One week to go before exams! I hope you are all hanging in there. We are here to help, so do not be shy to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

• Prepping for exams or final assignments? Get help from a coach
• Friday is a Monday
• Exam FAQs
• Coco and Cram ESP/IESP study group: Tuesday & Wednesday 5-6 pm
• Update on SAT/UNSAT grading options
• Withdrawal deadline reminder
• Undecided about a major? Attend exploration sessions this week

The ESP/IESP Academic Coaches are holding coaching appointments during the exam period from December 14-22 for any student who would like some assistance with study techniques, organization, exam preparation, and help with end of term assignments. Friendly, non-judgmental support for everything that is due is just a click away: go to carleton.ca/esp/appointments/ and select “Book a Coaching Appointment”.

Book now →

This Friday is the last day of classes before the exam period. A reminder that classes and workshops follow a Monday schedule so anything that you would normally have scheduled on Monday will happen again on Friday!

Good luck on your exams! Study hard – we hope they go well! December 11th is the last date of classes. Classes are not held during the exam period (December 12-23). To check your exam schedule, login to Carleton Central and under “Student Records” you’ll find a link to “MyExam Schedule”. Questions about how exams work online? Check out the COVID FAQ page (under the “Examinations” heading) for what to expect.

What do you do if you have to miss an exam? There is a formal process to apply for a “deferred” exam (i.e. you apply to write the exam at another time).

• Final exams: The Registrars Office, 302 Tory, 613-520-3500. If it is a final exam (for a half credit course) you must fill out the Online Deferral Application for an exam deferral: carleton.ca/registrar/deferral/.
  • Documentation is normally required – due to the COVID situation, you can use a “self-declaration of illness” form instead of a note from a doctor. You must apply for a deferral within 3 days of the exam date.
  • When you apply to defer a final exam, you will normally write at a designated time in the deferred exam period: January 22-24, 29-31, 2021.
• Midterm exams: For midterms in full-credit courses (such as CHST), contact your course professor directly by email.
  • You should do so in advance or at least within 24 hours of the exam date and provide the reason.
  • Documentation (depending on your reason a medical note, a funeral notice, etc.) is normally required. Due to the COVID situation, you can use a “self-declaration of illness” form instead of a note from a doctor).
  • The professor will let you know when you can rewrite (normally early in January).

Exam schedule →

Work on your motivation by committing to studying with others! On Tuesday and/or Wednesday, join fellow ESP/IESP students and former ESP/IESP students in online study sessions. These “Coco and Cram” sessions are there to help you structure your time, get support from fellow students, and give you a space designed for studying. Drop in and get stuff done!

This event is hosted by the ESP/IESP Alumni Resources and Mentoring Initiative.

TUESDAY December 7th  ☕  & WEDNESDAY December 8th @ 5:00-6:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://carleton-ca.zoom.us/j/96085873405

The university has approved compassionate grading options for both the fall semester and winter semesters.

What are the options?

1. UNSAT: Unsatisfactory (UNS) grades will replace any Fail (F) grade for the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms.
   • No application is required. You do not need to do anything to make that happen; the university will convert those grades automatically.
2. SAT: You can apply to convert grade(s) to SAT: You can request that the letter grade assigned in your course is replaced by “SAT” which means you satisfied the requirements and earned the credit.
   • You can only apply to convert a grade to SAT after it’s posted. The application form will be available Monday, December 14th.
   • The maximum number of credits you can convert to SAT is 1.0 credit in one of these ways (but not both):
     • You can apply to convert a maximum of 0.5 in the fall and 0.5 in the winter.
     • Or you can apply to convert a 1.0 credit course (like the FYSM, HIST, HUMR, or CHST) in the winter term. (This isn’t an option if you apply to convert a grade in the fall, since the fall/winter maximum is 1.0 credit.)

Why would this help?

A SAT grade allows you to earn the credit (or half credit in this case) but the grade wouldn’t be used in your GPA. This option might be good if you have one low grade. Please consult an advisor before applying to change a grade to SAT. (Some core subjects like MATH, COMP and CHEM are mandatory for admissions purposes, so the admissions office will still consult the original grade.)

SAT/UNS grades are not used in the calculation of CGPA, which means that changes in academic performance due to the current pandemic will not affect your permanent record.

But how would that affect qualifying for a degree? 

Here’s what the university has told us about SAT/UNSAT grades and ESP/IESP admission to a degree. In general the Admissions Office will consider ESP/IESP applications where students have completed 2.0 of 3.0 credits with grades. 

• ESP/IESP students who are completing the year with 3.0 credits can be considered for admission with one credit of SAT and/or UNS grades.
  • For most programs in the Bachelor of Arts, this means you would need to present a GPA of C+ (6.0 on Carleton’s 12.0 scale) on the 2.0 graded credits. (Some majors have higher CGPA requirements).
  • Students applying to Science, Health Science, Commerce and Engineering would still need to satisfy all prerequisite course requirements.

• If you apply to have your grade changed to “SAT”, the university will still keep the original grade on file if it is needed for “other purposes”.
  • The example the university gave is using the original grade to enforce a prerequisite for the next course. For example, to take second year COMP courses, you need a minimum grade of C- in COMP 1006. Most majors don’t use that rule, but some do – see the calendar to check second year course prerequisites in your field of interest.

Finally, please meet with an advisor as you make the decision. It is more complicated because (most of) you are still working toward qualifying for a degree. We’re here to help you navigate all of this!

Book an advising appointment →

If you are considering withdrawing from a half credit course, contact an advisor before Friday, December 11, 2020. We can help you with your decision. December 11th is the deadline to drop any half-credit (fall term) courses. Full-credit courses have a withdrawal deadline of the end of January for a refund of winter fees and the last day of classes (April 14) for an academic withdrawal.

What do I need to know about dropping a class?

• You can not drop a course yourself; you need to ask an ESP/IESP advisor. Email or book an appointment for advice.
• For certain courses (CHEM, PSYC or SOCI), you cannot stay enrolled in the second term portion of the course if you withdraw from the fall course. The sooner you come see us, the more likely it is that we can find you another course second term.
• A withdrawal will not affect your overall average, but it will affect your admissions requirements because you will have completed fewer credits.
• If you are receiving OSAP, you should consult the Awards office first (awards@carleton.ca or 613-520-3600).

Book an advising appointment →

Join Carleton’s recruitment team to learn about the various career paths you can follow with your Carleton University degree! You will be introduced to the skills you will develop as a Carleton student—through academics and out of classroom experiences. Learn how your Carleton experience will put you on a path to pursue a career that ignites your passion.

Choose one of these dates (content is the same both days):

Date: December 8, 2020 Time: 2:00 pm  Register in Carleton360 and then Join the live event on MS Teams

Date: December 10, 2020 Time: 2:00 pm Register in Carleton360 and then Join the live event on MS Teams

See the full schedule of events here: https://admissions.carleton.ca/events/. 

Note: Information on how to apply to your program will be different than what is presented. ESP and IESP students should meet with an advisor next term to submit their (free!*) application to a degree program.
*If you have credits from another university or college, a fee may apply (it will be used to determine your eligibility for transfer credit). 

Learn more →