Note: While the Office of the Registrar and Student Services is always available to give advice and guidance, it must be clearly understood that the ultimate responsibility rests with the student for completeness and correctness of course selection, for compliance with prerequisite, co-requisite requirements, observance of exceeded courses, etc., for completion of Program details, for proper observance of degree requirements, and for observance of regulations, deadlines, etc. Students are responsible for seeking guidance from an academic advisor if they are in any doubt; misunderstanding, or advice received from another student will not be accepted as cause for dispensation from any regulation, deadline, program or degree requirement.

​Registration

Details of the procedures by which students of the Faculty of Information register and enrol in courses for which they are eligible and pay or make arrangements to pay fees are found in the Enrolment & Registration Guide on the Faculty of Information website.

​Taking Courses Outside the Faculty

BI students are required to take 2.0-credits of electives as part of their degree requirements. They may take these elective courses outside of their degree program. Please connect with your academic advisor to discuss academic planning after you have reviewed the procedures below.

Courses in Other Divisions

It is recommended that students choose electives offered at the Faculty of Information. If, however, they identify a course offered in another Faculty at the University that may be appropriate for inclusion in their degree program, they may register in the course for degree credit provided that the course has no restrictions. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are eligible to take the course and have met any pre-requisite requirements and obtained permission from host department (if required). Bachelor of Information students may enrol in applicable courses offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus), the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) or at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC).

Students are encouraged to take senior level undergraduate courses as part of their elective courses. However, a student may take up to 1.0 credits of courses at the 100 or 200 level if necessary.

Courses taken in other divisions count towards the 11.0 credits required for a BI degree and are included in the cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

Graduate Courses

In rare and exceptional circumstances, Bachelor of Information students may be granted permission to count a Faculty of Information graduate course toward their undergraduate degree. Permission to enrol in a graduate course requires the written permission of the BI Program Director and instructor of the course in question. BI students are only permitted to enrol in a maximum of 0.5 credits of graduate level courses. Students will not be permitted to enrol in any course that is required for the MI degree.

Students making such requests should contact the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. Students are expected to have already exhausted all undergraduate courses available in the relevant subject area before requesting to enrol in a graduate course.    

If approved for degree requirement purposes, a graduate course will count as a 400-level course.

Please Note: BI students cannot use any graduate level courses taken during their undergraduate degree towards any future graduate degree. 

​Credit / No Credit

Bachelor of Information Students may select up to 1.0 Full Course Equivalents (FCE) of their non-required courses to be assessed on a Credit/No Credit basis. They will count towards degree credits but cannot be used to satisfy program requirements. To achieve a status of CR (Credit), a student must achieve a final mark of at least 50%. Marks below that will be assessed as NCR (No Credit). Courses with a final status of NCR will not count as degree credits but will not count as failures and will also not be included in the GPA calculation.

The CR/NCR option was created to encourage students to expand possible course choices to areas where there is interest, but where students may not have confidence about how well they will perform. With the CR/NCR option, course results do not impact GPA.

Eligible students may add a CR/NCR option beginning on the first day of classes of the relevant session.

Note that some courses may not be eligible for CR/NCR assessment.  

Students taking a course on a CR/NCR basis will not be identified individually to the instructor teaching that course; they will be assessed in the same way as all other students in the course, i.e., will have the same assignments and tests and will be evaluated with the same expectations.

The CR/NCR option cannot be used for a course in which the student has committed an academic offence. If a student has specified the CR/NCR option in a course in which the student commits an academic offence, the CR/NCR option will be revoked, and the percentage grade will stand as the course grade.

For future consideration: The numerical/letter grade in courses taken on a CR/NCR basis will not appear on the transcript and will not be unofficially released or reported in any way. If a student thinks they may need to provide their grades for courses for professional/graduate school applications or other reasons in the future, they should NOT choose the CR/NCR option. 

​Cancelling Courses or Registration

​Cancelling Courses 

Students who do not intend to complete a course must drop the course on ACORN before the final date to drop courses from the academic record (see Dates and Deadlines on Faculty of Information website). Students still enrolled in a course after the final date to drop the course will receive a mark for that course (unless Late Withdrawal is requested: see below for details). Not attending classes, ceasing to complete further course work, and/or not writing the examination do not constitute grounds for dropping without academic penalty from a course; the course remains on the record with the mark earned, including a zero for incomplete work.  

Plan to speak with your academic advisor before making any enrolment changes.

Students are not permitted to cancel or withdraw from a course in which an allegation of academic misconduct is pending from the time of the alleged offence until the final disposition of the allegation. 

​Cancelling Registration 

Students who wish to cancel all their current courses in the Fall/Winter Session or in the Summer Session, and who do not intend to enrol in any other courses for the rest of the Session, must notify the Student Services office in writing. The cancellation of registration must be completed by the appropriate deadline in order for the student not to incur an academic penalty. When cancelling their registration, students must:

1. Pay any outstanding fees;
2. return any books to the Library and pay any outstanding fines;
3. vacate any laboratory or lockers and return any equipment in their possession.

Please note: Students who have not achieved final standing (a final passing mark/P/CR) in at least one course in the Faculty of Information who cancel their registration must re-apply for admission through the Ontario Universities Application Centre if they wish to return in the future.

Note that refund deadlines are not the same as academic deadlines.  For more information, review the Faculty of Information refund schedule posted on the Office of Student Accounts website. 

​Absences (Effective Fall/Winter 2023-2024 Session)

During the academic term, if you are absent from your studies and unable to complete course work, you should follow the missed term-work policy outlined in your course syllabus. Your instructor may indicate that documentation is required to support your request (e.g., extension, make-up test, re-weighting). The following are recognized forms of documentation:

• Absence declaration via ACORN (see below for important information on eligibility)
• U of T Verification of Illness or Injury Form (VOI)
• Registrar’s letter
• Letter of Academic Accommodation from Accessibility Services

The following documentation should not be requested or accepted by instructors:
- Detailed medical information beyond the Verification of Illness or Injury Form (VOI) 
- Letters from friends, parents or other family members

For extended absences and for absences due to non-medical reasons, make sure to contact the Office of the Registrar & Student Services: inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca 

If you observe religious Holy Days that might conflict with academic activities (e.g., a class or test), see U of T’s religious accommodations policy for more information.

Absence Declaration Tool

As a Faculty of Information student, if you miss an academic obligation and wish to seek academic consideration, you may declare an absence using the Absence Declaration Tool in ACORN. Students who declare an absence in ACORN should expect to receive reasonable academic consideration from their instructor without the need to present additional supporting documentation.

The ACORN Absence Declaration Tool is intended to be used in the following circumstances:

• A health condition or injury (e.g., illness, serious physical harm, mental health issue, scheduled surgery) 
• A personal or family emergency (e.g., unanticipated and unavoidable familial incident beyond the student’s control) 
• Bereavement (e.g., the death of a student’s immediate family member or close friend)

The ACORN Absence Declaration Tool is not intended to be used in the following circumstances:

• Personal social obligations 
• Travel not related to your academic program 
• Technological issues 
• The avoidance of deadlines or tests

Visit the ACORN how-to page for a step-by-step guide on how to submit an absence declaration. If for any reason you are unable to submit your declaration, please contact the Office of the Registrar & Student Services at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca 

Absence Declaration Guidelines & Eligibility

Review the following main considerations and eligibility criteria for declaring an absence through the Absence Declaration Tool on ACORN.

Students may submit one absence declaration per academic term, e.g., the Fall (F) term. Students taking any Y-courses may declare one absence in the F-term and one absence in the S-term. 

The Absence Declaration Tool can be used to declare an absence for a maximum period of seven consecutive calendar days. The seven-day declaration period can be retroactive for up to six days in the past, or up to six days in the future. For absences that extend beyond the seven-day period, a VOI form will also need to be submitted.

If you need to declare an absence outside of the seven-day period, please contact the Office of the Registrar & Student Services. Absence declaration will only be available to students on ACORN from the first day of classes to the last day of classes during each term. It will not be available in the following periods: 

• During the final exam period 
• On study days 
• On any discretionary teaching day after classes end (as make up for a class missed due to a holiday) 

Absence declaration must cover the period in which the missed academic obligation occurred. After an absence declaration is submitted in ACORN, it cannot be cancelled. Students seeking to correct information in the declaration may modify the absence declaration until the end of the submission day (11:59 pm ET). Students are granted the ability to update the absence end date, courses selected, notes and email addresses within this period. Students seeking to modify an absence declaration after this period should contact the Office of the Registrar & Student Services. 

It is the student’s responsibility to let their instructor(s) know that they have used the absence declaration so that they can arrange for academic consideration specific to the missed academic obligation (e.g., deadline, term test, essay submission). Evidence of an absence from the ACORN Absence Declaration Tool cannot be used to seek academic consideration for matters that require a petition (e.g., missed final exam).

Return from Absence

Students who were previously registered as students in the Faculty of Information, who have completed at least one course in the Faculty, and who have not been registered in the Faculty for at least 12 months must submit an application for re-registration through Student Services.  

Students with outstanding accounts may not re-register at the University until these accounts are paid.  

The recommended timeframe to apply for re-registration is a minimum of two weeks prior to course enrolment for the relevant session. Course enrolment for the Fall/Winter session begins in July; course enrolment for the Summer session begins in March.  

It is recommended that students planning to re-register make an appointment with an advisor to discuss their academic plans, their degree and program requirements, and any changes in Faculty policies or procedures since their last registration. 

​Fees

​Fees are subject to change at any time by approval of the Governing Council. Tuition fees normally consist of academic fees (including instruction and library) and incidental/ancillary fees (including Hart House, Health Services, Athletics and student organizations). Additional ancillary fees may also be assessed for enrolment in some specific courses. Consult the Student Accounts website.

Payment 

Payments to cover fees may only be made at financial institutions, not in person — consult the Registration Instructions & Timetable or the Office of Student Accounts website (www.fees.utoronto.ca) for further details.

Payment Deadlines 

Deadlines are available from the Student Accounts Office. To avoid delays, students are advised to pay fees early.

All fees and charges posted to your account are deemed payable. If not paid in full, any outstanding account balance is subject to a monthly service charge of 1.5% per month compounded (19.56% per annum). Outstanding charges on your account from prior sessions are subject to a service charge as of the 15th of every month until paid in full.

Students with outstanding accounts may not receive official transcripts and normally may not re-register at the University until these accounts are paid. 

Fees for International Students 

In accordance with the regulations of the Government of Ontario, certain categories of students who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents of Canada are charged higher academic fees. Refer to the Student Accounts web site for details.

Further information on fees may be obtained by students from Student Accounts.

Financial Assistance 

A limited number of in-course bursaries, scholarships and awards are available to students who need financial assistance or who qualify for them on the basis of academic merit. Information on these, and the Ontario Student Assistance Program, is available from the Office of the Registrar and Student Services.

Sanctions on Account of Outstanding Obligations

The following are recognized University obligations:

• tuition fees
• academic and other incidental fees
• residence fees and other residence charges
• library fines
• Bookstore accounts
• loans made by colleges, faculties or the University
• Health Service accounts
• unreturned or damaged instruments, materials and equipment
• orders for the restitution, rectification or the payment of damages, fines, bonds for good behaviour, and requirement of public service work imposed under the authority of the Code of Student Conduct.

The following academic sanctions are imposed on Faculty of Information students who have outstanding recognized University obligations:

1. Official transcripts of record will not be issued.
2. The University will not release the diploma nor provide oral confirmations or written certification of degree status to external enquirers.
3. Indebted graduands will be allowed to walk on stage and have their names appear on the convocation program but will not receive their diploma until their account is paid.
4. Registration will be refused to a continuing or returning student.
5. Official letters (e.g., confirmation of graduation, QECO) will not be issued.
6. Education verifications may not be issued.

Payments made by continuing or returning students will first be applied to outstanding University debts and then to current fees.

​Course Marks​

Term Work and Term Test Regulations

The following regulations summarize the Faculty’s implementation of the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy, Parts A and B, available on the Governing Council web site at www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.htm (however grade scales relevant to the Faculty of Information can be seen below).

Marking Schemes

As early as possible in each course, and no later than the last date to enrol in the course, the instructor shall make available to the class, and shall file with the Faculty, the course marking scheme, i.e., methods by which student performance shall be evaluated. This should include whether the methods of evaluation will be essays, tests, class participation, seminar presentations, examinations, or other requirements; the relative weight of these methods in relation to the overall mark; and the timing of each major evaluation.

No essay, test, examination etc. in the marking scheme may be assigned a weight of more than 80% of the course mark.  This limit does not apply when an instructor makes an accommodation at a student's request to take into account assessments missed for legitimate, documented reasons.

After the marking scheme has been made known by the last date to enrol in the course, the instructor may not change it or the relative weight of assessments without the consent of a simple majority of students attending the class, provided the vote is announced no later than in the previous class. Any changes must be reported to the division or the department. The only exception to this is in the case of the declaration of a disruption. [Please see the University’s Policy on Academic Continuity.]

In the event that this policy has not been followed, a student may petition to have the course removed from the record, provided such a petition is filed no later than the last day of classes.

Term Work

Instructors shall return by the deadline one or more marked assignments worth a combined total of at least 10% of the total course mark for H courses and 20% for Y courses.

The deadline for returning such marked work shall be the last regularly-scheduled class meeting prior to the deadline to cancel without academic penalty, with one exception: for courses that run the entire Fall/Winter Session (Y1Y or H1Y courses), the deadline shall be the last regularly-scheduled class meeting of the first week of classes in January.

Students must submit all term work on or before the last day of classes in the course concerned, unless an earlier date is specified by the instructor. Students who for reasons beyond their control are unable to submit an assignment by its deadline must obtain approval from their instructor for an extension of the deadline. This extension may be for no longer than the end of the Final Examination period. If additional time beyond this period is required, students must petition through the Office of the Registrar and Student Services before the end of the examination period for a further extension of the deadline. (See section below on Petitions)

Students are strongly advised to keep rough and draft work and copies of their essays and assignments, as these may be required by the instructor.

All written work that has been evaluated should be returned to the student with such detailed comment as the instructor deems appropriate, and time made available for discussion of it. Any enquiries or appeals about a graded piece of work must be made to the instructor as soon as possible and no later than two weeks after the work was returned. Instructors must keep unclaimed term work for at least six months beyond the end of the course. 

Term Tests

No term test or combination of term tests held in the last two weeks of classes at the end of any term may have a total weight greater than 25% of the final mark. This includes term tests, “take-home tests” and assignments where the topics or questions are both assigned and due with the last two weeks of classes.

All term tests must be held on or before the last day of classes. No term test may be held during Reading Week in November and in February, during the Study Break in April, or during Faculty Examination Periods.

Missed Term Tests and Assignments

Students who miss a term test will be assigned a mark of zero for that test unless they satisfy the following conditions:

1. Students who miss a term test for reasons beyond their control may, no later than one week after the missed test, submit to the instructor or the Office of the Registrar and Student Services a request for special consideration explaining the reason for missing the test, and attaching appropriate documentation, such as the Verification of Illness or Injury form 
2. If a request with documentation cannot be submitted within one week, the Office of the Registrar & Student Services may consider a request to extend the time limit.
3. A student whose explanation is accepted by Student Services will be entitled to one of the following considerations:​

• Whenever possible, the student may be offered the opportunity to do a make-up test.
• Where a make-up test is not possible or the student’s circumstances do not permit a make-up test, the instructor may allocate the percentage weight of the test to any combination of the remaining term work and/or final exam in the course.
• If the student misses the remaining term work for acceptable reasons, the full percentage weight of the missed work may be allocated to the final exam. Exception: the weight of a final exam in a 200-series course may not be increased beyond 80% as an initial accommodation for a legitimate absence. However, if the student misses the make-up opportunity or subsequent test that was to be re-weighted, then the weight of the final exam may be increased beyond 80%.
• In courses where the mid-term test is the only marked work in the course other than the final examination, an initial make-up test opportunity normally must be given.

4. No student is automatically entitled to a second make-up test opportunity.  The Faculty of Information will determine what accommodation is appropriate for a student who misses a make-up test for legitimate reasons.
5. A student who misses a term test cannot subsequently petition for late withdrawal from the course without academic penalty on the grounds that no term work was returned before the drop date.​

Requests for Re-Marking of Term Work

A student who believes an individual item of work has been incorrectly or unfairly marked may request that it be remarked.  Such requests should be made initially to the instructor in the course as soon as possible after the work was returned, and no later than two weeks after it was returned.

If an instructor refuses the request to remark a piece of work, or if the student believes the remarking was incorrect or unfair, the student may appeal to the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. Such appeals about the marking of term work must be made in writing. They will be reviewed to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed in earlier requests, that the student has been treated fairly, and that the standards applied have been consistent with those applied to other students doing the assignment. The Office of the Registrar and Students Services is the final level of appeal for marks; no further appeal is possible.

An appeal of a mark beyond the instructor for term work may only be made for an item worth at least 20% of the course mark.

All appeals beyond the instructor must be made in writing in a timely manner, and no later than two weeks after the work was returned, explaining why the student believes the mark was inappropriate and summarizing all previous communications in the matter.

Students making a request for a remarking must accept that the resulting mark will become the new mark, whether it goes up or down or remains the same.

Faculty Final Examinations

In 300- and 400-series courses, the individual instructor will decide whether or not an examination is appropriate. The ratio of term work to examination will be  the same for all sections of multi-section courses that have final examinations. The relative value of each part of a written examination must be indicated on the question paper.

Final examinations are held at the end of each term. Students taking courses during the day may be required to write evening examinations, and students taking evening courses may be required to write examinations during the day. Examinations may be held on Saturdays. Students who make personal commitments during the examination period do so at their own risk. No special consideration is given and no special arrangements are made in the event of conflicts resulting from personal commitments.

Students who are unable to write their examinations due to illness, etc., should contact Student Services (see "Petitions Regarding Examinations", below).

Students who have a final examination in the same time slot, or three consecutive final examinations (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening; or afternoon, evening, next morning) should report the conflict to the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. Other conflicts with final examinations will not be considered, except under extraordinary circumstances.

Students who cannot write a final examination at the scheduled time due to a religious obligation should contact Student Services as soon as the conflict is known, and no later than three weeks prior to the scheduled examination.

Rules for the Conduct of Examinations

1. No person will be allowed in an examination room during an examination except the candidates concerned and those supervising the examination.
2. Candidates must appear at the examination room at least ten minutes before the commencement of the examination.
3. Candidates shall bring their photo identification (signed Photo ID) and place it in a conspicuous place on their desks. Photo identification may include any one of the following, as long as it contains a photo and a signature: current University of Toronto Photo ID (TCard) OR up-to-date Passport (any country) OR current Driver’s License (any country) OR current Canadian health card (any province or territory).
4. Candidates shall place their watch or timepiece on their desks.
5. All coats and jackets should be placed on the back of each candidate’s chair. All notes and books, pencil cases, turned off cell phones, laptops and other unauthorized aids as well as purses should be stored inside candidate’s knapsack or large bag, which should then be closed securely and placed under candidate’s chair. Candidates are NOT allowed to have a pencil case on their desk and any pencil cases found on desks will be searched. All watches and timepieces on desks will be checked. Candidates are not allowed to touch their knapsack or bag or the contents until the exam is over. Candidates are not allowed to reach into the pockets or any part of their coat or jacket until the exam is over.
6. The Chief Presiding Officer has authority to assign seats to candidates.
7. Candidates shall not communicate with one another in any manner whatsoever during the examination. Candidates may not leave the examination room unescorted for any reason, and this includes using the washroom.
8. No materials or electronic devices shall be used or viewed during an examination, except those authorized by the Chief Presiding Officer or Examiner. Unauthorized materials include, but are not limited to: books, class notes, or aid sheets. Unauthorized electronic devices include, but are not limited to: cellular telephones, laptop computers, calculators, MP3 players (such as an iPod), Personal Digital Assistants, pagers, electronic dictionaries, tablets, Smart Watches and Smart Glasses.
9. Candidates who use or view any unauthorized materials or electronic devices while their examination is in progress - or who assist or obtain assistance from other candidates or from any unauthorized source - are liable to penalties under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, including the loss of academic credit and suspension.
10. In general, candidates will not be permitted to enter an examination room later than fifteen minutes after the commencement of the examination, nor to leave except under supervision until at least half an hour after the examination has commenced.
11. Candidates shall remain seated at their desks during the final ten minutes of each examination.
12. At the conclusion of an examination, all writing shall cease.  The Chief Presiding Officer may seize the papers of candidates who fail to observe this requirement, and a penalty may be imposed.
13. Examination books and other material issued for the examination shall not be removed from the examination room except by authority of the Chief Presiding Officer.​
14. The University is not responsible for personal property left in examination rooms.

Special Accommodations Fee

Students who request permission to write an examination outside the normal examination arrangements, e.g. at an Outside Centre, must submit a petition making their request at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the examination period. Such permission is granted only in the most extreme circumstances.  Late requests cannot be accommodated. A non-refundable fee of $30.00 for each examination is charged at the time of application. Students who have been granted permission to write a deferred examination will pay this fee in addition to the deferred examination fee of $70.00 per examination. These fees do not apply for accommodations resulting from conflicts with religious obligations or from arrangements made through Accessibility Services.

If permission has been granted for the examination to be written at an “Outside Centre,” students are also responsible for all costs for invigilation, postage, etc. charged by the Outside Centres involved. These costs can reach as high as $300.00 per examination; students are advised to determine the total cost before petitioning.

Late Withdrawal – LWD

The Faculty of Information has a mechanism to assist students, in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar and Student Services, to remedy situations, where personal or other circumstances mean they are irretrievably behind in a course.

Degree students in the Faculty of Information may request to withdraw from a total of no more than 1.5 Full Course Equivalent (FCE), provided such a request is made by the last day of classes in the relevant term. Note that such a request can only be made after the last date to drop a course without academic penalty; before this date, students can drop courses themselves on ACORN.

Students will make such requests to Student Services, who has the authority to approve such requests if the circumstances warrant approval of an exception to the normal Drop deadline.

Withdrawals approved under this procedure will be noted on the academic record by the course status LWD (Late Withdrawal). This course status will have no effect on the GPA or other elements of the academic record.

Students who have fallen behind with assignments or are not at all prepared to write exams in one or more courses will be expected to make use of this remedy, and should contact the Office of the Registrar and Student Services immediately.

Students seeking to avail themselves of this remedy will be expected to work with their academic advisor to analyze what led to their predicament, to discuss what steps they can take to prevent it from happening again, and to learn from their experiences.

Students who transfer to the Faculty of Information from the University of Toronto St George campus, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) or the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC will have all LWD requests (if any) included in their Faculty of Information academic record. These LWD requests are counted towards the 1.5 FCE maximum.

Note that the option for Late Withdrawal is not available if an allegation of academic misconduct is under investigation. If LWD was previously granted in the course, it will be revoked and the percentage grade will stand as the course grade.

Extra Courses: Repeating and Excluded Courses​

Extra courses appear on a student's academic record with a final course mark and are noted as "EXT". Extra courses do not count for degree credit and are not included in calculating a student's Grade Point Average. 

Each course with a mark of 50% or higher/CR counts for credit towards a degree unless:

• the course has already been passed and is being repeated
• the course lists as an exclusion another course that has already been completed

Repeating Passed Courses

Students may not repeat any course in which they have already obtained credit (a mark of 50% or higher/P/CR) with two exceptions:​

1. When students need to achieve a minimum mark in a course for entry to a limited-enrolment program or for meeting a prerequisite to take another course in their program, they may request the option to repeat such a course once from Student Services. The repeated course will be designated Extra: it will appear on the academic record but it will not be included in GPA calculations or in the degree credit count.
2. Students may repeat up to 1.0 FCE in which they have already obtained credit for reasons other than to meet a minimum mark for entry to a limited-enrolment program or for course prerequisite purposes. The repeated course will be designated Extra: it will appear on the academic record but it will not be included in GPA calculations or in the degree credit count. Students may not use this one-time-only allowance to subsequently repeat a passed course again after having repeated the same course for reasons noted in i) above, i.e., they may repeat a specific passed course only once.

Students requesting to repeat a course must do so in the Office of the Registrar and Student Services, where they will receive appropriate advising and will be enrolled in the course, provided there is space available, only after other degree students have had an opportunity to enroll.

Exclusions​

Students may not receive degree credit for a course that lists as an exclusion a course they are currently taking or a course they have already passed. If they enrol in such a course, they may be removed at any time during the enrolment period or during the session at the discretion of the department, or the course will be designated Extra: it will appear on the academic record but it will not be included in GPA calculations or in the degree credit count.

Grading Regulations​

Marks Review Procedure

The Faculty of Information implements the Grading Regulations, reviews course marks submitted by academic units and posts the official marks. Official marks are communicated to the students via ACORN.

The Faculty of Information has an appointed administrator and faculty member (Associate Dean, Academic) who is responsible for reviewing marks submitted by instructors. This appointed faculty member may ask for clarification of any anomalous results or distributions, or disparity between sections of the same courses. Both the appointed faculty member and the Dean have the right, in consultation with the instructor of the course, to adjust marks where there is an obvious and unexplained discrepancy between the marks submitted and the perceived standards of the Faculty. Final marks are official, and may be communicated to the students only after the review procedure has taken place. Marks, as an expression of the instructor’s best judgment of each student’s overall performance, will not be determined by any system of quotas.

GPA Equivalency Chart

Note:

In order to “obtain standing” in a course, a student must receive at least a passing grade (50%)/P/CR in that course. A Grade of “F” is a failure. There are no supplemental examination privileges in the Faculty.

Other notations, which have no grade point values are:

Grade Point Average

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the weighted sum (a full course is weighted as 1.0, a half-course as 0.5) of the grade points earned, divided by the number of courses in which grade points were earned.

Courses that are not included in the GPA are: courses noted with AEG standing, transfer credits, courses designated as Extra, courses taken as CR/NCR, and courses evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis in which a grade of Pass (P) is achieved.
If a grade of Fail (FL) is achieved in a course evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis, a grade point value of 0.0 may be assigned in which case the course is included in the GPA.

Courses taken as a non-degree student or a non-degree visiting student are included in the GPA. Four types of grade point averages are used:

1. The sessional GPA is based on courses taken in a single term or Session (Fall, Winter or Summer);
2. The annual GPA is based on courses taken in the Fall/Winter Session;
3. The cumulative GPA takes into account all courses taken in the Faculty, except courses marked Extra, courses completed with a grade of P, and courses taken as CR/NCR;
4. The Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP) GPA takes into account all Bachelor of Education courses. This GPA is only used for CTEP students.

Sessional, annual, and cumulative GPAs are also calculated for all non-degree and non-degree visiting students. For non-degree students who have completed a degree in the Faculty, the cumulative GPA includes all courses taken both as a degree student and as a non-degree student.

Academic Standing​

There are four kinds of academic standing: 

• In Good Standing; 
• On Probation; 
• On Suspension; 
• Refused Further Registration.

Academic standing is assessed for the first time at the end of the session in which a student achieves final standing in at least 0.5 Full Course Equivalents (FCE) excluding:

• Credit/No Credit
• Transfer credits
• Courses marked Extra
• Courses noted with AEG standing

Academic standing is assessed twice a year:

1. At the end of the Fall/Winter Session; the GPAs used for this assessment are the annual and the cumulative GPAs.
2. At the end of the Summer Session; the GPAs used for this assessment are the sessional and the cumulative GPAs.

In Good Standing

Students are described as In Good Standing if their cumulative GPA (CGPA) is 1.50 or higher, that is, they have not been assessed as On Probation, Suspended, or Refused Further Registration.

Probation; Suspension; Refused Further Registration

1. A student shall be on academic probation who
   1. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 or
   2. returns from suspension.
2. A student who is on probation and, at the end of the relevant Fall/Winter Session or Summer Session
   1. has a cumulative GPA of 1.50 or more shall be in good standing
   2. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 but an annual GPA of 1.70 or more (Fall/Winter Session)/sessional GPA of 1.70 or more (Summer Session) shall continue on probation.
   3. has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 and an annual GPA of less than 1.70 (Fall/Winter Session)/sessional GPA of less than 1.70 (Summer Session) shall be suspended for one calendar year unless a one-year suspension has previously been imposed, in which case a three-year suspension will be imposed.
3. A student who, having been suspended for three years, is again liable for suspension shall be refused further registration in the Faculty. 

NOTE: Students “On Academic Probation” may take no more than 2.5 credits in each of the Fall and Winter Terms and no more than 1.0 credit in each of the summer terms.

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Appeals and Petitions

Students are responsible for observing sessional dates, course prerequisites, and exclusions, satisfying the degree requirements and following the rules and regulations in the Calendar and the Registration Instructions. Failure to follow regulations, requirements and deadlines may result in academic and/or financial consequences or penalties, and failure to inform oneself about these will not be accepted as sufficient excuse to avoid these consequences. Students should always consult the Student Services Office immediately for guidance if anything happens that interferes with continuing or completing their courses, or that appears to be contrary to rules, regulations and deadlines.​

Appeals At the Degree Program Level (BI Program)

Academic appeals concern issues arising within a course that relate to the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as the organization of a course, grading practices, or conduct of instructors. These fall within the authority of the BI Program Director and are not the subject of petitions. Students are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding the academic aspects of a course first with the instructor. It is recommended that such discussions should be documented in writing where appropriate. The successive stages of appeal after the course instructor must be documented in writing. These successive stages are: the Office of the Registrar and Student Services; the Associate Dean, Academic; then the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Information. An appeal must have been reviewed at the academic unit level before being referred to the Dean’s Office; appeals to the Dean’s Office must be in writing.

Petitions to the Faculty​

Petitions concern issues relating to degree requirements, academic regulations, examinations, and administrative rules. These  may be petitioned to the Faculty of Information by way of the Student Services Office, provided the petition is submitted prior to the specified deadlines. The Faculty recognizes that an exception may be required in the face of unpredictable, exceptional circumstances. In submitting a petition to have regulations waived or varied, students must present compelling reasons and relevant documentation, and must demonstrate that they have acted responsibly and with good judgment in attempting to observe Faculty regulations. Students are requested to present their entire case from the outset so their circumstances may be reviewed adequately for an equitable decision. The Committee on Standing routinely denies petitions that in its view do not present a valid reason for an exception to the regulations.  Students are encouraged to seek advice on all such matters from their academic advisor.

Petitions must 1) state the student’s request; 2) provide the reasons why an exception should be made in a clear and concise manner; and 3) be accompanied by relevant supporting documentation.  A petition is considered in confidence by the Committee on Standing, which is charged with interpreting and administering the regulations of the Faculty. The Committee has the authority to grant exceptions and to attach conditions to its decisions.​

It is the responsibility of the student to provide a valid UofT email address to which a petition decision may be sent. Only UofT email will be used to reply to petitions. Non-receipt of a decision due to incorrect email address is not grounds for reconsideration.

Deadlines to File Petitions​

The deadlines for petitions are strictly enforced. If there are compelling reasons why a petition is being filed after the deadline, a covering letter explaining the reasons and requesting late consideration must accompany the petition. The issue of lateness must be satisfactorily resolved before the substance of the petition may be considered. Late petitions without sufficient reason for lateness will not be considered, no matter how compelling. 

Petitions for Term Work​

• Deadline: The last day of the examination period.

Petitions for Examinations​

• Deadline: Within one week of the end of the examination period; the end of first week of classes in January for the December examination period.

Petitions for Withdrawal (see also Late Withdrawal above)​

• Deadline: The last day of classes.

All documentation supporting petitions must be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than three weeks after the date the student initiates the petition. Late petitions and petitions with late documentation will not be considered, as above.

Documentation in Support of Petitions​

The Faculty seeks documentation that provides pertinent evidence for decisions determining whether or not an exception should be made to regulations that are designed to ensure equitable treatment for all students. Acceptable forms of documentation are of two types:​

1. Medical:
   • The only medical documentation acceptable at the University of Toronto is the University's Verification of Illness or Injury Form, which may only be completed by Physicians/Surgeons, Nurse Practitioners, Dentists or Clinical Psychologists www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca/.
2. Non-Medical:
   • Faculty of Information Registrar’s Letter (appropriate in certain circumstances)
   • Accessibility Services Letter (required for accessibility-related petitions)
   • In some situations, other non-medical supporting documentation may be relevant.

Medical Documentation:​

If illness is being presented as the reason for the request for an exception or an accommodation, the claim of illness itself is not necessarily sufficient grounds to guarantee approval of the request. All cases are examined in their entirety before a decision is made:  an illness or injury’s duration and resulting incapacitation are taken into account along with other relevant factors in the context of the course at issue. Note that the physician’s report must establish that the patient was examined and diagnosed at the time of illness, not after the fact. The Faculty will not accept a statement that merely confirms a later report of illness made by the student to a physician.​

Petitions Regarding Term Work (see also Term Work)​

Matters concerning term work normally fall within the authority of the instructor. Students unable to comply with given deadlines must contact the Office of the Registrar and Student Services prior to the deadline if an extension to the deadline is being requested. Students should expect no consideration if an issue is raised after the assignment deadline, although we encourage you to connect to Student Services to discuss options that may be available. 

Normally, all term work must be submitted by the last day of classes, unless an earlier date has been specified by the instructor. Instructors may grant extensions beyond their own deadlines or beyond the last day of classes up until five working days after the end of the examination period, provided that a student presents legitimate reasons, e.g. illness, with appropriate documentation as determined by Student Services.​

Extensions beyond five business days after the end of the examination period can be approved only through a petition. Such petitions for an extension of time for term work must also be initiated within five business days after the end of the relevant examination period. Late requests will not be considered. Students must file the petition after consultation with Student Services and the instructor regarding a suitable extension date. The Committee on Standing consults with Student Services and the instructor concerned for information about the status of the course work, and the steps, if any, that must be taken to complete the course. Students seeking an extension of time for term work are expected to have been in contact with their instructor before the initial deadline and must continue working on the outstanding assignments while they await a decision.​

Petitions Regarding Examinations (see also Examinations)​

Students are expected to write their examinations as scheduled. Only in cases of documented debilitating illness or legitimate conflict should a student request a deferral of a final examination. Students who are too ill and/or incapacitated at the time of the examinations should petition to defer the examination they are unable to attend due to their medical condition. Petitions based on travel, employment, or personal plans will not be considered as students are expected to make themselves available during the published Examination Period to write final examinations.​

In response to a petition for a deferred examination, a student may be granted the opportunity to write a special examination at a subsequent examination period or the regular examination in the next offering of the course. Satisfactory documentation must be provided to corroborate illness (see above). Students with chronic illnesses must provide medical documentation for the specific date on which the illness was acute, or a letter from Accessibility Services for those registered for such a disability (indicating they were seen at the time of flare up, etc.).​

Students who have missed an examination and are requesting a deferral must submit a petition no later than one week after the end of the examination period through the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. 

In the petition decision students are notified of the examination period in which the deferred examination will take place, and if the examination will be a regular or special examination. The Faculty will notify those who do not register by the deadline that they have lost their privilege of a deferred examination and will revert the mark to one that includes a zero for the final examination. No further consideration will be given.​

The Faculty posts, as soon as possible after the regular examinations have been scheduled, personal deferred examination schedules online for students who have paid the deferred examination fee. The table below should be used as a guideline; deferred exams may occur outside of this timeline. ​

Students who must write a deferred examination in a course that serves as a prerequisite for subsequent courses may enrol in those courses provided they obtain the approval of the academic unit concerned and provided the term mark in the prerequisite (deferred) course is at least 60%.  If students are enrolling in courses for which the deferred examination is a prerequisite, they are advised to consult the academic unit sponsoring the upcoming course:  as they do not have the stated prerequisite, they may be removed during a pre-requisite check and reinstatement may not be possible if the course is full. ​

Special Accommodations Fee​

Students who request permission to write an examination outside the normal examination arrangements, e.g. at an Outside Centre, must submit a petition making their request at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the examination period. Late requests cannot be accommodated. If permission has been granted for the examination to be written at an Outside Centre, students are responsible for all costs for invigilation, postage, etc. charged by the Outside Centres involved. Students are advised to determine the total cost before petitioning. Such permission is granted only in the most extreme circumstances.

Notes:​

1. Students who are granted Deferred Standing (i.e., the notation of “SDF”, for an extension of time for term work or for a deferred examination) and who have earned a Cumulative Grade Point Average of less than 1.50 will not be permitted to enrol in any further courses until the outstanding course work has been completed and final cumulative and sessional GPAs and status for the session have been assessed.
2. A second deferral of an examination is generally not permitted.  In the unusual instance where a second deferral is granted, the student may not enrol in further courses until the deferred examination has been written and the course has been completed. In such instances, pending the second deferred examination a mark of “0” for the examination will be included in the calculation of the course mark and the “SDF” notation will be replaced by the resulting mark.  Students are charged a further fee for each subsequent deferred examination.
3. Students who are not feeling well at the time of an examination must decide whether they are too ill to write.  If unsure, they should seek medical advice.  Students who become ill during an examination and cannot complete the examination must notify the Presiding Officer at the examination about their situation before they leave the exam hall and should seek immediate medical attention.  Students who simply leave the examination hall will be assumed to have completed the examination.
4. If students decide to write an examination which does not go well, they may not petition for a rewrite or late withdrawal. Arguments after the fact claiming an inability to function at full potential or to exhibit full knowledge of the subject matter will not be accepted as grounds for consideration of a petition concerning poor performance on an examination.
5. Students who choose to write an examination against medical advice should do so knowing that they will not be given consideration after the examination has been written. Students must not only take responsibility for making appropriate judgments about their fitness to attend examinations, but also must accept the outcome of their choices.
    

Appeals Concerning Petition Decisions​

Appeals concerning petition decisions progress as follows:

1. Petition to the Committee on Standing by appropriate deadline submitted through Student Services;
2. Appeal to the Committee on Standing within ninety days of the first decision; second petition submitted through Student Services;
3. Appeal to the Dean's Office within ninety days of the second decision; written request for a hearing submitted through Student Services;

4. Appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee of Governing Council within ninety days of the decision of the Dean's Office; written request for a hearing submitted directly to the Governing Council Office in Simcoe Hall, through the Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances Office.

    

​Reassessment of Marks​

Requesting a Recheck of Calculation of a Course Mark​

If a student believes that there has been an arithmetical error in calculating the course mark, a recheck can be requested. A recheck can be requested with or without requesting a photocopy or viewing of the final examination.  The student must provide a written request to Student Services within six months of the final examination (see list of deadlines below).  Whenever possible, the student should indicate precisely the location of the possible error. The BI Coordinator, or the Instructor of the course concerned will check that the examination marks have been added correctly; the examination will not be reread. The BI Coordinator, or the Instructor of the course concerned will also check that all term work marks have been correctly calculated.  There is no fee for the recheck of a course mark. .​

Requesting a Reread of Faculty Final Examination

If a student believes that a final examination has been incorrectly marked in its substance, or that a portion of an examination has not been marked, a reread of the final examination may be requested. Once the exam has been reviewed by the student, a “Request for Reread of Final Examination” form must be submitted to the Student Services Office within six months of the final examination (see list of deadlines below).  The student must demonstrate that that examination answers are substantially correct by citing specific instances of disagreement, supported by such documentary evidence as course handouts, textbooks, lecture notes, etc.  The student must do more than simply assert that “I disagree with the marking,” or that “I believe I deserve more marks.”  The BI Coordinator, or the Instructor of the course concerned will reread the examination in light of the arguments presented.  There is a $36.00 fee for this procedure, which is in addition to the fee of $15.00 charged for a photocopy of the final examination. If the mark is changed as a result of this review, both the photocopy fee (if paid) and the reread fee will be refunded.  It should be noted that when a course is failed, the examination must be reread before the mark is reported.​

NOTE: A recheck or reread may result in a raised mark, a lowered mark, or no change. By requesting a reread or recheck a student agrees to abide by the outcome.​

Deadlines for requesting a recheck or a reread:​

• February examinations - the following August 31
• April examinations - the following October 31
• June examinations - the following January 15x
• August examinations - the following February 28/29
• December examinations - the following June 30

Student Records​

The University's Policy on Access to Student Academic Records can be found on the Governing Council web site at http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.​

Mailing Address​

Address information (mailing and permanent) must be viewed and updated on ACORN at www.acorn.utoronto.ca. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the mailing address is kept up-to-date on ACORN.​

E-Mail Address​

As a student at the University of Toronto, you have automatic access to the Information Commons, which is your passport to e-mail, the library and the Internet. Once you have your TCard, you must activate your University of Toronto e-mail account. Setting up a UTmail+ account is mandatory; see "University Policy on Official Correspondence with Students" at: http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies.htm.​

TCard​

The TCard is the official University of Toronto student ID card, bearing student information including name, student number, and image. It serves various functions, including library card, meal plan card & access card (if applicable). It is used for identification purposes within the University, such as Faculty examinations, student activities, and Athletic Association privileges. In order to get your first TCard you will be required to present documentation to validate your identity and citizenship status. The loss of the card must be reported promptly to the College Registrar or TCard office, the Library, and Meal Plan provider (if applicable). There is a fee for the replacement of lost cards. For more information on TCard issuance and services, visit http://sites.utoronto.ca/tcard/.​

Statement of Results​

Students are able to check their course results, grade point averages, and academic status by accessing their academic record online through ACORN. Final course results will be available for viewing on ACORN as soon as possible after they are received and posted by the Student Services Office. Note that academic status is only assessed at the end of the Fall/Winter session and the end of the Summer session.​

Students not in good standing (i.e. on probation, or suspended, or refused further registration) will receive notification by email to their UTMail+ account.

Transcripts​

The transcript of a student’s record reports their complete registration history at the University, including courses in progress, the standing in all courses attempted along with course average, information about the student’s academic standing including records of suspension and refusal of further registration, current academic sanctions, and completion of degree requirements and of subject POSt(s).

Marks are posted and a sessional GPA is calculated at the end of each session. An annual GPA is calculated only at the end of the Winter session and includes only the results earned in the Fall/Winter session. Academic standing is assessed at the end of the Fall/Winter session and at the end of the Summer session.

Copies of the transcript are issued at the student’s request. In accordance with the University’s policy on access to student records, the student’s signature is required for the release of the record when ordered in person, by fax, or by mail.

The University of Toronto issues consolidated transcripts, including a student’s total academic record at the University. However, graduate students who were previously enrolled at the University of Toronto as an undergraduate student may request that only the graduate portion of their record be issued.  Students may request their transcript online on ACORN. Further information can be obtained on the Transcript Centre’s website. 

The University of Toronto cannot be responsible for transcripts lost or delayed in the mail. Transcripts are not issued for students who have outstanding financial obligations with the University.

​University of Toronto Regulations and Policies​

As members of the University of Toronto community, students assume certain responsibilities and are guaranteed certain rights and freedoms.​

The University has several policies that are approved by the Governing Council and which apply to all students. The University will assume that each student must has become familiar with the policies. The rules and regulations of the Faculty are listed in this calendar. In applying to the Faculty, the student assumes certain responsibilities to the University and the Faculty and, if admitted and registered, shall be subject to all rules, regulations and policies cited in the calendar, as amended from time to time.​

All University policies can be found at: https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies

Those which are of particular importance to students are:​

• Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
• Code of Student Conduct
• Policy on University Assessment and Grading Practices (updated in 2012)
• Policy on Official Correspondence with Students
• Policy on Access to Student Academic Records
• Policy on Academic Transcripts (updated in 2012)
• Policy on Academic Continuity (updated in 2012)

More information about students’ rights and responsibilities can be found at https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/student-policies-guidelines/