Faculty should take great care to ensure that students are awarded the correct mark/grade for their work. To reduce the possibility of administrative/human error, it is good practice for two staff (e.g. the Instructor marking an assessment and the course TA or administrator) to independently check:
- that all parts of a student’s answer have been marked;
- that the marks for components of assessments and the total marks for all questions have been summated correctly and relative weights applied correctly;
- that students’ marks are transcribed correctly to the course grade file.
To safeguard faculty and to ensure the effective application of the University’s procedures for grade review and academic appeals, faculty should document their procedures for awarding overall course grades and the process for combining grades/marks for components of assessment.
The Academic Registry Services routinely e-mails faculty and students with the grade reporting deadline each term. Failure to comply with grade reporting deadlines is a serious issue. Late grade reporting may have severe consequences for students, including:
- delays in the confirmation of students’ graduation;
- negative impact on their employment opportunities;
- delays in students' course registration;
- delays in the determination of students' academic standing;
- delays in academic awards and/or scholarships;
- delays in releasing the results of the major declaration process.
Course grades for students who are expected to graduate by the end of the term must be submitted by the sixth working day after the date of the scheduled examination for the course. All other course grades, including the grades for courses with no scheduled examination or with take-home examinations, must be submitted on or before the sixth working day from the last day of the examination period.
After the grade reporting deadline, the Academic Registry Services compiles a list of courses with outstanding grades and sends it to the Head of the Thrust/Division/unit concerned. One week after that, if grades are still not reported, the Academic Registry Services will notify the relevant Hub/College Dean, while copying the Vice President (Teaching and Learning).