General Information
Good academic standing at Rotman is defined as grades of B- or above (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of Credit; or in the case of a Honors/Pass/Fail course a non-Fail grade) in all courses completed.
Students must complete every course taken for graduate credit with a grade of at least B- or CR. Courses taken in other faculties or schools for credit towards a Rotman degree must meet the same grade standard.
A grade of less than a B- constitutes a fail or FZ (the notation used on the academic transcript). Note that individual course grades will be reviewed at the end of each term.
A student whose academic performance is considered unsatisfactory may at any time, on the recommendation of Rotman and with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) approval, have his/her registration terminated.
Review
The Examiner’s Committee at the Rotman School of Management is responsible for the timely review of the academic progress of all students. The Committee meets upon the completion of each academic term. In cases where students have not maintained good academic standing or have not met the academic requirements of their Program, the Committee has the authority and responsibility to make recommendations for program completion or termination, within the context of our academic policies. A student may choose to withdraw from the program at any time. Withdrawal is not an appealable action.
Failed Courses
If a student fails a course (i.e. receives a grade of FZ), the Examiner’s Committee may recommend that a student’s registration be terminated and further eligibilities denied.
At the end of the term, any student who has received a failing grade will be notified officially and advised that their name will be put forward to the Examiner’s Committee. The Committee will review the student’s overall academic performance in making its determination. One of the following sanctions may be imposed:
- Requirement to repeat a course or courses attaining a grade of at least B-
- Termination.
Students who receive their first grade of FZ (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of No Credit; or in the case of a Honors/Pass/Fail course, a Fail grade) in any course will be reviewed by Rotman’s Examiners Committee. That Committee will decide whether to:
- Allow the student to continue in the program and require that the failed course be repeated at the earliest possible date with a grade of B- or above (or a grade of Credit or non-Fail if relevant for that course offering). The student will be placed on probation until the end of the program. Note that the original FZ grade remains on the student’s transcript.
- Alternatively, the Examiners Committee may decide to recommend termination of the student from the program. While the Examiners Committee has not historically recommended termination on a student’s first FZ, the Committee will examine the student’s overall academic performance and reserves the right to do so.
Any student who is on probation for receiving their second grade of FZ (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of No Credit; or in the case of a Honors/Pass/Fail course, a Fail grade) in any course will again be reviewed by Rotman’s Examiner’s Committee. That Committee will decide whether to:
- Allow the student to continue in the program and require that the failed course be repeated at the earliest possible date with a grade of B- or above (or Credit or non-Fail). The student will remain on probation until the end of the program. Note that the original FZ grade remains on the student’s transcript.
- Alternatively, the Examiners Committee may decide to recommend termination of the student from the program. Note that termination after two FZ grades has historically been a common result.
Please note that under Section 7.4 of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Calendar:
If a student fails to complete a graduate course in a satisfactory manner (i.e., receives a grade report of FZ or NCR in a course or receives a grade report below the minimum acceptable by the graduate unit), then the graduate unit in which the student is registered may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and eligibility of that student.
Students will be notified in writing as to the Committee’s decision. In the event that the Examiner’s Committee recommends that a failed course be repeated, the original FZ remains on the transcript.
Probation
Any student who is not in good academic standing is determined to be “on probation”.
- All students who are on probation are required to set up a meeting with their Associate/Assistant Director of their respective program as soon as they are notified of their academic standing (probation). In addition, they are required to talk to the Associate/Assistant Director before every term (Fall, WIT/Spring, and Summer) in which they are planning to take a course for academic credit. The purpose of that conversation is to ensure the student fully understands the potential consequences of any further academic difficulties. The approach is advisory to ensure the student selects appropriate courses and has all the resources they need to succeed. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule those appointments.
- All students who are on probation may be excluded from certain academic activities that put them at further risk of academic difficulties in the opinion of their Associate/Assistant Director of their respective program. Such activities may include international exchange programs, overload requests (taking an extra course in a term), study tours, or participation in other Rotman sponsored activities that are deemed to take significant time or effort away from the academic studies.
Probation status does not appear as an entry on the student’s academic records. Students will be asked to acknowledge and confirm their compliance with the terms associated with the probation status in writing.
Decisions about probation or termination or other sanctions can be appealed. The process is outlined in the section on appeals.
Students may voluntarily withdraw from their program at Rotman at any time. However, this is an irreversible action and a student would have to re-apply to the school if they change their mind. Also, all student-initiated appeals that were ongoing at the time of the withdrawal will automatically be stopped.
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