Academic Standing in the Faculty of Native Studies
The Faculty's general academic standing regulations apply to all students and are listed here. Additional promotion and graduation requirements for individual degree programs are noted in the specific program sections.
Academic standing is assessed based on a student's GPA. [Rules for computing the GPA are listed in Grade Point Average (GPA).] Students are expected to maintain a 2.0 minimum GPA.
Initial assessment and subsequent reassessment are conducted after Fall/Winter if a minimum of ★12 have been completed and after Spring/Summer if a minimum of ★12 have been completed. If at the time of either review students have completed less than ★12 since the last assessment, the review is deferred and the academic standing assigned at the last review remains in effect until the next review.
Academic standing is assessed at the end of a student's program even if less than ★12 have been taken since the last review.
- Application of Academic Standings
- First-Class Standing: First-class standing in a given year is awarded to any undergraduate student who obtains a GPA of not less than 3.5 while enrolled in a full, normal academic course load in that year. For the sole purposes of determining first-class standing, a full, normal academic course load for the Faculty shall be at least ★24 successfully completed during the Fall/Winter.
- Satisfactory Standing (GPA 2.0 and above): Students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or better after each academic assessment are in satisfactory standing and may continue their studies in the Faculty of Native Studies.
- Marginal Standing (GPA 1.7 to 1.9 inclusive): Students receiving the first assessment of marginal standing are permitted to continue under academic warning until the next assignment of academic standing to raise the GPA to 2.0 or higher, if their specific degree requirements and the general requirements of the University of Alberta are also met. If the GPA drops below 2.0 at the next assessment, the student will be required to withdraw for at least one academic year before readmission will be considered. Normally students who are required to withdraw must complete ★24 transferable to the University with a GPA of 2.0 at another postsecondary institution or ★18 with a minimum GPA of 2.7, after which they may apply for readmission.
- Unsatisfactory Standing - Required to Withdraw (GPA 1.6 and below): If a student's average obtained in any review period on a minimum ★12 falls below a 1.7, the student will be assigned unsatisfactory standing and will normally be required to withdraw (RTW). An RTW may be appealed unless the student has had conditions placed upon the admission or readmission. Failure to meet the conditions will result in an RTW that is not appealable.
Students who are required to withdraw at the end of Fall/Winter cannot register for the following Spring/Summer. Students who register for the Summer Term of Spring/Summer prior to notification being sent of the requirement to withdraw will have their registration cancelled without penalty. Those students who have already registered in Spring Term of Spring/Summer prior to notification being sent of the requirement to withdraw will be permitted to continue until the end of Spring Term.
Note: Year 1 and 2 students who have achieved a GPA of between 1.3 and 1.6 may be eligible for admission to the Fresh Start program. Students must be recommended by the Faculty for participation in the Fresh Start program. Further detailed information can be found in First- and Second-Year Students with GPAs of 1.3 to 1.6—Admission to Fresh Start Program and Academic Warning, Academic Probation, Required to Withdraw .
If you have further questions about how this impacts your own situation, please email the Faculty of Native Studies Student Services office at nsadvisor@ualberta.ca .