ECE Policy on Satisfactory Academic Performance

Part 1: Introduction

Students admitted to a graduate degree program in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are expected to achieve a satisfactory level of academic performance, consistent with policies established by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) at the University of Toronto, and The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Graduate Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE).

Achievement of satisfactory academic performance is a necessary condition for a student to remain in good academic standing. A student who is not in good academic standing may be denied funding, and in extreme cases, registration.

The purpose of this document is to outline the benchmarks that define satisfactory academic performance for graduate students who are registered ECE.

Part 2: Existing SGS and ECE Policies

General guidance on matters relating to good academic standing and satisfactory academic performance is provided by SGS. In particular, refer to the General Regulations in the SGS Calendar – the section entitled “Program Progess.” This policy requires:

• timely completion of graduate program requirements;
• satisfactory completion of graduate courses;
• satisfactory progress in a Ph.D. program;
• completion of program requirements within a specific time frame.

Specific ECE requirements on the timely completion of graduate program requirements can be found in ECE Degree Programs. Where appropriate, the requirements are summarized in the sections that follow.

Part 3: Objectives of the ECE Policy on Satisfactory Academic Performance

The purpose of the present document is to:

• provide benchmarks that define good academic standing and satisfactory academic performance within ECE;
• define means to monitor the academic performance of graduate students who are registered in ECE;
• define procedures and consequences in the event that the academic performance of a graduate student is found to be unsatisfactory.

Part 4: Achievement of Satisfactory Academic Performance

A graduate student in ECE will achieve satisfactory academic performance by:

• completing the graduate course requirements in his/her degree program consistent with the minimum standards that are defined in this policy;
• completing all degree program requirements in a timely fashion, as specified by SGS and ECE. Degree program requirements include:
  • academic courses
  • qualifying examination, in the case of Ph.D. students
  • thesis proposal, in the case of M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. students
  • dissertation defense, in the case of M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. students
• meeting the research expectations of his/her Supervisor, in the case of Master’s students;
• meeting the research expectations of his/her Supervisor and Doctoral Supervisory Committee, in the case of Ph.D. students.

Part 5: Timely and Satisfactory Completion of Graduate Courses

M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. students will complete all required graduate courses according to the schedule specified in Degree Programs. The normal course load for M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. students is 5 graduate-level courses. Normally, 3 courses will be completed in the first term of registration, with the remaining 2 courses being completed during the second term of registration.

Should any student (M.A.Sc., Ph.D. or M.Eng.) receive 2 or more grades at the level of B- (B minus), or lower, his/her academic performance will be reviewed. In the case of a Master’s (M.A.Sc. or M.Eng.) student, a Review Committee will be constituted. In the case of a Ph.D. student, the student’s Doctoral Supervisory Committee will undertake the performance review. In the event that the Doctoral Supervisory Committee has not yet been formed, a Review Committee will be constituted.

The membership of a Review Committee will consist of:

• the student’s Research Supervisor or Supervisors;
• one other member of the student’s Research Group (this would normally be the Chair or the Graduate Secretary of the Group);
• the ECE Associate Chair of Graduate Studies.

Course-related performance reviews are expected to be rare events.

Should review of a student’s academic course-related performance be necessary, the Review Committee will recommend whether the funding of the student should be continued and, in extreme cases, whether the registration of the student should be terminated.