ECE Policy on Satisfactory Academic Performance

Part 1: Introduction

Students admitted to a graduate degree program in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are expected to achieve a satisfactory level of academic performance, consistent with policies established by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) at the University of Toronto, and The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Graduate Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE).

Achievement of satisfactory academic performance is a necessary condition for a student to remain in good academic standing. A student who is not in good academic standing may be denied funding, and in extreme cases, registration.

The purpose of this document is to outline the benchmarks that define satisfactory academic performance for graduate students who are registered ECE.

Part 2: Existing SGS and ECE Policies

General guidance on matters relating to good academic standing and satisfactory academic performance is provided by SGS. In particular, refer to the General Regulations in the SGS Calendar – the section entitled “Good Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress, Time Limits, Supervision, and Candidacy.” This policy requires:

• timely completion of graduate program requirements;
• satisfactory completion of graduate courses;
• satisfactory progress in a PhD program;
• completion of program requirements within a specific time frame.

Specific ECE requirements on the timely completion of graduate program requirements can be found in ECE Degree Programs. Where appropriate, the requirements are summarized in the sections that follow.

Part 3: Objectives of the ECE Policy on Satisfactory Academic Performance

The purpose of the present document is to:

• provide benchmarks that define good academic standing and satisfactory academic performance within ECE;
• define means to monitor the academic performance of graduate students who are registered in ECE;
• define procedures and consequences in the event that the academic performance of a graduate student is found to be unsatisfactory.

Part 4: Achievement of Satisfactory Academic Performance

A graduate student in ECE will achieve satisfactory academic performance by:

• completing the graduate course requirements in his/her degree program consistent with the minimum standards that are defined in this policy;
• completing all degree program requirements in a timely fashion, as specified by SGS and ECE. Degree program requirements include:
  • academic courses, in the case of MEng, MASc, and PhD students
  • qualifying examination, in the case of PhD students
  • thesis proposal, in the case of MASc and PhD students
  • dissertation defense, in the case of MASc and PhD students
• meeting the research expectations of his/her Supervisor, in the case of MEng project students and MASc students;
• meeting the research expectations of his/her Supervisor and Doctoral Supervisory Committee, in the case of PhD students.

Part 5: Timely and Satisfactory Completion of Graduate Courses

Section A) MASc and PhD Students

MASc and PhD students will complete all required graduate courses according to the schedule specified in Degree Programs. The normal course load for MASc and PhD students is 5 graduate-level courses. Normally, all required graduate courses will be completed within the first year (12 months) of program registration. Fall starters will typically complete 3 courses in the first session (Fall) of registration, with the remaining 2 courses to be completed in the second session (Winter) of registration. January starters will typically complete 3 courses in the first session (Winter) of registration, with the remaining 2 courses to be completed in the third session (Fall) of registration. The lowest passing grade in a graduate course is B- (B minus).

Section B) MEng Students

MEng students will complete all required graduate courses according to the requirements and restrictions set out for their delivery option. The lowest passing grade in a graduate course is B- (B minus).

Part 6: Review of Academic Performance

Section A) MASc and PhD Students

Should any MASc or PhD student receive 2 or more grades at the level of B- (B minus) or lower, or not complete his/her program requirements in a timely fashion, or not meet the research expectations of the supervisor, his/her academic performance will be reviewed. In the case of an MASc student, a Review Committee will be constituted. In the case of a PhD student, the student’s Doctoral Supervisory Committee will undertake the performance review. In the event that the Doctoral Supervisory Committee has not yet been formed, a Review Committee will be constituted.

The membership of a Review Committee will consist of:

• the student’s Research Supervisor or Supervisors;
• one other member of the student’s Research Group (this would normally be the Chair or the Graduate Coordinator of the Group);
• the ECE Associate Chair of Graduate Studies.

Academic and course-related performance reviews are expected to be rare events.

Should review of a student’s academic or course-related performance be necessary, the Review Committee will recommend remedial action and, in extreme cases, whether the registration of the student should be terminated.

Section B) MEng Students

Should any M.Eng. student receive 2 or more grades of FZ (i.e. any grade below the level of B-), his/her academic performance will be reviewed by a Review Committee consisting of the ECE Associate Chair of Graduate Studies and two representatives of the student’s field of specialization (these would normally be the field’s Graduate Coordinator and the field’s representative on the Graduate Matters Committee).

Course-related performance reviews are expected to be rare events.

Should review of a student’s academic course-related performance be necessary, the Review Committee will recommend remedial action and, in extreme cases, whether the registration of the student should be terminated.