The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change has been created as a call to action to respond to the most pressing challenges facing people and the planet.  Join us as we strive to create a more just and sustainable future!

The following regulations apply to students taking courses in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Applicants seeking admission are referred to the Regulations Governing Admission to the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University.

All students are required to:

• observe the regulations of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and York University;
• maintain a satisfactory standard of work;
• have discharged all financial liability to the University prior to graduation.

Undergraduate Degrees

Candidates admitted to a Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change degree program are required to:

• have been admitted to York University as degree students;
• satisfy all the corequisite(s) and prerequisite(s) for courses selected for enrolment;
• satisfy the program and degree requirements for one of the following degrees:
  • bachelor of arts
    • Honours BA
    • BA
  • bachelor in environmental studies
    • Honours BES
    • BES
  • bachelor of science  
    • Honours BSc
    • BSc

In the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC), the Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) provides EUC students with supportive services and resources to reach their utmost success.

OSAS works closely with other campus associates and colleagues to establish and maintain a welcoming and enthusiastic experience for our students as they progress through their program at York University. OSAS provides a confidential and safe environment for students to receive the assistance they require.

Academic Advising in the EUC is an interactive process in which the student with the help of the Advisor, will set and achieve their academic and professional goals, learn and utilize the relevant information and services to assist them, and to make responsible decisions consistent with interests, goals, and degree requirements. The Academic Advisor may also make referrals for student concerns to other campus services.

Academic Advisor(s) in EUC will:

• Assist all incoming and current students to develop their academic plan to graduate.
• Review student course selections in relation to completing their program, degree requirements and goals for the future.
• Provide accurate information so that students may make informed decisions about their program.
• Provide opportunities to discuss academic standing, cumulative GPA academic regulations, integrity concerns, petition and program change requests.
• Explain the petition procedure and interpret the Senate regulations.
• Inform the student about the various resources and services available on campus as well.

The Advisor(s) is available from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. The Advisor can be reached at eucadvise@yorku.ca.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

• Familiarize themselves with the academic policies, procedures and requirements for their program for the year they entered the program at calendars.students.yorku.ca/
• Continually monitor their progress towards graduation.
• Ensure the courses they choose meet the requirements for their degree.
• Ensure that the courses they choose are not course credit exclusions of other courses already taken and meet prerequisites.
• Note and observe deadlines and processes (fees refund schedule, add/drop courses).
• Keep themselves up-to-date on their academic progress in each and every course.
• Review their program requirements on the EUC website and the York student responsibilities on the York website.
• Ensure they are familiar with the University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Ensure they understand University Academic Integrity provisions (secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/academic-honesty-senate-policy-on/).

Academic standing depends on several factors, including the number of courses a student has passed, the grade point average achieved during a particular session (sessional grade point average) and the overall grade point average (cumulative grade point average).

Change of program. Students may request to change their program of study after completion of their first academic session in the Faculty, provided they meet the minimum academic standards and entry requirements for the program requested. Students must follow requirements of the program in place at the point of entry. A Program Change Request, available on the Program Change web page at myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/program-change, must be submitted. Some programs may require school/department approval. For details of individual programs, refer to the Programs of Study section. Also consult the section on Academic Standing.

Honours BES/BA/BSc Degree (120 credits)

Qualifying for Honours: Students with no Previous Postsecondary Education: Students who are admitted to the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change with no prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution (such as a university or college) are automatically enrolled in an Honours program.

Transfer Students: Students who are admitted to the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change with prior experience at a postsecondary educational institution are required to enrol in the Honours program if their prior cumulative grade point average (including failed courses) is at least the equivalent of 5.00 (C+) on the York scale.

Note: courses taken at other postsecondary institutions are not calculated as part of the student’s grade point average at York, nor do they appear on the York University transcript.

Honours Progression Requirements: Honours Standing

To continue in an Honours program, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 5.00 (C+). Students whose cumulative grade point averages fall below 5.00 (C+) during the course of their studies may proceed in an Honours program, on warning, provided that they meet the year level progression requirements as set out below.

Students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits, meet Faculty and program requirements, and achieve a CGPA of 5.00 (C+) for all courses taken to satisfy their program in order to graduate with an Honours degree. Students who are permitted to continue in an Honours program on warning will be required to attend an advising appointment with their advisor prior to enrolling.

Courses Taken Beyond the Normal Maximum

Students in an Honours BES/BA/BSc program who successfully complete more than 120 credits and whose cumulative grade point average is at least 5.00 (C+) will have all credits counted towards their Honours BES/BA/BSc and their cumulative grade point average.

Graduating in Honours BES/BA/BSc

To graduate from an Honours program, students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change' program requirements. The cumulative grade point average for all courses taken must be at least 5.00 (C+).

Ineligibility to Continue in Honours BES/BA/BSc

Students who do not meet the conditions outlined above may continue their studies only in the Bachelor’s 90 credit degree program. Students will be automatically transferred to the Bachelor’s program.

Re-entering Honours: Students may re-enter Honours BES/BA/BSc if they raise their cumulative grade point average to 5.00 or above by the time they have successfully completed (passed) their 90th credit. No extra courses may be taken in a subsequent session in an effort to raise the grade point average to qualify for Honours. Please refer to the Academic Warnings and Penalties section.

Opting to Graduate in the BES/BA/BSc Program – 90 credit

Students who are enrolled in the 120-credit Honours program may opt to graduate with a 90-credit degree program if they fulfill those program requirements. Students who wish to take advantage of this option should complete the relevant online application form on the York Convocation website (convocation.students.yorku.ca/preparing/apply/)

Academic Standing Requirements for Visiting Students

Individuals who wish to enrol in undergraduate credit courses, but who do not intend to complete a degree or a certificate may be admitted to York as a visiting student (see the Admissions section for more information). futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/visiting

Students whose academic record does not meet Faculty standards are subject to the academic penalties of academic warning, required withdrawal, debarment warning, debarment and academic probation.

Academic Warning

Students whose overall cumulative grade point average falls below 4.00 (C) at the end of any session or who enter the Faculty with a grade point average equivalent to less than 4.00 (C) on the York University undergraduate grading scheme, receive an academic warning. Students who receive an academic warning must achieve an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 4.00 (C) within the next 24 credits taken or must earn a sessional grade point average of at least 5.00 (C+) in the session in which the 24th credit is completed and in each subsequent session until the cumulative average reaches 4.00 (C) or be required to withdraw for 2 academic sessions (SU and FW or FW and SU).

Required Withdrawal BES/BA/BSc

Students whose academic record show marked weaknesses may be required to withdraw from their studies for one year, during which time they are encouraged to identify and remedy any problems which may have contributed to their failure to perform up to their potential, and to reflect on their reasons for pursuing a university education. The following regulations apply to required withdrawals for 2 academic sessions (SU and FW or FW and SU).

Grade Point Average Below 3.00 (D+)

Students whose cumulative grade point average on at least 24 credits is below 3.00 must withdraw for 12 months.

Grade Point Average Below 4.00 (C) and Greater than or equal to 3.00 (D+)

Students who have received an academic warning for a cumulative grade point average below 4.00 (C) must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 4.00 (C) within their next 24 credits taken or earn a sessional grade point average of at least 5.00 (C+) in the session in which the 24th credit is completed and in each subsequent session until the cumulative average reaches 4.00 (C); otherwise, they must withdraw for 12 months. Should the student’s cumulative grade point average fall below 3.00 (D+) at any time after completion of 24 credits, they will be required to withdraw.

Petition to Continue Without Interruption

Students who have been required to withdraw may submit a petition to the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change requesting permission to continue their studies without interruption. Students granted such a petition would be allowed to continue their studies on debarment warning. For further information, contact the Office of Student and Academic Services, 137 HNES.

Reactivation after Required Withdrawal

Students who have been required to withdraw may apply for reactivation (to continue their studies) after the requisite period of absence by submitting a request online at the Reactivation Web page (registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/reactivate). Students who return to their studies after such a required withdrawal (as well as those who have been allowed to continue their studies by virtue of a petition to the EUC Petitions Committee) will receive a debarment warning.

Debarment Warning

Students who have been required to withdraw from the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change or from another Faculty at York or elsewhere receive will receive a debarment warning upon returning or continuing their studies in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Students on a debarment warning must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 4.00 (C) within the next 24 credits taken or earn a sessional grade point average of at least 5.00 (C+) in the session in which the 24th credit is completed and in each subsequent session until their cumulative average reaches 4.00 (C), and must then maintain this average. Students who do not fulfill these conditions will be debarred from the University. Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.00 (D+) at any time while on a debarment warning will be debarred.

While working towards the completion of the BA or BES or BSc degree, students may opt to pursue a certificate in addition to their degree program. Students can choose from Climate Solutions and Sustainable Energy (CCSE); Cultural and Artistic Practices for Environmental and Social Justice (CAP); or Geomatics: Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS). In order to do so, students are required to complete a number of required and elective courses, in addition to completing other degree requirements. Please refer to Programs of Study section for certificate program-specific information. Contact the Faculty at euadvise@yorku.ca for more information on applying to these certificate programs.

Minimum Requirements for Multiple Certificates

Students may acquire more than one certificate during the course of their studies, provided that at least 18 credits in each certificate program are unique to the specific certificate.

Admission/Graduation Application and Transcript Notation

Students seeking direct entry to a certificate program must submit a written application when applying for admission to the University. Students already enrolled in an undergraduate degree program are also expected to apply for entry to a certificate program, normally prior to completion of 36 credits of their undergraduate degree program. Students must also submit an application to graduate from a certificate program. Applications should be obtained from and filed with the unit administering the certificate program. Transcript notation that the requirements for a certificate have been completed will be made once the Registrar’s Office has received notice from the unit administering the program. Certificates will not be conferred until candidates have successfully completed an undergraduate degree program if they are simultaneously enrolled in a degree and a certificate program.

Deferred Standing

Please refer to the Policies and Regulations section of the Undergraduate Calendar for further information about deferred standing, academic petitions and appeal guidelines. calendars.students.yorku.ca

In some cases, students may be eligible for deferred standing (an extension) allowing additional time to write a test or final examination or to complete an assignment after the University's deadline for submission of term work. Senate policy states that students must request deferred standing through the department responsible for the course within one week following a missed examination or the last day to submit course work.

Students are responsible for ensuring that full documentation (medical or other) is provided in support of a petition for deferred standing. Application forms are available online at the Deferred Standing Web page (myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/deferred-standing).

Note: When students do not or cannot write a mid-term examination (not held during the formal examination period), alternate arrangements to write the mid-term examination should be made within the duration of the course with the course director and individual student, at the discretion of the course director. The Deferred Standing Agreement does not apply.

Aegrotat Standing

In cases where a student cannot be expected to complete the work for a course, the phrase "aegrotat standing" (from the Latin for "she/he is ill") is substituted for a grade on the transcript. Aegrotat standing is seldom granted, and only in exceptional circumstances where deferred standing is inappropriate. For more information, please contact your course director.

Placement Opportunities

The placement course is offered every term throughout the year and is open to third & fourth year students in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban change who meet the eligibility requirements.

Placement Course Description:

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change placement is an experiential education course designed to provide BA, BES and BSc students and Certificate in Cultural and Artistic Practices for Environmental and Social Justice (CAP) students with the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a workplace environment. Through these placement opportunities, students will gain confidence in field-related knowledge, and acquire employable skills, and valuable work experience. When requirements are fulfilled, eligible students will enrol for either three or six credits depending on the number of hours approved for the placement. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria.

BA/BES/BSc Honours students:

Students are encouraged to book an appointment with the Experiential Education Coordinator at euc_ee@yorku.ca for guidance and resources to help them successfully secure a placement

1. Be enrolled in full-time studies and in their third year of study in EUC;
2. Successfully completed between 60 and 90 credits (or will have completed 60 credits by April of their third year);
3. Achieved a minimum overall Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of a B (6.00);
4. Attended the following Career Centre workshops in preparation for experiential work placement prior to enrolling in EU/ENVS 4001 3.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 3.00) or EU/ENVS 4001 6.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 6.00) Placement Course;

• Résumé & Cover Letter Writing workshop
• Job Search Strategies that Work workshop
• Polish Your Interview Skills workshop

BA/BES/BSc Bachelor’s (90 credits) students:

Have a placement secured and received approval by the Experiential Education Coordinator and the Course Director of EU/ENVS 4001 3.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 3.00) or EU/ENVS 4001 6.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 6.00)

Student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.50 or higher

Students who do not meet the required CGPA must meet with the EE Coordinator to discuss options and possible petition, which would outline:

• the circumstances which prevented them from attaining
• how the placement course will be beneficial to them
• If approved, they will have to work closely with the EE Coordinator for professional development coaching.

Requirements for CAP students:

Part A:

1. Must have declared and be enrolled in the CAP certificate;
2. Must have completed 6.0 credits of artistic practice;
3. Must have completed three workshops from the career centre:

• Résumé & Cover Letter Writing workshop
• Job Search Strategies that Work workshop
• Polish Your Interview Skills workshop

Part B:

• Be in contact with the Course Director of EU/ENVS 4001 3.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 3.00) or EU/ENVS 4001 6.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 6.00);
• Have an approved placement secured by the Course Director of EU/ENVS 4001 3.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 3.00) or EU/ENVS 4001 6.00 (cross-listed to EU/GEOG 4001 6.00).
• Students who enroll in an approved placement may receive 3 or 6 credits towards their degree upon the successful completion of the placement. Approved placements require a minimum of 120 hours of work and are generally 8–12 weeks in duration (3 credits) or a minimum of 240 hours of work over 8–12 weeks (6 credits). Course/tuition fees will be subject to the student’s fee status as approved by York University. Placements will be carried out each semester throughout the year.

In order to receive academic credit, students must enrol and register online for the course, using the York Enrolment System, go out on a pre-approved placement and fulfill the deliverables of the course. Students will be graded on a pass/fail basis, which will be recorded on the student's transcript; the grade will not be included in the calculation of the student's Grade Point Average.

Students are encouraged to participate in paid placements. However, financial compensation is not guaranteed by York University and students should be aware that the majority of placement providers do not provide financial compensation. Students are also responsible for any incurred costs associated with the placement (e.g. licensing or travel) or any additional requirements (e.g., vaccinations). The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has information on "unpaid trainees" which is relevant.

Career & Experiential Education Coaching

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change provides students with hands-on experiences in the classroom which develop essential skills for the workforce. Students are encouraged to book an appointment with the Experiential Education (EE) Coordinator if they are interested in:

• Placement & Internship Inquiries
• Exploring EUC career paths and resources
• Learning how to translate their classroom experience onto their resumes
• Professional development advising
• Resume & Cover Letter Feedback
• Job Search Skills
• Mock Interviews
• Networking Advice
• LinkedIn Guidance

The EE Coordinator is available 8:30-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding holidays. Requests for appointments can be made by email to euc_ee@yorku.ca

Grading

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change follows the York University undergraduate grading scheme which awards letters ranging from A+ to F and assigns a point value from 0 to 9 to each letter grade. Where percentages are used as a means of reporting grades on individual pieces of work, the conversion table below is to be used in converting percentage grades to letter grades, unless alternative provisions for scaling and/or conversion are announced to students in writing within the first two weeks of classes.

1. All course grades, including those assigned after a deferred examination(s) are derived from an evaluation of examination and term work, unless otherwise decided.
2. With the exception of courses explicitly required for certification by a professional body, or other exceptions agreed to by Senate, students pass or fail a course on the basis of final course average, without the additional requirement of having to obtain a passing grade on a final examination. (This does not preclude the possibility of a final examination representing more than 50 per cent of the final grade in a particular course or the requirement that a student pass a specific course lab component.)
3. Unless Senate agrees to explicit exemptions, eligibility to proceed in or graduate from an undergraduate degree program will not be based on a minimum grade requirement for each major course. It should be noted that this does not preclude setting requirements for a minimum cumulative grade point average in a major subject area. Nor does this preclude setting individual course grade requirements when a course is a prerequisite for upper-level courses or as part of a core requirement. Course grades are not official until released by the University.
4. The letter-grade system is the fundamental system of assessment of performance in undergraduate programs at York University. In courses where percentages are used as a means of reporting grades on individual pieces of work, the following conversion table is to be used in converting percentage grades to letter grades, unless alternative provisions for scaling and/or conversion are announced to students in writing within the first two weeks of classes.

Repeated Passed or Failed Courses

Students may repeat a passed or failed course twice for academic degree or certificate credit, for a maximum of three (3) attempts at a course. Students should note that course availability and space considerations may preclude the possibility of repeating a course in the session they choose.

Credit towards your degree will only be counted once for repeated courses taken at York or elsewhere. All repeated passed or failed attempts are subject to the University Senate Policy on Repeating Passed or Failed Courses For Academic Credit.

Alternate Grading Methods

Pass/Fail

Students in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change can request a pass/fail option. Courses taken under the pass/fail option will be annotated on their transcript as P (pass) or F (fail). Neither of these grades will be calculated into their grade point average. Detailed information on pass/fail option is available at myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/

Credit/No Credit

The notations Credit and No Credit will be used when an entire course is being offered on an ungraded basis. No Credit will count as an earned failing grade of F in the grade point average.

Marking Scheme

Announcement in class:

The means of determining the final grade in a course shall be provided to students by the course director within the first two weeks of class. Such information must include the types of assignments, essays, examinations, and other components, which make up the grade, their relative weight(s), and any other procedures, which enter into the determination of the final grade.

Subsequent changes:

In exceptional circumstances, a previously announced marking scheme for a course may be changed, but only with the consent of the majority of students and the approval of the undergraduate program director. The course director must distribute the new marking scheme in written form to the students.

Feedback during course:

Course directors are obliged to provide a mechanism by which students can be apprised of their progress in a course and that the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights or assignments, essays, exams etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class. Under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15 per cent of the final grade for fall, winter or summer term, and 30 per cent for "full year" courses offered in the fall/winter term, be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade, with the following exceptions:

• graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses where course work typically or at the instructor's discretion, consists of a single piece of work and/or is based predominantly (or solely) on student presentations (e.g. honours theses or graduate research papers not due by the drop date etc.);
• practicum courses;
• ungraded courses;
• courses in Faculties where the drop date occurs within the first three weeks of classes;
• courses which run on a compressed schedule (a course which accomplishes its academic credits of work at a rate of more than one credit hour per two calendar weeks).

Note: under unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances which disrupt the academic norm, course directors are expected to provide grading schemes and academic feedback in the spirit of these regulations, as soon as possible.

Information for Continuing Students in a Grandparented Program (Admitted Prior to Fall/Winter 2021-2022)

Students who were registered in a degree and program formerly in the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies (BA) and the former Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (BES) have been moved to the newly-created Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Grandparenting provisions have been developed for students continuing in these degrees and programs. Continuing students who are moved to the new Faculty will be permitted to complete their existing degrees and programs of study under the grandparenting rules.

The University is committed to ensuring a minimum disruption to students through adherence to grandparenting principles. The grandparenting rules outlined below will be in effect until Summer 2026, with Fall 2026 convocation being the final sunset date. Students who have not completed the requirements of their grandparented program by the end of the Summer 2026 session will be required to follow the program adopted in the new Faculty. Consequently, all students enrolled in the Fall/Winter 2026-2027 session will be following new Faculty requirements.

Grandparenting requirements

University and Faculty-level degree requirements include the number of credits for the degree, general education requirements, breadth requirements (if any), grade point average (overall, cumulative and sessional) requirements and residence/in-Faculty requirements. Program of study requirements include rules about program-specific regulations such as the number of courses for a Major/Minor, the number of courses at a particular level, and specific individual course requirements. At the course level, grandparenting rules will take into consideration course levels, course content and course substitutes. It is assumed that, if necessary, discretion will be used in order to accommodate any students inadvertently disadvantaged by the rules implemented by the new Faculty.

Faculty transfers

Students transferring from units other than the former Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies to the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change effective September 1, 2021 will be required to follow the new rules implemented by the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change.

Reactivations to new rules

Previous students from the former Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies who have been away for more than four consecutive sessions (2 academic years or less), or who reactivate after the Summer 2023 session will follow the rules in place at the time of reactivation.

Courses

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change will develop a clear policy for grandparented programs of study with regard to course-level requirements and course substitutes. Students completing degrees and programs of study under grandparented rules will have their previous courses' levels and substitutes honoured.

Academic Achievement or Distinction List

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change recognizes the academic excellence of its students by means of the following honours which are recorded on a student's transcript.

Sessional Dean's Honour Roll

The Dean's Sessional Honour Roll recognizes a student’s academic achievements in each session based on the following criteria:

• students taking 12 to 17 credits in each session and who have attained a sessional grade point average of 8.00.
• students taking 18 or more credits in a given session and who have attained a sessional grade point average of 7.50.

Graduating Honours

Students with high grade point averages are eligible for the following honours upon graduation from the Faculty:

Honours BES/BA/BSc Degree - 120 Credits

• Summa cum laude: cumulative grade point average 8.00+
• Magna cum laude: cumulative grade point average 7.80 to 7.99
• Cum laude: cumulative grade point average 7.50 to 7.79
• Member of the Dean's Graduating Honour Roll: cumulative grade point average 7.00+

BES/BA/BSc Degree - 90 Credits

• With Distinction: cumulative grade point average 8.00+
• With Merit: cumulative grade point average 7.50 to 7.99

Breach of Academic Honesty

Conduct that violates the ethical or legal standards of the University community is a serious matter. In particular, any breach of academic honesty is a most serious offence to both the University community and the academic enterprise. Therefore, all faculty members are required to treat any breach of academic honesty, no matter how small the breach may appear, as a most serious matter demanding most thorough investigation. The rules embodied in the University Senate Policy on Academic Honesty apply to all BES/BA/BSc students and are described in the Policies and Regulations section of this publication.

In the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change it is a serious offence against academic honesty, among other things, to cheat, to impersonate, to plagiarize or misappropriate the work of others, to practice improper research procedures, to be dishonest in publication, to aid and abet academic misconduct or to undertake any other action that runs counter to academic honesty. In addition, some forms of breach of academic honesty might constitute offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. While the pressures of school may be such that a student may feel pressured to breach academic honesty, students must completely resist such pressures. Students who are unsure of what may constitute a breach of academic honesty should consult with the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty (in the Policies and Regulations section) or with the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change Office of Student and Academic Services.

Course Load

Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change students are subject to the following course load constraints:

Fall/Winter Session

• Fall/Winter session (September–April): Students are advised to take no more than 30.00 credits (fifteen credits per term). Students may take a maximum of 36.00 credits (18.00 credits per term) without petitioning.
• Students with substantial academic difficulties and/or financial responsibilities and/or personal circumstances are advised to take fewer courses than indicated in a session.

Summer Session

• Summer session (May–August): Students may take a maximum of 18 credits overall without petitioning
• Students with substantial academic difficulties and/or financial responsibilities and/or personal circumstances are advised to take fewer courses than indicated in a session.

Cross-listed Courses

Some courses in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change are cross-listed. Cross-listed courses are offered jointly by two or more teaching units (such as departments or divisions), or teaching units in two or more different Faculties. Regardless of the offering Faculty or discipline identified by the course prefix of a cross-listed course, every offered section of a cross-listed course is substantially the same as every other and all are therefore recognized as instances of the "same" course.

1. Cross-listed courses may not be double counted in order to fulfill degree requirements.
2. Cross-listed courses may not be used to fulfill degree requirements of credits required outside the major in the programs offering the cross-listing.

Audit a Course

With the permission of a course director, an auditor attends classes and participates in a course in the same way as other students but does not submit assignments or write tests or examinations. Restrictions may apply. Further information about admissibility, application procedures, courses available and fees may be obtained at Registrarial Services.

Placement Opportunities

The placement course is offered every term throughout the year and is open to third & fourth year students who meet the eligibility requirements. More information on placement opportunities can be found under the “Field Placement Opportunities” tab.

Information for Continuing Students in a Legacy Program

Continuing students who are enrolled in the program and returning students will be permitted to complete their existing degree and program of study including Area of Concentration under the legacy program rules.

As part of changes implemented in 2016 to BES areas of concentration, we have legacy program provisions for students who entered into the program prior to FW 2017-2018 academic session. Environment and Culture and Environmental Politics students can choose to either fulfill the obligations of the retired Area of Concentrations or opt for the new Area of Concentration (Environmental Justice, Politics and Arts). For either choice, students need to complete their program following the policy and regulations of the program they declare prior to Fall/Winter 2017-2018. This includes all degree requirements including general educations requirements, Area of Concentration requirements, out of faculty requirements, upper level requirements as well as free electives.

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change is committed to ensure minimum disruption to students through adherence to legacy program principles. The legacy program rules will be in effect until Fall 2020 with February 2021 convocation being the final date. Students who have not completed the requirements of their legacy program by the end of Fall 2020 session will be required to follow the program new requirements. Accordingly, new students admitted in Fall 2017-2018 session will follow new program requirements. At the course level, legacy program rules will need to take into consideration course levels, course content and course substitutes. It is assumed that, if necessary, discretion will be used in order to accommodate any students inadvertently disadvantaged by the rules implemented.

Simultaneous Enrolment Guidelines

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change does not permit students to enrol in courses that are conflicting with each other. Students cannot enrol in two or more courses in the same term that are offered on the same day and time.

Students who undertake such schedules should be advised that there will be no special arrangements and/or support by Course Directors. Course Directors are under no obligation to grant extensions for assignments/exams and/or tests that conflict as a result of double course enrolment. Students are expected to be in class regularly, hand in assignments on time and write the exam/test on its scheduled time. A petition to undertake such schedules in which course conflicts occur or to seek accommodation for such conflicts will not be supported by the Faculty.

Term Work

Term work includes reports, assignments, essays, tests, and other written and oral work assigned in a course, with the exception of final examinations, as outlined in the approved course syllabus. Course directors set the deadlines for submission of term work. All term work must be submitted by the last day of classes of the term in which the course ends. Term work submitted after the last day of classes of the term in which the course ends will not be accepted for grading. Notwithstanding that term work will not be accepted after the last day of classes of the term in which the course ends, assignments received later than the due date will be penalized five per cent of the value of the assignment per day that their assignments are late. Exceptions to the lateness policy for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds etc. will be entertained by the course director only when supported by written documentation (e.g. a doctor's letter).

Tests and Examinations

Tests and examinations may be held in any EUC  course in such form and manner as decided by the course director and as described in the approved course syllabus. Tests and examinations are an essential part of the learning and evaluation process. They must be conducted under fair conditions which allow students to analyze, synthesize, and demonstrate what they have learned. Disruptions or attempts to obtain an unfair advantage are offences against due academic processes and carry severe penalties: refer to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities at secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca. The following regulations apply to tests and examinations (secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/conduct-of-examinations-policy-guidelines/).

End of term restrictions:

The total value of any test(s) or examination(s) given during the final 14 calendar days of classes in a term must carry a combined weighting of no more than 20 per cent of the final mark for the course. Note: exceptions are made for some third- and fourth-year courses, such as seminars that often have one or two major assignments due at the end of the term.

Scheduling of tests:

Except where testing is conducted during individual appointments which accommodate a student's schedule (e.g. individually scheduled make-up tests), tests or examinations given during the term must be held within the hours regularly scheduled for the course in question. Any exceptions must be communicated within the first two weeks of classes and on the course outline.

Students' rights of refusal:

Students who are asked to write tests or examinations in contravention of the preceding two regulations may refuse to do so without academic penalty. They also have the right to raise the matter with the Undergraduate Program Director of the department or the school in which the course is offered or with the associate dean of students.

General Regulations for Tests and Examinations

Identification

Students who are being tested or examined are required to present a valid York University photo identification card or other acceptable form of photo identification and to sign the attendance roster for the examination. Acceptable forms of photographic identification include a valid driver's license with photograph attached, a valid passport or other certificate of citizenship with photograph attached.

Answer Booklets

Answer booklets are the property of the University. Test papers, examination booklets and other answer forms remain the property of the University unless they are released by an instructor. Students may not remove them from the test or examination room without permission; nor may they possess blank examination booklets.

Students’ Right to Review

Students may always have the opportunity, under properly controlled conditions, to review and discuss their graded test and examination answers, but final examination answer booklets (and at the discretion of the course director, other examination booklets) remain the property of the University, and are retained by the teaching unit for a certain period of time before they are destroyed.

Final examination period

There is a final examination period at the end of each term. The dates and times of formally scheduled examinations are listed on the York Courses website at w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/curexam. Examinations may last two or three hours. Students are responsible for making themselves aware of the appropriate examination details.

Missed examinations

In accordance with University policy and procedure, a student who misses an examination should contact the course director and the department/school of the examination as soon as possible. A student who wishes to write a make-up examination must request deferred standing in the course. Please refer to the section on Deferred Standing/Academic Petitions and Appeals or the Deferred Standing web page at myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/deferred-standing

Religious Accommodation Guidelines

Students who, because of religious commitment cannot write a formally scheduled examination (December and April or Summer examination periods) on the date scheduled, should contact the course instructor no later than three weeks prior to the start of the examination period to arrange an alternative examination date. A Religious Accommodation form is available for this purpose online at w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/regobs.

Rewriting of examinations

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change has no provision for rewriting of a final examination. Once an exam   been written or the major paper submitted, the course is completed. Examinations or papers cannot be rewritten to improve a final grade. There shall be no rewriting to improve a mark.

Assessment of Students in EUC Courses

The course director shall assess students enrolled in each EUC course considering the requirements set at the beginning of the course as articulated in the course syllabus. These assessments shall be based on a combination of tests or formal examination(s), participation in classes, term work submitted, and other evidence as determined by the course director.

Subsequent Changes

In exceptional circumstances, a previously announced marking scheme for a course may be changed, but only with the consent of all students and the approval of the Undergraduate Program Director. The Course Director must distribute the new marking scheme in written form to the students.

In courses where percentages are used as a means of reporting grades on individual pieces of work, the conversion table is used in converting percentage grades to letter grades, unless alternative provisions for scaling and/or conversion are announced to students in writing within the first two weeks of classes.

Feedback During Course

Course Directors are obliged to provide a mechanism by which students can be apprised of their progress in a course. The grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) will be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class. Under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term, will be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade, with the following exceptions:

1. Graduate or upper-level Undergraduate courses where coursework typically, or at the Instructor's discretion, consists of a single piece of work and/or is based predominantly solely) on student presentations (e.g. Honours theses or Graduate research papers not due by the drop date, etc.).
2. Practicum courses
3. Ungraded courses
4. Courses in Faculties where the drop date occurs within the first 3 weeks of classes
5. Courses which run on a compressed schedule (which accomplishes its academic credits of work at a rate of more than one credit hour per two calendar weeks)

Note: Under unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances which disrupt the academic norm, Course Directors are expected to provide grading schemes and academic feedback in the spirit of these regulations, as soon as possible.