New Media Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions for students enrolled in the joint program

q What benefit is there to completing the joint program?

By completing this program's degree requirements outlined in the UTSC Calendar, you can qualify for an honours degree from the University of Toronto.  Upon completion of the degree, you only have to complete two additional Centennial courses (Portfolio Project or Field Placement and a Professional Practice Course) to receive a certificate in New Media Design.  Degree and certificate portions of the program often take students four to five years to complete.

q I already have a New Media Design Certificate from Centennial College.  May I apply for this program?

If your application is approved by the Admissions Office, you will be assessed transfer credits for the New Media Studies courses, which can be applied to your University of Toronto degree. Up to 6.5 course credit equivalents may be applied to your U of T degree from your advanced diploma program at Centennial (note: if you hold a degree from another institution in addition to the diploma you may receive additional transfer credits). A degree requires completion of 20 credits. See the University of Toronto Scarborough Calendar on the Registrar's website to find the list of courses required for the completion of the degree. The Admissions Office provides all information regarding applications and you should access the Admissions website to obtain the relevant information needed to apply.

q Where are classes held?

As of September 2011, all Centennial courses in this program will be held at the Centre for Creative Communications (CCC) Campus in East York.  The campus is located on Carlaw Avenue at Mortimer.  All other courses will be held at UTSC.

q Who decides if I get into the program, UTSC or Centennial College?

Applications are reviewed by both UTSC and Centennial College and a final decision is made by both institutions.

q Can I do this program part-time?

The academic courses at UTSC may be completed on a part-time basis. However, students must be full-time when doing the professional journalism courses at Centennial.

 

q How do I know when I should start taking courses at Centennial?

Typically, students will begin taking Centennial courses in Year Two of their undergraduate studies.  You should consult the UTSC Supervisor for your program about this. It is important that you take the UTSC courses for the program as soon as you are eligible to do so, so that you will be ready to begin your work at Centennial at the appropriate time. If you do not prepare appropriately, your access to Centennial courses may be impacted, possibly delaying your graduation.

q How do I register in courses at Centennial College?

You must choose all of your degree credit courses (including those taken at Centennial College and listed in the UTSC Calendar with the NME designation codes) using the U of T course registration system (ROSI).

q Where do I pay my tuition and any incidental fees for the program?

 

Tuition and incidental fees will be payable to the University in the normal way. Each semester that you are enrolled in one or more courses at Centennial, the College charges a $30 program fee. This fee is payable directly to Centennial College.

 

If you choose to take the additional Centennial courses that are required for your advanced diploma, you must register with and pay tuition fees for them directly to Centennial College. Contact your Centennial College Program Coordinator for instructions on how to enroll in the additional two courses. You will be required to submit your U of T transcript to Centennial College Enrolment Services in order to finalize your admission and enrolment in these courses. Tuition and ancillary fees for these two courses will be payable directly to Centennial College.

q Are exams in Centennial courses held in the same period as at UTSC?

Not necessarily. There can be important differences between start and end dates, reading weeks, and exam arrangements, and these vary somewhat by program. Please contact the Centennial College Program Coordinator for details.

q What about adding and dropping courses?

The standard add and drop dates (as published in the UTSC Calendar) for UTSC will also apply to your NME courses.

Instructors in NME courses will follow the standard practice in UTSC courses and return at least one item of graded term work to you prior to the drop date. The standard UTSC fee refund schedules will also apply to NME courses.

Once you have dropped a course on ROSI, you should also confirm this with the Centennial College Program Coordinator via email.

q What about OSAP or other financial aid?

The UTSC Financial Aid Office (S303) will administer all financial aid matters. You should not apply for financial aid at Centennial College.

q Will I be graded any differently in Centennial College Courses?

Your instructor in NME courses at Centennial will inform you of your grades on in-course assignments and tests as appropriate, and your final grade will be available from UTSC on ROSI following the usual procedures.

As is the case with all UTSC courses, you will be graded on the basis of an evaluation scheme that will be provided in writing at the start of the course. As at UTSC, in the unusual case that an instructor wishes to vary some aspect of the method of evaluation after the grading scheme has been announced, this may be done if a majority of students in the course consent.

Your grades in NME courses will appear on your student record as a percentage and the corresponding letter grade as specified in the UTSC calendar – just as for all other courses. They will receive the standard UTSC grade point value and be counted toward your GPA in the same way as your other courses.

However, to receive the necessary program credit for a NME course taught at Centennial you must receive a grade of at least 60% in the course.

Although a grade of 50% - 59% in a NME course is not sufficient for program purposes, it can be used for elective credit towards a UTSC degree (with another program or programs) should you leave the joint program.

You may repeat a course if your grade is less than 60%, and both attempts will appear on your UTSC student record. However, if your grade is from 50% - 59% on the first attempt, the second attempt (presumably over 60%) will not be factored into your GPA. This is standard practice for courses with multiple attempts over 50%.

If you wish to request a copy of a final examination or to request a check of your grade in a NME course, you must follow the procedures described for UTSC courses in the UTSC calendar.

If you wish to appeal a grade in a NME course or wish to file a complaint about the conduct of an instructor in a NME course you should not follow the procedure in the UTSC calendar; rather, in these matters you must follow the procedures laid out in Centennial College policies and procedures. All students in UTSC/Centennial College collaborative programs will receive copies of the student guide to resolving disputes under this policy.

The information contained in your student record and your student file will be available to officials of both institutions.

q Are there any other special rules for Centennial College courses?

In addition to the standard UTSC regulations for Academic Standing (outlined in the UTSC Calendar), if you receive a grade of less than 60% on any NME course on your first attempt you will be placed on probationary status within the program. (This is not the same as the probationary academic status outlined in the UTSC Calendar.)

You are still eligible to continue in your program courses and electives while on program probation, but if you receive a grade of less than 60% on your second attempt at the NME course you will be ineligible to remain in the program.  Also, if you fall below a 2.0 GPA you may be removed from the program.

 

If you become ineligible to continue in the New Media Studies program, but are still eligible to continue your studies at UTSC under the regulations for Academic Standing, you may pursue degree studies at UTSC with any alternate program or programs that you are qualified to enter.

q Can I petition in relation to a course at Centennial?

As in your UTSC courses, you should seek special consideration only when there are circumstances which are not only beyond your control but which you could not reasonably have anticipated or overcome and which have seriously affected your studies.

Extensions or other special consideration for term tests or term work are at the discretion of your instructor and Centennial College.

If you are making a request such as for a deferred final examination or late withdrawal from the course after the final drop date, you must follow the petition procedure outlined in the UTSC calendar. Such requests should not be taken up directly at Centennial.

To appeal denial of a petition, you must follow the appeals procedures described in the UTSC calendar, as for other courses.

q How are complaints of a nonacademic nature dealt with?

Staff members of each institution (UTSC or Centennial) are governed by the nonacademic policies of their home institution whenever they are on the premises of that institution or are carrying out an activity or business that is related to that institution.

Students of each institution are in general governed by the nonacademic policies of their home institution. However, students in the joint programs, although registered at the University, also enjoy all of the rights and privileges of Centennial students. Accordingly, when they are on the premises of the University, they are governed by the nonacademic policies of the University, and when they are on the premises of Centennial College, they are governed by the the nonacademic policies of the College.

Students or staff who have concerns or complaints about the conduct of any person in the context of participation in a joint program should seek assistance from one of the offices listed below, depending on the nature and circumstances of the complaint. This office will assist the complainant in determining which institution has jurisdiction over the complaint, depending on the affiliation of the respondent as specified below. The office will also ensure that the complainant has access to the relevant policy, and to the relevant office in the appropriate institution.

1. Where the complaint is made against an employee of Centennial College, that complaint is dealt with under Centennial College policies and procedures.
2. Where the complaint is made against an employee of the University of Toronto, that complaint is dealt with under the relevant non-academic policy of the University.
3. Where the complaint is made against a student enrolled in a joint program while that student is on the premises of the College, or against a Centennial College student, that complaint is dealt with under Centennial College policies and procedures.
4. Where the complaint is made against a student enrolled in a joint program while that student is on the premises of the University, or against a student of the University who is in another program, that complaint is dealt with under the relevant non-academic policy of the University.

Key Contacts

University of Toronto

Office of Race Relations & Anti-racism Initiatives (handles complaints about conduct based on race, creed, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, place and country of origin)
416-978-1259

Sexual Harassment Office (handles complaints about conduct based on sex & sexual orientation)
416-978-3908

Community Safety Office (handles complaints about threats to personal safety)
416-978-1485

The following offices do not handle complaints but can act as resources: Status of Women Officer
416-978-2196

LGBTQ Programs & Resources
416-946-5624

Centennial College

College Dispute Resolution Officer
Rm. 334-D, HP Science and Technology Centre (Ellesmere-Morningside Campus)
416-289-5000 ext. 8111 or ext. 2035

Chief Advisor, Director--Office of Human Rights
Rm. C222, Progress Campus
416-289-5000 ext. 2464

Centennial College Safety and Security Office
Rm. 234, HP Science and Technology Centre (Ellesmere-Morningside Campus)
416 289-5000 ext. 5340
Emergency HelpLine 416-439-HELP (4357)

q What other rules should I be aware of?

As a UTSC student, you are bound by the University of Toronto Code of Student Conduct and the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (see the UTSC calendar). While enrolled in Centennial courses, you are also bound by the Centennial College Code of Student Conduct. An academic offence committed in a course taught by Centennial may result in disciplinary action by both UTSC and Centennial College.

You are entitled to the accommodations for religious observances described in the UTSC Academic Handbook in all of your courses, including courses taken from Centennial.  While at Centennial religious observances are also accommodated through the Centennial Religious Accommodations Guidelines.

q What about student organizations and student services?

While you are enrolled in a joint program, you are a member of student societies at both institutions, and you may access student services and use facilities at either campus. During sessions in which you are taking Centennial courses, you will receive a Centennial College student card in addition to your UTSC card. If you are eligible for services provided by the UTSC AccessAbility Services office, the office will, at your request, inform the Centennial College Centre for Students with Disabilities of your needs; they will jointly ensure that appropriate accommodations are provided while you are attending courses at Centennial.

q What about parking?

Students enrolled in Joint UTSC/Centennial Programs may purchase a parking permit from Centennial Morningside Campus. A permit from Centennial will be honored not only at the shared UTSC/Centennial parking lots on Military Trail, but also at all other Centennial College campuses--including at CCC. Please inquire at Centennial Morningside Campus’ Enrolment Services office.

q Where else can I go for advice?

The UTSC Academic Advising & Career Centre (AC213) integrates academic advising, assistance with learning skills, and career and employment counselling. For questions about your program or academic rules and regulations, you may see an academic advisor. Career Counsellors help with career or employment related questions. The Centre has a library, which includes tip sheets, books, and information sheets on occupations and the labour market, as well as on learning skills. You may also search current work opportunities through Career Centre Online, a web-based database of job postings. Workshops and seminars are offered to help you reach your learning potential, as well as assist you with your career planning and employment search.

For advice on program requirements and course selection, you should consult your UTSC program supervisor. Only the program supervisor can approve any variation from the program requirements laid out in the UTSC Calendar.