Academic Performance Review and Continuation

Introduction to Academic Reviews

Student academic performance is monitored closely so as to identify early any student whose performance is likely to lead to academic failure. The Faculty works with individual students to provide academic guidance so as to maximize the chances of all students succeeding. Two kinds of academic performance review take place, one at the end of a term and another at the end of both winter session and summer session. Both kinds of reviews evaluate recent academic performance in light of past performance but cumulative average over more than one session is not assessed.

The review at the end of a term will identify students at risk of academic failure as described below under Students at Risk. The review at the end of each session (winter and summer) will determine whether or not a student can continue in the next session and under what conditions.

Students At Risk

The following table identifies students At Risk following an academic performance evaluation based on the current academic standing, the credit-weighted average (AVG), and the percentage of the credits passed (CP) in the term.

Co-operative Education work terms are not included in the evaluation. Courses are only included in a term evaluation once a final grade has been assigned. For example, courses for which a deferred examination has been granted will be considered within the academic performance evaluation for the period in which the deferred examination is written. Students will be considered At Risk if, in a term, one of the following conditions is met:

Students At Risk may be asked by their dean or director to do one or more of the following: to formulate an academic plan; to take part in academic skills workshops; to reduce their course load; and to commit to an on-going program of medical care or support from counselling services, the Centre for Accessibility or another health professional. Students At Risk who do not show improvement in academic performance in the next sessional evaluation risk being placed on Academic Probation with a reduced credit allotment or being assigned a Failed Year and being required to withdraw from the University (see Sessional Evaluation and Continuation Requirements below). Students who achieve Good Standing on a sessional evaluation but whose most recent term places them At Risk will also be subject to the terms in this paragraph.

Sessional Evaluation and Continuation Requirements

There are three sessional standings: Good Standing, Academic Probation, and Failed Standing. Sessional evaluations are conducted twice yearly, after Winter Session and after Summer Session if the student was registered. The possible outcomes are listed in the table "Summary of Continuation Requirements" below. Co-operative education work terms are not included in the evaluation. If one or more courses do not have a final grade at the time that the sessional evaluation is conducted, e.g., if a final examination has been deferred, and the recorded grades in completed courses indicate that an unsatisfactory standing is likely, then eligibility for future registration may be withheld until all the grades for the session under review are final.

Good Standing

Students who enter a Winter or Summer Session in Good Standing and who pass all courses will be eligible to continue their studies in Good Standing. If they do not pass all courses but attain a sessional average of 55.0% or more they will also be eligible to continue in Good Standing.

Students who enter a session on Academic Probation must take at least 12 credits in a session, must successfully complete all courses attempted and must attain a sessional average of at least 55.0% to leave the session in Good Standing.

Academic Probation Standing

Students who enter a session in Good Standing then fail one or more courses and attain a sessional average of less than 55.0% but at least 50.0% will be placed on Academic Probation.

Three categories of students who enter a session on Academic Probation will enter the next session on Academic Probation:

• those who pass all courses with an average of at least 55.0% but on a load of less than 12 credits 
• those who pass all courses but do not attain an average of at least 55.0% 
• those who attain an average of at least 55.0% but do not pass all courses 

Two categories of students who were permitted to continue with Failed Standing from the previous session will enter the next session on Academic Probation:

• those who pass all courses
• those who attain an average of at least 55.0% but do not pass all courses
  

A student who is on Academic Probation is restricted to taking no more than 12 credits in either term of Winter Session or no more than 11 credits during Summer Session. That student must also submit an academic plan to an advisor in the Science Advising during each study term. A meeting with the advisor may be required.
 

Failed Standing

Students who attain a sessional average of less than 50.0% in any Winter or Summer Session will be assigned Failed Standing. If this sessional average is based on fewer than 12 credits and the student entered the session in Good Standing, the student will be permitted to continue under the conditions described above under Academic Probation Standing. Otherwise, the student will be required to withdraw from the University entirely.

Students who attain a sessional average of at least 50.0% but less than 55.0%, having failed one or more courses, will be assigned Failed Standing if they entered the session on Academic Probation or with Failed Standing in any previous session. Such students will be required to withdraw from the University entirely.

A student who has been required to withdraw from the University and is interested in continuing their studies at UBC should consult the Advancement Regulations and Withdrawal and Re-admission policies.
 

Summary of Continuation Requirements

The continuation requirements outlined in the table below are determined through sessional evaluation, with new standing based on prior standing, sessional average, and success in courses.