Department Policy Number
130
Effective Date
September 1, 2005 Amendment
September 1, 2004
Purpose
In June 2001, Athabasca University's Academic Council approved a new grading
system using an alpha system of grades. This new grading system is based on
a recommendation from a provincial "Common Grading System Committee"
(a subcommittee of the Alberta Universities Coordinating Council). This policy
addresses the key issues for conversion to and implementation of this new grading
system at Athabasca University for graduate courses.
Definitions
| Grade Point | A grade point is
a number between 0 and 4.00 that is assigned to a grade (alpha or percentage)
and then used to calculate a grade point average (GPA). |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) | Graduate GPA is calculated on
a program basis and only those AU courses used toward the graduate credential
will be counted. For courses that have been repeated, only the most recent
grade will be used. Courses graded on a pass/fail basis and transferred
courses are not included. In cases where the student has completed more
elective courses than what the program requires, the elective courses with
the highest grade will be used. The grade point average is a weighted average
calculated as follows: Sum of (grade point x credit hours)/(sum of credit
hours). |
| Minimum Passing Grade | The minimum passing grade has
historically been 60%, except where specified otherwise in the detailed
course descriptions. The passing grade will become C-. Some programs require
more than the minimum passing grade for courses to be used toward the graduate
credential. |
| Failing Grades | Failing grades are any grades less than a passing grade. At the Graduate level, no passing grade lower than a C- will be awarded. All exceptions to minimum passing grade and failing grade definitions must be specified in detailed course information. |
Policy
| 1. | The University will
convert to the Alpha/4.0 graduate grading scale effective September 1, 2004.
Graduate courses with start dates of September 1, 2004 or later will use
the new scale. The new scale is as follows: |
| 2. | Students registered
in courses with start dates before September 1, 2004 will be graded according
to the applicable former alpha or percentage grade scale. |
| 3. | Effective for courses starting
September 1, 2004, the Office of the Registrar will retain only the alpha
grade in the official student record, (the Athabasca University Student
Information Management System). |
| 4. | Student transcripts will display
the alpha grades (and corresponding grade points) for all courses with start
dates of September 1, 2004 or later. |
| 5. | Courses, which are currently
graded on a pass/fail basis, will continue to be graded in this way. Grades
for these courses will not have corresponding grade points and will not
be used in GPA calculations. Grades for these courses will appear on transcripts
as "P" for those successfully completed, and a "U" grade
for failures. |
| 6. | No descriptive modifiers (excellent,
satisfactory, etc.) apply to graduate grades. |
| 7. | All student grade point averages
(GPAs) will be defined by and calculated using the 4.0 grading scale. Percentage
grades in academic history (assigned under the old grading system) that
form part of a grade point average calculation will be converted to the
4.0 scale before the GPA calculation, according to the following conversion
scale. |
| Note: | The following table will only be used for individual course conversion when a transcript is produced. It will only be used for courses started prior to September 1, 2004 with a percentage grade. It should not be used to compare averages or grade point averages. |
Conversion
Scale (percentage to grade point) for GPA Calculations for Historic Percentage
Grades
(For the Masters of
Business Administration, Health Studies, Nursing, and Science courses)
Regulation
All existing exceptions to the current Athabasca University standard for passing
grades (C- or higher) will be carried forward into the new Grading Standards.
Academic Council must approve any additional exceptions to the new graduate
grading system including the standards for passing grades and failing grades.
Any such exceptions must be implemented in a manner that provides adequate time
for student advisement concerning the change.
Procedure
| 1. | Following approval
of this policy, Athabasca University will direct and implement a thorough
communication process to notify the University community of the change in
grading system. This communication will require updating all print and electronic
information for graduate students, informing all partners in education,
and informing all academic, administrative and support staff of this important
change in grading standards. |
| 2. | The Office of the Registrar
will review the transcript and will make any needed changes. |
| 3. | Computing Services, in consultation
with the Office of the Registrar, will modify the transcript to display
the new alpha grades, the percentage grades for start dates prior to September
1, 2004, and the grade point average calculated using the new 4.0 scale. |
| 4. | The Office of the Registrar will produce a new template for the back of the Athabasca University transcript that identifies the new graduate grading system, the former grading system and other transcript features that require definition or explanation. |
Approved by
Athabasca University Academic Council; March 10, 2004; Motion No. 181-6
Amended Date/Motion No.
Athabasca University Academic Council; January 19, 2005; Motion No. 186-8
Related References, Policies,
and Procedures
The Universities Coordinating Council Common Grading System Committee, June
2001 Update Report
Approved Common Provincial Grading Scale (as per above committee)
Undergraduate Grading Policy
Applicable Legislation/Regulation
Responsible Position/Department
Office of the Registrar
Keywords
Graduate Grading scale, graduate grades, graduate marks, grades, marks, graduate
grade point average, graduate GPA
 |
K.
Zimmermann , Office of the President, March 2005 |