Policy change for GPA

If at first you don’t succeed, the saying goes, try again.

In that spirit, Dalhousie is changing how it calculates students’ grade point averages, providing more benefit to those that try again and succeed.

Beginning this month, Dalhousie will calculate each student’s grade point average (GPA) using the highest grade attained in each class. In other words: if a student takes a class more than once, only the highest grade will be included in his or her GPA. Previously, both grades would be calculated into the GPA.

'More equitable'

“This change ensures that a student’s GPA reflects their level of competence achieved across his or her studies, rather than simply the sum of individual class performances,” explains Åsa Kachan, university registrar. “It also brings us in line with most other Canadian universities, making it more equitable for students looking to apply for awards and graduate programs.”

This doesn’t mean that lower grades will disappear from a student’s record: every grade for every class remains on the transcript, and the academic standing awarded at the end of each term (good standing, academic probation or academically dismissed) doesn’t change either. What students will notice on their transcripts are new notations to help identify which classes were repeated and which of the listed grades are included in, or excluded from, cumulative and term GPA calculations.

Rob LeForte, DSU vice-president academic and external, says that the student union is “extraordinarily excited” about the change.

'Better representation of student efforts'

“It was something we’ve been informally advocating for, so it was easy for us to get behind this as it moved forward,” he explains. “It’s great because it recognizes students for positive learning outcomes, rather than having them left with their original mark affecting the GPA. It’s a much better representation of the student’s efforts.”

Ms. Kachan notes that some programs aren’t affected by the change. For example GPAs are not calculated at the graduate level, or in some professional programs such as Law, Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy.

Students who have questions about the policy change or their revised transcript can contact the Registrar’s Office’s advisors by emailing studentonline@dal.ca, calling 494-2450 or dropping by the office in-person on the first floor of the Henry Hicks building.