Grading
Credit Courses
The following grading system applies in evaluating course work for credit courses taken in Fall 1986, or later.
| GRADE | GRADE POINTS | DEFINITION |
| A+ | 4.33 | |
| A | 4.00 | Outstanding Achievement |
| A- | 3.67 | |
| B+ | 3.33 | |
| B | 3.00 | Good Achievement |
| B- | 2.67 | |
| C+ | 2.33 | |
| C | 2.00 | Satisfactory Achievement |
| C- | 1.67 | |
| P | 1.00 | Marginal Achievement: course requirements successfully completed. This grade does not permit students to pursue another course for which this graded course is a prerequisite. Some departments do specify a higher level of achievement for a prerequisite course. |
| F | 0.00 | Unsatisfactory Achievement. |
| UN | 0.00 | Student completed less than 70% of the total evaluation of the course, or missed more than 30% of the classes where the instructor's Course Outline specifies that attendance is a course requirement. |
| UNW | Not calculated | Note: only for courses using Mastery Grading System. Student has not participated in course activities and has completed less than 70 percent of the total evaluation of the course, or missed more than 30 percent or the classes where the Instructor's Course Outline specifies that attendance is a course requirement. |
| W | Not calculated | Withdrawn before official deadline. |
| I | Not calculated | Incomplete. Course requirements to be completed within a specific time period by arrangement with the instructor and Faculty. |
| CIP | Not calculated | Course in Progress. |
| MAS | Not calculated | Student has met and mastered the goals, criteria or competencies established for this course, practicum or field placement. |
| EXP | Not calculated | Student has participated in course activities and is progressing but has not mastered the goals, criteria or completencies established for this course, practicum or field placement. |
| NM | Not calculated | Student has participated in course activities but has not met the goals, criteria or competencies established for this course, practicum or field placement. |
| DEF | Not calculated | Deferred. The course duration does not correspond to semester duration. |
| ADV | Not calculated | Advanced Credit. Credit granted for an equivalent course completed at another recognized educational institution. |
| ANC | Not calculated | Anecdotal. Student has been unable to meet all course requirements due to disabling condition, such as illness. This grade gives course credit. |
| AUD | Not calculated | Audit. Student attended. (Auditors are not evaluated. Poor attendance results in a grade of W.) |
| TRF | Not calculated | Transfer credit granted. |
| ENC | Not calculated | Exemption granted without credit. |
| ECR | Not calculated | Exemption granted with credit. |
Note: An asterisk (*) indicates Challenge Credit. e.g. *B indicates the grade of "B" was achieved by means of a challenge examination.
Non-Credit Courses
The following grading system applies only to courses taken through Continuing Education and has been used to evaluate course work or participation since January 2002.
| GRADE | DEFINITION |
| A+ | |
| A | Outstanding Achievement. |
| A- | |
| B+ | |
| B | Good Achievement. |
| B- | |
| C+ | |
| C | Satisfactory Achievement. |
| C- | |
| P | Marginal Achievement. This grade does not permit students to pursue another course for which this graded course was a prerequisite. |
| F | Unsatisfactory Achievement. |
| CX | Cancelled for non-payment of fees. |
| UN | Did not write final exam or complete course requirements. |
| W | Withdrawn before official deadline. |
| I | Incomplete. Course requirements to be completed within a specific time period by arrangement with the instructor and division. |
| CIP | Course in Progress. The course duration does not correspond to the semester duration. |
| MAS | Mastery. Student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards. |
| EXP | Experience. Student has participated at the required level in course activities. |
| NCG | No Credit Granted. Student has not met the required standard for the course and or has not participated to the required level in course activities. |
| DEF | Deferred. The course duration does not correspond to semester duration. |
| ADV | Advanced Credit. Credit granted for an equivalent course completed at another recognized educational institution. |
| ANC | Anecdotal. Student has been unable to meet all course requirements due to disabling condition. |
| AUD | Audit. Student attended. Auditors are not evaluated. |
| TRF | Transfer credit granted. |
| ENC | Exemption granted without credit. |
| ECR | Exemption granted with credit. |
| PA | Pass Attendance. |
| PC | Pass Completion. |
| NA | Not applicable. This course is not graded |
Other grading policies which follow do not apply to continuing education non-credit courses.
Evaluation Policy
For details please refer to the evaluation policy.
Grade Point Average
Students' Grade Point Averages (GPA) are reported on all transcripts of marks. The Term GPA is the sum of the grade points earned in a semester divided by the number of credits taken in that semester. The cumulative or overall GPA is the sum of the grade points earned in all semesters divided by the total number of credits taken.
Calculation of Grade Point Average
- For each course taken, the grade point value of the mark is multiplied by the credit value of that course.
- The total number of grade points is divided by the total number of credits to obtain the GPA.
- The GPA is calculated only on courses taken for credit.
- A course or grade may not be deleted from the permanent record. However, if the student repeats a course, only the highest grade is used in the calculation for overall GPA.
Students whose GPA score ranks in the top 10 percent of student GPA scores in each credential (on qualifying courses) will be recognized at graduation with the presentation of a Gold Cord Award.
Note: Students who intend to transfer to another educational institution must realize that the other institution may recalculate the grade point average in accordance with its own policies.
Deans' List and Honour Roll
The College recognizes outstanding academic achievement each semester. Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits in one semester and achieve a term GPA of 4.00 or better will be placed on the Dean's List. Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits over more than one semester and whose cumulative GPA and term GPA is 4.00 or better will be placed on the Dean's List. The achievement will be noted on a student's Permanent Record (including the official transcript) and the student will receive a letter of congratulation from the College.
Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits in one semester and achieve a term GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 will be placed on the Honour Roll. Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits over more than one semester and whose cumulative GPA and term GPA is 3.50 to 3.99 will be placed on the Honour Roll. This achievement will be noted on the student's Permanent Record (including the official transcript).
Note: College preparatory courses in DVST and EASL are excluded from Dean's List and Honour Roll consideration.
Transfer of GPA and Advance Credit
Transfer students should obtain information on the grading policies used at the institution to which they intend to transfer. Each institution has its own policy with respect to the method used to calculate the Grade Point Average when a failed course is repeated or when a course is repeated for higher standing. Other institutions do not necessarily include only the better grade in Grade Point Average calculations.
Similarly, transfer students should also make themselves familiar with the policies and procedures of receiving institutions regarding the transfer of W, UN and F grades and the effect on the Grade Point Average calculation used for admission of transfer students.
Transfer credit awarded by Douglas College is also reviewed by the receiving institution and some changes may be made according to the policy and procedure of the receiving institution. Students are responsible for initiating requests for incomplete grades and will contact their instructors to negotiate incomplete contracts after the ninth week of a semester-based class and before final grades are due in the semester. (Deadlines will be pro-rated for courses of shorter duration).
I [Incomplete] Grade
The ‘I’ grade allows students to defer course deadlines. It assists responsible students to carry out their commitments; it is not intended to encourage students to procrastinate. It is reasonable, therefore, to expect it to be used infrequently. Guidelines used are:
The following criteria are used by instructors in deciding whether to agree to a contract:
1. Previous work in the course should have been at a reasonably satisfactory level,
2. a) The student has been prevented from completing requirements by some unusual circumstance, such as beginning a project which turns out to be more time-consuming than anticipated, or
b) An emergency situation such as illness or accident has prevented the student from completing one or more of the course requirements.
3. Most students are expected to complete their I contracts within two to four weeks after they are made but instructors can allow up to four months from the date the grade is assigned.
4. There is no limit to the number of I grades that a student may carry.
5. I contracts must be submitted to the Registrar's Office immediately after the course is graded.
6. I grades do not satisfy prerequisite requirements.
Mastery Grading System
Some courses are designated by the College as Mastery courses. These courses demand a clearly-defined high standard of performance. The student must demonstrate complete mastery of all knowledge and/or performance requirements. Because of their nature, they are not included in calculating the grade point average.
Academic Honesty
The College values academic honesty. Intellectual honesty is paramount to the functioning of any educational institution. The presentation of others' ideas, material or information as one's own, the unauthorized use on exams of material, aids, or other techniques which falsify academic work is unacceptable behaviour. Academic dishonesty will be treated as a serious offense against the College community. Discipline will range from a zero grade in the exam or assignment in which the offense occurred, to failure of the entire course, to suspension from the College, to expulsion from the College. The degree of discipline will depend on the severity of the situation and number of confirmed violations.
The following definitions apply:
Plagiarism:
The deliberate formal presentation or submission of the research, words, ideas, illustrations or diagrams of others as one's own without citation or credit.
Cheating:
The use of unauthorized aids, assistance or materials in the preparation of assignments or in examinations. During examinations, it is considered cheating to communicate with others to obtain information, to copy from the work of others or to deliberately expose or convey information to others. The resubmission of one's own work for which credit has already been granted in another course, without instructor permission is also cheating.
Scholastic Probation
Upon registering, students make a commitment to complete a program of courses in that particular semester. Because there is a considerable demand for admission, students whose Grade Point Average over 9 credits is 1.70 or below are placed on scholastic probation. Academic performance is reviewed upon completion of a further minimum of 6 credits. Students whose Grade Point Average (GPA) is again below 1.70 are required to withdraw from the College for at least one major semester (Fall or Winter).
Students who are required to withdraw must apply for readmission. Application for re admission requires a personal interview with the Registrar. Students having difficulty with their studies are encouraged to see a counsellor.
Academic Alert
Students whose semester or cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) falls between 1.99 and 1.71 will be placed on Academic Alert. The notification is to alert students of weak performance. Students are encouraged to seek help to improve performance and a list of various sources will be provided. Academic Alert is not recorded on the student's Permanent Record.
Final Grades
Students must check the Web at http://registrar.douglas.bc.ca for official confirmation of semester grades.
Note: All obligations relating to fees, library books, rentals or borrowed equipment must be met before any statement of grades, transcript or diploma is released. Errors or omissions concerning grades should be reported immediately to the Office of the Registrar.
While infrequent, errors in grade calculation and reporting can occur and grades may be changed for a variety of reasons, up to one year from the date the grade is initially assigned.
Students must appeal grades or course status within four months of the completion of the course.
Transcripts
A transcript is a summary of courses and grades for all semesters for which a student has registered.
Official transcripts bear the official signature and College seal. Application for transcripts should be made in writing through the Office of the Registrar or on the Web at http://registrar.douglas.bc.ca at least one week before they are required. There is a charge for this service (see Fee Schedule). Picture identification is required when picking up the transcripts.
Since student records are confidential, an official transcript is issued only upon the student's request. No transcript is issued until satisfactory arrangements have been made with the College regarding outstanding debts, library books and College equipment.