If you have cumulated one or two failed courses but still obtained an average of 60% or better than you will be conditionally promoted and will need to clear the failure prior to graduation. You may be required to retake the course or you may be permitted to write a supplemental exam to clear the failure. Supplemental exams are only permitted for engineering courses.
If you have been granted permission to write a supplemental exam, SUPA will be entered under Reqmnt Desig next to the failed course. A supplemental exam will be equivalent to writing the final exam the next time the course is offered or, in special circumstances only, the instructor may provide a supplemental exam at an alternate and agreeable time. Note: The statute of limitations on writing a supplemental exam is one year. After that you will be required to retake (core) or replace (elective) the course. If you are not successful in writing a supplemental exam then you must retake the course.
If SUPA does not appear on your record then you are required to retake the course the next time it is offered or sooner (an equivalent course may be available). Check with your UG Advisor or UG Coordinator to discuss this or if you have any questions or concerns regarding the above.
You should receive notification from the Registrar's Office, by UWATERLOO email address as given on Quest, advising of the option to write a supplemental exam and that you must complete a registration form and submit a registration fee ($50) or you will not be permitted to write the exam. YOU must pay attention to the deadline dates given. These deadlines are firm and cannot be extended in any way. "Registration and payment received after the deadline will not be processed and will be returned to the student."
Arrangement to write a supplemental exam can be made through the Undergrad Coordinator (aka Program Advisor). It is not necessary to contact the Associate Chair for this. Further, it is not necessary to get the Associate Chair/Program Advisor approval before submitting the form to the Registrar's Office. Submit your form in order to meet the deadline and the form will be forwarded for signing.
If you pass the supplemental exam then "S" (Satisfied) will appear in the "Rqmnt Desig" Grade column next to the failed course. Your original mark is not erased nor altered. If you fail the exam then you are required to retake the course.
If you have any questions regarding the instructions given above please don't hesitate to contact the Undergraduate Secretary.
Note: Students may not accumulate more than two failed courses (this includes work reports) or they will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Note: The People Soft System is credit-based. Please ignore "Total Units Passed". It will not change when you have cleared the failed course. "S" (Satisfied) under "Rqmnt Desig" is sufficient to indicate that the failed course is cleared and credit will be granted for same.