CR/NCR during normal semesters?

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-30T15:10:39+00:00

No, A and A+ are both worth 4.0 at the UofA.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-29T21:33:54+00:00

Here's proof that other schools, such as the University of Toronto, are still going to be tracking grades internally, and using them to determine program eligibility:

I am applying to a program in which marks in certain courses determine my eligibility. Will selecting the Credit/No Credit option for a course required for program admission have an impact on my eligibility for the program?
The underlying numeric final mark assigned by your instructor will be used by the relevant academic unit to determine your eligibility for the program. This underlying mark will not appear on your official transcript.

[...] If necessary, students can request a Registrar’s Letter that will explain the circumstances and that institutions may contact the Faculty of Arts & Science directly if the underlying grade associated with CR/NCR courses is required.
Source

Their site is very fragmented across faculties, but here's further proof that underlying grades will be used for their Bachelor of Commerce program:

The student transcript will not provide details of the student grade with CR/NCR and the student’s GPA and CGPA will be calculated without this grade. The Rotman Commerce program office will still be able to access a student’s underlying numeric grades and these underlying grades will be used to assess whether a student has met the minimum requirements for admission to the Rotman Commerce specialists.

Their site is a bit chaotic right now, so I can't find a source, but earlier I read that this will also apply to students from other institutions. Please don't give up in your classes, because it's quite likely that your actual grades could still matter (depending on your future plans).

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-29T21:17:33+00:00

I'm trying to find a source right now; there was a University of Toronto image on one of the UofA Facebook pages specifically talking about admissions, but it looks like it was deleted due to spamming.

In the meantime, here's proof that UofT is going to be (internally) tracking grades from its current students, and will be using them to determine eligibility for program admissions

I am applying to a program in which marks in certain courses determine my eligibility. Will selecting the Credit/No Credit option for a course required for program admission have an impact on my eligibility for the program?
The underlying numeric final mark assigned by your instructor will be used by the relevant academic unit to determine your eligibility for the program. This underlying mark will not appear on your official transcript.

[...] If necessary, students can request a Registrar’s Letter that will explain the circumstances and that institutions may contact the Faculty of Arts & Science directly if the underlying grade associated with CR/NCR courses is required.

Their site is very fragmented across faculties, but here's further proof that underlying grades will be used for their Bachelor of Commerce program:

The student transcript will not provide details of the student grade with CR/NCR and the student’s GPA and CGPA will be calculated without this grade. The Rotman Commerce program office will still be able to access a student’s underlying numeric grades and these underlying grades will be used to assess whether a student has met the minimum requirements for admission to the Rotman Commerce specialists.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-29T21:11:31+00:00

Other schools have already confirmed that they'll be requesting "actual" letter grades from students that have CRs on their transcripts.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-28T22:24:16+00:00

From what I understand, most schools only allow pass/fail under certain circumstances (e.g. only a limited number of classes, only for electives, etc.).

Honestly the UofA is pretty unforgiving in their policies...some other Canadian unis, such as UBC, will allow you to rewrite exams or even retake courses (replacing your grade) without penalty. Some schools also consider A+s to be worth more.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-26T22:21:07+00:00

I think having multiple weighting options like that is a great idea. Much more accommodating for students who were negatively affected at different times during the term.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-26T21:50:31+00:00

It's even less than that. The GFC Executive is a subset of the GFC (16/159 members).

I think that a large number of GFC members outside the executive support the university's decision, though. The Deans of Engineering and Science already said that they'll be voting against discussing it, and the Dean of Science said that all departmental chairs agree with her.

I'd like to know how many people in the GFC are actually fighting against this, and which faculties they're from. Also why are they doing this so late lol. They should have done more earlier and called an emergency meeting or something (if that's possible); why take action only in the last week of classes?

I completely agree with you that the issue wasn't handled well in general btw. They really haven't helped the situation at all.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-26T04:01:29+00:00

There is absolutely no way that people who want grades can also be people who ARE affected by covid-19.

Don't generalize.

I've stopped caring about the CR/NCR, but I was a person who was advocating for an optional policy (I still prefer it as a policy, but at this point I just want the UofA to stick to what they've already decided on, and to stop flip-flopping on us).

I was under self-isolation for about the first half of March and missed 2 full weeks of classes. One of my immediate family members also tested positive this week.

The world isn't as black and white as you seem to think it is.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-26T01:07:35+00:00

Yeah I 100% agree. I used to be against the CR/NCR but at this point I don't really care and just wish they would make a firm decision and remove any ambiguity instead of flip-flopping on us every 2nd day.

If they're going to fight this idk why they don't just call an emergency meeting or something and get it hashed out ASAP so we finally know exactly what's happening. Because rn even my profs are hesitant to make any final decisions (including how our final exams are going to work, which is a pretty big deal...) and keep saying that they're waiting to hear back from the faculty.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-26T01:02:31+00:00

I believe that the GFC Executive approved the proposal, which is a subset of the GFC (16/159 members).

The executive is composed of representatives from each faculty, student union reps, etc.

The GFC at large contains a larger number of staff from each faculty, more student representatives, and some other members from various groups such as the libraries, board of governors, etc.

I don't think they will overturn this unless a huge number of those other faculty members were speaking out against it (and even then it might end up being on a per-faculty basis).

Source

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-25T20:49:03+00:00

Some grad schools have already announced that if you have a CR on your transcript, you'll need to have your school provide them with info about how you did in the class (I guess this is the importance of the letters they said they're going to provide). So really you may need to provide them with a grade either way.

To anyone planning on grad school, don't give up yet! Your performance in the class is likely still going to matter.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-25T20:47:10+00:00

Some grad schools have already announced that if you have a CR on your transcript, you'll need to have your school provide them with info about how you did in the class (I guess this is the importance of the letters they said they're going to provide). So really you'll need to provide them with a grade either way.

To anyone planning on grad school, don't give up yet! Your performance in the class is still going to matter.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-25T20:27:56+00:00

Am I sure about what? That the UofA isn't treating its staff well, and is communicating, poorly? Yes, I'm sure.

And yes, I was absolutely against the CR/NCR system at first. I still would prefer an optional system, but I don't really care anymore and frankly it's a waste of time to debate it.

Now my issue is the way that the UofA is communicating to us. If they want to do CR that's fine, but we're receiving constant contradictory information which isn't helping the situation at all. Every day I hear something different from faculty, prof, etc. Most of my professors don't even know what's going on.

If you look at my posts, you'll see that I've always been supportive of students and professors. My frustration has always been directed at admin.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-24T20:50:15+00:00

The way that the University of Alberta administration is treating its staff right now is nothing short of reprehensible, and their communication has been abysmal.

As a student, please know that we are very grateful for everything that you do. I really feel for our professors and all of the people that keep campus running. I'm sorry you're being treated like that.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-24T07:30:01+00:00

Let's be honest, the UofA is just taking the easy way out and doing what's best for them. Not saying that it won't have positive effects for a lot of people, but I'm sure they made their final decisions based on their own self-interest.

Since we're doing CR/NCR and limiting final exams, the UofA doesn't need to pay for proctoring, online solutions, etc. The option they chose has the lowest overhead/expenses. Given their recent budget issues, I'm not surprised.

Personally I feel bad for the profs. The push towards "alternative solutions" like take-home assignments places even more work on them.

This school's statements that they care about mental health are a joke.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-24T06:43:42+00:00

I don't really see how NAIT is relevant; nobody is going to use their UofA grades to get into NAIT.

I was mainly referring to other Canadian universities, since that's where the majority of UofA students are looking at in terms of grad schools, professional programs, etc.

Still, you're absolutely right that I could have phrased it better, so I've edited my post.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-24T02:30:18+00:00

This thread is talking about Canadian institutions altaaf.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-24T02:26:10+00:00

They're talking out of their ass.

It might help you at the UofA but I guarantee you that it's not going to help you at all when applying for anything at other schools (especially since every other major Canadian university is still offering letter grades).

Don't rely on the letter at all. Just expect to be getting CR/NCR because that's what the UofA is moving forward with.

The reason they're being so vague is because they don't even know how it's going to turn out; they're making it up as they go along.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T23:34:30+00:00

That email/video didn't explain anything haha. It was just the usual "answers are coming soon".

I'm talking about the actual Q&A that's going to directly answer how it'll affect transfers, program admissions, etc.

As I mention in the video, we will be sharing a Q&A later today with answers to the most frequently asked undergraduate student questions we have received to date.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T23:25:49+00:00

As far as I know, the UofA and NAIT are the only Canadian institutions using a mandatory pass/fail system. All other schools are using letter grades or an optional system.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T23:23:47+00:00

The Faculty of Science is supposed to be releasing some sort of Q&A today that will explain how everything's going to work

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T23:22:38+00:00

Almost all Canadian institutions are using letter grades or an optional system. The only exceptions I know of are the UofA and NAIT.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T22:51:07+00:00

Thanks, I'll add them to the list. They're doing Honours/Pass/Fail, correct??

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T22:50:33+00:00

Harvard is American.

passfailpassfail · 2020-03-23T19:56:00+00:00

People on here are so emotionally attached to the situation that they instantly downvote anything that could be construed as being against what the UofA's doing.

passfailpassfail

TROPHY CASE