Introduction
Office of the Registrar: Updated: September 7, 2022
|
Policy Name |
Academic Performance Policy |
|
Policy Number |
AC-01 September 2022 |
|
Origin |
Academic Committee |
|
Authority |
Senate |
|
Date of Original Approval |
2022-09 |
|
Senate Approval Dates |
2022-09-16 |
|
Effective from |
2022-09-16 |
|
Review Date |
2027–06-30 |
|
Responsibility for Review |
Academic Committee |
|
Responsibility for Implementation |
Registrar, Faculty and Deans |
Academic Year, 2022-2023
Implemented: Academic Year, 2022-2023
At Cape Breton University it is part of our responsibility to enable student success by supporting their educational goals. We have in place both an informal and formal system to help students navigate their academic standing.
All students entering CBU are admitted in good academic standing. Students in good academic standing have met the minimum standard required for continued, unrestricted study at CBU. Students are advised that meeting this minimum standard may NOT be sufficient to satisfy the graduation requirements of their program of study. Graduation requirements vary by program. Students should refer to the relevant description in the academic calendar to determine the graduation requirements that apply to their program of study.
Note: Professional programs may have additional performance guidelines and policies to adhere to outside of the institutional policy.
Determination and Categories of Academic Performance
Office of the Registrar, Updated: September 7, 2022
Effective Academic Year: 2022-2023
Purpose and Scope
At CBU it is part of our responsibility to support student success with their educational goals, we have in place both an informal, and formal system to help students navigate their academic standing.
All students entering CBU are admitted in good academic standing. Students in good academic standing have met the minimum standard required for continued, unrestricted study at CBU. Students are advised that meeting this minimum standard may NOT be sufficient to satisfy the graduation requirements of their program of study. Graduation requirements vary by program. Please refer to the relevant description in the academic calendar to determine the graduation requirements that apply to your program of study.
CBU evaluates Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer averages. Various academic programs have their own standards students must maintain to continue in the program; however, basic minimums must be met in order to avoid Not in Good Standing. All students who are registered in a minimum of three courses will be reviewed with respect to academic performance at the end of each term (Fall, Winter and Summer).
Good Academic Standing
All students are admitted in Good Academic Standing. Staying on Good Academic Standing requires obtaining a cumulative term average 5 points higher than the passing grade of their program and/ or have no more than one failing grade a term. Not in Good Academic Standing
Those not achieving a cumulative term average 5 points over passing grade and/ or more than one failing grade in a term are no longer in Good Standing. There are three stages to this process, over three terms.
Academic Consultation
The term following a student not earning 5 points over passing for their program and/or receiving more than one failing grade, students are eligible to register for a full course load but will receive communication that they are required to participate in academic success programming; this will be a self-assessment which will outline various support options based on the student’s reflection on their experience and needs. Students should take this opportunity to make use of the supports offered in order to return to Good Standing. If the student earns a cumulative average of 5 points or more above the passing grade for their program in this first term of being not in Good Standing, they will revert back to Good Standing.
Restricted Enrollment
Any student who was on Academic Consultation the previous term and continues to fail to meet the requirements for good standing will be placed on Restricted Enrollment. Students will be required to meet with a faculty advisor before being permitted to enroll for the following term. The academic committee, chaired by dean’s designate of the school will assess the level of enrollment allowable for the student. A notation will be added to the student’s transcript. If students feel that their circumstances were not taken into account, they may appeal this decision to the dean(s) in consultation with the registrar.
Note: The Registrar’s Office is responsible for updating the Student Record to reflect Restricted Enrolment related to registration.
Academic Suspension
If a student has a failing average at the end of their term on restricted enrollment, they will be placed on Academic Suspension for one year from the time of academic suspension. If a student has a passing average during their term on restricted enrollment, they will remain on restricted enrollment and not be suspended. If they do not meet the degree minimum average requirement, this may lead to dismissal from their programs. The Academic Committee of the School, chaired by the Dean’s designate will assess if the student meets the criteria for suspension. A student on Academic Suspension may not register for any courses over the next two terms.
This suspension is different than academic dismissal for breaches of Academic Integrity or breaches of Student Conduct. A notation will be added to the student’s transcript.
Note: In egregious circumstances, the Dean, in consultation with the Registrar, may choose to skip the Academic Consultation stage and move directly to Restricted Enrolment or Academic Suspension.
In addition: Students have the right to appeal their Academic Suspension to the Dean of their program of studies. Following the first term back to CBU, students will return to Restricted Enrolment, if successful (More than 55 points over average in their program in that term) students will return to Good Academic Standing.
If a student is on Restricted Enrolment but has a 50-55 average (passing) they will remain on Restricted Enrolment and not be suspended. This may lead to dismissal from certain programs.
Re-Admission
Students seeking re-admission at the end of their Academic Suspension must meet with an Academic Advisor before re-admission. During the first term back to CBU, students will be on Restricted Enrollment, if successful (over 5 points over required program average in in that term and no failures) students will return to Good Standing.
Students who have been Academically Suspended for the second time will be suspended indeterminately, and readmission will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the dean and the registrar. Further, if upon consultation with the dean, another program may be deemed more appropriate, a student could move programs as an alternative to being academically suspended again.
Appeals
Students may appeal the decision to place them on Academic Suspension by following the Appeals of Academic Decisions policy.
Additional Regulation Information
When a student is placed on Academic Discontinuance, this notation will appear on the student’s transcript and remain for the period of the discontinuance. Once the period of discontinuance is over, the notation will be removed from the student’s transcript but will remain on the student’s internal academic record.
A Performance Review Committee will be established for each school under the authority of the school Dean. The committee shall consist of the Dean or Associate Dean (Chair), along with no fewer than three and no more than six members of the school. When reviewing a student, the Chair will ensure that at least one member of the committee is from the program in which the student is enrolled. Any student required to appear before the committee is permitted to bring a representative of the Cape Breton University Students’ Union to the proceedings. The referral process is to be determined by each school.
Through the school Dean, the Review Committee has the authority to:
- restrict course load
- specify courses including non-credit, skills-related courses
- recommend program transfer
No appeal of the Review Committee’s decision regarding the student’s program of study will be permitted. Compliance with the committee’s decision is to be regarded as a condition for the student registering at CBU.
Re-admission
Students who seek re-admission at the end of their suspension period must meet with an Academic Advisor prior to re-admission. During the first term back to CBU, students will be on Restricted Enrolment. If successful (more than five points over required program average in that term and no failures) students will return to Good Academic Standing.
Students who have been Academically Suspended for the second time will not be permitted to apply for re-admission for at least two academic years and must meet with an Academic Advisor prior to re-admission.
Further, students who return after the suspension period and remain on At Risk Standing for two terms in a row will be moved to permanent dismissal from CBU. If, upon consultation with the Dean, another program may be more appropriate, a student could change programs as an alternative to permanent suspension.
