Guidelines on Academic Transcript Notations

Definitions

An academic transcript is the primary official consolidated record of a student’s academic performance and achievement.

Context

The main body of a standard academic transcript at the University includes a list of all courses attempted, the grade result in each, the average course grade (undergraduate only), and sessional and cumulative grade point averages (undergraduate only); transfer credit or advanced standing awarded; titles of any theses (master’s and doctoral); information about the student’s academic status including records of suspension and refusal of further registration and current academic sanctions; and the details of the program(s) (including fields, specialists, majors, and minors) and degree completed. See the University of Toronto’s

University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy (Approved by Academic Board on January 26, 2012; effective July 1, 2012).

Beyond this comparatively standard content, University of Toronto transcripts can include a wide variety of freehand transcript notations intended to recognize student achievement. These vary between Faculties. As stated above, the goal of these guidelines is to regularize this content.

Principles

In making decisions about annotations to the academic transcript, the following principles are intended to provide guidance. Annotations to the transcript should:

Reflect academic work only.
Acknowledge academic work / achievement that is in addition to that required by the student’s program of study.
Recognize work that conforms to an agreed upon minimum commitment of time, effort, and performance.
Highlight the acquisition of skill / knowledge in discrete areas.
Refer to agreed upon categories of academic activity.
Recognize academic success.
Use standardized language.

The academic transcript is not the appropriate document to record:

Co‐curricular activity
Volunteerism

Categories of Transcript Notations

A review of the range of academic activities for which students might reasonably expect formal recognition in the form of a formal transcript notation suggest that there are three broad categories. It is critical to note that in every case the achievement of the citation does not serve to meet degree requirements.

1. Completion of a Certificate or Diploma as defined by the Policy on Diploma and Certificate Programs (December 2, 2003)

The recognition on a student’s transcript of a formal approved Certificate or Diploma program is an accepted norm. These are understood as formal entities which may be taken alone or in conjunction with a student’s program of study, depending upon their specific requirements in line with the

Policy on Diploma and Certificate Programs (December 2, 2003)

Example that would fall under this category:

Any approved certificate or diploma.

2. Completion of a coherent cluster of for‐credit courses that are less than a minor but provide the student with a degree of proficiency in a discrete area of study.

This transcript notion would recognize the completion of a specified amount of for‐credit work that is distinct from a major or minor but has academic integrity. It is intended to indicate that the student has some working knowledge of or proficiency within the area cited.

Example that would fall under this category:

The existing Undergraduate Language Citation offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science which recognizes the completion of two full courses or the equivalent in one of a wide variety of languages beyond the introductory University‐level course with a minimum grade of at least B‐ in each course. (This results in the transcript notation: “Language citation in x”),

3. Completion of a defined series of non‐credit courses, workshops, and activities that support student academic success or professional development goals directly associated with an academic program of study.

This transcript notation would recognize a coherent category of activity intended to enhance a student’s learning directly related to their program of study.

Examples that would fall under this category:

The existing Graduate Professional Skills program offered by the School of Graduate Studies which consists of a range of optional “offerings” with a time commitment roughly equivalent to 60 hours of work. (This results in the transcript notation : “Completion of the Graduate Professional Skills Program”)

Professional Development programs being developed by undergraduate divisions in conjunction with academic programs.

Minimum Commitment of Time & Effort

For a transcript notation concerning academic achievement to be meaningful, it is critical that minimum standards of time and effort be established. While there is a great variety possible, at the University of Toronto, the minimum commitment of time must be the equivalent of at least 36 hours of work at a University level. In each instance, the notation is dependent upon the successful completion of the activity which should be defined at the outset.

While these Guidelines establish a minimum, individual Faculties/divisions may wish to establish minima that are higher.

Language of the Notation

The language of the notation should be simple and consistent. It should, at the most straightforward, read:

“Certificate/Diploma in ……”
“Faculty of x citation in ……..”
“Completion of the professional development program in [area]”

Approval Process

To ensure consist meaning in University of Toronto transcripts, all Faculties/divisions are asked to bring forward short proposals outlining the activity for which they propose to provide a transcript notation for discussion with the Provost’s Office.

Following Provostial approval, all proposals for transcript notation should be brought for Faculty/divisional Council approval before the notation is implemented.

The School of Graduate Studies is the only division that may approve transcript notations for graduate transcripts.

For Information and Discussion, Committee on Academic Policy and Programs (April 5, 2011)
For Approval, Vice-President and Provost (December 11, 2011)