Academic Standing

Academic Standing

Academic Standing is based primarily on students' cumulative grade point average (CGPA), but may also be affected by their term grade point average (TGPA). For students in the B.Ed. programs, it is also based on their performance in the Field Experience courses. Academic Standing, which is assessed after the end of term, determines if students will be allowed to continue their studies in the next term and if any conditions will be attached to their registration.

Decisions about Academic Standing in the Fall term are based only on grades that are available in January. Grades for courses in which students have deferred examinations and Fall term grades for courses that span the Fall and Winter terms do not affect Academic Standing for the Fall term, even though they will ultimately affect students’ Fall TGPA. Therefore, Academic Standing for the Fall term is designated as “Interim” and should be interpreted as advisory. Interim Standing decisions are mentioned below only if the rules for them differ from those for regular Standing decisions. Students who do not receive a Pass grade (F grade) for a Fall term EDFE (Field Experience course) are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing (not Interim Unsatisfactory Standing). Permission may be exceptionally granted by the ISA Director to allow them to continue taking courses during the Winter term only.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)

Satisfactory/Interim Satisfactory Standing

Satisfactory/Interim Satisfactory Standing

Students in Interim Satisfactory or Satisfactory Standing:

  • may continue in their program;
  • have a CGPA of 2.00 or greater.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)

Interim Probationary/Probationary Standing

Interim Probationary/Probationary Standing

Interim Probationary Standing at the End of the Fall Term

Interim Probationary Standing at the end of the Fall term

Students in Interim Probationary Standing at the end of the Fall term:

  • may continue in their program;
  • should evaluate their course load and reduce it;
  • should consult with their program advisor before the withdrawal deadlines; and
  • are permitted to proceed with the next scheduled Field Experience course, i.e., Winter or Spring, for First- or Second-Year Field Experiences only.

Probationary Standing at the End of the Winter Term

Probationary Standing at the end of the Winter term

Students in Probationary Standing at the end of the Winter term:

  • may continue in their program;
  • must carry a reduced load (maximum of 12 credits per term);
  • are not permitted to take student teaching/Field Experience courses of any level during the next academic year;
  • must raise their TGPA and CGPA to return to Satisfactory; and
  • should see their departmental advisor to discuss their course selection.

Placement in Probationary Standing

Students will be placed in Probationary Standing:

  • if their CGPA falls between 1.50 and 1.99, and if they were previously in Satisfactory Standing;
  • if they receive a grade of D for a Field Experience course of any level and were previously in Satisfactory Standing;
  • if their CGPA falls between 1.50 and 1.99 and their TGPA in Fall or Winter is 2.50 or higher, and if they were previously in Probationary or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing; and
  • if their CGPA is between 1.50 and 1.99 and their TGPA is 2.50 or higher, they were previously in Unsatisfactory Readmitted Standing, and have satisfied the relevant conditions specified in their letter of readmission.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)

Interim Unsatisfactory/Unsatisfactory Standing

Interim Unsatisfactory/Unsatisfactory Standing

Interim Unsatisfactory Standing at the End of the Fall Term

Interim Unsatisfactory Standing at the end of the Fall term

Students in Interim Unsatisfactory Standing at the end of the Fall term:

  • may continue in their program;
  • should evaluate their course load and reduce it as appropriate;
  • should consult a departmental advisor, before the withdrawal deadlines, about their course selection for the Winter term;
  • will not be permitted to proceed with the next normally scheduled Field Experience (B.Ed. students);
  • will not be permitted to proceed with any planned internship (B.A.(Education) Students).

Unsatisfactory Standing at the End of the Winter Term

Unsatisfactory Standing at the end of the Winter term

Students in Unsatisfactory Standing at the end of the Winter term:

  • have failed to meet the minimum standards set by the Faculty;
  • may not continue in their program;
  • may not be permitted to proceed with any planned internship of field experience.

Placement in Unsatisfactory Standing (Winter or Summer Term) or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing (Fall Term)

Placement in Unsatisfactory Standing (Winter or Summer term) or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing (Fall term*)

Students will be placed in Unsatisfactory Standing (Winter or Summer term) or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing (Fall term*):

  • if their CGPA falls or remains below 1.50;
  • if their TGPA falls below 2.50 and their CGPA is below 2.00 and they were previously in Probationary, Unsatisfactory Readmitted, or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing;
  • if they receive a failure (F, J, KF, WF) in a student teaching/Field Experience course of any level (*in this case, students will be placed in Unsatisfactory Standing, regardless of the term);
  • if they were previously in Unsatisfactory Standing and were readmitted to the Faculty by the Director, Internships and Student Affairs or the Student Affairs Committee and have not at least satisfied the conditions to attain Probationary Standing that were specified in the letter of readmission.
Note: Students in the Concurrent B.Mus. and B.Ed. program who receive an F or J in any Education Field Experience course are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing. Although they may complete their term, they are required to withdraw from the Concurrent program. They may, however, contact the Schulich School of Music regarding application to a Bachelor of Music degree.

Readmission

Readmission

Students should apply on Minerva by July 1 for readmission to the Fall term or by November 15 for the Winter term. Appeals for readmission by students in Unsatisfactory Standing should be addressed to the Director, Internships and Student Affairs. Readmission will be considered only when proof of extenuating circumstances that affected academic performance can be provided (e.g., medical or other documentation). Additional conditions may apply.

Students in Unsatisfactory Standing for the second time must withdraw permanently. Students who were placed in Unsatisfactory Standing due to a failure in student teaching/Field Experience cannot apply for readmission for at least one full year and are advised to apply for Fall readmission by April 15. Appeals for readmission due to failure in a field experience are heard by the Faculty of Education Student Affairs Committee. Please refer to the Internships and Student Affairs Office website for further information: mcgill.ca/isa.

Readmitted Unsatisfactory Standing

Readmitted Unsatisfactory Standing

Students who were previously in Unsatisfactory Standing and who were readmitted to the Faculty by the Director, Internships and Student Affairs or the Student Affairs Committee will have their Standing changed to Readmitted Unsatisfactory Standing. Their course load is specified at the time of readmission, as are the conditions they must meet to be allowed to continue in their program. They should see their departmental advisor to discuss their course selection.

Incomplete Standings

Incomplete Standings

  • Must clear Ks, Ls, or Supplementals
  • To Be Determined
  • Incomplete

Students with Incomplete Standings in the Winter or Summer term may register for the Fall term, but their Standing must be resolved by the end of the Course Change period for that term. Students whose Incomplete Standing changes to Satisfactory, Probationary, or Interim Unsatisfactory Standing may continue in the program. Students whose Standing changes to Unsatisfactory may not continue in their program.

Students whose Standing changes to Unsatisfactory and who wish to ask for permission to continue in their program must make a request to the Director, Internships and Student Affairs as soon as they are placed in Unsatisfactory Standing. Readmission will be considered only when proof of extenuating circumstances that affected academic performance can be provided (e.g., medical or other documentation). Additional conditions may apply.

Students whose Standing is still Incomplete by the end of the Course Change period should immediately consult with the Internships and Student Affairs Office.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Education—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)
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