Academic Regulations.

• Academic Integrity

Living the Christian life includes striving for academic excellence and honesty according to the measure of gifts granted to each student by the Lord.  Students are expected to demonstrate good work habits by completing assignments punctually, conscientiously, and in accordance with standard academic practices.  Students are expected to give an honest account of themselves in all their work at Covenant College, both written and oral.

Our College seeks to uphold good academic practice and, therefore, academic dishonesty will result in academic penalty.  The following practices are considered forms of academic dishonesty:

• unacknowledged use of the ideas and work of others whether that be in written, oral, or graphic form (plagiarism)
• seeking double credit for a single assignment submitted to two different instructors in two different courses without the prior consent of both instructors (double-dipping)
• claiming authorship of a paper or assignment completed by someone else
  
  
•  Academic Year

The academic year of the College runs from the beginning of September to the end of May and observes the same holidays as the elementary/secondary schools in Ontario.

An academic year is divided into a fall semester (September through December) and a winter semester (January to end of May).  Classes begin on the Tuesday immediately following Labour Day and end of the second-last Friday in May.

•  Assignments

Written and oral assignments constitute an important part of course requirements.  Instructors will advise students of course requirements and due dates for major assignments by means of a course syllabus during the first sessions of a new term. Such requirements can be changed only after mutual consultation and agreements.

Instructors will provide written guidelines as well as assistance as needed. Students are urged to consult with their instructors during all stages of assignment preparation.

Unless otherwise indicated by instructors, all written assignments should:

• be word-processed and double-spaced. 
• be clearly identified by a title page.
• adhere to the referencing format of the American Psychological Association (APA) which the College has adopted.
  
  
•  Attendance            

Students are expected to attend all classes, orientation days, and practicum sessions.  The College maintains a record of attendance.  Attendance is factored into the participation component of courses.

Students are expected to call the College before classes begin for the day in order to report any absences.  Sickness and family/personal emergencies constitute valid reasons for absence.  The College reserves the right to request a doctor’s certificate as medical proof of absence.

If a student is to be absent during a practice-teaching session, the student must notify the associate teacher (or the school principal) and the College.

•  Components of College Programs

Both programs offered by the College consist of two components:

• an academic component consisting of  approximately 12 weeks of course work per semester
• an annual practicum component consisting of 5 to 12 weeks of practice teaching per academic year depending on the student’s year and program
  
  
• Course Credit and Load           

All courses offered at Covenant are full-credit courses based on three hours of class contact per week for a 12-week semester for a total of 36 hours of class contact time per course.  Courses in Bible and Church History studies are offered once per week (1.5 hours of class contact time) and continued over both semesters.

A normal study load consists of the equivalent of six full-credit courses per semester.  Students may expect a weekly study load of 18 to 20 hours of class contact time depending on the arrangement of courses across semesters.

•  Course Failure

Students who fail one or more courses may request the opportunity to repeat these courses when they become available.  Generally, courses are repeated either in the following academic year, or as part of a two- or three-year cycle.

The College reserves the right to stipulate the length of time that a student will be given to make up the required courses.

•  Evaluation of Student Learning

Academic Component

In addition to in-class participation and overall preparedness, students will be evaluated on the basis of at least 3 of the following:

• term quizzes and tests and/or a final exam
• portfolio assignment;  instructional unit plan or critique
• formal papers (e.g., essays, position papers)
• critical book and/or article reviews
• seminar presentations; oral reports

Practicum Component

The practicum component of a student’s work is evaluated separately by a College supervisor on the basis of the student’s practicum portfolio which consists of:

• two lesson plans selected by the student
• two lesson reflections based on the selected lesson plans
• daily log book entries
• the associate teacher’s evaluation reportsthe faculty supervisor’s observation report
• a practicum binder which consists of all lesson plans, schedules, activities, notes, etc. collected by the student teacher

The final (induction) practicum in Year 3 and the Diploma of Education program is evaluated on the basis of the following components:

• four weekly self-evaluation/reflections
• the associate teacher’s evaluation reports
• the College supervisor’s observation reportthe student’s practicum binder
  
  
•  Grading & Grade Reports

Student Progress Reports

Twice during an academic year, students receive a report on their progress.  The first term report is dated January 15; the second term report is dated June 15.  No final reports will be released until a student’s account has been paid in full and all library materials returned.

Grading of Academic Component

Designated course work will be assessed and awarded a numerical grade on final transcripts according to the following scale:

To obtain credit for a course, a student must achieve 50% in that course.

A student must maintain an overall yearly average of 70% in the academic component of his/her program in order to continue in his/her program and/or to be considered eligible for graduation. 

When a student does not achieve the expected yearly average, his/her academic progress will be reviewed by the faculty.  A student may be placed on probation as the result of such a review. 

Grading of Practicum Component

Each practicum session is evaluated on a scale of 1 to 4 which is reflected as a numerical grade on term and final reports according to the following scale:

            4  Is developing beyond expectations  90-100%

            3  Is developing as expected                      78-89 %

            2     Needs to improve in a number of areas   66-77 %

            1     Is not demonstrating development           below 65 %

            A student needs to maintain a yearly average of 70 % in practicum work in order to remain in the practicum component of his/her program.  A student may continue the academic component of his/her program even though he/she is not going to complete the practicum component.

Grading of Professional Portfolios

Students receive either a Pass or Fail grading for the professional portfolio which they complete during their final year at the College:

Pass - Student completes all required components of their portfolio:

Fail - Student fails to complete all required components.

• Graduation Requirements

In order to be considered eligible for graduation, students must have:

• completed all course work by the due dates indicated on the Schedule of Dates with an overall average of 70% or higher.
• completed all practicum requirements with an average of 70% or higher.
• completed a Professional Portfolio.
• paid all fees, dues and other costs by the date stipulated by the Board.
• returned all library and other College materials by the Wednesday before graduation.

Students who fail to meet the requirements for the Practicum component of either program, but who have successfully completed the academic component, will graduate with an Academic Certificate. 

• Practice Teaching

Each student will receive a current edition of Covenant’s Practicum Guidelines for Student Teachers in his/her first year at the College. This document outlines all the requirements of the practicum program for each year and each program.

When students are sent out to schools for a practicum session, it is expected that they will:

• complete all requirements described in the Guidelines for their respective year and program
• demonstrate a mature and professional attitude in accordance with the expectations of the College and those of the schools in which they are placed
• submit their practicum portfolios to their faculty supervisors during the week following the completion of a practicum session