11.1 What is an Academic Continuation Evaluation (ACE)?
The Academic Continuation Evaluation, more commonly referred to as “ACE”, is a term by term assessment by the Registrar’s Office of your status (e.g., Eligible to Continue, Academic Warning, Continue in Alternate, etc.) in your degree or certificate program, or Special Studies. One of your responsibilities as a student is that you satisfy the minimum CGPAs necessary to continue in your program and, of course, to graduate.
At Carleton, we conduct the ACE at the end of each term when all of your final grades have been submitted. Degree students are evaluated after taking a minimum of 5.5 credits or more since admission to that degree, regardless of how many you pass or fail, and then every term thereafter provided a course has been completed.
Special students are evaluated once they have completed 2.0 credits since their most recent admission to Special Studies. Subsequent evaluations occur every term thereafter provided a course has been completed.
See Academic Continuation Evaluation for Degree Students (Academic Regulation 3.2.1) in the undergraduate calendar for more information.
TIP: You can check the results of your ACE in Carleton Central once evaluations are complete. Your audit also shows your academic standing for each term that you receive an evaluation.
11.2 What are the possible outcomes of ACE?
After the ACE is conducted, you will receive one of the following decisions: Eligible to Continue; Academic Warning; Required to Withdraw for 2 Terms; Continue in Alternate; Eligible to Continue in Non-Honours; Dismissed from Program; or Required to Withdraw for 2 Years.
Check the undergraduate calendar for comprehensive definitions.
See Academic Continuation for Degree Students (Academic Regulation 3.2.1) in the undergraduate calendar for more information.
TIP: If you DON’T achieve eligible to continue or if you have questions about ACE, it is very important that you speak with an academic advisor because, although they are outlined in the calendar, the rules and regulations are complex, and you will need advice on improving your performance and standing. Make sure that you understand and get to know how your ACE standing will affect you. Visit the Academic Advising Centre website for more information.
11.3 What do my grades have to be like to remain eligible to continue?
There are general guidelines for being able to maintain good academic standing, as well as for being able to continue in your program. Some of the factors involved in determining your student status include your Year Standing, how many credits you’ve attempted, and what program you are registered in, to name a few. Also, there are a number of degree and program specific requirements for maintaining eligible to continue. For example, engineering students can only attempt a course three times.
Remember: You may pass all your courses, and still not be eligible to continue if your grades are too low (i.e. below the minimum requirements).
Students on academic warning are able to incrementally increase their CGPA to reach the minimum required. Students on academic warning who are not meeting the overall CGPA required for eligible to continue in their program will be assessed on their term CGPA (just those courses taken in the term being assessed). Provided their term CGPA is equal to or greater than the overall CGPA required for the program, they will be permitted to continue on academic warning.
The undergraduate calendar provides a comprehensive breakdown of minimum requirements for continuation.
TIP: Maintaining eligible to continue throughout your studies is the surest way to stay on track for graduation!
11.4 Are all programs evaluated the same way?
If your degree is listed below, there are additional regulations on Academic Performance Evaluation.
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies
- Bachelor of Humanities
- Bachelor of Industrial Design
- Bachelor of International Business
- Bachelor of Journalism
- Bachelor of Journalism and Humanities
- Bachelor of Mathematics
- Bachelor of Media Production and Design
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management
- Bachelor of Social Work
See Additional Information Concerning Academic Continuation Evaluation for Some Degrees (Academic Regulation 3.2.7) in the undergraduate calendar for more information.
TIP: The Academic Advising Centre can help you interpret degree specific implications of academic standing. Faculty of Engineering students can get similar advice at the Engineering Academic Support Office and Business students can seek advising through the Sprott School of Business..
11.5 What steps can I take to improve my grades if I am on academic warning?
Students on AW are encouraged to meet with an Advisor at the Academic Advising Centre. An Advisor can help you develop a plan to improve academically and can refer you to programs and services that can assist you during your time at Carleton.
The Academic Advising Centre offers advising services virtually during their regular business hours, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Contact the Academic Advising Centre for more information about advising services.
TIP: Taking into account any job hours or extra-curricular obligations, make sure that your course load is manageable. Evaluating your work/life balance is a key to your academic success.
11.6 I was required to withdraw from my degree program for 2 terms based on the results of my Academic Continuation Evaluation. Can I get back into the program?
After serving a two term removal from your original degree program, you may appeal for readmission to the same degree. A faculty committee makes the decisions on the readmission of previously removed students. As a student required to withdraw for 2 terms, you may be eligible to apply immediately for internal transfer to another degree program, and if that is not an option, then you can study as a special student during your period of removal. In fact, in most cases, these students are required to take courses and demonstrate improvement before they will be considered for re-admission to their original degree program.
See Readmission after being ineligible to continue in the undergraduate calendar for more information (Academic Regulation 3.2.3).
TIP: If you are applying for re-admission after being required to withdraw from your degree program for 2 terms, you will need to submit a letter of appeal to the admissions committee, explaining what occurred in your last attempt at studies and why you believe you will be successful now.