Your Grades, GPA, and Academic Standing
Understanding your Grades
Your instructors assign letter grades which are expressed on a 4-point scale:
If there is a number after your letter grade on your transcript that means there has been a “Remark” added. For more information see Grading System Explained.
What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?
The average of your grades is called your Grade Point Average, or GPA. You can find your GPA on your unofficial transcript in Bear Tracks, after all your grades have been submitted and approved, two to three weeks after your last final exam.
You can calculate your GPA by using this equation: Your GPA = Total Grade Points ÷ Units Taken
What is Academic Standing?
The term “academic standing” describes such matters as continuation in a program, promotion, and graduation. Students are admitted to the Faculty of Arts when they meet the required admission average. In order to stay in their program of choice and continue their studies, students are required to keep earning satisfactory grades in order to meet the required GPA for their program.
The Academic Standing and Promotion page of the University Calendar tells you the GPA requirements for your Faculty of Arts program. The following programs also have a course load requirements: BDes, BFA, & BMus.
What is Academic Standing Assessment?
After the Winter term the Undergraduate Student Services office uses your GPA to assess your academic standing. You will get the results of the assessment in late May or early June by email and in Bear Tracks. There are five Academic Standing categories:
1. First Class Standing - Students may continue their studies and will receive a letter of congratulations from the Dean of Arts.
2. Satisfactory Standing - Students may continue their studies.
Students in categories 3,4, and 5 receive a personalized letter which explains their situation and describes their options for either continuing their studies or taking some time off from studies:
3. Satisfactory Standing, but may not continue in their current program
4. Marginal Standing, on Academic Warning
5. Unsatisfactory Standing, Required to Withdraw (RTW)
Notes:
a. If you are registered in Fall courses only, then your academic standing is assessed in January.
b. If you have final grades in fewer than 9 units in Fall/Winter and your program does not have minimum course load requirements, then your academic standing will be assessed at the end of the next Fall/Winter if you have final grades in 9 units or more.
c. If you have any pending deferred exams or IN (Incomplete) grades when the academic standing for most students is assessed, then you will get a letter saying that assessment is deferred. Your assessment will be done when all of your final grades have been approved.
If you have questions after reading your letter you can email arts.undergrad@ualberta.ca
Please write “Academic Standing” in the subject line and include your student ID and full name in your email.