Academic Regulations at Selkirk College

These regulations are published to assist students by providing information that is essential for planning and pursuing their academic programs. Continuing efforts are made each year by the students, faculty and administration to revise and improve these regulations in order to enhance the quality of the college’s programs and the achievement of educational goals.

By using the Selkirk College Calendar and Selkirk College website, please make sure you are informed about:

Admissions and Standards
Cheating and Plagiarism
Course Challenge (see Prior Learning Assessment)
Courseload
Grading Systems
Prior Learning Assessment
Promotion and Probation
Student Appeals
Student Responsibilities
Transcripts
Transfer Credit
Withdrawing from a Course

Any questions or concerns regarding these regulations should be directed to the Registrar's office at 250.365.1257.

Admissions and Standards

The Admissions and Standards Committee is responsible for policies relating to admission, and academic standards. Admissions and Standards policies are published in the Admissions and Standards Policy Handbook which may be obtained from the Registrar.

How to Read a Course Description

An example of a Selkirk College course description is given below, with a key to explain abbreviations. Consult the glossary for unfamiliar terms.

PHYS ⁽¹⁾ 103⁽²⁾-3⁽³⁾ Basic Physics II ⁽⁴⁾

A non-calculus survey of waves, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. ⁽⁵⁾

Prerequisite: PHYS 102⁽⁶⁾ (0,0)(3,3) ⁽⁷⁾

⁽¹⁾ PHYS: Course name, abbreviated. PHYS stands for Physics. See complete list of abbreviations at left.

⁽²⁾ 103: Course number. The following course numbering system applies to most Selkirk College courses. (There are a few exceptions. Check course selections with a counsellor).

0- 49 Adult Basic Fundamental/Intermediate Education courses.
50- 60 Pre-college courses/Advanced/Provincial ABE.
96- 99 Remedial.
100-145 First year university courses (may be taken by second year students provided prerequisites, if any, are met).
146-149 Pre-career I.
150-199 First year diploma career courses, may or may not be university transferable (may be taken by second year students provided prerequisites, if any, are met).
200-245 Second year university courses (may be taken by first year students provided prerequisites, if any, are met).
246-249 Pre-career II.
250-299 Second year diploma career courses, nontransferable (may be taken by first year students provided prerequisites, if any, are met).

⁽³⁾ 3: Credit value in semester hours. A student who passes PHYS 103 earns three semester hours of credit.

⁽⁴⁾ Basic Physics II: Course title.

⁽⁵⁾ A non-calculus survey of waves, electricity, magnetism, and modern physics: Brief course description.

⁽⁶⁾ PHYS 102: Prerequisite which must be successfully completed before student may enrol in the course.

⁽⁷⁾ (0,0)(3,3): Number of regularly scheduled lecture and lab/seminar hours per week in each term. The first set of brackets stands for Fall term hours; the second set of brackets stands for Winter term hours. A third set of brackets would refer to a Spring term. (eg. PHYS 103 meets in the Winter semester for three hours of lecture and three hours of lab per week).

Cheating and Plagiarism

(Taken from the College’s Admission and Standards Policy - 8610)

15.1 Cheating and Plagiarism

Honesty is expected and required of all students. The purpose of this section of the policy is to deal with honesty in the conduct of all examinations, essays, reports, and other assignments prepared or completed by students pursuant to the requirements of a Selkirk College program or course.

15.2 Cheating

Cheating is defined as dishonest or deceptive conduct or attempted conduct by which individuals or groups of individuals use or attempt to use unauthorized aids, assistance, materials and methods to represent others academic work, training and standards as their own.

15.3 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the presentation or submission of work or data (published or unpublished in any form), done in whole or in part by other persons, without citation or credit, as the student's own work i.e., a group project, book, journal, electronic media, etc.

15.4 Multiple Use of Term Papers

The submission of one's own work for credit in more than one course without the express knowledge of the instructors involved is forbidden.

15.5 Selkirk College will not condone nor will it accept work submitted to obtain credit which was produced through cheating or plagiarism.

(a) For a first offense the assignment, test, exam, paper, project or other work involved will be awarded a grade of zero to be incorporated into the calculation of the final grade.

(b) For a second offense, the student will be required to withdraw from the course.

(d) A record of the foregoing will be kept in the student's official record.

(e) Depending on the nature of the offense, steps (a) and/or (b) above may be by-passed, following consultation of instructor, School Chair, Dean and/or Registrar.

Course Challenge

See section on Prior Learning Assessment.

Courseload

Normal Course Load - Full Time Status

A normal college course load is equivalent to enrolment in 15 semester credit hours in a Universtiy Arts and Sciences program. In a career or college preparatory program, it is the enrolment in the complete curriculum specified. Students applying for a Canada Student Loan/BC Provincial Loan must maintain full-time student status as defined by the provincial student assistance program (minimum 60% course load).

Part-Time Status

Students are considered part-time if they enrol in three or fewer courses, or if their total number of semester hours or units in any semester, term or session, are fewer than those specified for full-time status.

Part-time students are encouraged to enrol in Selkirk College programs. Some programs are open only to full-time students. Check with a counsellor for details.

Audit

A student who is interested in participating in a credit course but who does not wish to complete assignments, write examinations, or receive credit may enrol as an audit student provided space is available. Not all courses may be audited. Written permission to audit must be given by the instructor and School Chair.

Grading Systems

Student evaluation is based on the following letter grade and grade point values unless otherwise communicated by your program:

Letter Grade	Grade Point Value
A+	4.00
A	4.00
A-	3.67
B+	3.33
B	3.00
B-	2.67
C+	2.33
C	2.00
C-	1.67
P	1.00
F	0.00
DNW	0.00 Did not Withdraw
W	Withdrawal
AU	Audit
I	Incomplete
CRG	Credit Granted (CR)
CIP	Course in Progress
NCG	No Credit Granted (NC)
AAV	Outstanding or Above Average
COM	Complete

AAV, COM, I, W, CRG, and AU are not awarded a grade point value. An "I" grade requires additional work by the student. "W" indicates voluntary withdrawal from a course. The grade point average (GPA) is derived from the sum of the grade points earned multiplied by the number of credits and divided by the number of credit hours taken. Grades will be mailed by special request only. Official transcript request forms are available from the Admissions and Records office.

Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is assessment by valid and reliable means, and by qualified specialists, of what has been learned through non-formal education/training or experience. Such learning may be eligible for advanced standing or credit in a course or program offered by Selkirk College.

The assessment of individuals' knowledge, skills and experience enables individuals to gain recognition and credit for what they already know and can do. The goal is to improve access to post secondary education and to recognize non-traditional ways of learning.

It is important to recognize that the key to PLA is the learning which has occurred: not the experience itself. Applicants are guided and assisted through the process. There is a requirement to produce documentation of evidence of learning that meets the criteria for the course or program. Normal course fees apply.

Contact the appropriate School Chair for more information about Prior Learning Assessment.

Promotion and Probation

Promotion

To be eligible to continue studies in subsequent semesters, students must obtain minimum GPA's defined in program policies approved by the Admissions and Standards Committee.

"P" grade is the minimum pass standing for credit and is not normally sufficient standing to serve as prerequisite for subsequent courses in the same subject area.

Probation

A student may be placed on probation for academic or behavioural reasons as outlined in specific departmental policies. Students may appeal a grade or other decisions by following the student appeals procedure.

Student Appeals

A student who is dissatisfied with the final grade awarded in any course may appeal within five working days of receiving the grade. (See Student Appeals Policy 8400)

The first steps in the appeals process are:

contact the course instructor in writing within five working days.
contact the School Chair in writing within five working days.
contact the Dean in writing within five working days.

The Student Appeals policy can be located at http://selkirk.ca/media/aboutwebsection/governance/collegepolicies/8400-Student-Appeals.pdf. Students have the right to have an ombudsperson with them in the appeal process. For assistance in accessing this support, please contact the Selkirk College Students' Union at http://selkirkstudents.ca/

Student Responsibilities

Students are advised to seek academic counselling prior to selecting a program or course.
Students are responsible for ensuring that program requirements and transferability requirements are met.
Students are responsible for the completion and accuracy of their registration.
When registering, if a student chooses to be placed on a wait list for a course, the onus is on the student to check with the Admissions Office as to his/her status on the wait list. If space becomes available, that seat is automatically given to the student at the top of the waiting list. THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE DOES NOT CONTACT A STUDENT IF A SEAT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
Students will receive credit only for courses in which they are officially registered. Students must notify the Admissions and Records office in writing of any course changes, section changes, course deletions, course additions, program withdrawals, and change of name or address.
Students are responsible for meeting deadlines for tuition and fee payment.
Students are responsible for contacting the Selkirk College Students' Union office regarding exclusion from the extended Health & Dental program by the published deadline each term.
Students are responsible for attending lectures, laboratories, field trips, seminars, tutorials and examinations. Poor attendance, compromising safety, disruption of the learning opportunities of others, and the destruction of property are causes for compulsory withdrawal.

Transcripts of Marks

Upon receipt of a written request by the student, the Admissions and Records office will mail an official transcript directly to an institution, agency, or employer named in the request. The transcript will show the student's complete academic record (including GPA) at Selkirk College. Transcripts may take up to one week to process. A fee of $5.00 is charged for this service. Fees must be paid in advance of mailing. Transcript Request Forms are available from the Admissions and Records office or on-line at Transcript Request Form .

All obligations relating to fees, library books, rentals or borrowed equipment must be met before any official transcripts or credentials will be released.

Transfer Credit

Students who have attended a post-secondary institution may apply for transfer credit for courses completed. Depending on the nature of these courses, transfer credit may be used to satisfy Selkirk College program requirements or to provide prerequisites for College courses. Up to 75 percent of a Selkirk College Certificate, Diploma or Associate Degree may consist of credit obtained from studies completed at another accredited post-secondary institution. Information about the procedures for obtaining transfer credit is available from the Registrar's office. Students wishing to receive transfer credit are strongly advised to apply at the time of application to the program. When transfer credit is to be used as a prerequisite, students need to apply for credit well before the semester in which the prerequisite must be met.

Transfer credit accepted by Selkirk College may not be accepted by another institution, nor for the purpose of Canada Student Loans or BC Provincial Loans. Such credit is not considered part of the student's course load. A "P" or better is required to obtain transfer credit. Students who pass the College Board Advance Placement Test may be considered for advanced placement.

Withdrawing from a Course/Program

Students wishing to withdraw from a course or program, MUST COMPLETE a 'Course Registration Change Form' and return it to the Admissions and Records office by the deadline dates. See Important Dates.

Non-attendance by itself does not constitute withdrawal from a course or program. A student is considered registered until a Course Registration Change Form has been submitted. It is the student's responsibility, not the instructor's, to ensure an official withdrawal has been completed.

If a student withdraws within the first 20 days of classes, the course will not show on the official transcript. However, it is permissible to withdraw from a course up to two-thirds of the way through the course, and in this case, the transcript will show a "W".

Students must submit a 'Course Registration Change Form' by the advertized deadline to receive a "W". Otherwise a "DNW" is awarded.

A DNW carries a grade point value of 0.00.