Instructor Guidelines and Grading Policy educational psychology and leadership studies

1. A course outline should be forwarded to the Department office, preferably 2 or 3 weeks before the course is to begin. The outline provides the members of the Department and prospective students with information about your version of the course. Outlines from previous offerings of the course are available for your viewing.
   
2. Students should be informed early in the session (e.g., as part of the course outline) about your grading procedures. This information should include your basis for assigning grades (e.g., the components and their weightings), criteria to be met, and your basis for converting percentages (if used) to letter grades. The attached grading information represents current Department guidelines about grading. If you are not familiar with UVic's grading regulations, you should consult the current calendar. For example, regulations prohibit the use of self-grading. Please note that regardless of the techniques chosen by a department, tests counting for more than 15 per cent of the final grade shall not be administered, in any regular thirteen week term, during the last two weeks of classes or in the interval between the last day of classes and the first day of examinations, or, in any Summer Studies course, during the three class days preceding the last day of the course. Neither the Department nor the instructor, even with the apparent consent of the class, has the right to set aside these regulations.
   
3. To ensure meaningful assignment of grades, Department members have agreed to the descriptors for letter grades provided on the reverse of this page. To prevent what is seen as “grade inflation” grades in the A range should be used only when the academic quality is considered to be exceptional or outstanding.
   
4. Typing and photocopying services are available through our Department office. To permit staff time to complete these duties, please allow 2 days for typing and 2 days for photocopying.
   
5. A limited budget has been assigned for photocopying and printing: 50 pages per student per 1.5 course. Should your copying needs surpass this limit, our Departmental staff have some creative alternatives for providing students with access to materials (e.g., leaving reprints in the Curriculum Lab). Please see your respective secretary for your designated photocopier three-digit “code” which will allow you access to the departmental photocopier.
   
6. Should you depart from the assigned meeting times for your class, please leave information in our Department office regarding the changes.
   
7. All instructors are required to submit information about their teaching effectiveness. Evaluation packages will be prepared by the Department staff for the last week of class.
   
8. Regarding the return of course assignments, it is department policy that no assignments are to be left in the department office for pick-up. If you are unable to return assignments during class time or office hours, it is suggested that you request that your students supply self-addressed return envelopes with their final assignment.

Grading Policy

Note —any departure from this grading system must be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Department.
Approval of the Chair must be obtained prior to the distribution of the course outline.

1. When numerical marking is used at the Undergraduate or Graduate level, normally the following conversion from

percentage to letter grades will be used:

A+ >95 A- 85-89 B 75-79 C+ 65-69 D 51-59

A 90-94 B+ 80-84 B- 70-74 C 60-64 E or F <50

2. In assigning grades at the undergraduate level, the following guidelines should be followed:

Passing Grade

A+ Outstanding scholarship and originality. Complete mastery of subject matter.
A Excellent scholarship displaying strong knowledge, synthesis and application of concepts.
A- Very good scholarship showing depth of knowledge and analytical ability.
B+ Good scholarship, high knowledge level and good application of information.
B Steady performance, not outstanding in knowledge or application.
B- Good knowledge but some lack of understanding, ability, or background.
C+ Satisfactory knowledge, limited application and demonstration of understanding.
C Satisfactory knowledge, definite lack of some information, no application.
D Marginally satisfactory (but not failure), noticeable gaps in knowledge and understanding.

Failing Grades

E Failing grade: Conditional supplemental. (note—undergraduate only) No supplementals offered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
F Failing grade: No supplemental
N Failing grade: Did not write examination or otherwise complete course requirements by the end of the term or session; no supplemental.

3. The recommended distribution of undergraduate grades (subject to class size and/or special circumstances) should approximate the following:

4. In assigning grades at the graduate level, the following guidelines should be followed:

A+ Unusually superior scholarship, incorporating originality. Complete mastery of subject matter.

A Superior scholarship showing complete comprehension and synthesis of the subject matter.
A- Excellent scholarship showing complete comprehension and sound application of information.
B+ Very good scholarship showing sound comprehension and good application of information.
B Satisfactory scholarship, some lack in comprehension and application of subject matter.
B- Marginally graduate performance, noticeable gaps in knowledge or ability. Concerns about understanding and competency.
<B- Unsatisfactory (i.e., student's status must be reviewed by the supervisory committee of the student and a recommendation for continuation be made to the Dean).

If You Have an Academic Problem or Concern

Depending on the nature of the academic matter or concern, the order in which you would normally seek assistance or redress is:
1. Your program supervisor
2. Departmental graduate advisor for your arera
3. Departmental chair
4. Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies
5. The Senate

If the problem is related to a specific course, the first person you should contact is the course instructor.
In addition, you may wish to consult the UVic Students' Society Ombudsperson, who can be located at:
SUB B205 (upstairs) phone: 250-721-8357, ombuddy@uvic.ca, www.uvss.uvic.ca/ombudsperson, Monday to Friday.

submitted for Department Approval—February 13 . 98

Jan. 5 . 06

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