Withdrawal is a grading alternative which appears permanently on a student's transcript as a W if they have withdrawn from a class after the last day to add or drop classes to avoid financial penalty. The W has no academic standing and does not impact the calculation of a student's Cumulative Weighted Average.

Students who wish to withdraw must do so on or before the withdraw deadline.  No withdrawals are allowed after that date and the student will be graded on the completed course work they have submitted for the class.  A student who does not write the final exam will be assigned a failing grade along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Fail).

When a student has not completed the required course work, which includes any assignment or examination including the final examination, by the time of submission of the final grades, they may be granted an extension to permit completion of an assignment, or granted a deferred examination in the case of absence from a final examination.  Extensions for the completion of assignments must be approved by the Department Head, or Dean in non-departmentalized Colleges, and may exceed thirty days only in unusual circumstances.  The student must apply to the instructor for such an extension and furnish satisfactory reasons for the deficiency.  Deferred final examinations are granted as per College policy.

In the interim, the instructor will submit a computed percentile grade for the class which factors in the incomplete coursework as a zero, along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) if a failing grade. In the case where the instructor has indicated in the course outline that failure to complete the required coursework will result in failure in the course, and the student has a computed passing percentile grade, a final grade of 49% will be submitted along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure).

If an extension is granted and the required assignment is submitted within the allotted time, or if a deferred examination is granted and written in the case of absence from the final examination, the instructor will submit a revised computed final percentage grade.  The grade change will replace the previous grade and any grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) will be removed.

Complete examination regulations are published in the Academics Courses Policy.

Commonly used weighted average types:

• Sessional Weighted Average (S.W.A.) is calculated from courses taken in Fall and/or Winter terms (September to April). 
• Annual Weighted Average is calculated from all courses taken in a year
• Cumulative Weighted Average (C.W.A.)  is calculated from all courses taken at the University.

Calculating Weighted Averages

Weighted averages are calculated by multiplying the grade achieved in each class by the number of credit units in the class. The sum of the individual calculations is then divided by the total number of credit units to produce the weighted average, subject to the University Council Regulations on Examinations. Students should consult with their college for policies on repeating classes and non-numeric grade conversion.

Example:

Weighted Average (2109/30) = 70.30%

Prior to 1982, courses were normally either full courses (equivalent to 6 credit units) or half courses (equivalent to 3 credit units) although quarter- and eighth-classes existed. Half courses were indicated by an A, B, or C attached to the course number, quarter courses by a Q, eighth courses by an R. Full courses had no letter.

Since 1982, a credit unit is the basic unit of instruction. A typical two-term course which meets for approximately 3 hours per week is 6 credit units, and a single-term course is 3 credit units, although courses of other weights exist.