MEMO 

Dean of 

Graduate Studies 

STREET A DDR ESS

Maggie Benston Student 

Services Centre 1100 

Burnaby BC V>A 1S6 

Canada 

MAILING ADDRESS

8888 University Drive 

Burnaby BC V>A 1S6 

Canada 

SFU

S.12-52

TO:

Senate

TEL

FROM Wade Parkhouse, Dean, Graduate Studies

RE General

Graduate

Regulation 1.5.1

GS2012.051

DATE February 7, 2012

For information

Acting under delegated authority at its meeting of 16 January 2012, the

SGSC approved the following revisions to GGR 1.5.1:

IGS2012.05]

Effective Date is September 2012

The purpose of the revision is to align the graduate and undergraduate

grading practices in terms of the deadline for withdrawal without a

transcript notation and to align the graduate and undergraduate policies

governing the maximum extension permitted for a deferred grade.

In addition, an editorial change has been made to resolve an existing

discrepancy in the graduate regulations related to the timing

of a WD

notation.

Senators wishing to consult a more detailed report of curriculum revisions

may do so by going to Docushare:

https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-12682

If you are unable to access the information, please call 778-782-3168 or email

shelley_gair@,sfu.ca.

MEMO

SFU

Office of the Di:an of Graduath Studies

To: The

Senate Graduate Studies Committee

From: Mary Ann Pope, Director, Graduate Admissions

Records

Subject: Graduate General Regulation 1.5.1

DATE: January 6, 2012

The purpose of the requested revision is to align the graduate and undergraduate

grading practices in terms of the deadline for withdrawal without a transcript

notation and to align the graduate and undergraduate policies governing the

maximum extension permitted for a deferred grade.

In addition, an editorial change has been made to resolve an existing discrepancy

in the graduate regulations related to the timing

of a WD notation.

Existing Calendar Language

1.5.1 Normal Grading System

The following grades are used at the graduate level in the University.

A+=4.33 point (in use since 2002-3)

A = 4.00 points

A- = 3.67 points

B+= 3.33 points

B = 3.00 points

B- =2.67 points

C+=2.33 points (in use since 2002-3)

C =2.00 points

F = 0 points

IP=0 points

CO = 0 points

N = 0 points

A student in a master's or doctoral program must maintain a cumulative grade point average

(CGPA) of 3.0 in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. The CGPA is the cumulative

average of the grade points earned in the Simon Fraser University graduate courses completed

towards a graduate diploma, or towards a master's ordoctoral degree.

A student in a diploma program must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5

in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. Courses graded on a

satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis are not included in the grade point average.

When a student is working on a thesis, extended essay or project as part of the requirements for

the degree, the notation IP (in progress) shall be entered on the transcript. IP is not a grade and

is not used in calculating the student's CGPA.When a thesis, extended essay or project is

completed, the notation CO shall be entered on the transcript. CO is not a grade and is not used

in calculating the student's CGPA.

In exceptional circumstances, the grade for a course may be deferred for a specified period

determined by the course instructor. This shall be entered as DE in the student's record. If the

grade is not received by the director, graduate records and admissions by the last day of the

first month of the next term, the DE grade will automatically be converted to an F. DE grades

may not be extended beyond this time limit. A DEgrade may be changed to aWE ifthe student

can provide medical documentation that they were unable to complete

the work within the

extended period because of illness. Upon request to the Dean of Graduate Studies a DE grade

can be changed to a grade of IP and the course requirements completed in a subsequent term

of registration.When the grade

for a course is not deferred and no grade is received by the

director, admissions and records, the notation N will be placed in the student's record. For the

purposes of calculating the CGPA, N counts

for 0 points.

A course that is dropped before the end of the second week ofthe term willnot be recorded on

the student's transcript. A course that is dropped within the third to eighth weeks (inclusive) will

be recorded on the transcript with the notation WD. No course may be dropped afterthe end of

the eighth week and before the end of the twelfth week, except in extenuating circumstances

approved by the

director, admissions and records. Courses dropped under extenuating

circumstances will receive a WE notation. SeeAcademic Dates for dates that apply each term.

WD and WE grades carry no credit value and are not used in GPA calculations

FROM:

A student in a master'sor doctoral program must maintain a cumulative grade point average

(CGPA)

of 3.0 in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. The CGPA is the cumulative

average of the grade points earned in the Simon Fraser University graduate courses completed

towards a graduate diploma, or towards a master'sor doctoral degree.

A student in a diploma program must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5

in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. Courses graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory

basis are not included in the grade point average.

When a student is working on a thesis, extended essay

or project as part of the requirements for

the degree, the notation IP (in progress) shall be entered on the transcript. IP is not a grade and is

not used in calculating the student'sCGPA. When a thesis, extended essay or project is

completed, the notation CO shall be entered on the transcript. CO is not a grade and is not used

in calculating the student's CGPA.

In exceptional circumstances, the grade for a course may be deferred for a specified poriod

determined by the course instructor. This shall be entered as DE in the student'srecord. If the

grade is not received by the director, graduate records and admissions by the last day of the first

month

of the next term, the DE grade will automatically be converted to an F. DE grades may

not be extended beyond this time limit. A DE grade maybe changed to a WE if the student can

provide medical documentation that they were unable to complete the work within the extended

period because of illness. Upon request to the Dean of Graduate Studies a DE grade can bo

changed to a grade of IP and the course requirements completed in a subsequent term of

registration. When the grade for a course is not deferred and no grade is received by the director,

admissions and records, the notation N will be placed in the student'srecord. For the purposes of

calculating the CGPA, N counts for 0 points.

A graduate student who fails to complete the required work in a course by the end of the

term will receive a grade of 'N' or incomplete. For the purposes of calculating the CGPA,

an N grade has a numeric value of 0.0.

Where circumstances warrant an extension to allow a student additional time to complete

the course requirements the course instructor may defer the grade, in which case, a grade

of DE shall be entered. All course work for such deferrals must be completed, and the

course grade must be submitted, by the last day of the first month of the next semester.

Students granted a DE grade are responsible for making satisfactory arrangements with

their instructors for completion

of outstanding course requirements. If the grade is not

received by the deadline, the DE grade will be converted to an F.

In the case of illness or other extenuating circumstances, a deferral (DE) may be extended.

Where illness is involved, a certificate from the student's physician is required. This

certificate should indicate the dates and duration of the illness and should describe the

impact it had on the student'sability to fulfill the academic requirements of the course, and

any other information the physician considers relevant and appropriate. For exceptional

circumstances other than illness, appropriate documentation, depending on the situation,

will be required. The course instructor and the graduate chair must approve the extension.

The request for an extended deferral and supporting documentation must be submitted to

the Office of Graduate Studies with a final deferral date. The maximum extension allowed

is the end of the term following the term in which the course was taken. No extensions will

be granted beyond one subsequent term. If a student is unable to complete the course work

by the end of the term following the term of initial enrollmentin the course due to

extenuating circumstances in the subsequent term, a request for a course withdrawal under

extenuating circumstances (WE), with the required documentation should be submitted to

the Office of Graduate Studies. If a final grade has not been submitted and a request for a

withdrawal from the course under extenuating circumstances has not been approved by the

end of the term following the term in which the course was initially taken, the DE will be

converted to an F.

A course that is dropped before the end of the

third

second week of the term will not be

recorded on the student'stranscript. A course that is dropped within the fourth to ninth third to

eight weeks (inclusive) will

be recorded on the transcript with the notation WD. No course may

be dropped after the end of the eighth ninth week and before the end of the twelfth week

semester,

except in extenuating circumstances approved by the director, graduate admissions

and records. Courses dropped under extenuating circumstances will receive a WE notation. See

Academic Dates for dates that apply each term. WD and WE grades carry no credit value and are

not used in GPA calculations.

TO:

A student in a master's or doctoral program must maintain a cumulative grade point average

(CGPA)

of 3.0 in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. The CGPA is the cumulative

average of the grade points earned in the Simon Fraser University graduate courses completed

towards a graduate diploma, or towards a master's or doctoral degree.

A student in a diploma program must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5

in courses completed at Simon Fraser University. Courses graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory

basis are not included in the grade point average.

When a student is working on a thesis, extended essay or project as part of the requirements for

the degree, the notation IP (in progress) shall be entered on the transcript. IP is not a grade and is

not used in calculating the student'sCGPA. When a thesis, extended essay or project is

completed, the notation CO shall be entered on the transcript. CO is not a grade and is not used

in calculating the student'sCGPA.

A graduate student who fails to complete the required work in a course by the end of the term

will receive a grade of 'N' or incomplete. For the purposes of calculating the CGPA, an N grade

has a numeric value of 0.0.

Where circumstances warrant an extension to allow a student additional time to complete the

course requirements the course instructor may defer the grade, in which case, a grade of DE shall

be entered. All course work for such deferrals must be completed, and the course grade must be

submitted, by the last day

of the first month of the next semester. Students granted a DE grade

are responsible for making satisfactory arrangements with their instructors for completion of

outstanding course requirements. If the grade is not received by the deadline, the DE grade will

be converted to an F.

In the case of illness or other extenuating circumstances, a deferral (DE) may be extended.

Where illness is involved, a certificate from the student's physician is required. This certificate

should indicate the dates and duration of the illness and should describe the impact it had on the

student's ability to fulfill the academic requirements of the course, and any other information the

physician considers relevant and appropriate. For exceptional circumstances other than illness,

appropriate documentation, depending on the situation, will be required. The course instructor

and the graduate chair must approve the extension. The request for an extended deferral and

supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies with a final

deferral date. The maximum extension allowed is the end of the term following the term in

which the course was taken. No extensions will be granted beyond one subsequent term. If a

student is unable to complete the course work by the end of the term following the term of initial

enrollment in the course due to extenuating circumstances in the subsequent term, a request for a

course withdrawal under extenuating circumstances (WE), with the required documentation

should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. If a final grade has not been submitted

and a request for a withdrawal from the course under extenuating circumstances has not been

approved by the end of the term following the term in which the course was initially taken, the

DE will be converted to an F.

A course that is dropped before the end of the third week of the term will not be recorded on the

student'stranscript. A course that is dropped within the fourth to ninth weeks (inclusive) will be

recorded on the transcript with the notation WD. No course

may be dropped after the end of the

ninth week and before the end of the semester, except in extenuating circumstances approved by

the director, graduate admissions and records. Courses dropped under extenuating circumstances

will receive a WE notation. See Academic Dates for dates that apply each term. WD and WE

grades carry no credit value and are not used in GPA calculations.