University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON
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Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Check regularly - information is updated as it becomes available.
Winter 2020 term
Please explain the CR/NCR grading option!
Instructors have been given the option to use CR/NCR (credit/no credit) grading instead of numeric grades. These grades will also not be included in your average. Agreement of 100% of the class is required for this. Professors will inform you if they are considering this.
What is the difference between CR/NCR and DRNA?
If students are taking courses in addition to the regular course load, one of the electives must be designated as DRNA (degree required, not in average). This course is automatically excluded from the term average.
Students will have the option to have a CR/NCR grade for any course they choose. These grades will also not be included in their average. Students will be able to choose to convert a numeric grade to CR/NCR (credit/no credit). Students will be able to do this via an online form April 26 – May 10. The Registrar's Office will post the form prior to April 26.
While students can choose to have a CR/NCR grade for their DRNA course, it would be redundant.
How will progression be assessed for Winter 2020?
Because of the unprecedented interruption and revision of the academic term in Winter 2020, including the option to choose a CR/NCR for courses, academic progression rules have been modified for the Winter 2020 term only. They can be found here:
Spring 2020
What is the Computer Access and Internet Connectivity Survey?
The Faculty of Engineering needs to assess the technical and connective capabilities and limitations for students so that online courses can be rolled out as smoothly as possible without disadvantaging students. If you haven’t completed the survey yet, please do using the link below:
https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering/student-surveys-spring-2020-online-course-delivery
I’m trying to find electives for Spring 2020, any suggestions?
A list of possible electives can be found here:
https://uwaterloo.ca/science/undergraduate/student-support/program-requirements/potential-electives
Will labs be offered in Spring 2020?
For most courses yes. There are a few labs that are just not possible to convert to an online format, but the majority of labs will continue to be offered in a modified form.
How will courses and exams be delivered in Spring 2020?
The Spring term will be fully online and courses will not have scheduled lectures, tutorials, or lab components. Quiz, test and assignment deadlines will be used.
Many courses are expected to use pre-recorded lectures. That could mean voice added to slides or Khan Academy-style videos. Some instructors may choose to livestream but they will be required to record those for later viewing. Also, multiple lower-stake assessments spread over the term are being encouraged instead of final exams. There will be an exam period, shortened to one week. Instructors will need to accommodate students in different time zones and with spotty internet connections so we expect that students will more likely be given take-home exams rather than timed online exams.
Will tuition or fees be reduced for Spring 2020?
Tuition for spring 2020 will remain the same.
Will students be able to change their grades to CR/NCR in Spring 2020 too?
Grading for Spring 2020 will be numeric, unless the course grade is traditionally CR/NCR (e.g. ECE 201). There will be no option to choose a CR/NCR grade for Spring 2020.
Co-op
Can I switch streams to an academic term in Spring now that my co-op placement is cancelled?
Sequence changes are not permitted for Spring 2020.
Students can register for up to five academic courses. Students can also take a PD course to stay on track with WatPD requirements and avoid coming up short when it’s time to graduate. The student would not receive co-op credit in this case, but the reduced number of work terms would allow for this adjustment.
What should I do about my current (Winter 2020) co-op term?
Latest co-op developments can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/frequently-asked-questions#co-op
ALL students who choose to finish their Winter 2020 work term early will receive a co-op credit.
Could a Winter 2020 co-op student continue their work term in Spring 2020?
Yes, if a student wishes to “extend” a current four-month work term into an eight-month work term, these will be approved. Please note that the spring work term is required to be in Canada.
What about my work report? How should I submit that?
Please submit your work report by email to Erin Hubbert (ehubbert@uwaterloo.ca) as a PDF no later than 4:30 PM seven days after the first official day of lectures. For Spring 2020, the first day of classes is Monday, May 11. Any changes to procedure will be communicated and posted here for you.
Academic, personal and financial support
What about engineering accreditation?
Quoting our Associate Dean "CEAB (Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board) has issued a statement that no engineering program will be penalized for any impact that contingency plans have on AU counts". AUs are accreditation units, meaning class and lab time.
What resources are available for personal and academic support?
Strategies for online learning
What makes a successful online learner- Minnesota State
8 strategies for getting the most out of an online class – Northeastern University
Common mistakes to avoid as a new online student – Learn How to Become
Tips of electronic exam/test taking
Tips for Writing online exams - Brightspace
Online exam tips you’ll be thankful for - The Quad
Financial information for students who've lost/cannot find co-op positions
Government of Canada – pauses on student loans, and Emergency Support Benefit for workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment, one-time payments for low-income families through GST credit.
Academic and Co-op Information - The University is working with employers to use remote options for co-op. Students who have lost positions or are experiencing challenges should reach-out to their co-op consultant.