From the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the Faculty of Arts has worked with the University to safeguard the health of the entire Arts community and to provide the best possible closure to the semester in order to support the educational progression of students. The Faculty of Arts is offering some exceptional grading options for students who have courses ending in April 2020, which the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory fully supports.
For courses ending in April 2020 (Term 2 and full Winter Session courses), and for students with incomplete standings deferred (SDs) from Term 1 (September–December 2019), the Faculty of Arts is offering special allowances for students to apply for CrDF standing (as well as for late withdrawals).
This page addresses the CrDF option specifically in the context of Art History and Visual Art programs.
How Do CrDF Standings Work?
CrDF standings will appear on your transcript and work as follows:
- “Credit” is assigned when the grade is 55% or higher. Degree credit is earned.
- “D” is assigned when the grade is 50–54.9%. Degree credit is earned.
- “F” is assigned when the grade is below 50%. Degree credit is not earned.
Can I Use CrDF Courses for Art History and Visual Art Program Requirements?
Yes. You can request CrDF standing in any or all VISA and ARTH courses you are taking this term (2019W2) or for which you have an incomplete SD from Term 1 (2019W1) and count these courses toward the:
- Art History major, minor, honours, and diploma
- Visual Art major, minor, and honours
Can I Use CrDF VISA Courses to Meet the Minimum Admission Requirements for the VISA Major or Minor?
Yes. If you are intending to complete a VISA major, minor, or honours, you can still request CrDF in the lower-level VISA courses required by the programs. We will exclude these CrDF courses from the calculation for the minimum 72% cumulative average (factoring in only those VISA courses for which you have received a percentage grade when we calculate your average).
For example, the VISA major and minor both require a minimum 72% cumulative average across VISA 110, VISA 180, and VISA 183. You would still be on track to declare if you had the following grades:
- VISA 110: 70%
- VISA 180: CrDF standing from this term
- VISA 183: 74%
Only the percentage grades for VISA 110 and VISA 183 are factored into the calculation in this example. The cumulative average between the two non-CrDF courses is 72%, which meets the program minimum.
Can I Use a CrDF VISA Course to Meet a VISA Course Prerequisite?
Yes. Students with CrDF standing in VISA 110, VISA 180, VISA 183, VISA 210, VISA 220, VISA 230, VISA 240, VISA 241, VISA 250, VISA 260, and/or VISA 280 (from 2019W2 or via an incomplete SD from 2019W1) can count these courses toward specific prerequisites for higher-level VISA courses where a 72% average is normally required. The registration system will alert you to a missing prerequisite but not block you from registering.
When and How Do I Apply for CrDF Standing?
Once you receive your final percentage grade for a course, you can decide if CrDF is the right choice for you. If so, you will apply for the CrDF standing for that specific course via an online form from Arts Academic Advising between April 30 and May 13. The form is not yet available.
What Should I Know Before I Request a CrDF Standing?
- CrDF provides credit, but your grade will not be displayed on your transcript.
- CrDF will not result in your need to pay back loans or awards, but it may not support eligibility for awards in 2020 Winter Session. Please check with your Enrolment Services Advisor for more information. To find out who your Enrolment Services Advisor is, go to Personal Info >> UBC Contacts in the Student Service Centre (SSC).
- Courses with CrDF standing cannot be used in the calculation of your GPA for 2019 Winter, nor in your graduating average.
- Once you have selected CrDF, the standing will not be removed.
- If you are thinking about pursuing graduate studies, consider how your transcript will appear to prospective schools. Grad schools will review your transcript in order to determine whether or not you have high academic achievement (particularly in upper-level coursework related to your core area of study). The CrDF standing may not indicate high academic achievement for the admissions committee.
