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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 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

comprehensive examinations are graded Pass With Distinction, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory

the master's thesis is graded Pass With Distinction, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. The oral defence is graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

the Ph.D. thesis and its oral defence are each graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

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 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)

Fail: a notation of F will be assigned to any course in which the student has failed

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

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.

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