Academic Policies

Students can encounter academic difficulties for a variety of reasons. If you have been placed on academic probation, we encourage you to make an appointment with the Registrar’s Office for academic advising. Personal counselling is available along with additional resources such as tutoring services, writing workshops and exam preparation workshops.

Probation and Dismissal Policies

Arts and Music Students

Probation

  • Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.00 (C), but greater than or equal to 1.70 (C-), who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be placed on academic probation.
  • Students on probation may continue to register for classes as long as their term GPA is at least 2.00 (C).
  • A student on probation who does not achieve a term GPA of at least 2.00 will be academically dismissed.
  • A student on probation must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to return to “good standing.”

Dismissal

  • Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 1.70 (C-) who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be academically dismissed for a 12-month period.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the first time may apply for readmission after an absence of 12 months. They will be permitted to register on probation.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the second time will not normally be able to reapply for three years.

Science Students

Probation

  • Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.00 (C), but greater than or equal to 1.70 (C-), who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be placed on academic probation.
  • Students on probation may continue to register for classes as long as their term GPA is at least 2.00.
  • A student on probation who does not achieve a term GPA of at least 2.00 will be academically dismissed.
  • A student on probation must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to return to “good standing.”

Dismissal

  • Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 1.70 (C-) who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be academically dismissed for a 12-month period.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the first time may apply for readmission after an absence of 12 months. They will be permitted to register on probation.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the second time will not normally be able to reapply for three years.

Journalism Students

Probation

  • Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.70 (B-), but greater than or equal to 2.30 (C+), who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be placed on academic probation.
  • Students on probation may continue to register for classes as long as their term GPA is at least 2.50.
  • A student on probation who does not achieve a term GPA of at least 2.50 will be academically dismissed.
  • A student on probation must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.70 to return to “good standing.”

Dismissal

  • Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.30 (C+) who have completed at least 24 credit hours will be academically dismissed for a 12-month period.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the first time may apply for readmission after an absence of 12 months. They will be permitted to register on probation.
  • Students who are academically dismissed for the second time will not normally be able to reapply for three years.

Academic Coaching at Dalhousie

Students at King’s have access to the Studying for Success program at Dalhousie University.

Students can meet with a study skills coach by appointment. Study Skills Coaches are graduate students, in ten different areas of academic specialty, who are pursuing studies in either Masters or PhD programs at Dalhousie. Their training and experience provide a range of expertise in helping students in a range of study skills. Coaching is free, confidential, and will be tailored to individual student needs. It can also include help in understanding course material and assistance in enhancing skills, study habits and time management.

For more information, please visit the Personal Coaching section of the Studying for Success website.

Workshops and Writing Supports Available

Mark Burke, the Foundation Year Program Writing Coach, offers one-on-one writing support to first year students during appointments and drop-in hours. He organizes and conducts workshops on writing and develops writing resources for students.

Study Skills & Tutoring at Dalhousie offers a wide-range of free workshops to help students develop problem solving, exam writing, critical reading and a variety of other skills.

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism, defined as “the submission or presentation of the work of another as if it were one’s own,” is a serious academic offence that can result in a failing grade, suspension or expulsion from the university.

Visit Dalhousie’s page on academic integrity to learn more about plagiarism, paraphrasing, citing, discipline, penalties and services available to students, to help them avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work.

Athletic Eligibility

According to the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association’s policies and procedures, to participate in varsity sport at the college, a first-year student must be enrolled full-time (nine credit hours per semester, i.e. three classes), and upper-year students must have completed nine credit hours per semester in the previous year (18 credit hours per academic year), along with be enrolled as full-time students in the current year. For more details on athletic eligibility, please review the CCAA’s Policies and Procedures, specifically Article 5. – Eligibility.