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For the sake of those who are very lazy to log on to VPN.Dear students,
In preparation for the start of the next Academic Year on 20 April 2009, the Office of the Registrar would like to bring to your attention some important changes to the academic policies and regulations affecting all students. These changes will take effect from the beginning of the Academic Year. The main changes are:
1. Academic Calendar for AY2009/2010
The dates for the Academic Calendar for AY2009/2010 have been revised, and the current version of the calendar can be viewed at http://www.rp.sg/org/Student%20Handbook/Acad_Acad_Calendar_0910.aspx. Please take note especially that there will be 15 weeks of lessons (instead of 16 previously), and that no lessons will be conducted in Week 16.
2. Understanding Tests (UTs)
For each module, there will now be 3 UTs per semester (instead of 4 previously), called UT1, UT2 and UT3.
UT1 and UT2 will be held within the first 15 weeks of the semester when lessons are conducted, and will usually be scheduled at 4:00 pm. UT3 will be scheduled in Week 16, at dates and times which will be announced closer to the time.
UT1 and UT2 will each be of 45 minutes in duration, while UT3 will be between 60 and 90 minutes in duration, depending on the module.
With this change, UT3 for each module will be an opportunity for students to be tested on and to show their competence in the entire range of topics covered in the relevant module.
The UT Schedule for the semester will be released at the beginning of the semester, and can be viewed at http://www.rp.sg/org/Student%20Handbook/Acad_UT_Schedule.aspx after it has been published.
3. Daily Schedule for Classes and UTsAll classes will now begin at either 8:30 am, 9:15 am or 10:00 am. Classes are designated as Group A, Group B and Group C for this purpose, and the start time and daily schedule for each class will depend on the Group to which the respective module is designated. The daily schedule for Group A, Group B and Group C classes is shown below.
Activity
Group A modules
Group B modules
Group C modules
1st Meeting
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
1st Study Period
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
2nd Meeting
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
2nd Study Period
(includes lunch time)
11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
3rd Meeting
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.^
UT 1 / UT 2
(Duration: 45 min)
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
UT 3
(Duration: 60 to 90 min, depending on the module)
UT 3 will be held in Week 16 of the Academic Calendar.
(For all modules, there will be NO classes in Week 16.)
^ - Group C modules will have the 3rd meeting end by 4:00 p.m. if students are taking UT on that day.
The Group for each class is part of the class code (which will be shown in LEO), with the Group letter shown the end of the code. For example, in “G101-3-W34K-A” the final letter “A” indicates that the class will be held according to the “Group A” schedule. Please wait for the class information to become available in LEO at the beginning of the semester to see which schedules apply for your classes.
Do note that the “Study Period” (previously known as the “Breakout”) refers to the time between the Meetings, and is intended mainly for students to do their work in preparation for the next Meeting.
This new daily schedule allows for the staggering of class start times as well as times for the Study Periods, so that any traffic congestion within and around the campus can be minimised and our facilities can be utilised more efficiently.
4. Module Grade ComputationAs there will now be 15 lessons for each module (instead of 16 lessons previously), the computation of the Module Grade will involve the best 13 out of the total of 15 Daily Grades.
For UTs, since there will now only be three UTs, the computation of the Module Grade will involve all three UTs. Moreover, as UT3 is conducted at the end of the semester and involves a longer duration, there will be double weightage of UT3 compared with UT1 and UT2. In other words, the grades of the three UTs will be combined in the ratio 1 : 1 : 2 for UT1 : UT2 : UT3.
As the UTs are an important component of the assessment system, students need to sit for every UT. Absence from a UT will result in a failure for that UT (i.e. "X" grade and zero score), unless there are exceptional reasons for which a student is granted Leave of Absence (LOA).
Students who are absent from class or UT due to hospitalization, compassionate leave, or participation in approved competitions or other activities for Singapore or Republic Polytechnic may apply for LOA. If approved, allowances will be made for such absence. Absences for reasons that are not approved will not qualify for LOA, and students will be treated as absent. Medical Certificates do not automatically qualify for LOA, and all applications will be assessed on their merit. Frivolous cases or repeated cases without good reasons will be disallowed or subject to further investigation. Further details on the LOA are available at http://www.rp.sg/org/Student%20Handbook/Acad_LOA.aspx
5. Abolishment of ‘N’ GradesPreviously, students who were continuously absent from classes for a certain number of weeks at the beginning of the semester would be given an ‘N’ Grade for the module. This grade is now no longer to be given with effect from AY2009/2010 Semester 1 onwards. All students who are enrolled for a module will now be graded according to their DG and UT grades as assigned, with absences resulting in a failure (i.e. "X" grade and zero score).
The details of the academic policies and regulations now in force can be seen at the Academic Information page of the Student Handbook that is online. Please read this at http://www.rp.sg/org/Student%20Handbook/Acad_Acad_Info.aspx
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Class Schedules and Understanding Tests can also be seen at http://www.rp.sg/org/Student%20Handbook/Acad_Class_UT_FAQ.aspx.
You may also wish to view a video recording of the Principal’s Dialogue Session with Student Leaders (27 Feb 2009) on the topic of changes to the UT system. This video is available at: mms://media.rp.sg/RPVideo/2326.wmv.
If you have further queries on academic matters, please send an email to help-registrar@rp.sg.
Thank you.
Good luck to all the year ones. (HAHAHA!) 
