The following college-level policies are subject to University Council Regulations. In the absence of information, or in the case of discrepancies between university and college regulations, university regulations will prevail. Please note that students will graduate according to the regulations effective for the year in which they are approved to graduate. In all other cases, the most current rules will apply, unless otherwise stated.

For the purposes of these policies Cumulative Weighted Average (C.W.A.) is calculated from all courses taken as part of the student’s program. Yearly Weighted Average (Y.W.A.) is calculated from all courses attempted, including failures in an academic year.

Program Specialization
Students completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Edwards School of Business will only be able to specialize in one major, as recognized on their official graduation record. Double majors at Edwards are not recognized.

Major Admission
Admission into the majors of the Bachelor of Commerce Program is restricted each year. Requests for majors are ranked competitively and space is limited in each major, except for Management. The major declaration window in Edwards School of Business occurs in January of every year over a three-day period. The major entry requirements are listed below:

*A minimum grade of 60.00% is required in the intro course of your desired major and must be completed prior to the pick-a-major window in January.

To be eligible to declare into a major, students must meet all the following requirements:

• Be in second, third or fourth year;
• Not currently in a major at the time of the major declaration cycle (January), having previously requested to be removed from a major for the purpose of redeclaring;
• Have completed (or received transfer credit for) the introductory course of their intended major with a minimum final course grade of 60.00%;
• Not have an active faculty action on their record at the time of the major declaration cycle.

How to Declare a B.Comm. Major:
B.Comm. students that have met the above-listed eligibility criteria will receive an email from Undergraduate Student Services to their PAWS email at the start of the major declaration cycle that will provide instructions and a link to the major declaration page. Students rank and submit their major choices (conditional on completion of the required introductory courses of their major). Following the major declaration window, students will be assessed and ranked for admission into the major based on their C.W.A. as of January that year.

Honours Program Option
The Edwards School of Business offers the Honours program to provide students of proven academic ability with an opportunity to pursue a more advanced program of studies in one of the following areas: Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Management, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management.

A student in an Honours program must fulfill all the requirements of the regular 120 credit-unit program, including the requirements for the major in the honours field. All students must substitute the 6 credit unit Honours Seminar for 6 credit units of senior electives. The Honours program consists of an independent research project completed in consultation with a faculty member.

Students may enter an Honours program only with the permission of the Department Head in consultation with members of the department. Formal admission is not granted until the end of the students' third year, i.e., following the successful completion of 90 credit units* taken in accordance with the curriculum of the Bachelor of Commerce program. Applications are due April 30 of the third year. At the time of admission, the student must have a Cumulative Weighted Average of 70% and a weighted average of 70% in courses (including core) in the honours field.

Students must complete the degree requirements within ten years from the date of first registration; this includes any absences taken during the time period. Under exceptional circumstances, Edwards may grant an extension. Appeals for extension can be made to the Academic Affairs Committee in a written letter outlining the circumstances that prevented completion within the allotted time period and a defined plan for program completion. Students returning to the program after an absence of five years or more will be placed under the curriculum requirements in effect on the date that the student is readmitted to Edwards.

300- and 400-level accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, supply chain management, and select management courses require permissions through admission into a major and program planning.

Overrides
Edwards has a strict override policy for COMM classes.

Override requests can only be made by students a) in their graduating term; and b) that require a specific course to graduate where no alternatives can be substituted. Override requests must be made in consultation with an Academic Advisor.

Credit Limit Increases
Students must have completed at least 30 credit units at USask and have a C.W.A. 70.00% or higher to be considered for a credit limit increase.

Students can request permission to increase their credit unit limit to 18 credit units (maximum 9 credit units per term) in the Spring and Summer session. Students must select classes such that no more than two final exams are held during the same exam period during spring or summer quarters and/or terms.

Students can request permission to increase their credit unit limit to 36 credit units (maximum 18 credit units per term) in the Fall and winter session.

Submitting the request does not guarantee the credit limit increase will be approved. Restrictions may be made on specific course loads (e.g. Accounting) completed in a single term.

Regulations

If a student attempts a course more than once in an academic year (May-April), Edwards will use only the second attempt when calculating the yearly average. If the yearly average is calculated at 60.00%, the student will remain in good standing in their program.

Students may request a course substitution when a required course has been closed (for example, COMM 119) or when a required course is not available in a student’s final year of study. Requests for course substitutions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All course substitution requests must be submitted to Undergraduate Student Services with a rationale including how the proposed substitute meets the requirements of the program. If the course is external to USask, Edwards’ Visiting Student (Outbound) procedures must be followed. Substituted courses must be closely related (subject, topic, and/or level) to the original course.

All requests must be mutually agreed upon by both the student and the Department Head and submitted to Undergraduate Student Services one week prior to the registration deadline for the term in which the substitute course is to be taken.

Unless participating in an exchange with an approved institution, students are expected to take required courses at the Edwards School of Business. Prior approval for exceptions must be received from Undergraduate Student Services.

Prior to registering for a course at another institution, students must request and receive permission from Edwards to take a course as a visiting student (even if the course appears on the USask Transfer Credit site, permission must be received).

Students must be in good academic standing with no active faculty actions on their student record at the time of application as well as the duration of the course. Students must submit a letter to Undergraduate Student Services asking for special permission. The request will be evaluated, and a written response will be sent via email. Once the student has completed the class at the specified institution, they must ensure that an official transcript is sent to the USask Undergraduate Admissions office for the transfer credit to be applied.

Please refer to the USask Transfer Credit list for information on previously granted transfer credit from select post-secondary institutions. Classes on this list must be approved by the Edwards School of Business before registering.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of transfer credit. The Edwards School of Business will evaluate course outlines from external institutions that have not been previously evaluated.

Winter (January) Admission Direct Entry and Transfer Students

Students who transfer to the B.Comm. program in January will not be considered full-time students in that academic year for the purposes of faculty actions, scholarships, or Dean’s Honour Roll. Students may still receive a Partial Warning as a part-time business student. Students become eligible for faculty actions, scholarship, or Dean’s Honour Roll when they are registered in the Edwards School of Business for a full academic year.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit into Edwards undergraduate programs follows the USask Admissions and Transfer Credit Office process. The college will recognize the maximum number of transfer credit in keeping with Edwards Residency Requirements. Edwards Department Heads are responsible for determining equivalent COMM course transfer credits including the following:

1. All transfer credit assessments and appeals must be initiated through USask’s Undergraduate Admissions office.
2. The transfer course outline/syllabus should be the syllabus used when the student took the course. If this is not possible, the other institution must confirm in writing that the course has not materially changed since the student took it versus the syllabus provided. If this cannot be provided, no credit will be granted because there is no way to establish if the course under review is the same course the student attempted.
3. Transfer courses completed more than 10 years prior to the date of transfer credit initiation cannot be used for credit towards Edwards undergraduate program requirements.
4. No credit for senior major and capstone COMM courses will be granted, except in certain cases of approved study abroad programs/courses and established articulation (2+2) agreements with other institutions.

Continuing Students

All Edwards Undergraduate Programs students who attempt a minimum of 18 credits between May 1 and April 30 each year must earn a Y.W.A. of at least 60.00% to remain in good standing in the Edwards School of Business. Students who do not meet this requirement will be subject to a Repeat Year or Requirement to Discontinue faculty action (see below).

All undergraduate students at Edwards who attempt fewer than 18 credits between May 1 and April 30 each year are expected to earn a Y.W.A. of at least 60.00%. Students who do not meet this requirement will be subject to a Partial Warning faculty action (see below).

Dean's Honour Roll

Once a year, the Dean of Edwards School of Business honours those students who have a Y.W.A. of 80.00% or higher by sending them a letter of congratulations on their academic performance. Recognition of this accomplishment is posted annually on the Dean’s Honour Roll plaque displayed within the school.

The Dean’s Honour Roll is given to:

• First, second-, and third-year students who earned an average of 80.00% or higher on at least 24 credit units taken during the academic year (September to April)
  Fourth year students in their graduating year who earned an average of 80.00% or higher on at least 15 credit units during the academic year (September to April)
• Students in study abroad programs can be considered for the Dean’s Honour Roll providing they have completed 24 credit units or more between the USask classes and study abroad classes. An average will be calculated using only the USask classes and must be 80.00% or higher.

Students enrolled in the Business Co-operative Education Program are considered for the Dean’s Honour Roll if they take at least 24 credits between September and April each academic year (COMM 380.0 will be considered as 15 credits).

Graduating Students

Students will be eligible for the Bachelor of Commerce degree if they have successfully completed the program requirements prescribed by the Edwards School of Business and achieved sufficient standing in these courses to meet each of the average requirements as follows:

• C.W.A. of 60.00% on all courses (completed at USask, not including transfer courses) that are required for B.Comm. degree completion.
• Weighted average of 60.00% on all courses (completed at USask, not including transfer courses) to meet the requirements for a major.

Students who do not meet one or more of these average requirements will be required to repeat one or more classes to increase their average to meet the graduation standards. The new grade(s) will be substituted in the average calculation and if the recalculated average is 60.00% or higher they will then become eligible to graduate. 

Students in undergraduate certificate programs will be eligible for graduation if they have successfully completed the program requirements prescribed by the Edwards School of Business and achieved sufficient standing in these courses to meet the average requirements as follows:

• C.W.A. of 60.00% on all courses (completed at USask, not including transfer courses) that are required for certificate completion.

Students who do not meet the average requirement will be required to repeat one or more classes to increase their average to meet the graduation standards. The new grade(s) will be substituted in the average calculation and if the recalculated average is 60.00% or higher they will then become eligible to graduate.

Degree with Distinction or Great Distinction

Students who have a C.W.A. that is 80.00% or over but less than 85.00% are awarded their degree with Distinction; those who have a C.W.A. that is 85.00% or over are awarded their degree with Great Distinction.

For students in the B.Comm./JD Combined Degree Program, the average requirement for Distinction or Great Distinction must be achieved in the 90 credit units taken at the Edwards School of Business and in the grades earned in the second year of Law.

Degree with Honours or High Honours

The recommendation for the granting of a degree with Honours or High Honours will come from the department of the honours field. To be granted Honours, a student must maintain a C.W.A. of 70.00% and a weighted average of 70.00% in courses in the honours field (including the 200-level introductory course, all courses within the major and the Honours Seminar). To be granted High Honours, a student must maintain a C.W.A. of 80.00% and a weighted average of 80.00% in courses in the honours field (includes the Honours Seminar).

Honours or High Honours may be denied if the student's performance in the honours year is deemed to be below acceptable standards, on the recommendation of the department and approval of the College. Students who fail to maintain the standard of performance expected of an honours student, but who otherwise complete the regular program requirements of the college, will be awarded the regular Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Examinations - Supplemental and Deferred

Supplemental and deferred examination procedures and policies are subject to the university-wide regulations on supplemental and deferred examinations outlined in the Academic Courses Policy. For the regular supplemental and deferred examination schedule, students should refer to the Academic Calendar. Students must not make travel plans or schedule other activities during the period scheduled for examinations. Deferred examinations are not granted for these reasons. Regulations specific to Edwards Undergraduate Programs students are provided below.

Regular and Special Deferred Examinations

1. Students will only be granted a regular deferred exam if they are absent from a final examination through no fault of their own, for medical, compassionate, or other valid reasons.
2. Students must apply to their home college (not necessarily the college that offers the course they are registered in) within three (3) business days (including Saturdays) of the missed exam. In the Edwards School of Business, students must meet with an Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Student Services, Room 185.
3. Students will then have three (3) business days (including Saturdays) to complete the application and declaration of absence forms, have their instructor complete an instructor information form, and submit all documents back to Undergraduate Student Services.
4. A student who becomes ill during a final examination or who cannot complete the final examination for other valid reasons must notify the invigilator immediately of their inability to finish. The student may then apply for a deferred exam. However, a student who has sat for a final examination, completed and handed the paper in for grading will not be granted a deferred final examination.
5. Deferred examinations will be accorded the same weight as the regular examination in the recalculation of the student’s final grade.
6. Students will not be granted a special deferred exam unless there are mitigating circumstances to justify why a student cannot write during the regular deferred exam time period (e.g. failure to approve a special deferred exam impedes them from graduating). These situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Regular and Special Supplemental Examinations

1. Only students in their graduating year will be granted a supplemental examination.
2. Supplemental examinations will only be considered for courses taught in the Edwards School of Business, for which there is a final examination, and where the student has received between 40.00 to 49.99% on the final grade in the course. Students wishing to obtain supplemental privileges under this provision must make application, in writing, to Undergraduate Student Services.
3. For courses taught by another college, the supplemental examination regulations of that college will prevail.
4. Supplemental examinations will be accorded the same weight as the regular examination in the recalculation of the student’s final grade. The maximum final grade that a student may obtain as the result of a supplemental examination is a pass. This will be recorded in the student’s average as a 50.00%.

Regulations

Readmission Into Edwards

• Students who have not completed any courses for which transfer credit is granted at any college or post-secondary institution are guaranteed readmission.
• Students who, during their absence, completed between 3 and 15 transferable credit units will be assessed for readmission if they achieved an average of at least 60.00% on the transferable courses and are eligible to reapply as a returning student.
• Students who, during their absence, completed 18 transferable credit units or more will be assessed for readmission as transfer students and will need to meet the transfer average in effect for that year.

• Students who have received a Repeat Year faculty action, who have been away for four or more consecutive terms, and who have not in the interim completed any courses at another college or post-secondary institution can apply as a returning student at any point and will be readmitted. 
  
  

• Students who have received a Required to Discontinue faculty action with only one action on their record, and who have not in the interim completed any courses at another college or post-secondary institution during their RTD year, can apply as a returning student after one year and will be readmitted.
• Students who have received a Required to Discontinue faculty action with only one action on their record and attempt 3 to 15 transferable credit units while enrolled in another college or post-secondary institution during their RTD year can apply as a returning student and will be readmitted after one year, provided they achieve a minimum 60.00% average on the 3 to 15 credit units taken during their RTD year.
• Students who have received a Required to Discontinue faculty action with only one action on their record and attempt 18 more of transferable credit unitswhile enrolled in another college or post-secondary institution during their RTD year must apply as a returning student and will be admitted after one year, provided they meet the transfer average in effect for that year

• Reasons why the student has been unsuccessful in the past.
• Plan for future success in the program upon readmission; and
• Any additional supporting documentation that would strengthen your application.

Appeals of evaluation, grading, and academic standing are governed by university-wide council regulations.