Program Administrators
Graduate Coordinators
The Office of the Student Ombuds is a confidential service that strives to ensure that university processes related to students operate as fairly as possible. We offer information, advice, and support to students, faculty, and staff as they deal with academic, discipline, interpersonal, and financial issues related to student programs.
Grounds for Informal & Formal Faculty Appeals
Informal and Formal Appeals Procedures
Academic probation is used to address deficiencies in program or performance standards relevant to a student’s particular program of studies such as CGPA, or progress in research. The conditions attached to a period of academic probation are designed to meet the specific needs of a student’s academic situation.
When a student’s term or cumulative grade point average falls between 2.3 and 2.7 or the minimum required by the program (See Graduate Programs), departments may recommend to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies continuation in a graduate program on academic probation for a specified period.
For students in thesis-based programs, a student rating of ‘In Need of Improvement’ on a Progress Report will normally result in a recommendation for Academic Probation as determined by the supervisor and/or supervisory committee in consultation with the student.
Departments may recommend to GPS that students be required to withdraw on academic grounds. Reasons for the recommendation include:
Failure to maintain adequate academic standing; failure to meet the requirements set out in a conditional admission; candidacy or final oral examination failure; or expiry of program time limit. Requests to require to withdraw for these reasons must be documented in the academic record or student’s file: for example, grades, exam reports, etc;
Failure to make satisfactory academic progress in other aspects of the program, such as adequate progress in research. Requests to require to withdraw for these reasons should be supported by evidence that the process of feedback, assessments and warnings has been followed;
Failure to complete the practicum component of a graduate program, if that practicum component is an integral part of the program;
Failure of the department to secure alternate supervision for a thesis-based student following dissolution of a supervisory relationship (see Resolving Conflicts in Supervisor-Student Relationships) as it is an academic requirement that thesis-based students have a supervisor (see Appointment of the Supervisor(s)); and,
For students in thesis-based programs, two consecutive student ratings of ‘In Need of Improvement’ or one rating of ‘Unsatisfactory’ on their Progress Report will normally result in a recommendation to withdraw from their program.
The following considerations apply:
Students cannot be required to withdraw except for just cause;
Students shall be given adequate warning, feedback and timelines related to what is the nature of the inadequate progress, what special performance would be required to rectify the inadequacy, and what is the timeline for demonstration of the required improved performance;
Student should be given an opportunity to respond in writing to any warning given;
Meetings with appropriate advisors (members of supervisory committee; Chair’s designate, etc.) may assist the process of providing adequate warning and advice.
The decision to require a student to withdraw rests with the Associate Deans, GPS. Students may appeal to the GPS Academic Appeals Committee. For details, see Appeals and Grievances.