FAS Regulations: Course Duplication Appeals
Robert D. Cameron, Associate Dean of Applied Sciences
Revision B - March 10, 2000
The following is proposed wording for a new section of the FAS Handbook
of Regulations and Guidelines.
FAS-5.X Course Duplication Appeals
FAS-5.X.1 Policy
SFU Calendar regulations restrict the number of courses that a
student may duplicate in a degree program to five, but allow
the Dean of the Faculty to extend this limit on appeal.
In addition, no course may be repeated more than once without
permission of the department.
In the Faculty of Applied Sciences, a course duplication request
will only be granted when both the following conditions hold.
- There is no reasonable alternative to course duplication
that will allow the student to continue with the intended program
of studies.
- There is clear evidence to support a belief that the student
will be successful in both the duplicated course and the intended
program of studies.
The Associate Dean, in consultation with the Faculty of Applied
Sciences Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, adjudicates appeals
to exceed the five course duplication limit on behalf of the Dean.
Appeals to duplicate a course more than once are adjudicated at
the School level.
FAS-5.X.2 Interpretation
- Normally, the need to satisfy a course prerequisite is not
acceptable as a reason for duplication beyond stated limits.
Obtaining a prerequisite waiver, possibly
on the grounds of supplementary courses, is usually a reasonable
alternative to duplication.
- Raising GPA is not an acceptable reason for duplication beyond the
stated limits. Beyond those limits, the only reasonable alternative
for raising GPA is to do well in new course attempts.
- Normally, the evidence of success must include either a CGPA
or recent semester GPAs above the relevant standard (admission or
continuation) of a student's (intended or declared) program.
FAS-5.X.3 Procedure
- Students should obtain and complete
the FAS Course Duplication Appeal Form.
-
The appeal form should be submitted
first to the department or School offering the course.
-
The department (or School) should identify any reasonable alternatives
to course duplication that may exist.
-
In the event of an appeal concerning only a request to duplicate
a particular course more than once (not exceeding the five course
duplication limit), the department or School adjudicates the request.
-
In the event of an appeal concering a request to exceed the five
course duplication limit, the department or School should forward the
appeal to the Associate Dean after providing its recommendations, if any.
-
In the event that the Associate Dean
does not concur with the recommendation of a School,
the appeal will be submitted to the FAS Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee for a decision.
Rationale
This policy encodes the existing practice with respect to course
duplication appeals. The goals of the written policy statement are:
-
to define consistent standards that can be uniformly applied
to such appeals, and
- to ensure that students know what issues to address in making
their written appeal.
A new Course Duplication Appeal Form will be designed to require
student submissions addressing
the "no reasonable alternative" and "evidence of success" criteria.
Notes
The designation 5.X is temporary, pending assignment of section
numbers within the overall revision of the FAS Handbook.
Revision 3B more specifically
refers to "supplementary courses," rather than "supplementary
work" for prerequisite waiver.