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S.02-67

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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aercecA

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MEMORANDUM

To: ?

Senate

From:

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Allan MacKinnon, Chair

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

Subject: ?

Proposed changes to grade point average needed for graduation

(SCUS 02-18)

Date: ?

June 11, 2002

Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies at a meeting held

May 14, 2002 gives rise to the following motion:

"that Senate approve the proposed revision to the grade point average needed for

graduation as set forth in S.02-67

Rationale

The proposed changes, outlined in the attached documentation, modify the useage of the

term "graduation gpa", introduce the term "program gpa", and clarify the grade point

averages required for graduation in overall course work and upper division courses.

The proposed changes would be effective September 1, 2003.

Documentation is attached for further details.

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Thursday. June 13. 2002 ?

Graduation Grade Point Averages

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SCUS

02-18

p

CA.SFU.FAS .UCC/Papers:2002-3

Graduation Grade Point Averages

R. D. Cameron, Associate Dean of Applied Sciences

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Revision A - May 14, 2002

1.

Introduction

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies has recently reviewed the patchwork of differing GPA regulations for minors across the

university. Arising from this review, the following changes are proposed with respect to overall calendar language on grade point

averages required for graduation.

text to

section

Graduation Requirements

Each candidate for a degree, certificate or diploma must

formally apply to graduate. Details on deadlines and ho

to initiate the graduation process are contained in the

Course Timetable and Exam Schedule published each

semester. (See also the requirements as noted in the

individual faculty sections.)

neral Degree

For students enrolled at the University before fall 1991,

he minimum requirement for graduation in a general

degree program is a graduation grade point average of

2.00 calculated on the entire required 120 credit hours

used for degree credit, or on the 60 credit hours of the

final four levels for courses used for degree credit,

including the normal 45 credit hours in upper division

courses. The average is computed by dividing the total

number of grade points earned by the total number of

credit hours assigned for those courses, excluding

duplicate courses. A GPA of not less than 2.00 is

required in courses comprising the major studies.

The minimum requirements for graduation changed for

students who enrolled at the University beginning in fall

1991 or thereafter. These students must achieve both

a

minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of

2.00 and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00

calculated on all upper division courses. This GPA is

calculated by dividing the total number of grade points

earned in upper division courses by the total number of

semester credit hours assigned for those courses,

counting only the higher grade in courses that have been

duplicated.

ndividual faculties and departments may. with senate

pproval, maintain their own supplementary graduation

equirements; therefore, students are advised to check

ndividual faculty and departmental listings in case these

ave a higher minimum GPA or other additional

equirements for graduation.

Honors Degree

Similar text will be included

J ?

in a different place in the

Calendar

following text is to be added to the

General Regulations

on, immediately before the

Student Appeals

subsection.

Grade Point Averages Needed for

Graduation

tsed

Grduo ?

f--

____, _

onrade point averages (GPAs)Ia

/

re the

V

minimum GPAs that must be achieved to satisfy the

requirements of a program leading to a degree or other

credential. In each case, the graduation GPA must be

obtained both on the overall course work taken during the

program (CGPA) as well as on the upper division subset

of that work (UDGPA).

Program GPAs are the minimum GPAs that must be

achieved to satisfy the requirements of an honors, major,

minor or extended minor program. In each case, the

program GPA must be obtained both on the overall

course work used to satisfy program requirements as well

as on the upper division subset of that work. In the event

of duplicated courses, only the higher grade is used in

these GPA calculations.

graduation and program GPAs specified below are

ersity minimum requirements; individual faculties and

rtments may, with senate approval, have higher

irements.

Thursday. June 13, 2002

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Graduation Grade

Point Averages ?

Page:,l

For students enrolled in the University before fall 1991,

the minimum requirement for graduation in an honors

degree program is a graduation grade point average of

3.00. If the graduation grade point average is 3.50 or

higher, the designation 'first class' will apply. The

average is calculated on the entire required 132 credit

hours in courses passed and used for credit toward the

degree. or on the required final 60 credit hours of 300

and 400 division courses taken and used for credit

toward the degree, with the exception of duplicate

courses.

e minimum requirement for graduation in an honors

'ogram changed for students who enrolled in the

niversity beginning in fall 1991 or thereafter. These

udents must achieve both a minimum CGPA of 3.00

id a minimum GPA of 3.00 calculated on all upper

vision courses taken at the University. This GPA is

ticulated by dividing the total number of grade points

imed in upper division courses by the total number of

?mester credit hours assigned for those courses,

)unting only the higher grade in courses that have been

iplicated. If a student has both an upper division CGPA

d a CGPA of 3.50 or higher, the designation 'first

ass' applies.

Individual faculties and departments may, with senate

approval, maintain their own supplementary graduation

requirements; therefore, students are advised to check

individual faculty and departmental listings in case these

have a higher minimum GPA or other additional

requirements for graduation. ?

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Rationale

The graduation GPA for general degrees and certificates

at SFU is 2.00. The program GPA for each major, minor

extended minor to be awarded in conjunction with a

general degree is also 2.00.

The graduation GPA for an honors degree is 3.00. The

program GPA in each honors subject is also 3.00. In the

event that both graduation and program GPAs of 3.50 are

achieved, the designation 'first class' applies. Majors,

minors and extended minors awarded in conjunction with

an honors degree have a program GPA of 2.00.

graduation GPA for a post-baccalaureate diploma

ram is 2.50.

These changes update and systematize the requirements with respect to graduation grade point averages, as well as clarifying the

calendar language.

Calendar language with respect to special GPA requirements dependent on time of admission (pre-1991 or not) is dropped. Students

will now be governed in the normal way by the calendar in force at the time of program approval.

The notion of program GPA is introduced to expand and clarify the prior regulation that a "GPA of not less than 2.00 is required in

courses comprising the major studies." In essence, a uniform treatment is proposed based on current Faculty of Arts regulations.

The regulations are moved from their present odd placement in the

General Information

section to an appropriate placement in the

General Regulations

section. With the change, three consecutive subsections define OPAs and their two principal applications:

continuance and graduation requirements.