10.   Grading System

10.1  Letter Grades

      Carleton University employs the twelve-point system of letter
      grades to represent standing in graduate lecture courses,
      directed studies, seminars, tutorials, and some research
      essays and theses. The letter grades used, and the grade point
      equivalents, are as follows:

           A+    12   B+   9
           A     11   B    8
           A-    10   B-   7
           C+     6   D+   3
           C      5   D    2
           C-     4   D    1

10.2  Other Grading Notations

      Under certain defined circumstances, notations are used
      instead of letter grades to represent standing. The only
      notations permissible in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and
      Research are the following:

      (a)  a notation of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory may be
           assigned, subject to the approval of the Faculty of
           Graduate Studies and Research, in certain very special
           courses involving practicum, field work, or other complex
           activities not easily adaptable to the twelve-point
           system of grading
      (b)  comprehensive examinations are graded Pass With
           Distinction, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory
      (c)  the master's thesis is graded Pass With Distinction,
           Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. The oral defence is
           graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
      (d)  the Ph.D. thesis and its oral defence are each graded
           Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
      (e)  a notation of Incomplete may, subject to the approval of
           the chair of the department, be assigned to a course in
           which the student has been granted the privilege of
           submitting an assignment after the final deadline date.
           This notation of Incomplete will be permissible only in
           exceptional cases (for example, medical or other special
           reasons), and must be replaced with a letter grade within
           forty days of the end of classes. If the notation of
           Incomplete is not changed to a letter grade (through the
           regular change-of-grade procedures) within forty days of
           the end of classes, the Incomplete notation will be
           changed to a grade of F, which will remain as a permanent
           entry on the student's record. In exceptional cases
           students may petition to the Dean of the Faculty of
           Graduate Studies and Research to have the Incomplete
           notation remain on the student record. With the
           permission of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies
           and Research students may register to repeat the course
           in order to obtain a letter grade. In the circumstances
           that go beyond the forty day period (for example, medical
           or other special reasons) students may apply for a
           deferral (refer to Special/Deferred Final Examinations,
           Section 9.3)
      (f)  Fail: a notation of F will be assigned to any course in
           which the student has failed
      (g)  a notation of Absent will be assigned to any course in
           which the student failed to attend the final examination.
           If the student explains his/her absence (in writing) to
           the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
           within fourteen days of that examination, he/she may be
           granted the privilege of undertaking a special or
           deferred examination. The notation of Absent will also be
           assigned where a student has terminated a course without
           formally withdrawing from the course prior to the end of
           classes; this notation is deemed to be the equivalent of
           a failure
      (h)  if a thesis, research essay, or independent research
           project is not completed by the end of the period of
           registration, the notation of In Progress will be
           recorded. The notation In Progress may, subject to the
           approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research,
           be used for a research seminar, i.e. a seminar in which
           students present the results of their thesis research.
           This notation must be replaced by an appropriate final
           notation or grade (as specified above) after the thesis,
           research essay, independent research project or research
           seminar has been examined. In cases where a student has
           registered in a research essay or a thesis, without
           completing it, and later undertakes course work to
           complete the degree program ‘ or loses graduate student
           status in the program ‘ the notation In Progress will
           remain as a permanent entry on the student's record.

10.3  Release of Grades

      Grades can be accessed through the Touch Tone Telephone System
      for each student as soon as the grades are available after the
      end of the fall and winter terms of the fall/winter session
      and after the end of the spring session. Students may obtain
      a copy of their official transcript by completing a copy of
      the "Request for Academic Transcript" form which is available
      in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Transcripts
      required for professional and graduate schools should be
      ordered well in advance of any deadline set by these
      institutions. Students are advised that no statement of marks
      or official transcripts will be released by the University
      until all outstanding accounts due have been paid (see
      Delinquent Accounts, page 35).