Course Policies
- Academic Integrity
- Attendance
- Term assignments and debarment from exams
- Grading
- Late assignments
- Academic Concession
- Travel plans
- Students with a disability
- Policy on inclusivity and diversity
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity requires commitment to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Students are expected to observe the same standards of scholarly integrity as their academic and professional counterparts. A student who is found to have engaged in unethical academic behaviour, including the practices described in the Policy on Academic Integrity in the University Calendar, is subject to penalty by the University.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled (University Policy). Students who do not attend classes must not assume that they have been dropped from a course by a department or an instructor. Courses that are not formally dropped will be given a failing grade, students may be required to withdraw, and will be required to pay the tuition fee for the course.
An instructor may refuse a student admission to a lecture or laboratory because of lateness, misconduct, inattention or failure to meet the responsibilities of the course. Students who neglect their academic work, including assignments, may be refused permission to write the final examination in a course. Instructors must inform students at the beginning of term, in writing, of the minimum attendance required at lectures and in laboratories in order to qualify to write examinations.
Students who are absent because of illness, an accident or family affliction should report to their instructors upon their return to classes.
Term assignments and debarment from examinations
In some courses students may be assigned a final grade of N or debarred from writing final examinations if the required term work has not been completed to the satisfaction of the department. Instructors in such courses must advise students of the standard required in term assignments and the circumstances under which they will be assigned a final grade of N or debarred from examinations.
Grading
The University Senate approved transition from the 9 point grading system to a percentage grading system and the implementation is planned to take effect May 2014, in a two-phase process. For details and the complete undergraduate grading scale, see the University Calendar, Grading. Effective May 1, 2012, the following standard grading table will be used:
Passing Grades |
Description |
A+ |
Exceptional, outstanding and excellent performance. Normally achieved by a minimum of students. These grades indicate a student who is self-initiating, exceeds expectation and has an insightful grasp of the subject matter. |
B+ |
Very good, good and solid performance. Normally achieved by the largest number of students. These grades indicate a good grasp of the subject matter or excellent grasp in one area balanced with satisfactory grasp in the other area. |
C+ |
Satisfactory, or minimally satisfactory. These grades indicate a satisfactory performance and knowledge of the subject matter. |
D |
Marginal Performance. A student receiving this grade demonstrated a superficial grasp of the subject matter. |
| Failing Grades | Description |
F |
Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed course requirements; no supplemental. |
| N | Did not write examination or complete course requirements by the end of term or session; no supplemental. |
A+ |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
D |
F |
90-100 |
85-89 |
80-84 |
77-79 |
73-76 |
70-72 |
65-69 |
60-64 |
50-59 |
0-49 |
Late assignments
Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangement has been made with the course instructor.
Academic Concession
Academic Concession for work that will be completed BEFORE course grades are submitted by the instructor.
A student whose academic performance is affected by injury, family or personal affliction, or illness should immediately consult with University Counselling Services, University Health Services, or another health professional, and may request, directly from the course instructor, deferral or substitution of a mid-term test or examination, or of other work which is due during the term. This request must be accompanied by supporting documentation from the health professional and must specifically cover the date of the missed examination or assignment deadline. It should normally be dated on or before the exam/deadline date and be submitted to the instructor within 10 days of this date.All work for which a Concession is approved must be completed before course grades are submitted by the instructor.
If the request for deferral or substitution of term work is denied, a student may appeal as described under “Appeals”.
If make‐up tests are assigned, they will be scheduled by the Department of Economics on Friday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Students must be registered for these tests by their instructors in order to be permitted to take them.
Academic Concession for work that will be completed AFTER course grades are submitted by the instructor.
In the event of a missed final examination, or submission of an assignment after grades are submitted by the instructor, students must submit a Request for Academic Concession (RAC) to Undergraduate Records with the required official documentation from a health professional within 10 working days of the end of the examination period. The RAC form is available on the Undergraduate Records website (http://registrar.uvic.ca/undergrad/records/forms/forms.html).Travel plans
Students are advised not to make work or travel plans until after the examination timetable has been finalized. Students who wish to finalize their travel plans at an earlier date should book flights that depart after the end of the examination period. There will be no special accommodation if travel plans conflict with the examination.
Students with a Disability
The University aims to provide equal opportunities and access for all students to enjoy the benefits and privileges of its classes and curriculum and to meet the syllabus requirements. Reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made available to students with documented disabilities (physical, mental, learning) in order to give them the opportunity to successfully meet the essential requirements of a course. The accommodation will not alter academic standards or learning outcomes, although the student may be allowed to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a different way.
Students with disabilities seeking academic accommodation are expected to contact the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability (RCSD) as early as possible to avoid a delay in service, to initiate the process of determining and arranging appropriate academic accommodation in individual situations.
In order to receive course-based and exam-based accommodations, instructors must be notified of student needs. For example, if a student requires additional time on exams, assistance with note-taking or a substitute assignment, the instructor needs to be informed. At the start of each academic term, students fill in a Memo to Professors Form and hand it in to the RCSD. Only instructors listed on the request form will receive a copy of this memo. The memo confirms that the student is registered with the RCSD and lists the accommodations to which the student is entitled and has requested. It is the student’s responsibility to introduce themselves to their instructors to discuss the contents of the memo and make any necessary arrangements to receive accommodations. The memo’s collection, protection, retention and disclosure is governed by provisions of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Policy on Inclusivity and Diversity
The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing and protecting a positive, supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.
