500 - LEARNERS AND ACADEMIC PRACTICES
POLICY #500-1-6
GRADING POLICY
Policy Statement
Bow Valley College employs a standardized grading system based on the Alberta
Common Grading Scale for reporting final grades in all courses. The parameters set out
in this policy shall be applied to learners’ assignments and reflect learners’ performance
in both courses and overall grade point average.
Purpose
1. This policy provides a framework to ensure that grading practices are applied
consistently and reflect appropriate academic standards and rigour. The
framework is supported by guidelines and procedures as indicated in the
attached data sheet of this policy.
2. This policy is in alignment with the College’s core values: excellence, learnercentred focus, accountability, concern for people, integrity, respect for diversity,
teamwork, and trust.
Scope
This policy applies to all College members who are charged with assessing learners’
academic performance, reviewing grades under appeal, and issuing grades for
representation on learners’ academic records. Such members include deans and
directors, faculty, instructors, and relevant contract staff.
Principle Objectives
1. Academic freedom: The College recognizes the concept and practice of academic
freedom as central to the proper conduct of teaching, research, and scholarship.
Faculty and staff are expected to use this freedom in a manner consistent with a
responsible and honest search for knowledge and its dissemination.
2. Minimum score differentials: There are programs and courses (including workplace
practica) that require learners attain a minimum score above “satisfactory” in order
to gain standing as having satisfied a prerequisite requirement or having met the
program’s graduation requirements.
3. Protection from liability: The College will indemnify its staff against liabilities
incurred by them while carrying out their duties in good faith for the College. It will
stand behind its staff and meet the costs of actions that might be taken against them
personally as though the action had been taken against the College, provided that the
staff member concerned was acting in good faith.
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500 - LEARNERS AND ACADEMIC PRACTICES
POLICY #500-1-6
4. Responsibilities of College: Bow Valley College has the responsibility to ensure that
the Grading Policy and its guidelines and procedures are communicated and
understood, followed, and met with consequences or sanctions when infringed.
5. Compliance: Employees (including contractors) and learners are responsible for
knowing, understanding, and complying with Bow Valley College policies that relate
to their position, employment, or enrolment at the College.
Definitions
Academic Standing Grade Point Average: Calculated using courses in the period
of review.
Alberta Common Grading Scale: A grading system through which final grades are
represented by letter grades, where each letter grade has a numerical equivalent on a
four-point scale, which is used to calculate grade point averages.
Cumulative Grade Point Average: Calculated using all courses attempted.
Grade Point: A numerical value assigned to the letter grade received in a course
multiplied by the number of credits awarded for the course.
Grade Point Average: A weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all grade
points received by the sum of all credits attempted. When a course is repeated, the GPA
will be calculated using the highest applicable grade.
Graduation Grade Point Average: Calculated by using those courses applied to
satisfy graduation requirements in a program of study.
Practicum/work placement: Any placement (volunteer or otherwise) which is part
of a learner’s academic program and which places or may place the learner in contact
with the public. Practica or work placements include hospital rotations or other clinical
placements, and placements in work settings selected for career program completion or
upgrading work experience courses.
Learner: A person who is currently registered as a learner at the College whether or not
for credit. For the purposes of this document, “learner” shall be used synonymously for
applicants, prospective learners, and learners.
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500 - LEARNERS AND ACADEMIC PRACTICES
POLICY #500-1-6
Data Sheet
Accountable Officers
Vice President, Learning Services
Vice President, Enrolment and Learner Services
Responsible Officers
Dean, Academic Foundations
Dean, Business and Industry
Dean, English as a Second Language
Dean, Health and Community Care
Director, Continuing Education
Director, Enrolment Services and Registrar
Relevant Dates
Approved
Effective
Next Review
April 27, 2011
August 29, 2011
January, 2015
Modification
History
Reviewed :
Approved :
Approved:
Reviewed:
Approved:
Approved:
Approved:
Reviewed:
Academic Council - June 20, 2002
Board of Governors - June 25, 2002
Reviewed by Acting President - December 17, 2003
Learning Services Team - June 6, 2006
President - June 29, 2006
Academic Council - October 12, 2006
Board of Governors - November 28, 2006
Academic Council - June 12, 2008
Associated Policy(ies)
Academic Honesty
Academic and Performance Standards Required for Continuance in College Programs
Admissions Policy
Integrity of Research and Scholarship
Learner Appeals
Prior Learning Assessment
Evaluation
Attendance
Learner Records and Information
Transfer Credit Policy
Code of Conduct
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POLICY #500-1-6
Related Procedure(s) or Guideline(s)
The letter grade scale has the following values:
Grade
Percentage
A+
A
AB+
B
95-100
90-94
85-89
80-84
75-79
Grade
Point Value
4.0
4.0
3.67
3.33
3.0
BC+
C
70-74
67-69
64-66
2.67
2.33
2.0
CD+
D
D-
60-63
57-59
54-56
50-53
1.67
1.33
1.0
.67
F
<50
0.0
Other Symbols:
Symbol Description
AU
AG
DF
F
I
IP
LW
NG
P
PL
TC
W
WF
Audit
Aegrotat
Deferred
Fail
Incomplete
In progress
Late
Withdrawal
No grade
reported
Pass
Prior
Learning
Transfer
Credit
Withdrawal
Withdrawal
Failure
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Description
Exceptional: superior knowledge of subject matter
Excellent: outstanding knowledge of subject matter
Very Good: knowledge of subject matter generally
mastered
Satisfactory/Acceptable: knowledge of subject matter
adequately mastered
Minimum achievement for credit: knowledge of some
subject matter mastered
Fail: an unsatisfactory performance
Value
In
GPA
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.0
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POLICY #500-1-6
Notes
Audit (AU) granted to learners who have been officially approved as having audit status.
Aegrotat (AG) Assigned when a learner has successfully completed the term work in a course but
who is unable to write a final examination due to medical or compassionate reasons. The course
instructor and dean must agree the learner has demonstrated the capacity to deal with the course
work satisfactorily. AG will only be used in exceptional circumstances where Deferred Grade or
Late Withdrawal from the course is inappropriate.
Deferred (DF) Granted by the dean when the learner has a valid reason for not completing course
requirements as scheduled and does not qualify for Aegrotat standing. Instructor and learner
must agree on completion at a later date. DF becomes F after 6 weeks.
Fail (F) Where a percentage is provided, F denotes a percentage of less than 50%; where no
percentage is provided, F denotes unsatisfactory performance and is used on those assignments or
in courses where the only alternative to an F grade is a P, I, W, or DF.
Incomplete (I) Course is in progress; awarded in extenuating circumstances with approval from
the instructor and dean. The I grade reverts to F following the stated Withdrawal Deadline of the
ensuing term of study unless a final grade has already been submitted.
In progress (IP) awarded in extenuating circumstances. This grade reverts to an “F” following the
Withdrawal Deadline of the ensuing term of study unless a final grade has already been submitted.
Late Withdrawal (LW) Assigned with approval from the coordinator or dean when a learner has
formally discontinued a course after the Withdrawal Deadline.
No Grade Reported (NG) Course is not in progress. Awarded retroactively when the instructor has
not provided a final grade (the grade was not assigned at the time of course completion and a
significant period of time has passed).
Pass (P) Denotes satisfactory performance and is used on those assignments or in courses where
the only alternative to a P grade is an F, I, W, or DF.
Prior Learning (PL) Credit assigned based on prior learning in a subject area.
Transfer Credit (TC) Credit assigned when course work completed at a recognized and accredited
post-secondary institution is deemed equivalent.
Withdrawal (W) Assigned when a learner has formally discontinued a course after the Cancellation
Deadline but before the Withdrawal Deadline.
Withdrawal Failure (WF) Assigned when a learner has formally discontinued a course after the
Withdrawal Deadline
-
A GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.
Each department will ensure that the required grade for prerequisite course and graduation
use is stated on all course outlines.
A course dropped before the Cancellation Deadline in the College Schedule will not appear
on a transcript.
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POLICY #500-1-6
Procedures
The grading system will be publicized and available to learners and on each copy of an official
learner transcript.
GRADING PRACTICES
This document provides the definitions and criteria that are to be used for the issuance of all
grades by instructors at Bow Valley College. Learners should note that while the definitions and
criteria are consistent across the college, there are programs and courses that will require
learners attain a minimum score above “satisfactory“ in order to use the course as an
acceptable prerequisite and/or use the course to meet the program graduation requirements.
For example, the college has several programs where learners must achieve a grade of B- (2.67)
or B (3.0) in order to apply the credit towards graduation in that specific program.
This same series of definitions and criteria shall be applied to assignments and should reflect
performance in both courses and overall grade point average.
This document is not intended to be an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all the
documentation and performance notations on a learner transcript. It is intended as guide to
provide direction to both instructors and learners for the issuance of grades used to measure the
performance of learners in their program of study. Please note that deans will also use these
criteria for the purposes of reviewing grades under appeal in accordance with college policy.
Exceptional (95-100) A+ - 4.0
A superior performance with consistently strong evidence of
•
•
•
•
a comprehensive, incisive grasp of the subject matter;
an ability to make insightful critical evaluation of the material given;
an exceptional capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking;
an excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to
express thoughts fluently.
Excellent
(90-94) A 4.0
(85-89) A- 3.67
An excellent performance with strong evidence of
•
•
•
•
a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter;
an ability to make sound critical evaluation of the material given;
a very good capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking;
an excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to
express thoughts fluently.
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500 - LEARNERS AND ACADEMIC PRACTICES
POLICY #500-1-6
Good
(80-84) B+ 3.33
A good performance with evidence of
•
•
•
•
(75-79) B 3.0
(70-74) B- 2.67
a substantial knowledge of the subject matter;
a good understanding of the relevant issues and a good familiarity with the relevant
literature and techniques;
some capacity for original, creative, and/or logical thinking;
a good ability to organize, to analyze, and to examine the subject material in a critical
and constructive manner.
Satisfactory
(67-69) C+ 2.33
(64-66) C 2.0
(60-63) C- 1.67
A generally satisfactory and intellectually adequate performance with evidence of
•
•
•
•
•
an acceptable basic grasp of the subject material;
a fair understanding of the relevant issues;
a general familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;
an ability to develop solutions to moderately difficult problems related to the subject
material;
a moderate ability to examine the material in a critical and analytical manner.
Minimal Pass
(57-59) D+ 1.33
(54-56) D 1.0
(50-53) D- .67
A barely acceptable performance with evidence of
•
•
•
•
•
a familiarity with the subject material;
some evidence that analytical skills have been developed;
some understanding of relevant issues;
some familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;
attempts to solve moderately difficult problems related to the subject material and to
examine the material in a critical and analytical manner, which are only partially
successful.
<50 Failure
•
F
0.0
An unsatisfactory performance.
Related Legislation
Post-secondary Learning Act
Attachments (Optional)
None
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