Fall 2021 FAQ for ALES Students

General Questions

What grading scheme will be used in the Fall?
Courses will be graded using the letter grades going forward, not NC/CR. If a course was previously CR/NC (ie WKEXP, HECOL 409, NUTR internship courses, etc), it will remain that way.
What grades will be used to assess my Fall 2021 Admission Application?

A minimum of a student's last ★24 credits will be used to assess their Fall 2021 application. CR/NC courses from the winter term may be considered

*Every effort will be made to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by the decision to use CR/NC grades for Winter 2020.

I'm not in Canada and having classes in a different time zone can lead to midnight classes
Courses offered synchronously may have lectures recorded to review later. Some courses will be taught asynchronously to allow for various time zones, which means although you have a "time" for class, you can access it at a time best suited to your schedule and time zone. Instructors will have specific details as to how their course will be taught, and will share with students as they become available. If synchronous tests are on the syllabus, please contact your instructor.
What if I decide to take the Fall term off? Can I resume my studies in Winter??
In general, taking a single term off is not a problem. There are many things to consider if you are wanting to take the Fall term off. This includes impact on awards or scholarships, study permits, student loans, course load requirements, course sequencing and availability. In addition, think about what you would do if the Winter term moved online as well.
Do I need to maintain my course load?
A full course load is defined as ★9 credits per term. With the exception of the Dietetics Specialization, which has a defined class cohort pattern, the Faculty of ALES does not have required course loads for our programs. Please email your student advisor or email questions.ales@ualberta.ca if you have any questions about your class schedule. Please note, there are student loan, awards, and scholarship implications if you drop below a full course load.
What technology do I need to be successful at remote learning?

Computing recommendations can be found here.

We strongly emphasize the University of Alberta’s recommendation for Google Chrome with a webcam. Please refer to your course syllabi in the event of additional technical recommendations for remote learning. Instructors will contact students if any additional or specialized software is required for their course.

Dietetics Specialization Admission Questions

What grades will be used to assess my Fall 2021 application?
A. Fall 2020 grades will be used to calculate each student’s initial admission average. This average will contribute to a student’s application package score and will be considered for offering interview invitations. Spring/Summer 2020 grades will also be included in this calculation if they are available. A minimum of ★12 credits will be used to calculate admission average for this program. Students who have not completed at least *12 in the Fall term, may have previous graded coursework assessed.

After winter term grades are available, students’ admission averages will be recalculated to ensure they still meet the 2.7 admission GPA needed for this program.
Can I use CHEM 264 (lecture) and CHEM 266 (lab) in place of CHEM 261?
A. Students will only need to present one of CHEM 261 or CHEM 264 (lecture) to be eligible for Fall 2021 admission to the Dietetics Specialization. Please note that students will need to be sure to complete CHEM 266 (lab) prior to taking the lab for CHEM 263 or an equivalent course.
I can’t get into two ENGL courses, will you accept one ENGL and one WRS course in place of two ENGl courses?
A. Yes, students may present one ENGL and one WRS course for meeting the ★6 ENGL pre-professional requirement. Alternatively, presenting two ENGL courses will still meet these pre-professional courses. This policy is in alignment with the ENGL/WRS requirement listed on the Nutrition and Food Science General Program checksheet.

Courses and labs

Are there any courses that will have face to face components?
A full list of courses with face to face components is available here.

Students who cannot attend face to face and are currently registered in courses with in-person components are advised to reach out to their instructors to see if accommodations are possible. In the case where an accommodation cannot be made, students should prepare to select a different course for the Fall 2020 term. If there are program implications, we will work with you to find a solution. Please contact questions.ales@ualberta.ca if you need assistance.
Will there be labs, and for which courses? In person or remote?

A. Yes. Most courses that have a lab component will continue to have a lab, either in person, remote, or in an alternative format. There may be some face-to-face labs offered on campus. Please review this link for a full list of in person courses. ALES specific courses with in-person labs are listed below:

  • AFNS 575
  • HECOL 254
  • HECOL 370
  • HECOL 460
  • HECOL 476/576
  • NU FS 361
  • NU FS 401
  • NU FS 407A
  • NUTR 407A
  • REN R 101
  • REN R 120
  • REN R 210
  • REN R 323
  • REN R 441
  • REN R 443
Courses that have a face-to-face lab component. What does this mean?
Face-to-face labs will be delivered on campus in smaller cohorts that adhere to all public health protocol and safety measures.
How will I know the location of the labs?
Over the month of July, the Registrar’s Office will be adjusting the room location to accurately reflect where the lab will be located.
Will I have to do anything different when I come on to campus in the Fall to access the lab?
Yes, there will be protocol in place to ensure we are following the guidelines outlined by the Chief Medical Officer. These instructions will be communicated to you closer to the start of class.
*This FAQ will be updated as more information becomes available.

*Every effort will be made to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by any changes to modes of study for the Winter 2021 term.