Academic Practices & Regulations

Confidentiality of Personal Information

NorQuest College will ensure that a student’s right to privacy is respected and that confidentiality of student information is maintained according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act.

The college recognizes its obligation to collect and use only that personal information from students that is required for educational and related purposes and to maintain its security. Students have the right to access their own personal information in their records and also the right to request correction of their personal information. Please see the Student Records page for more information.

Classification of Students

Admission Status

Applicant: An individual who has submitted an application and paid the applicable application fee to NorQuest College.

International applicant: An applicant who is a citizen or resident of another country and requires a valid study permit to study in Canada.

Once granted admission to a program, applicants will be classified as one or more of the following:

• Regular applicant: An applicant admitted to a credit program on the basis of meeting the admission requirements or having satisfied a provision of admission.
• Conditional applicant: An applicant conditionally granted admission to a credit program with the understanding that evidence of successful completion of in-progress coursework will be submitted to meet the stated admission requirements before full admission can be offered prior to the start of the program.
• Provisional applicant: An applicant provisionally admitted to a credit program with the understanding that certain conditions must be satisfied before full admission can be offered. Applicants must satisfy certain conditions including admission requirements, as outlined, by the date specified in the offer of admission (normally within the first term of enrolment).

Registration Status

A student is defined as an individual admitted and enrolled in any college program(s) or course(s). Upon registration in college credit courses, students are classified as either full-time students or part-time students.

Full-Time Student

For the purposes of the definition of enrolment for agencies such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada or Student Aid Alberta, a student’s full-time status is determined for each term. Students registered in 60% or more credits of each program’s standard full load by term are considered full-time students.

Learning support advisors may recommend that a student with a disability take a reduced course load, which, for funding purposes and for services available through the Student's Association, equates to full-time student status.

For the purposes of Revenue Canada, full-time status is determined based on the number of hours of class attendance in a week.

For purposes of enrolment reporting using the Alberta Advanced Education definition, a full-time student is defined as an active student taking at least 60% of the full load for the program during that academic year. The full load is defined as the number of credits required to complete the normal program of study for that year.

Part-Time Student

A part-time student is registered in fewer than 60% of the credits of each program’s standard full load by term.

Other Registration Statuses

• Auditing student: A student who is permitted to audit courses with the permission of the Program Chair in consultation with the appropriate instructor. A change in status from regular to audit is permitted only within the first two meetings of the class. See Auditing Fees for further details.
• International student: A citizen or resident of another country who is permitted to study in Canada.
• New student: An individual who is admitted and enrolled in any credit program and has no previous academic record with the college.
• Ongoing student: A student who has not experienced an enrolment break of greater than one term.
• Open Studies student: A student who is admitted and enrolled in the Open Studies program to take individual credit courses. Open Studies students are not eligible to receive a certificate or diploma.
• Program transfer student: An ongoing student who is changing his or her program and must apply to the new program and pay the application fee.
• Returning student: An applicant who has not applied to or attended the college in the 12 months prior to when he or she reapplies to the college. Returning students must reapply and pay the application fee.
• Visiting student: A student who is admitted on the basis of a letter of permission from another institution with the intention of transferring NorQuest College credits back to his or her home institution. See Visiting Students for further details.