Grade Tables, Honours Distinction and Merit Policy

To provide policy for setting and maintaining grade tables for all programmes and short courses within Otago Polytechnic Limited, including the award of honours, merit, and distinction.

These grade tables are aligned with the Ministry of Education Course Completion indicator codes which are used in the Single Data Return (SDR) to provide Otago Polytechnic Limited’s retention and completion data http://services.education.govt.nz/assets/STEO-files/SDR/2019-manuals/Single- Data-Return-Manual-2019-ver-1.1.pdf, and factor in alignment with the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand (TANZ)

There are grade tables for:

• Generic NQF
• Criterion Referenced Assessment
• Short Courses
• NZ Diploma in Business and NZIM
• Postgraduate programmes
• TANZ

Ministry of Education Course Completion indicators refer also to Appendix 1 http://services.education.govt.nz/assets/STEO-files/SDR/2019-manuals/Single-Data-Return- Manual-2019-ver-1.1.pdf (refer also to Appendix 1)

1. The Otago Polytechnic Limited Academic Committee will approve all new, changes, and exceptions to grade tables.

2.          Any changes to an existing grade table will apply for the following year. A change to a grade table cannot be made partway through any year or partway through the delivery of a programme in any year.

3.          From 2019, all grade tables will conform to the approved grade tables attached in the Guidelines. 

4.          Merit and distinction may only be awarded for Bachelor’s degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, and Master’s degrees.

NB: Existing (at 16/11/2015) Level 1 - 6 certificate and diplomas and Level 1 - 6 courses which have merit and distinction will continue to be able to award these until replaced by a New Zealand Certificate or a New Zealand Diploma.

5.          No Distinction or Merit will be awarded for Doctoral programmes.

6.          All deliveries of a degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, and master’s qualifications will have the same merit and distinction rules applied.

7.          Where applicable, degree and postgraduate qualifications will award merit and distinction using the grading systems in clause 7.2 and clause 7.3. Degree programmes who do not offer merit and distinction must have sound justification approved by Academic Committee.

7.1         Exempted programmes are:

• Bachelor of Midwifery
• Bachelor of Nursing
• Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education.

7.2

Distinction                  

A credit weighted average in the “A- to A+ grade range” (80-100%) over the courses at the final year level as specified in the relevant programme document.

Merit                          

A credit weighted average in the “B to B+ grade range” (70-79%) over the courses at the final year level as specified in the relevant programme document.

Pass                            

A credit weighted average in the “C- to B- grade range” (50-69%) over the courses at the final year level as specified in the relevant programme document.

7.3       The following grading system is to be used for Bachelor’s degrees with Honours:

1st class pass:             A credit weighted average in the “A- to A+ grade range” (80-100%)

2nd class pass:            A credit weighted average in the “B to B+ grade range” (70-79%)

Pass:                            A credit weighted average in the “C- to C+ grade range” or B- (50-69%).

Academic Guidelines - Grade Tables, Honours, Distinction, and Merit

Policy -  Assessment, and Moderation

Policy – Academic Integrity

Policy -  Curriculum Development and Review

Policy -  Results Process for Consultancy

Policy -  Learner Results, Transcripts, and Award Certificates for Qualifications

Policy - Withdrawal, Transfer, Cancellation and Refund

Approved by:
Dr. Megan Gibbons
Chief Executive
01/06/2020