Academic policy changes and Limited Access FAQ
At the June 22, 2016 meeting of Senate a number of policy introductions and revisions designed to facilitate access to courses, were approved and will be effective September 1, 2016.
Four policies in particular will have an impact on a student’s academic decision making: Repeated Course Policy, Grade Point Averages Policy, Voluntary Withdrawal Policy and the Authorized Withdrawal Policy. A web page has been created to explain the policy changes.
The Repeated Course policy enacts a new registration rule called ‘Limited Access’ – this registration rule comes into effect in Fall 2017, and will affect you if you want to repeat a course that you completed or VWd in Fall 2016, Winter or Summer 2017.
Limited Access gives priority registration to students taking a course for the first time. If a student wants to repeat a course they’ve completed or VW’d, they will be subject to Limited Access in that course for the following THREE terms. For further explanation of Limited Access please read our FAQ below.
For further clarification, we encourage students to speak to an Academic Advisor (Undergraduate, Graduate).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS LIMITED ACCESS?
Limited Access is a registration rule that allows students who have never before completed or voluntarily withdrawn from a course (or its equivalent) with the opportunity to register for these courses prior to students who are repeating the course.
Limited Access first takes effect in Fall 2017 and applies for three Terms following when you initially took the course.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A REPEATED COURSE?
If you have previously taken a course and received a final grade or voluntarily withdrew (VW)*, any future attempt to take that course or its equivalent is considered a repeated course.
*A previous VW is only considered a repeat if done in Fall 2016 or later.
HOW DOES LIMITED ACCESS AFFECT MY ABILITY TO REPEAT A COURSE OR GET ON A WAITLIST?
Limited access will prevent you from registering for a course that you are repeating, or its waitlist, until the ‘Limited Access Registration Date’ has passed.
WHAT IS THE LIMITED ACCESS REGISTRATION DATE?
Once the Limited Access Registration Date has passed for a specific Term, you may register to repeat a course in that term.
There are separate Limited Access Registration Dates for Fall Term, Winter Term, Fall/Winter spanned, and Summer Term courses.
Please keep reading for more information on how to register for a repeated course.
DOES IT MATTER HOW LONG AGO I TOOK THE COURSE THAT I WANT TO REPEAT?
Yes, you will only be subject to ‘Limited Access’ for three Terms following when you initially took the course. During these three Terms you may register to repeat a course, without needing permission, only once the Limited Access Registration Date has passed.
After these three Terms, you may register to repeat a course at any time, but will require permission to do so – make sure to request a Limited Access registration override, prior to your Registration Time.
This INFOGRAPHIC explains how you are affected, depending on when you took the course.
Important notes: A course from which you voluntarily withdrew (VW) is captured in Limited Access only if this was done Fall 2016 or later.
WHEN DO I GET TO REGISTER TO REPEAT A COURSE?
If you are subject to Limited Access in the term that you want to repeat a course, you will need to wait until the Limited Access Registration Date to register for a repeated course.
If you are no longer subject to Limited Access, you may register any time but will require permission to do so.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO REPEAT A COURSE?
If you are subject to Limited Access in the term that you want to repeat a course, you will need to wait until the Limited Access Registration Date to register for that course.
If you are no longer subject to Limited Access and want to register to repeat a course prior to the Limited Access Registration Date, you will need a Limited Access registration override – make sure to request this from your academic advising office prior to your Registration Time.
These overrides may be subject to your faculty, college, school or program rules on repeating courses.
DO I NEED PERMISSION TO REPEAT A COURSE?
If you are no longer subject to Limited Access and want to register to repeat a course prior to the Limited Access Registration Date, you will need a Limited Access registration override – make sure to request this from your academic advising office prior to your Registration Time.
These overrides may be subject to your faculty, college, school or program rules on repeating courses.
DO I NEED TO GET A REGISTRATION OVERRIDE BEFORE I REGISTER FOR A COURSE THAT I AM REPEATING?
If you are no longer subject to Limited Access and want to register to repeat a course prior to the Limited Access Registration Date, you will need a Limited Access registration override – make sure to request this from your academic advising office prior to your Registration Time.
These overrides may be subject to your faculty, college, school or program rules on repeating courses.
I can see how this benefits the University, but it certainly makes things worse for the struggling student who wants to preserve their GPA (and time) and try again with perhaps different support or resources. Now they can easily lose TWO YEARS before they can continue their program.
This sets them up for failure, or abandoning their studies altogether!
We appreciate your comments, Gordon. Students with further questions or concerns should speak with an Academic Advisor or their Dean’s Office.