Academic Policies

Grading policies

Grading system

Courses are graded as follows:
"A"-excellent; "B"-good; "C"-acceptable; "D"-poor but passing; "F"-failure; "WF"-withdrawn failing; "INC"-incomplete, "I"-incomplete calculated as "F", and "IP"-in progress. A notification of "NGR"-no grade reported-is used until a final grade is available.

Certain courses (including student teaching, some internships and remedial courses) are graded "S/U" only and are so indicated in the course descriptions. "S" means satisfactory and indicates course credit was earned. "U" means unsatisfactory and indicates no credit. A student may also elect the "S/U" grading option in no more than 16 credit hours in a baccalaureate degree program (beyond those hours graded "S/U" only). Any "S/U" hours beyond this limit will not count toward graduation. The grading option must be declared no later than seven calendar days after the beginning of classes for a semester. Many departments do not accept courses taken under the "S/U" option for credit in major or minor requirements; students should consult departmental officials. More than 12 semester hours of "S/U" grades may increase the grade point average needed for graduation with honors. Courses taken under advanced placement, credit by exam, CLEP, etc., are considered "S/U" and do not count as letter-graded hours. See Graduation with honors.

The grade of "S" is interpreted as falling within the range of "A" to "C" and carries full credit. A grade of "U" is interpreted as "D" to "F" and carries no credit. "S" and "U" grades do not affect the accumulative grade point average.

A student who wishes to attend a class without receiving credit for it may register to audit that course (see Registration and Records).

A student who withdraws from a course may receive a grade of "WP" (withdrawn passing) or "WF" (withdrawn failing). "WP" is assigned when a student withdraws in good standing during the second through the ninth week of a course in the fall and spring semesters, the fourth class day through the twenty-first class day of the eight-week summer session and the fourth class day through the eighteenth class day of a six-week summer session. "WF" is assigned if the student is failing at the time of withdrawal from the course prior to the "WP" deadline, withdraws after the deadline for "WP" has passed or stops attending but does not process an official withdrawal through the college office. This provision applies to all grading options, including "S/U." The grade of "WF" is used in computing the grade point average.

A student who officially withdraws from the University receives a "W" in all courses, unless the student has previously withdrawn from a course with a "WF."

See Incomplete marks, below.

See Withdrawal from the University.

Grade point average
For calculating the student's grade point average, the following quality points are assigned to each letter grade:

• For each hour of "A" 4 points
• For each hour of "B" 3 points
• For each hour of "C" 2 points
• For each hour of "D" 1 point
• For each hour of "F" or "WF" 0 points
• For each hour of "I" 0 points

A student's grade point average is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of hours taken, excluding courses in which the marks "S", "U", "IP", "INC", "W" or "WP" are recorded. The hours for which a mark of "INC" is recorded are excluded from grade point average computation until the deadline for removal.

As an example, suppose a student receives the following grades for a semester:

Biology (a 4-hour course) B
English (a 3-hour course) B
French (a 4-hour course) C
Health (a 3-hour course) A

First, determine the number of quality points earned for each course. For example, each hour of B is worth 3 points and a 4-hour B is worth 12 points (3x4).

Therefore, the above grades translate into quality points as follows:

4 times 3 (B) = 12
3 times 3 (B) = 9
4 times 2 (C) = 8
+3 times 4 (A) = 12

Now, divide the number of quality points by the number of hours taken for a letter grade. The grade point average for this sample schedule is (41/14=2.92.) Grade point averages are not rounded up to the nearest hundredth of a point.

Incomplete marks
The mark of "INC" (incomplete) is given when, for some acceptable reason, a student fails to meet a definite requirement in a course as established by the instructor. The mark of "INC" may be removed and a grade (if taken for a grade) or the letter "S" (if taken "S/U") may be substituted for it by a student making up the deficiencies to the satisfaction of the instructor.

Unless an extension of time is granted by the academic dean, a mark of "INC" must be removed by March 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1 for the fall and spring semesters and summer session, respectively. For courses taken "S/U", any mark of "INC" not removed by these deadlines will change to "U." For courses taken for a letter grade, any mark of "INC" not removed by these deadlines will change to "I" and be calculated as "F" in the cumulative grade point averages of all undergraduate students with or without an extension of time. The student who has been granted an extension, however, will have the opportunity to have his or her grade point average recalculated and the "I" changed to the grade assigned.

Grade appeals
Students have a right to appeal decisions on grades. The student should first contact the department from which the grade was received. A member of each department, who is not a major departmental administrator, is designated to hear complaints, gather information, talk with both students and faculty, mediate disputes or identify appropriate channels for solving problems. If the dispute cannot be resolved at this level then the student should state the full particulars of the appeal in writing and submit them to the department chair or policy committee. If the matter is not resolved at the department level, the student may request a hearing before the academic arbitration board of the appropriate school or college. However, the sole responsibility and authority for determining grades rests with the faculty member who assigned the grade. This appeals procedure also may be used if a student believes an opportunity should be provided to make up work missed during absence from classes.

The grade appeals procedure must be started by the end of the fifth week of the spring semester for grades received during fall semester, and by the end of the fifth week of fall semester for grades received during the spring semester or during the summer session. All actions for grade changes must be completed during the semester in which the grade is appealed. Grade and absence grievances may not be appealed beyond the college level.

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