Academic Calendar

Student Records and Transcripts

Grading

MacEwan University utilizes the Alberta Common Grading Scheme for the reporting of final grades in credit courses. All final grades are reported to the Office of the University Registrar using letter grades. Letter grades shall be converted to the four-point grading scale for the calculation of a Grade Point.

Letter Grade Grade Point Value Grade Description
A+ 4.00 Outstanding
A 4.00 Excellent
A- 3.70
B+ 3.30
B 3.00 Good
B- 2.70
C+ 2.30
C 2.00 Satisfactory
C- 1.70
D+ 1.30 Poor
D 1.00
F 0.00 Fail
WF* 0.00 Withdraw Failure

*discontinued, effective the 2015-16 academic year

Grades and Notations Not Included in the GPA Calculations

Grade/Notation Description
AU Audit
CE Course Ended (not applicable to credit courses)
CR Completed Requirements
DEF Deferred
IN Incomplete
IP In Progress (continued next term)
NC Not Completed (not applicable to credit courses)
NCR Not Completed Requirements
S Supplemental Privilege (discontinued, effective the 2021-22 academic year)
SC Successfully Complete (not applicable to credit courses)
TR Transfer Credit
W Withdrawal (without academic penalty)
Probation
Required to Withdraw

Grade Point Average

Grade Point Value: a number between 0.00 and 4.00 that is assigned to a letter grade.

Grade Points: calculated by multiplying the Grade Point Value by course credits.

Grade Point Average (GPA): a weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all Grade Points by the sum of all credits attempted. GPA is calculated to two decimal points and is truncated.

Course Grade Grade Point Value Credits Total Grade Points
TPPR 109 In progress - - -
SOCI 100 C+ 2.30 3 6.90
HIST 260 B- 2.70 3 8.10
FREN 111 F 0.00 3 0.00
PSYC 104 W - - -
Total 9 15.00

Term Grade Point Average (Term GPA): calculated by dividing the sum of Grade Points achieved in the term by the sum of all credits attempted in that term. A Term GPA is included on the transcript.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): calculated by dividing the sum of the total Grade Points achieved at MacEwan University by the sum of all credits attempted at MacEwan University. The CGPA is included on the transcript.

Graduation Grade Point Average (GGPA): calculated by dividing the sum of the total Grade Points achieved and counted towards a program credential by the sum of all those credits. The GGPA value is not included on the transcript.

Passing Grade: the minimum grade required to earn credit for a course is D (1.00); however, a higher grade may be required in some courses to fulfill program requirements, proceed in a program, meet prerequisites, or transfer a course to another program or institution.

Student performance in a course shall normally be assessed on more than one occasion. No single evaluation event shall have a value of greater than 60% of the course grade, with the following exceptions:

  • All one-credit courses are exempted
  • Directed Field Studies courses (in Applied Degree programs) may be exempted where a single project or research study constitutes the course requirements
  • Clinical courses in baccalaureate nursing, psychiatric nursing, nursing refresher, and specialty nursing programs may be exempted
  • 400-level seminars, independent study courses, directed research courses, and thesis courses may be exempted

Deferred Exams: Application for a deferred examination must be made using an Examination Request form no later than two working days after the missed examination (see Student Assessments Policy and Student Deferrals Procedure).

Reassessment of Marks: Students may apply for a reassessment of submitted coursework, as outlined in the university's Grading Procedure that can be found at MacEwan.ca/Policies.

Former Grading Scales

1990–2004 – No grade of A+

September 1978 to August 1990

Grade Description
A Excellent: 4 Grade Points/Credit
B Very Good: 3 Grade Points/Credit
C Average: 2 Grade Points/Credit
D Low Pass: 1 Grade Point/Credit
CR Completed Requirements: Not Calculated in GPA
I Incomplete: Not Calculated in GPA
W Withdrew: Not Calculated in GPA
F Failure: 0 Grade Points/Credit
AUD Auditor: Not Calculated in GPA
NMR No Mark Received: Not calculated in GPA Hours of Instruction

Academic Standing

MacEwan University is committed to academic success and provides a variety of services to help Students achieve success. As part of this commitment, the university establishes criteria for assessing academic performance and reviews Students’ performance. These criteria are outlined in the university's Academic Standing policy.

An Academic Standing Year is a 12-month period between May 1–April 30 which defines the regular evaluation period for an Academic Standing review. The results of the Academic Standing review enable the university to recognize academic achievement and address unsatisfactory performance. Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress and for seeking assistance. 

Academic Standing Categories

The categories and criteria for Academic Standing follow:

1. Dean’s List

A status of Dean’s List is assigned to Students who achieve an Academic Standing Grade Point Average (ASGPA) of 3.70 or higher while enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credits* per term in any two terms within the Academic Standing Year.  A notation will be made on the Student’s transcript.

2. First Class Standing

A status of First Class Standing is assigned to Students who have an ASGPA that is less than 3.70 and greater than or equal to 3.30 while enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credits* per term in any two terms within the Academic Standing Year. A notation will be made on the Student’s transcript.

3. Good Standing

A status of Good Standing is assigned to Students who achieve an ASGPA of 2.00 or higher while enrolled in a minimum of 18 credits within the Academic Standing Year. A status of Good Standing may be assigned after an administrative review as outlined in the Academic Standing policy. No transcript notation will be made.

4. Academic Probation

Students are placed on Academic Probation if they meet the following conditions after attempting a minimum of 18 credits within an Academic Standing Year:

  • An ASGPA of less than 2.00 and greater than or equal to 1.30 if they achieved Good Standing in the previous Academic Standing Year or completed an Academic Standing Year for the first time.
  • A notation will be made on the Student’s transcript.

5. Required to Withdraw

Students are Required to Withdraw (RTW) from the university if they meet one of the following conditions after attempting a minimum of 18 credits within an Academic Standing Year: 

  • ASGPA below 2.00 for two consecutive Academic Standing Years. 
  • ASGPA below 2.00 in two non-sequential Academic Standing Years where an evaluation did not apply to the intervening years. 
  • ASGPA below 2.00 in any single year after returning from RTW status unless five years have elapsed since the last RTW. 
  • ASGPA below 1.30 in any single year, regardless of previous Academic Standing.

A Student placed on Academic Probation for the third time is subject to review and may be Required to Withdraw.

A Student who fails to complete a pre-requisite course designated as a requirement for progression in the program may be Required to Withdraw from the program.

A notation will be made on the Student’s transcript.

*Students on reduced course load approved by Access & Disability Resources (ADR) will be assessed for Dean's List and First Class Standing based on ASGPA while enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits per term in any two terms within the Academic Standing Year. 

Other Considerations

Other considerations include:

1.    A Student with a record of excessive withdrawal grades, as determined by the Faculty or School, may be subject to review as per the Academic Standing policy.

2.    The performance of a Student in a clinical, field placement, ensemble setting or equivalent learning activity may be reviewed at any time. This review may result in a Student being placed on Academic Probation or Required to Withdraw if their performance is deemed inadequate relative to the standards required.

3.    Students' performance may be subject to an administrative review as outlined in the Academic Standing policy. 

Notifications of Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Students placed on Academic Probation or are Required to Withdraw are informed by the Office of the University Registrar. More information is outlined in the Academic Standing policy.

Conditions of Unsatisfactory Academic Standing and Options to Appeal

Conditions of unsatisfactory Academic Standing and options to appeal are outlined in the Academic Standing policy.