Science Academic Programs and Plans

The School of Optometry and Vision Science sets and administers its examinations in accordance with the rules and regulations set down by the University of Waterloo and the Faculty of Science. Decisions regarding course grades are those of the instructor. Students' academic standings are considered each term by the Optometry faculty and are made in accordance with the regulations listed below. All decisions on academic standing and grades are reported to the student through the Office of the Registrar.

The factors considered in academic standings in Optometry are the term average, the overall average, the number of failures, and the student standing (e.g., Satisfactory, Conditional). The minimum overall and term averages needed to remain in the Optometry program are 60%. The minimum passing course grade in Optometry is 60% except for OPTOM 348A, OPTOM 348B, OPTOM 458, OPTOM 468, and OPTOM 478 in which 70% is a passing grade. Grades below the specified passing grade result in a course failure. A student who fails to demonstrate clinical competence as evidenced by a failing grade in a clinical course will not be allowed to continue in the Doctor of Optometry program.

Academic Decisions on Standing

Satisfactory

A student receives a Satisfactory standing if the student achieves minimum term and overall averages of 60%, with no failures.

A Satisfactory standing entitles the student to proceed to the next term.

Note

In the first two years of the program, a student with only one failure per term may proceed to the next term; however, any failed course must be cleared before proceeding into the next academic year. There are a couple of mechanisms for clearing a failed course and these are described in Clearing a Single Failed Course below.

Conditional

A student receives a Conditional standing for,

• a minimum of two terms upon returning to the Optometry program after a Failed – Required to Withdraw standing.
• the remainder of the program after accumulating a total of four course failures in the Optometry program.
• the repeated term(s) after a May Not Proceed standing.
• the remainder of the program after any failed course in fourth year.

A Conditional standing requires that the student maintain a standard of performance during the conditional term(s). The student must clear the conditional term(s) by achieving minimum term and overall averages of 60% while having no failures or incomplete courses. Failure to achieve these conditions will lead to a Failed standing.

May Not Proceed

A student receives this standing if,

• the student achieves a minimum term average of 60% but has failed two courses in a term.
• the student, at the end of the third year, has not successfully completed all Optometry courses in the first three years.

A student will be required to leave the program until the next term the courses are offered. A student clearing failed courses under this rule must achieve a passing grade in the courses; otherwise the student will receive a Failed standing from Optometry. Only after the failed courses are cleared will the student be permitted to proceed to the next degree term.

Failed - Required to Withdraw

A student receives this standing and is required to withdraw if,

• the student fails to achieve either a minimum term or an overall average of 60%.
• the student fails three or more courses in an academic term.
• the student, who is on conditional standing, fails to achieve a minimum term and/or overall average of 60%, fails one or more courses, or receives an incomplete (INC) grade.
• the student leaves the program without proper notification and fails to write examinations (a grade of DNW  - did not write, is assigned for these courses).

A Failed - Required to Withdraw standing requires that the student’s registration in the Optometry program be revoked. Readmission is not guaranteed. If granted, readmission cannot occur during the two academic terms following Failed standing.

Failed – May Not Continue in Optometry Academic Plan

A student receives this standing if,

• the student has been readmitted and upon return has not achieved a minimum term and overall average of 60% and/or has failed one or more courses.
• the student has accumulated five course failures in the Optometry program.
• the student has failed the same course twice.
• the student is deemed by the Examinations Committee of the Faculty of Science to be unlikely to benefit from further participation in the Optometry program.

A Failed – May Not Continue in Optometry Academic Plan standing requires that the student’s registration in Optometry be revoked. Readmission into the Optometry program is not possible. A student receiving this standing may, however, be considered for admission to another program in the Faculty of Science.

Recommended for Doctor of Optometry Degree

Recommended for Doctor of Optometry Degree entitles the student to graduate with the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree.

Clearing a Single Failed Course

Students can choose to clear a single failed course by one of two methods: 1) retaking a course when it is next offered, or 2) passing a supplemental exam.

Students qualify to write a supplemental exam when they:

• obtained the failure in an OPTOM 100 to 300 ‘LEC’ or ‘LAB,LEC’ course,
• had a satisfactory or better standing in the term preceding the course failure,
• have not previously failed the course, and
• pay the supplemental examination administrative fee.

Students who do not qualify to write a supplemental exam must retake the failed course when it is next offered.

When completed, supplemental grades are recorded as follows:

• On Quest: “S”, if passed, or “N”, if failed, in the column labelled “SUPP”, adjacent to the original grade for the course
• On official transcripts: “Supplementary Exam Completed Grade: Satisfied”, if passed, or "Grade: Not Satisfied", if failed

Students who fail a supplemental examination must re-take the course when it is next offered and may not proceed into the next term. Students who obtain a failing grade in a repeated course will receive the academic standing, Failed – May Not Continue in Optometry Academic Plan.

Failure to Enrol

Students will be deemed to have withdrawn from the Optometry program if by the final registration date, as defined in the Fees section of this Calendar, they have not enrolled in the courses for the term in which they would normally be expected to enrol.

Students who voluntarily withdraw from the term are expected to return to the Optometry program within one year from the beginning of the term from which they are withdrawing. If students have not enrolled in the program during this period, they will be deemed to have withdrawn from the Optometry program.

Students who withdraw from the Optometry program, or are deemed to have done so, will be required to apply for readmission in order to be considered for continuation in the program.