Graduation Requirements
To graduate, students must meet the course requirements for their major, which typically requires a minimum of four years of university study. Students from other faculties may take courses offered in Forestry and Environmental Stewardship if they have the necessary prerequisites. In some cases, instructor permission may be required.
Year Promotion
Students will be promoted based on the following criteria:
To second year:
- Declaring a major.
- Successful completion of 24 or more credits of prescribed first-year courses.
To third year:
- Successful completion of 51 or more credits, including the majority of prescribed first- and second-year courses. Students who do not meet this requirement will normally not be permitted to enroll in third-year or higher-level courses in the Faculty.
To fourth year:
- Successful completion of a total of 78 or more credits, including the majority of prescribed first-, second- and third year courses.
Not Following Program
Students are expected to register in the courses required for their degree program. Students who take an excess of courses outside their program of study may receive official communications warning them that they have been identified as “Not Following Program.” At the end of the Winter Session, these students may be blocked from registering in courses under their Forestry and Environmental Stewardship eligibility regardless of their Academic Standing. Students in this situation and not officially transferring to another Faculty/program will have an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Associate Dean Students and the Adjudication and Advancement Committee. Students identified as not following the program two years in a row, will have to discontinue from the Faculty.
Dropping Courses
Students may drop or withdraw from courses using Workday within the indicated time limits. Students should meet with an advisor prior to dropping or withdrawing from courses to discuss potential implications of dropping specific courses.
After the deadline for course withdrawals with a W standing, courses may only be dropped under exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Associate Dean.
Students who fail to write the final examination or fail to complete other course requirements, and whose circumstances do not warrant a late withdrawal or deferred standing, may receive an “F” standing.
Academic Standing
All students must pass at least 60% of credits attempted, achieve an overall average grade of at least 50%, and follow their required program. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal from the Faculty for at least one year. Students who have not completed at least 3 credits in each of first-year English and Mathematics (Calculus) by the time they have completed 60 credits may be required to withdraw from the Faculty, unless there are sufficient extenuating circumstances.
Academic standing evaluations, called “Sessional Evaluations,” are completed at the conclusion of each Winter Session (in May). The categories assigned to students are:
A. Good Academic Standing
The passing mark in Forestry and Environmental Stewardship is 50%. In subjects comprising both lecture and laboratory sessions, the candidate must pass both. To achieve Good Academic Standing, students must meet one of the following:
- If registered in 15 or more credits: Have a sessional average of 60% or greater, and fail no more than 6 credits.
- If registered in fewer than 15 credits: Pass a minimum of 50% of credits attempted, have a sessional average of 60% or greater, and fail no more than 6 credits.
B. Academic Probation
Students registered in any year who attain a Winter Session average of at least 50% but less than 60% may, at the discretion of the Adjudication, Advancement, and Scholarship Committee, be placed on Academic Probation. Students assigned Academic Probation in one session will be removed from Academic Probation if, in a following Winter Session, they pass all courses and attain an average of at least 60% on a minimum of 24 credits. Students who do not achieve an average high enough to be removed from Academic Probation may be asked to withdraw from the Faculty for a year. In this case, students are permitted (and encouraged) to submit an appeal that, if successful, would permit them to remain at UBC and potentially undertake a reduced course load. Students who do not submit an appeal, or whose appeal is unsuccessful, will be required to withdraw from the Faculty for at least a year, after which an application for readmission will be considered.
C. Failed Year
Students will be assigned Failed Year Standing when one of the following conditions is met:
- Their sessional average falls below 50% on at least 60% of credits undertaken.
- If a student has previously been assigned Academic Probation and meets the conditions of Academic Probation for a second time.
A student who is assigned Failed Year Standing (consecutive or non-consecutive years) may be put on a reduced course load, i.e., no more than 9 credits per term, which will still allow them to have Full-Time Status, Loans eligibility might be considered; or may be required to discontinue from the Faculty for a period of at least one academic year, after which an application for readmission will be considered. If students present two or more years of Failed Year Standing (consecutive or non-consecutive years), they may be required to permanently withdraw from the University.
Academic Recognition
Dean's List
Any student who achieves 82% on 24 percentage-graded credits in the current session with no failed courses taken will receive the notation "Dean's List" on their transcript. Students must have taken a minimum of 24 percentage-graded credits in the current session to qualify. Grades obtained by students registered in a Study Abroad and Exchange Program during the Winter Session will be considered. Students in a Cooperative Education program, who are registered at UBC for only one term in Winter Session because of a co-op placement, are eligible if they take at least 12 percentage-graded credits, with no failed courses for that term.
Dean’s Scholar
Any student who achieves 90% on 27 percentage-graded credits in the current session with no failed courses taken will receive the notation "Dean's Scholar" on their transcript. Students must have taken a minimum of 27 percentage-graded credits in the current session to qualify. Grades obtained by students registered in a Study Abroad and Exchange Program during the Winter Session will be considered. Students in a Cooperative Education program, who are registered at UBC for only one term in Winter Session because of a co-op placement, are eligible if they take at least 15 percentage-graded credits, with no failed courses for that term.
Graduating with Honours or Distinction
Honours standing upon graduation will be granted to those students who have obtained an average of 82% in their 300 and 400-level courses, with no failures. “With Honours” will be noted on their transcript and degree certificate/parchment. The graduating average is based on all senior-level (300 and 400-level) courses and is calculated to two decimal points and is not rounded.
Distinction standing upon graduation will be granted to those students who have obtained an average of 90% in their 300 and 400 level courses (at least 51 credits), with no failures. “With Distinction” will be noted on their transcript and degree certificate/parchment. The graduating average is based on all senior-level (300 and 400-level) courses and is calculated to two decimal points and is not rounded.
Guidelines for Readmission
Students who have been asked to withdraw from the Faculty for academic reasons may appeal this decision. If their appeal is successful, these students will be permitted to remain at UBC to undertake a reduced course load, provided they work with Student Services to ensure they receive support. If their appeal is unsuccessful, students may apply for readmission to the University following at least one year later. During this year, these students may be required to satisfactorily complete at least 12 credits of relevant and UBC-transferable post-secondary courses at another institution, provided there are sufficient credits of available courses remaining in their programs. Exceptional circumstances that might preclude this should be brought to the Faculty’s attention as soon as possible. Related work or volunteer experience that demonstrates maturity and an ability to succeed academically will also be considered in the readmission decision. Readmission to the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship is not guaranteed.
Courses for Graduate Students
Formal lecture courses or seminars are indicated by a single credit value assigned to them. In all problem and research courses, as indicated by a variable number of credits, individual laboratory or field investigations or reviews of literature are usually planned to serve the special interests of individual students. When several students have a similar interest in advanced study, formal lectures or seminars may be given. Staff members other than those directing graduate programs may direct studies in specialized topics for interested students, on the recommendation of the students' program supervisors. Undergraduate students with the necessary background and permission of the instructor may be allowed by the Dean to register in a regularly-scheduled graduate lecture course in Forestry and Environmental Stewardship.