International students protest failing grades at Algoma U’s Brampton campus

After days of protests at its Brampton campus over a course failed by a number of international students, Algoma University has announced it will offer a make-up exam to give a second chance to the students affected.

Social media has been abuzz after a week of sit-in protests were held by students outside the Brampton campus of Algoma University. 

In a media release issued on Tuesday, Algoma University said 32 students in at its Brampton campus had not achieved a passing grade in the CSOC 3707 course within the Computer Science program. University administration would not confirm how many of them were international students.

Dozens of international students protesting the failed grade have been given a passing grade as a result of a review, not because of the days-long sit-in protest, says university administration.

The protests began over a week ago after almost 100 students, most of whom are international students, were said to have failed a Techniques of Systems Analysis class within the Graduate Certificate in Information Technology program. Some of the protesting students are said to have failed the class twice.

In response to SooToday questions, an Algoma University spokesperson provided a news release explaining the university’s side of the story. Follow-up questions were answered by "university administration" because the institute would not attribute the answers to any named staff member.

An urgent review was conducted after the university received student complaints. This showed the class had "grades below statistical norms." In the release, the third-year class is described as "a difficult course related to computer engineering."

After the complaints, the course instructor then applied the grades in the class to a bell curve, which resulted in 61 of those students exceeding a passing grade.

Reached by email on Wednesday, university administration said that review was conducted between Jan. 2 and 5 and the application of the bell curve was done within the existing policies and procedures of the institute. 

"Following university policies and procedures, the course instructor applied a standard bell curve. That was independent of any student protest, and prior to the university administration meeting with students. No Algoma University student has been given an improved grade as a result of a protest or a meeting,” the university said.

Post bell curve, a total of 32 students in the class of 230 continue to have failing grades. Those students will be offered a make-up exam and an opportunity to challenge their grade, which university administration notes is included in the existing Senate-approved policies and procedures.

University administration further noted that some groups supporting the protesters, but not affiliated directly with the university, have said through the media that 100 students have been given passing grades. That is not accurate, the school says.

"We are aware that individuals protesting in Garden Square are not all Algoma University students, and are concerned some who are not our students appear to be spreading misinformation,” said university administration.