. ?
OFFICE OF THE
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC AND ASSOCIATE PROVOST
MEMO
ATTENTION
FROM ?
Bitt Krane, Chair
Senate Committee on Un
RE
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EXCHANGE CREDIT PROPOSAL ISCUS 08-01)
I
DATE ?
May 20, 2008
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I
The Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies at its meeting of May 6, 2008
reviewed two options presented by Student Services (attached) on the
administration of exchange credit. After deliberation action was undertaken
which gives rise to the following recommendation:
EXCHANGE CREDIT PROPOSAL
Motion
"that Senate approve that the residency requirement for completing a
credential at SFU may include up to 15 exchange credits."
I.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?
THINKING OF THE WORLD
.
MEMO
Student Services
MBC 3000
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A1S6
Canada
ATTENTION ?
Bill Krane, Chair,
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
FROM ?
Mehran Kiai, Director of Enrollment Services
cc:
?
Kate Ross, Registrar & Senior Director, Enrollment Services
RE ?
Exchange Credit Proposal
IDATE ?
March 3. 2008
Issue
There appears to be an inconsistent application of exchange credit value in relation to residency requirements, across
the faculties. FASS for example, considers exchange credits to be "Simon Fraser University courses", when
determining residency, other faculties do not.
It does not state clearly anywhere in the calendar that exchange credits are considered SFU credits for the purposes of
establishing residency requirements for credential completion.
Background
In July
1997 Senate passed a motion:
"that Senate approve the proposal to allow for additional transfer credit for students in formal exchange programs, as
described in SUAB 228, subject to a revision to separate the rationale from the action required in that paper."
[The details are that "a student approved for participation in a formal exchange program may, with the approval of
his/her major department(s) and Faculty Dean, undertake a maximum of 30 upper division credit hours while
participating in the program"]
Discussion noted in the Senate minutes - "objection was raised to the proposed regulation because students would be
able to obtain an SFU degree with a majority of credits being obtained from other institutions, especially institutions
from outside of Canada. Particular concern was expressed about transfer students admitted with a maximum of 60
credits being eligible to obtain another 30 credits through enrolment in a formal exchange program in another country.
Senate was reminded that cases falling under this policy would likely be exempt in cases, and Departmental Chairs and
Faculty Deans are required to judge whether there is a desirable number of SFU courses prior to approval of the
additional transfer credit."
In December 2000 Senate approved a change to the residency requirement as follows:
"In order to qualil,r for a credential from Simon Fraser University, the student must complete at least 50% of the credit
• ?
hour requirements for the credential through credits in SW courses."
The document goes on to say "The additional credit provisions approved by Senate to allow for participation in Formal
Exchange Programs would continue to apply."
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?
THINKING OF THE WORLD
In the SFU International Student Exchange Manual it states the following:
Exchange Credit, Grades, Transcripts
Exchange Credit
SFU will normally accept exchange credit towards an SFU degree for course work successftuly completed with a
minimum grade equivalent to a "C" at the partner university. Credit granted for courses taken on exchange is deemed
to be SFU credit. It is conceivable that a particular student might transfer from a college into SFU with the maximum
allowable sixty (60) credit hours of transfer credit, and then add an additional thirty (30) hours for courses taken on
exchange.
In the Calendar Student Enrollment section it states:
Courses at Other Institutions/Letters of Permission
Students participating in formal exchange programs may receive exchange credit for courses completed at the host
university with a passing grade.
Recommendation
That on page 32 of the current calendar under the section title Courses at Other Institutions/Letters of Permission, one
of the following options to be added at the end of the section that states:
Option 1: Exchange credit is considered to be SFU credit for the purposes of fulfilling residency requirements for
credential completion.
Option 2: Exchange credit is considered to be SFU credit for the purposes of fulfilling residency requirements for
credential completion, provided that the sum of non-SFU credits and exchange credits does not exceed 50% of the
credit hour requirements of the SFU credential.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
THINKING OF THE WORLD
