FAQs on Exams, Petitions, Failed Courses and Failed Terms
If I failed one course (less than 50%) but my sessional average is over 60%, what happens?
If you fail one course and your sessional average is over 60%, you continue to the next term, however you are required to register for and repeat the failed course the next time the same course is being offered.
Refer to Chapter 6, Section VIII (pages 87-92) of the current Calendar.
What if I failed the term?
a) If you have never been on probation (never had a sessional average between 55 - 60%) and your average falls below 55%, then you will have failed the term.
b) If you were previously on probation (with a sessional average between 55 - 60%), and your average falls below 60%, then you will have failed the term.
In both cases, you are required to withdraw and repeat the term when it is next offered, at which point you will be on repeat probation. To return and repeat the term, you must apply to re-enrol. The deadlines are listed on the online Calendar, which can be found at:
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/About/Dates_Deadlines.htm
The re-enrolment process is done online at:
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Office_of_the_Registrar/Re-enrolment_Transfers.htm
Please take note of the deadlines for applying to re-enrol. This is important!
Refer to Chapter 6, Section VIII – Promotion Regulations (pages 87-92).
What happens when I’m on probation?
As stated above, you will be placed on probation if you had a previous clear record and your sessional average falls between 55 - 60%. You must therefore maintain a 60% sessional average in every subsequent term in order to continue. If your sessional average falls below 60%, then you will be required to withdraw for 8 months, and when you return you will be on repeat probation.
This probationary status should be taken as a serious warning. You should review issues such as study habits, organizational skills, problem-solving skills, time-management, coping and stress skills. These are all common factors in students’ lives and should not get in the way of success. Please take advantage of the services offered by Academic and Success Centre (ASC) (http://www.asc.utoronto.ca/) in the Koffler Centre. They offer a variety of seminars and counselling which address these issues and offer support and tools to help students.
I hear that I can now get off of probation. How does that happen?
If you are currently on probation, and have two successive terms as a full-time student with a sessional average greater than or equal to 70% (69.5%), neither of which is a repeated session, your status will improve by one step. For example, if you are on probation for the first time, after two successive terms where your sessional average is greater than or equal to 70% (69.5%), neither of which is a repeated term, will allow your status to improve to “clear”.
As well, a full-time student who is on repeat probation after two successive terms with a sessional average greater than or equal to 70% (69.5%) will have their status improved to “proceeding on probation”.
Refer to Chapter 6, Section VIII, subsection 1, Promotion Regulations (page 88).
What happens when I’m on repeat probation?
If you are on repeat probation (you have applied to re-enrol and are back to repeat a failed term), you must maintain a 60% sessional average in every term following this one in order to successfully continue. If your sessional average falls below 60%, then you will be required to withdraw and will not be considered for readmission.
Refer to Chapter 6, Section VIII – Promotion Regulations (pages 90-92).
I missed some graded course work materials - what should I do?
The process for petitions of term work differs from petitions for special considerations or final examinations.
If you are unavoidably absent at any time during the session, and consequently have missed any graded work, you should discuss the matter with the appropriate instructor immediately and, if necessary, submit a Petition for Consideration in Course Work. Such a petition must be accompanied by appropriate documentation (e.g. UofT Medical Certificate) and must be submitted to the instructor within one week of the student’s return to classes. DO NOT SUBMIT A TERM WORK PETITION ONLINE. IT MUST BE MADE USING A PAPER FORM as the petition is submitted directly to your course coordinator/instructor and not to the Committee on Examinations. You can print out a copy of the Petition for Course Work form at:
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Assets/UndergradEng+Digital+Assets/Forms/Petition+-+Coursework.pdf
I didn’t do well in my exams - can I petition?
To petition your final exams, your academic performance must have been adversely affected by illness, mishap or other circumstances beyond your control during the final examination period. You are required to submit a petition within one week of the date of your last examination, and valid documentation (i.e. doctor’s certificate) must be attached. The “Petition for Final Exams” are completed online at:
http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Office_of_the_Registrar/Petitions.htm
How do I find out the results of my petition for a final exam?
Letters will be sent to students’ utoronto e-mail address by the Registrar’s Office shortly after the Exam Committee has completed their meetings. Once you receive your letter from the Registrar’s Office, and if you have any questions at that time, you may contact the Undergraduate Office.
How many times am I allowed to repeat a failed course?
You are only allowed to repeat a failed course twice. In other words, you may only take the course a maximum of three times. If you are repeating a failed course for the second time, you must pass it, or you will be given the status “Failed - will not be considered for re-admission”!
Refer to Chapter 6, Section VIII (subsection 6, page 88) of the Calendar.
