Bachelor and Diploma Program

Academic Policies and Procedures

English Language Proficiency (for assignment of Grades)

Progression Requirements

The progress of each student is subject to various forms of evaluation on a regular basis throughout the academic year. Eligibility to remain registered in any program is contingent on a student's ability to maintain a satisfactory level of academic, professional, and pedagogic performance in the Practicum and all other courses.

A student who fails to maintain a satisfactory level of performance shall, at any time, at the discretion of the Dean or his/her designate, in consultation with the student's instructors:

be required to withdraw, or
be placed on Conditional Status

At the discretion of the Dean or his/her designate, in consultation with the student's instructors, a student may, at anytime, be denied the opportunity to be placed in a public or separate school for practice teaching or other purposes related to the program at the Faculty of Education.

Reasons for Withdrawal, Conditional Status, or denial of the opportunity for school placements shall be provided to the student in writing. Moreover, students who are placed on Conditional Status shall be provided in writing with a set of conditions to be met for successful completion of their program.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for either the degree Bachelor of Education or the Diploma in Education (Technological Studies) must pass all courses in their approved program of studies with an overall program average of at least 60.0% and obtain a Satisfactory rating in Student Teaching.

In order to qualify for inclusion on the Dean’s Honour List and to graduate “With Distinction”, an overall minimum weighted average of 85% must be achieved.

Course Outlines

At the beginning of each course, Department must inform students of the following information to allow students to make informed decisions on their course selection and the scheduling of their studies.

A written outline of each course offered by the Department/Division (or faculty), containing a general description of course content. If the course is taught by more than one instructor, the name of the person responsible for the course (course coordinator) shall be included in the outline.
A statement of what is expected of the student by way of preparation, tests, exercises, essays, laboratory reports, etc. (hereafter called “assignments”).
A statement of the methods by which student performance will be evaluated and of the relative weight of assignments.
An exact timetable of assignments. When exact dates cannot be supplied, a tentative or rough schedule should be issued, with an exact schedule to follow as soon as possible. This regulation does not preclude the administration of surprise assignments and quizzes, as long as the total number, approximate frequency, and the value of such assignments is specified in the course outline.

The policy of the University is that, when a course instructor wishes to change the evaluation procedure, as outlined in his or her course outline at the beginning of the year, prior approval must be obtained from the Dean of the Faculty.

Evaluation

1. In keeping with good practice, instructors in The Faculty of Education use a variety of methods to evaluate student achievement in course work.

2. Each course outline will

detail what is expected of students by way of preparation, tests, exercises, assignments, laboratory reports, class attendance and participation, and note any intention to use surprise quizzes, indicating number and frequency;
indicate the relative weight of each assessment;
provide a timetable that indicates when assignments will be due or when tests or examinations will be written; and
give clear information about penalties that will be imposed if work is submitted late.

3. Instructors may schedule tests/examinations during their regular class periods but must not schedule any assessment activities that will require students to miss regularly scheduled classes in other courses.

4. Instructors or teaching teams wishing to schedule tests/examinations in the evening, on a Saturday or during the examination periods set in the annual calendar must do so through the Preservice Office.

5. Instructors will keep an accurate and detailed record of each student's performance and make that record available to the Associate Dean in the event that a student appeals his/her grade. Complete records of all marks (and their relative weighting) which are used in calculating the final grade in a course must be kept for 12 months from the date of the last regularly scheduled class of a course. Final examinations or other papers not returned to the student must be kept for 8 months from the date of the last regularly scheduled class of a course.

English Language Proficiency (for assignment of grades)

Each student granted admission to Western must be proficient in spoken and written English. Students must demonstrate the ability to write clearly and correctly. Work presented in English in any subject, at any level, which shows a lack of proficiency in English and is therefore unacceptable for academic credit, will either be failed or, at the discretion of the instructor, returned to the student for revision to a literate level. To foster competence in the use of the English language within their own discipline, all instructors will take proficiency in English into account in the assignment of grades.

Grading

In accordance with University policy, Deans and their designates have the responsibility of monitoring and approving final grades, and the authority to require the moderation and revision of grades (downwards or upwards) if class standings appear to be anomalous.

Incomplete Standing

A student who for medical or compassionate reasons is unable to complete term work prior to the last day of classes should submit a written request to the instructor for an extension in which to complete the work. The instructor will forward to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate and Preservice Programs) a recommendation that the student be granted Incomplete (INC) standing. The recommendation must include the following information:

the type and extent of the work to be completed;
the date on which it is due;
the name of the faculty member who will receive and grade it;
the date by which the final grade will be forwarded to the Registrar's Office.

If Incomplete standing is granted, the Associate Dean will inform the student and instructor.

A student who fails to meet the extended assignment deadline will receive a grade of zero on the assignment unless the Associate Dean authorizes a further extension for medical or compassionate reasons.

Aegrotat Standing

Aegrotat standing is the granting of credit for a course in which the required examination was not taken. The credit will be a mark/grade based on evaluation of achievement in the term work in the course. Aegrotat standing may be granted only for a student who has been unable to take the required final examination for medical or compassionate reasons.

A request for Aegrotat standing must be submitted to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate and Preservice Programs), normally before the end of the regular examination period. An application must be accompanied by documents supporting the request. The Dean may grant Aegrotat standing on the recommendation of the instructor or Associate Dean. It shall be denied if, in the opinion of the Associate Dean there is insufficient evidence on which to base a mark/grade. The Dean will inform both the student and the Registrar’s Office in writing of the decision as soon as possible. If Aegrotat standing is awarded, such standing will not be noted on the transcript or grade report and the mark will be recorded as for any other course. If such standing is not granted the student may petition the Dean for the privilege of writing a special examination.

Grade Reports and Transcripts

Students are able to access their grades at the end of each academic term. Unofficial grade reports are available through the myUWO system using their personal login information.

A transcript is a copy of a student's permanent academic record at this University, duly certified by the Registrar and bearing the embossed seal of the University. A transcript is privileged information and is available only upon the written request and payment of the fee in effect at the time by the student.

Official transcripts can be ordered directly from the Registrar's website or Room 190, Stevenson-Lawson Building.

Examination Policies

Failure to Appear at an Examination

Where a student is absent from a scheduled final examination because of illness, medical verification is mandatory and must be deposited with the Office of the Dean. The Dean (or designate) will inform the Associate Dean (Undergraduate and Preservice Programs) and the relevant instructor immediately and in writing.

Special Examinations

A special examination is any examination other than the regular examination, which may be offered only with the consent of the Dean of the Faculty in which the student is registered. Permission to write a Special Examination may be given on the basis of compassionate or medical grounds with appropriate supporting documents, or on the basis of religious grounds for which sufficient notice in writing has been submitted. (See also Religious Holidays p. 25)

Supplemental Examinations

Supplemental examination privileges are offered only in the Preliminary Year program at Brescia College, or in undergraduate courses offered by the faculties of Dentistry, Education, Engineering Science, Law, Medicine, and the program in Occupational Therapy. Eligibility for a supplemental examination will be made in accordance with policies established by the appropriate Faculty.

Retention of Examination Papers And Records

The Faculty shall retain all papers (final examination or otherwise) which have not been returned to the student and for which a mark has been assigned for a period of eight months from the date of the last regularly scheduled class in a course. The Associate Dean (Undergraduate and Preservice Programs) will make arrangements for storing such papers either with instructors or in a Faculty depository.
The Faculty shall maintain complete records of all marks/grades (and their relative weights) for individual assignments, tests, etc., which are used in calculating the final overall mark/grade in a course for a period of twelve calendar months from the date of the last regularly scheduled class of a course.
In the event that a student requests it, an instructor shall produce and review with the student all papers (final examination or other) not returned to the student and for which a mark has been assigned. A student who has appealed in writing to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate and Preservice Programs) shall be granted access, upon his or her request, to such papers under supervisory arrangements established by the Dean. In the course of this review, the student shall be entitled to see the paper.

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