in their first semester will be advised about their prospects for success. Such students who continue in their program for the subsequent Winter semester will do so on Probation.
RTW Special Contract
Schools/Departments, at their discretion, may issue a special contract in cases where the program judges the student to have a realistic chance of achieving a Clear standing in the semester following assignment of RTW by taking up to two courses. Students remain RTW during this semester. If the student fails to achieve a CGPA of 1.67 at the end of that semester, s/he will remain RTW. If the student is successful, s/he will return as Clear.
Denied reinstatement to program twice
Students who have been denied reinstatement to their program twice may not reapply for reinstatement to that program.
Procedures for RTW students who wish to be considered for reinstatement to their program
- In the semester immediately following the assignment of RTW standing (for this purpose Spring/Summer is included): Students may not register in any Ryerson credit courses and no courses taken at another institution will be counted toward graduation requirements for a Ryerson degree program.
- In the second semester following assignment of RTW standing
(a) Student Success Program (SSP)
Students may request to participate in a defined Student Success Program under an SSP participation contract. Students will be allowed to take up to two credit courses, and may be required to participate in other activities or workshops designed to address their needs. Courses taken as part of the SSP will be included in the student’s CGPA. Criteria for participation, terms of the contract and the required outcomes will be established by the program. Programs, including part-time programs, will provide information each year on the usual criteria used for participation in the SSP. Students may participate in an SSP only once during their academic careers at Ryerson. Normally withdrawal from, or unsuccessful completion of, an SSP will constitute one attempt.
Students approved by a program to participate in the SSP will be designated as having an Extended Academic Probation (EAP) standing.
Students who do not successfully complete their second semester contract return to RTW standing, and may apply to be reinstated to their program for the semester following the third semester. before reinstatement these students may not register in any Ryerson credit courses and no courses taken at another institution will be counted toward graduation requirements for a Ryerson degree program.
(b) Students who are not eligible for the SSP, or who do not wish to participate in the SSP, may apply to be reinstated to their program after the third semester following assignment of RTW. before reinstatement these students may not register in any Ryerson credit courses and no courses taken at another institution will be counted toward graduation requirements for a Ryerson degree program.
- In the third semester following assignment of RTW standing:
(a) Students who successfully complete the requirements of their second semester SSP contract will be given a further SSP contract, which may allow them to take up to four credit courses. Courses taken as part of the SSP will be included in the student’s CGPA. The terms of the contract and the required outcomes will be established by the program, including part-time programs. Programs, including part-time programs, will provide information each year on the usual criteria used for evaluating acceptable performance in the SSP. Students approved by a program to participate in the SSP will be designated as having an Extended Academic Probation standing.
(b) Students who do not successfully complete their third semester contract return to RTW standing, and may apply to be reinstated to their program for the semester following the third semester. before reinstatement these students may not register in any Ryerson credit courses and no courses taken at another institution will be counted toward graduation requirements for a Ryerson degree program.
Procedures for students who are assigned an RTW standing and wish to be considered for transfer to another program
Students must consult with University Admissions Office and the program to which they wish to transfer. At the program’s discretion, a student may follow a SSP sequence as outlined above. Such students will be place on EAP standing. If approved for such a transfer SSP, there is an understanding that the transfer program commits to admitting the student pending successful completion of the SSP. Students may apply for transfer for the semester following the third semester as defined above. Applications for transfer will be considered as outlined below.
Procedures for reinstatement or transfer after the period of RTW or Extended Academic Probation
- Students who successfully complete their third semester SSP contract are automatically reinstated to their program, and do not need to apply. They may return as Clear or on Probation.
- Students who did not successfully complete their second or third semester SSP contract, or who did not participate in the SPP, may apply for reinstatement for the semester following the third semester.
- Applications for reinstatement will be considered by Faculty and/or program committees based on criteria, assessments and/or procedures developed by the Faculty or program in consultation with the Office of the Registrar (opens in new window) . Past academic performance and space availability will normally be considerations. Programs, including part-time programs, will provide information each year on the usual criteria used for evaluation of reinstatement applications.
- Applications for transfer will be considered by the University Admissions Office in consultation with Faculty and/or program admission committees. Past academic performance and space availability will normally be considered.
- Students who are reinstated to their program or are approved for transfer upon successful application or successful completion of an SSP, will be reinstated or transferred with Probation or Clear standing based on their past academic performance. If they proceed as Probationary students, they will be required to have a Probationary Contract as outlined above.
Extended Academic Probation for First-Time RTW Students
- Extended Academic Probation (EAP) is a special, provisional academic standing available only to first-time RTW students who participate in a defined Student Success Program as described above.
- To remain EAP, students must fulfill all required components in each of the two semesters of the SSP. Students deemed not to be meeting the program-specified requirements at any time will be withdrawn from the SSP, and will return to RTW standing.
In addition to meeting Ryerson’s general criteria on Academic Standing listed above, students in the following programs must also meet the extra conditions set out in specific Department/School Standing Variations:
- Accounting and Finance
- Child and Youth Care
- Disability Studies
- Early Childhood Studies
- Graphic Communications Management
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Performance Acting, Dance and Production
- Social Work
- Urban and Regional Planning
Department/School Standing Variations could include:
- minimum grades in specific courses
- minimum CGPA across a series of courses
- maximum number of attempts allowed for specific courses
- standards of professional conduct on field/clinical placements
Department/School Standing Variations, where applicable, are described in detail in the program section of the calendar.
Students will obtain final grades at the end of term only for those courses in which they are officially enrolled. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are officially enrolled in courses being taken.
A search fee per course may be charged if students have not enrolled properly but have attended classes. There is no guarantee that grades may be found by this search. Please refer to Undergraduate Significant Dates for grades and standing availability dates.
An INC can be awarded only when some work remains to be completed and when the completion of the outstanding work or an alternate final examination may result in a passing grade.
The outstanding work or alternate examination must be completed by a specified date within 3 months of the submission of the INC unless alternative arrangements have been made with the program’s Chair/Director.
The INC will be replaced by an official course grade when the work is completed. If the work is not completed by the deadline the INC will become a grade of F.
The designation INC is not included in calculating the grade point average nor is it counted as a transfer credit or failed course. An INC can be changed to an AEG by a Dean under exceptional circumstances.
Procedures and Timelines:
- Students must petition their instructor to receive an INC grade within 3 working days, or as soon as reasonably possible, of the missed final examination or final assignment deadline. Supporting documentation (e.g. Ryerson medical certificate (opens in new window) ) must be provided.
- Instructors awarding an INC grade must provide the student, within 7 working days, with a written statement of outstanding work to be completed and the date by which it must be completed (or the date of the alternate final examination). The instructor must also file a copy of this documentation with the Chair/Director of the Teaching Department/School.
Further course enrolment:
If an extension is provided and an INC is not completed by the end of the semester following when it was given, students will not be permitted to enrol in any course for which the INC course is a prerequisite.
If a student has more than one INC remaining past the end of the following semester, at the discretion of the program the student may be prevented from registering in any courses.
Ryerson University is committed to promoting academic success and to ensuring that students’ academic records ultimately reflect their academic abilities and accomplishments.
The University expects that academic judgments by its faculty will be fair, consistent and objective, and recognizes the need to grant academic consideration, where appropriate, in order to support students who face personal difficulties or events.
It is also expected that students will deal with issues which may affect academic performance as soon as they arise. It should be understood that students can only receive grades which reflect their knowledge of the course material.
Students should refer to the Student Guide (opens in new window) , Senate (opens in new window) and Enrolment and Student Records (opens in new window) websites for detailed information on the various academic considerations that may be requested; necessary documents such as appeal forms, medical certificate (opens in new window) s and forms for religious accommodation; and procedural instructions. Information is also available from the Departments and Schools, Dean’s Offices and the Secretary of Senate.
Students are responsible for reviewing all pertinent information before the submission of a formal academic appeal. Incomplete appeals will not be accepted. Students are responsible for ensuring that a formal appeal is submitted by the deadline dates published in the undergraduate calendar, and must adhere to the timelines established in the policy.
Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals (Policy 134) is available in its entirety at (PDF file) Policy 134
Grades and Transcripts are withheld when a student:
- has not met the payment requirement for enrolment, and/or
- has an unpaid balance owing to the University in excess of $10 (subject to change) and/or
- fails to return books to the Library, wireless NetReady cards or ResNet equipment to CCS - Computing and Communications Services, or any other borrowed property
Students are responsible for all books, materials, etc. borrowed against their account, unless a loss or a theft has been previously reported.
To verify what is outstanding, go to the 'Holds' section in the Student Center page in RAMSS.
Students who have grade withholds receive a Withhold Notice instead of their graduation award at the relevant convocation ceremony.
Documents, Grades and Transcripts will be released when the Withhold has been cleared to the satisfaction of the University.
Fresh Start is a Student Success Program designed for students who have been "Required to Withdraw (opens in new window) " from their program of study.
After sitting out one semester, students who are approved for the Fresh Start program will be able to take two courses for credit and four courses for credit in their second semester while they pursue reinstatement to their program or transfer to another program. During the time they take two full-credit courses, Fresh Start students must also participate in a 7-week skills-building non-credit course, CIFS100.
For eligibility, application deadlines, and program details students should refer to Study Skills and Transition Support on the Student Learning Support website (opens in new window) or email freshstart@ryerson.ca
