Students may withdraw from the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Architecture (PBDA) by submitting their request in writing to the program director. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following the application procedures. Students requesting re-admission to the program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration.
Students will receive a refund of the full course tuition fee minus the course withdrawal processing fee (refer to Fees) if they withdraw from the course within the first month of the course start date. Students wishing to withdraw from a course(s) before the first day of class will receive a partial refund (full tuition fee minus the withdrawal processing fee).
All courses will be graded using the following alphabetic scale effective September 1, 2004. Students registered in courses with start dates before September 1, 2004 will be graded according to the applicable former Alpha or percentage grade scale.
For courses starting on or after September 1, 2004, the following scale is now effective. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information.
| Alpha Grade | Percentage | Grade Point |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 95 - 100 | 4.0 |
| A | 90 - 94 | 4.0 |
| A- | 85 - 89 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 80 - 84 | 3.3 |
| B | 75 - 79 | 3.0 |
| B- | 70 - 74 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 66 - 69 | 2.3 |
| C | 63 - 65 | 2.0 |
| C- | 60 - 62 | 1.7 |
| F | 59 - 0 | 0.0 |
INC Incomplete status
W Withdrawn in good standing
WF Withdrawal Fail
Students must complete the PBDA program within five years.
A student who wishes to take a few courses to begin a career in architecture, or to be considered for promotion, or are simply interested in the topic and do not wish to register in the PBDA, may register as non-program students. Students wishing to enrol in the PBDA program as a non-program student must hold a baccalaureate degree from a recognized post-secondary education institution. All persons applying for non-program status will be required to submit confirmation of successful completion of an undergraduate degree. Applicants may be asked to submit a resumé in support of their non-program application. Students are accepted into the PBDA program at the discretion of Athabasca University. Some courses may have limited enrolment. Application information can be found on the RAIC Centre for Architecture website.
All materials for non-program student registration (including the application form and fees) must be completed in full and received one month prior to the course start date.
Non-program students may take up to two PBDA courses in total.
Students may appeal any mark given to essays, examinations, assignments, or exercises that contribute to their final grade. Appeals of both failing and passing marks will be considered. Students determine the grounds for appeal and must follow the procedures outlined in Athabasca University’s Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations.
The PBDA courses completed through Athabasca University (AU) are delivered by individualized study; a self-directed learning environment. Students will communicate with their course instructor via internal Moodle mail (AU’s learning management system) and send assignments over the Internet. Computer conferencing may be used as part of the learning environment. Learners will require access to a computer with configurations and software as outlined in the computer requirements. As instructional support is provided through an online environment, it is important that students have regular and reliable internet access.
Courses may be taken year-round, and will begin on the first day of every month. Students will have six months to complete a three-credit course.
Students who cannot complete their course on or before their contract date may apply for an extension by submitting an Extension Request Form along with the applicable fee.
Students may apply for one extension only per course on or before the original contract date. The extension starts on the first day following the original contract date. An extension provides students with an additional two months with full instructor support. The schedule for completing the course within the extension period is the responsibility of the student.
Only one extension per course will be granted to any one student. If the required course work has not been submitted by the end of the extension period, a failing grade will be assigned.
Students may withdraw from a course by filling out the Course Withdrawal Request Form only if the final examination has not been written.
Students may withdraw from a course within 30 days of their course start date for a refund of the full course fee less the Withdrawal Processing fee. The registration will not appear on the transcripts and will be deleted from the official record. The student should not return the course materials.
Students may withdraw from a course at any time up to 30 days prior to the end of the original course end date without academic penalty. A “W” will appear on the transcript which means a student has withdrawn without credit and without prejudice. There is no refund and course materials should not be returned.
If a student formally withdraws less than 30 days prior to the course end date, the official record will reflect a ‘WF” (Withdrawal Failure), and will be without academic penalty.
If a student does not formally withdraw from the course before the course end date, and does not complete the course, the official record will reflect an “F” (Failure). A grade of zero will be assigned and calculated into the cumulative average. There is no refund and course materials should not be returned.
Information effective September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016.
Updated June 30 2015 by laurab
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