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.
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The following text to be deleted from the General Information section. Graduation RequirementsEach candidate for a degree, certificate or diploma must formally apply to graduate. Details on deadlines and how 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.) General DegreeFor students enrolled at the University before fall 1991, the 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. 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. Honors DegreeFor 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. The minimum requirement for graduation in an honors program changed for students who enrolled in the University beginning in fall 1991 or thereafter. These students must achieve both a minimum CGPA of 3.00 and a minimum GPA of 3.00 calculated on all upper division courses taken at the University. 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. If a student has both an upper division CGPA and a CGPA of 3.50 or higher, the designation `first class' 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. |
The following text is to be added to the General Regulations section, immediately before the Student Appeals subsection. Grade Point Averages Needed for GraduationGraduation grade point averages (GPAs) are the 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. The graduation and program GPAs specified below are University minimum requirements; individual faculties and departments may, with senate approval, have higher requirements. The graduation GPA for general degrees and certificates at SFU is 2.00. The program GPA for each major, minor or 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. The graduation GPA for a post-baccalaureate diploma program 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 GPAs and their two principal applications: continuance and graduation requirements.