Academic Standing is a student’s academic status based on a calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA) at the end of each term and the completion of Pass/Fail (P/F) courses.
There are three categories of term, academic standing:
Good Standing — A term Grade Point Average (GPA) that is equal to or higher than the program’s Graduation GPA and no failing grade (WF or F grade) in a Pass/Fail (P/F) course. A minimum GPA of 1.0 is required if the program does not have a Graduation GPA requirement.
Academic Warning — A term Grade Point Average (GPA) that is less than the program’s Graduation GPA or a failed grade (WF or F grade) in a Pass/Fail (P/F) course. If the program does not have a Graduation GPA requirement, Academic Warning applies to a term GPA less than 1.0.
Students on Academic Warning should contact their Academic Program Advisor to develop a Learner Success Plan to best ensure their academic success in their next term of studies. Students will receive an email to their NorQuest email account with more information.
Required to Withdraw — A mandatory withdrawal after two subsequent terms of Academic Warning (AW) decisions or repeated failure (WF or F grades) of the same required Pass/Fail (P/F) course.
Students that are Required to Withdraw are strongly encouraged to contact their Program Advisor as soon as possible. They will work with students to develop a Learner Success Plan to return to good standing. Students will receive an email to their NorQuest email account with more information.
Students who are Required to Withdraw (RTW) will be withdrawn for a minimum of one (1) mandatory term in their program.
Students who are RTW will not be allowed to take other courses during their withdrawal period, unless those courses have been identified by the program advisor as key to demonstrating success (e.g., upgrading courses to support academic gaps).
Programs may require an extended withdrawal period and must communicate this at the time of the initial withdrawal.
Appealing a required to withdraw decision
Students who are Required to Withdraw (RTW) may appeal the withdrawal within five (5) business days of receiving the RTW notification from the Office of the Registrar on grounds identified below, with supporting documentation.
Students that are planning to appeal the RTW decision should continue to attend classes, pay fees, submit assignments and write exams until the appeal decision is communicated to them. If their appeal is unsuccessful, they will be withdrawn from their courses without academic penalty and will receive a refund of tuition and fees paid.
- Medical reasons or unforeseen circumstances: where the student experienced medical reasons or unforeseen extenuating circumstances such as a death of a loved one that impacted academic progress unexpectedly. The student must provide appropriate accompanying documentation.
- In the case of a medical reason, a letter from a health professional is required indicating the health issue was serious enough to interfere with the student’s academic performance.
- Similarly, in the case of an extenuating circumstance like a death in the family, supporting documentation is required.
- In the case of a religious or cultural obligation that hindered attendance significantly, a supporting letter or reference must be provided.
- Procedurally unfair: where a NorQuest College policy or procedure was misapplied or there was a lack of due diligence on behalf of NorQuest College in the Academic Warning (AW) stage, impacting the withdrawal decision of the student. The student must provide supporting documentation of how the policy or procedure was misapplied, or where there were ongoing or repeated failures of NorQuest College, and how this shaped an unfair withdrawal decision.
- New information: where new information has arisen since the withdrawal decision that may have impacted the withdrawal decision. The student must provide supporting documentation.
The student must include a plan to address the barriers impeding academic success with the appeal.
A student may choose to connect with the Office of Student Judicial Affairs (OSJA) to receive assistance or advice in the preparation of their appeal. The development of a success plan may be required as part of an appeal, connecting with their program advisor for additional support in developing the success plan is recommended.
Note: the OSJA will not write the appeal nor advocate on the student’s behalf. The OSJA supports by explaining the requirements of an appeal and provides advice on whether the student’s appeal has the rigor to move forward.