ACADEMIC STANDARDS POLICY
Classification: Academic
Responsible: Robertson Instructors, Operations Team, Education Team
Executive Sponsor: Vice-President, Operations and Academics
Approval Authority: Robertson Leadership Team
Date First Approved: October 7, 2022
Date Last Reviewed: July 29, 2024
Scheduled Review Date: June 1, 2026, or as needed
A. PURPOSE
The Academic Standards Policy outlines the College’s academic standards and requirements. This Policy ensures clear and consistent practice across Robertson College Programs This policy is applied in conjunction with individual program information and other academic policies, as indicated in section G
B. SCOPE
This policy applies to all full-time, part-time and casual students enrolled at Robertson in a provincially licensed program or micro-course
C.
DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
Course Outline
The Course Outline is an official document that ensures students have accurate information regarding course content, course requirements, and course expectations
Grade
Methods of Evaluation
The mark assigned to a course is based on the accumulated scores on the methods of evaluation for the course. Grades are recorded on a student’s transcript and are viewable in a student’s gradebook in Robertson’s Learning Management System, Brightspace
The activities within a course contribute toward the student’s summative assessment of the course. The student’s final grade is determined by evaluation methods based on the learning outcomes of the course.
Licensed Program
Passing Grade
Summative Assessment
This is a program that is approved and licensed by the Private Vocational Institutions Branch in Manitoba and/or the Private Career Colleges Branch in Alberta under the Private Vocational Training Acts and Regulations in Manitoba and Alberta
The minimum grade (usually a percentage value) required to pass a course The passing grade for each course can be found on the course outline
Assessments are used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional lesson or module by comparing it against a set standard or criterion; summative assessment equates to a learner's final grade in a course
D. POLICY
1. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT
1.1 The purpose of assessing and evaluating student achievement is to:
a identify the student's level of knowledge, skills, and abilities within the program based on course and program learning outcomes
b to ensure that the student has met the minimum educational learning outcomes for specific courses and programs
1.2 Assessment is a continuous process throughout all courses and programs
1.3 Assessment may include the administering of projects, tests, oral quizzes, essays, group projects, and other types of activities that demonstrate course and program learning outcomes.
14 All summative assessment activities and weighted contributions to the final grade must be included in the Course Outline with associated weights
1.5 All grades are posted in the grade book in Robertson’s Learning Management System, Brightspace Students may also view their grades by accessing their account through the Robertson Student Portal
1.6 Grade appeals must follow the Student Appeals Policy and process.
2. MISSED ASSESSMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND REWRITES
2.1 Students are expected to meet scheduled assessment dates.
2 2 It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the process of writing a missed test/quiz or to request an extended deadline for an assessment
2.3 Instructors are permitted to provide an extension up until two weeks after the last day of the course Assignments submitted after this date will not be accepted and the student’s grade in the course will be calculated at this time and considered final
2.3.1 Students may request a due date that extends beyond the two weeks after the course ends by completing the required course extension form for the School of Business, Technology and Community Services and Health or for Global Manitoba Approval is required from Robertson’s Academic Team for each approval request. Exemption requests may be denied for the following reasons:
- If the failed course precedes the start of practicum. Learners must have their academics completed before starting practicum.
- If the failed course is a prerequisite for a course that follows immediately after.
*Note: Extensions are not typically granted for micro-courses; student requests will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
24 Instructors will not assess late penalties on assessments that have been handed in after the due date, whether or not an extension
has been granted. Students are encouraged to request extensions from the instructor if needed
2.4.1 Exceptions to this policy are courses in accredited programs that have specific policies about late penalties and rewrites (ie. National Payroll Institution Courses) and programs that are in partnership with institutions whose policies supersede Robertson policies.
24 2 Information about these exceptions to the policy will be included in the course outline of the respective courses.
2 5 A student who does not achieve a passing grade in a course may be permitted to rewrite or redo an assessment at the discretion of the instructor, School Manager, or Manager, Academic Support Manager. A rewrite can occur at any time during the course; it does not have to be at the end of the course Rewrites may be attempted as follows:
2.5.1 Tests and Exams: Students may rewrite individual tests and exams one time
2.5.2 Limits: Throughout a program, there is no limit to the number of individual exams, tests, or assignment rewrites There is a limit of one rewrite for each test, exam or assignment.
2 5 3 Written assessments: Can be re-written at the instructor’s discretion and with a clear timeline for the submission of the rewrite
2.5.4 Grades: On all rewrites, the recorded grade will be the one that the student earns on the rewrite or the higher of the two marks.
2 55 Exceptions to this policy may be courses in accredited programs that have specific policies about late penalties and rewrites (ie National Payroll Institute courses) and programs that are in partnership with institutions whose policies supersede Robertson policies.
2 56 Information about these exceptions to the policy will be included in the course outline of the respective courses.
3. GRADING SCALE
3.1 Final cumulative grades for all courses are indicated as one of the following:
3.1.1 Percentage (0 - 100%)
31 2 Complete/Incomplete
3.1.3 Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory
3.2 Following are additional possible student standings for courses:
3.2.1 PL (Recognition of Prior Learning) which is awarded to a student for recognition of prior learning (HCA Alberta only)
3.2.2 CT (Credit Transfer) which is awarded to a student for transfer of credit
3 3 The Program Average is calculated by dividing the total of all of the student’s grades in all courses by the number of courses (excluding the Practicum and courses that are marked “complete/incomplete”)
34 As per the Graduation Requirements policy, a student must obtain the minimum passing grade for each course in their program as reflected on each respective course outline to successfully complete their program Please refer to the Graduation Requirements Policy for additional details.
34 1 It is not a requirement that a student receive the minimum passing grade on each assessment in the course, as long as they have met the minimum passing grade as a final cumulative grade in the course.
34 2 A student does not need to submit all of the assessments in the course, as long as the final cumulative grade of the assessments submitted is higher than the minimum passing grade as per the course outline.
34 3 Some assessments may be mandatory due to accreditation or regulatory requirements; any mandatory assessments will be indicated in the course outline
3.5 As per the Graduation Requirements, a student must achieve a minimum standing of “Successfully Complete” in the practicum component of the program. For select programs, students must also complete the required practicum assignments.
4. PROGRESSION AND PROMOTION
4.1 To continue in a program, a student must achieve the minimum passing grade or ‘Complete’ in each course Please note that required course grades may differ for accredited programs or those offered in partnership
4.2 If a student does not achieve the minimum grade in a course (fails the course), they may continue to the next course in the program (with some exceptions related to course prerequisites; this information is provided on the course outlines) while the process
in 4.3 takes place. *Please note that students who fail a prerequisite course in the Alberta Health Care Aide program may not proceed to the next course and may be withdrawn from the program.
4 3 Upon failure of a course (or more than one course), one or a combination of the following processes applies:
a) The Academic Support team is alerted and will work with students to support them in completing the course.
b) The Learner Review Committee is alerted; the student will receive a formal letter from the Committee.
c) The student may be withdrawn from the program (as per the Student Enrolment Contract Termination Policy).
5. TRANSCRIPTS AND TRANSCRIPT NOTATIONS
51 Students will receive an official transcript upon graduation from their program
5 2 The following transcript notations may appear on a student’s transcript:
5 21 PL (Recognition of Prior Learning) which indicates that a student has received recognition of prior learning for the credit
5.2.2 CT (Credit Transfer) which indicates that a student has received a transfer credit for the course
5.2.3 Complete which indicates that a student has completed the requirement for this credit
6. COURSE OUTLINES
61 Instructors are required to provide an updated course outline to students during the first class.
6.2 The course outline is provided in the course’s learning management system
6.3 The course outline must include:
a) course length
b) course assessments
c) assessment weights
d) assessment due dates
e) learning outcomes
f) course schedule
g) dates, times, and links for any virtual synchronous class sessions (if applicable)
h) dates, times and locations for any on-site, hands-on classes
i) reference to the student guide as a source for college policy information
j) reference to policies
64 Changes to the course outline after the course begins must be communicated to all students in the course. The outline must be updated within the course offering in Brightspace
7. ACADEMIC HONOURS
71 Students who have displayed academic excellence will be awarded the designation “With Honours” upon graduation.
72 To be eligible for academic honours, a student must have both a) a minimum overall average percentage of 90%, and b) no individual course grade under 80%
E. RELATED LEGISLATION
None
F. RELATED POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy
Admissions Policy
Graduation Requirements Policy
Program Voluntary Withdrawal
Student Appeals Policy
Student Code of Conduct Policy
Student Enrolment Contract Termination Policy
College Initiated Withdrawal Policy
G. RELATED MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTATION
Instructor Training Course
Robertson Student Guide
Extension Request Form
H. POLICY AUTHORITY
The Vice President, of Operations and Academics is responsible for this policy Questions regarding the interpretation of this policy should be directed to robertsonpolicies@robertsoncollege.ca
I. POLICY HISTORY
Change Made Version Number Signing Authority Date of Signature
Policy History and Authority added
70% grade requirement changed to “minimum grade requirement.”
Minor revisions to applicable language were made. 2.0
Policy initially approved 1.0
Terena Caryk VP, Operations and Academics
Julian Hallett, VP, Workforce
July 29, 2024
October 7, 2022
Terena Caryk VP, Product and Operations
Belinda Loschiavo VP, International and Special Projects
Jason Locke VP, Business Development