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DISCLAIMER

The information in the following sections has been extracted from the 2002-2003 University Calendar. While every reasonable effort has been made to duplicate the information contained in the official University Calendar, if there are differences, the published Memorial University Calendar will be considered the final and accurate authority.

NOTE

The contents of this calendar set forth the intentions of the University at the time of publication, with respect to the matters contained therein. THE UNIVERSITY EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DEVIATE FROM WHAT APPEARS IN THE CALENDAR, including both the content and scheduling therein, in whole or in part, and including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right to revise the content of, and to cancel, defer, reschedule or suspend, in whole or in part, the scheduling of particular periods of instruction, courses, or programs, and the academic program of the University, and to alter, accelerate or defer fees and charges, and to do any or all of the above either in order to serve what the University considers to be the best interests of the academic or student community or of the University itself, or because of any circumstance or occurrence, whether occurring by or through the wilful act or negligence of the University, its agents, servants and employees, or otherwise and whether or not beyond the reasonable or other control of the University, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as a result of circumstances or occurrences including financial resources, natural catastrophe or disaster, the health, safety and well-being of the employees or students of the University, labour disagreements or disputes, slow-downs, work-stoppages, and strikes. THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT ACCEPT, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS, ANY OR ALL RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY to any person, persons or group, for any loss, injury, damages or adverse effect, either direct or indirect, consequential or otherwise, arising out of any one or more of such deviations. The University hereby disclaims liability to any person who may suffer loss as a result of reliance upon any information contained in this calendar.

Each and every of the subsequent provisions contained in this Calendar, and the relationship, both legal and otherwise, between the University, and its students, is expressly subject to and governed by the above provisions.

The Office of the Registrar will assist students with any questions or problems which might arise concerning the interpretation of academic regulations. It is, however, the responsibility of students to see that their academic programs meet the University's regulations in all respects.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS CALENDAR


Academic standing: is an enrolment status normally determined each semester by a regular evaluation procedure used to assess whether or not students are meeting the standards prescribed for continuing in the University and/or their programs.

Academic unit: refers to a centre, department, division, faculty, program or school, other than an administrative unit, as the context requires.

Academic year: runs from September 1 to August 31.

Accelerated course: is a course that is offered in a shorter time frame than a semester or session.

Administrative unit: refers to an office, division or centre, other than an academic unit, as listed in the Administrative Offices of the University section of the Calendar.

Appeal: is the challenge of, or the request for review of, a judgment regarding the application of regulations.

Assignment: is an evaluative exercise including but not limited to assigned work, term papers and projects.

Certificate: is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of shorter duration than a degree or diploma.

Challenge for credit: is the request for consideration of academic credit resulting from experience or knowledge gained elsewhere for which transfer credit cannot be awarded.

Co-requisite course: is a course which may be taken concurrently with or successfully completed prior to the course for which it is required.

Course: is a unit of work in a particular subject normally extending through one semester or session, the completion of which normally carries credit toward the fulfilment of the requirements of certain degrees, diplomas or certificates.

Course number: courses are designated by four characters. The first character signifies the level of the course. Where all four characters are numeric, the last three are used by academic units to indicate various information such as course sequence and area of study. Where the last character is alphabetic, the letter:
A or B identifies a linked course. No credits or points are given until the "B" part is completed.
C identifies an English course that does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.
F identifies a foundation course that is intended to remedy a specific academic weakness and does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.
W identifies a course in either a work term in a co-operative program or a special project in certain of the professional schools and faculties and may or may not be assigned credit hours.
X identifies a course which represents an entire semester's work and carries 15 credit hours.

Courses offered outside of the normal time frame: are those with different start and/or end dates than those of the semester or session.

Credit hour: is the measure used to reflect the relative weight of a given course toward the fulfilment of appropriate degree, diploma, certificate, major, minor, or other program requirements. A weight of 1 credit hour normally means that the course meets for lectures one hour per week for the duration of a semester or two hours per week for the duration of a session. Unless otherwise indicated, a course normally has a credit value of 3 credit hours.

Credit-restricted courses: are courses which are closely related but not equivalent. Credit is limited to one of the credit-restricted courses. Normally, credit-restricted courses cannot be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

Cross-listed courses: are courses which are listed under two or more academic units and which can be taken for credit from one unit only. Cross-listed courses can be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

Degree: is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of longer duration than a diploma or certificate.

Diploma: is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of shorter duration than a degree and longer duration than a certificate.

Distance education course: is a university course designed for people who wish to study outside a traditional university setting. Instructors and students are separated by time and/or space. Distance education courses include correspondence, teleconference and world wide web courses.

Equivalent courses: are those which are determined to be equal for credit determination, although the subject area or course number will differ. These are normally identified with the phrase "Same as".

Examination: is an evaluative exercise including but not limited to tests, quizzes or mid-term, final or supplementary examinations.

Foundation course: is a course intended to remedy a specific academic weakness and is identified by the letter "F" as the last character of the course number. A foundation course does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.

GPA: is the abbreviation for grade point average.

Head of academic unit: includes but is not limited to co-ordinator, dean, department head, director, principal, or equivalent.

Inactive courses: are courses which have not been offered in the previous three academic years and which are not scheduled to be offered in the current academic year.

Lecturing period: is a designated period of lectures within a semester or session as defined by the University Diary.

Linked course: is a course comprising two components and is normally identified by the letter "A" or "B" as the last character of the course number. No credits or points are given until the "B" part is completed.

Major: is a subject or field of study which a student normally specializes in during the course of degree studies.

Minor: is a subject or field of study which a student normally pursues secondary to a major during the course of degree studies.

Prerequisite course: is a course which must be successfully completed prior to commencing the course for which it is required.

Program: is a series of courses, the successful completion of which, if all requirements are met, qualifies the candidate for a degree, diploma or certificate.

Registration: is the process of selecting, enrolling in, and being assessed fees for courses.

Registration period: is, in any semester, the period extending from the first day of registration to two weeks following the first day of lectures, as stated in the University Diary. In any session, it is the period extending from the first day of registration to one week following the first day of lectures, as stated in the University Diary.

Repeatable course: is a course that may be taken for credit in several semesters to a maximum number of credit hours. All such courses shall have specified both the number of credit hours assigned per semester and the maximum number of credit hours to be awarded.

Semester: is a period of approximately fourteen consecutive weeks during which there are at least twelve weeks of lecture. Normally the Fall Semester commences in early September, the Winter Semester in early January, and the Spring Semester in early May.

Session: is a period of approximately seven consecutive weeks in the Spring Semester during which there are at least six weeks of lecture. The first half of Spring Semester is designated as Intersession; the second half of Spring Semester is designated as Summer Session.

Student-Web: is a suite of e-business student services including registration and the provision of personalized student information.

Transcript: is the complete and unabridged report of a student's academic record.

Transfer credit: is academic credit granted for work completed at an institution other than Memorial University of Newfoundland.

TRS: is the abbreviation for the Telephone Registration System.

Waiver: is the permission granted by the appropriate authority for exemption from a particular program requirement and/or a particular university regulation.

Last modified on May 21, 2002 by MaryJane Puxley

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