Student Information on Winter Term 2020 – Academic Contingencies

A summary of the academic contingencies available in the Winter 2020 term follows. Please note that these contingencies are only being applied to the Winter 2020 term (202010).

Deferral of Final Exam

The deadline for making a request to defer a final exam will be extended from within 3 business days to within 10 calendar days of the scheduled exam date. For the Winter 2020 term, the maximum length of the deferral will be extended by 7 calendar days from May 31 to June 7, 2020.

Deadlines and Procedures for Deferral Requests

Students who wish to ask for a deferral of course work should make it to their course instructor, as would normally occur and prior to the due date of an assignment. Please see 2019-20 Academic Calendar pages 49 & 50, and in particular, “Deferral of Course Work and Term Exams”.

Requirement to submit supporting documentation

The requirement to submit supporting documentation, in cases of illness, has been waived. Students will still be required to complete an Undergraduate Student Application For Deferral of Term Work/and or Final Exam request form and a Student Self Declaration of Illness form.

Extension to Grade Submission Deadlines

Given the change in the delivery format of courses, including changes to final assessments, the University will be allowing an additional 7 calendar days for grade submission in addition to the current 5 business days.

Final Grade Options

Through Executive of Council, the University has approved additional options for final grades in the Winter 2020 semester. Students are being given choice, class by class, on their final grading approach. They can choose which option best suits them for each class. They can still choose to take their numeric grades in some classes, withdraw from others, and apply the new credit/non-credit options for other classes.

Students should carefully consider their decision. If needed, students can contact their Academic Advisor for assistance. A full table of considerations can be viewed below.

Extension to Withdrawal Deadline “W” Grade

  • We are extending the course withdrawal deadline to coincide with the final day of classes (Thursday April 9). Note that if you are in a Part of Term (POT) other than POT 1, you can view your withdrawal deadline in UR Self Service. Students exercising this option would thereby earn a grade of “W” which will allow them to avoid failing grades and negative GPA impact due to COVID-19 difficulties.

    Action: If you are considering this option, you must drop your course(s) in UR Self Service by 11:59 pm (SK CST) on April 9, 2020. Log in to UR Self Service, select Registration, then Add/Drop/Search Courses, select the term 202010, and then select the course you would like to drop.

Traditional Numerical Grade

  • Traditional Numeric Grading – students can chose to take their final grades as the grading approach to one, many, or all of their classes.

    Action: If you are considering this option, there is no further action required.

“CRC” Credit-COVID-19

  • We are creating a new course grade: “CRC” (Credit-COVID-19) for students who pass a course, but who experience stressors that have negatively impacted their academic performance. Students would have the option to replace their numeric grade with “CRC.” The deadline for students to select this option is May 31, 2020. A “CRC” grade:

    • Is considered a credit/pass
    • Does not impact GPA
    • Can be used in degree completion requirements
    • May have some impact on eligibility for funding or financial awards
    • Is an irreversible decision.

    Action: If you are considering this option, you will need to complete an eform request no later that 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2020. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

“NCC” No Credit-COVID-19

  • Another option for students is a newly approved grade of “NCC” (No Credit–COVID-19) for students who receive a failing numerical grade in a course and request to replace this numerical grade so as to preserve their academic standing. The deadline for students to select this option is also May 31, 2020. A “NCC” grade:

    • Students who do not pass due to failure to complete a final exam or other required component of the course, will not be eligible for “NCC”
    • Does not impact GPA
    • Does not count toward degree completion
    • Is an irreversible decision.

    Action: If you are considering this option, you will need to complete an eform request no later that 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2020. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

If you are concerned about the impact a grading choice may have on you as a student, we have developed a Grading Choice - Impact Considerations information sheet that may help you assess the decisions you are considering.

Table of Considerations

Choice Consideration

Withdrawal without Academic Penalty
(extension of deadline to last day of classes)
  • W grade on transcript.
  • Does not impact GPAs (term, program other).
  • Course work completed prior to withdrawal is not recognized, but gives the student an option to focus on being successful in other courses, and/or to withdraw from all courses without failing grades of NP far later than the normal withdrawal date.
  • Irreversible decision.

Letting your grade stand
  • Normal grade as per the grading mode of your class will appear on transcript.
  • Is used in all GPA calculations.
  • No refund of tuition and fees.

Credit – COVID-19 (CRC)
(credit received for passing grades only)
  • CRC grade on transcript.
  • Does not impact GPAs (term, program, other).
  • No refund of tuition and fees.
  • Can be used in degree completion requirements.
  • Student is recognized for the work they have done and that they passed the course.
  • Visiting students will need to check with home institution if the grade will be recognized.
  • Students will need to verify with the appropriate funding source the impact the decision it has on their eligibility for funding and financial awards.
  • Students who intend to apply for admission to another school (transfer, professional program, graduate program) will need to verify directly with those schools or organizations as to how the grade will be evaluated in that process.
  • Does not impact an international student’s ability to remain in Canada.
  • Irreversible decision.

No Credit – COVD-19 (NCC)
(numerical failing grades only)
  • NCC grade on transcript.
  • Does not impact GPAs (term, program, other).
  • No refund of tuition and fees.
  • Cannot be used in degree completion requirements.
  • Visiting students will need to check with home institution if the grade will be recognized.
  • Students will need to verify with the appropriate funding source the impact the decision it has on their eligibility for funding and financial awards.
  • Students who intend to apply for admission to another school (transfer, professional program, graduate program) will need to verify directly with those schools or organizations as to how the grade will be evaluated in that process.
  • Does not impact an international student’s ability to remain in Canada.
  • Irreversible decision.

Study Permits – International Students

The Government of Canada has announced special measures to assist those here on study permits. Details can be found here: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html. URInternational will continue to provide support and guidance wherever possible. The office can be reached at 306-585-5082, or email international.studentservices@uregina.ca.

Changes to Spring/Summer Instructional Methods

If you have already registered, or plan to register, in an online class section such as WEB/LIVE there will be no changes to those instructional methods.

If you have already registered, or plan to register, in a class section that was scheduled as a face to face class, you will notice some changes to the instructional method as follows:

Remote Learning Delivery – special circumstance has been created to denote that the class section is moving forward in the remote learning delivery environment which includes synchronous instruction via Zoom (or other technology). Some components of the course may also be delivered via a UR Courses shell; and some lectures or class components may be recorded in advance.

Remote Learning Web – special circumstance has been created to denote that the class section is moving forward in an asynchronous format in the UR Courses environment.

If your class section has been cancelled, you will be notified accordingly.