Courses are graded as follows:
"A"-excellent; "B"-good;
"C"-acceptable; "D"-poor but passing; "F"-failure;
"WF"-withdrawn failing;
"INC"-incomplete, and "I"-incomplete calculated as "F".
Certain courses (including student teaching, some internships, remedial courses and required physical education 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A student who withdraws from a course may receive a grade of "WP" (withdrawn passing) or "WF" (withdrawn failing).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".
When a faculty member fails to submit a final grade for a student, the mark of NGR (no grade received) is assigned. Beginning with fall 1999 grades, any NGR notation in an undergraduate course will be changed to a grade of "WF" if the NGR is not changed to a final grade by the instructor, according to the deadlines used for incomplete grades. A "WF" will be assigned even if the student registered for the class on an S/U basis. This policy change begins with fall 1999 grades and is not retroactive. The policy does not apply to graduate courses. Deadlines - Fall Semester: March 1, Spring Semester: August 1, Summer Semester: November 1. (Policy added to catalog Nov. 30, 1999)
See Incomplete marks, below.
See Withdrawal from the University.
For averaging grades, 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", "P", "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
14 hours 41 quality points
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.
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.
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 seventh week of
the spring semester for grades received during fall semester, and by the end of the
seventh 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.
Students must report each retake registration to the Office of Registration and Records.
A student may retake a course in which a grade of "D", "F", "I", "U" or "WF" was received. If a student retakes such a course at the University, it must be retaken under the same grading option as selected initially. If the course is retaken for the purposes of auditing, no grade will be given.
If a student retakes a course at the University in which a grade of "D", "F", "I", "U" or "WF" was received, then the credit hours and quality points for the original registration and all subsequent retake registrations will be used in computing the student's cumulative grade point average, with the following exception:
Advanced standing may be achieved in six ways:
An undergraduate student currently registered for at least two semester hours may gain credit by examination with the approval of the student's dean and the department involved. The minimum registration level must be maintained for the entire term. The student wishing credit in a course must not have enrolled in the course previously and must present sufficient evidence of prior study or experience. The course cannot be a prerequisite for any course the student has completed. Once approved, the examination must be completed within four weeks of the approval. This option may not be repeated. A $50 fee is assessed for a credit-by-exam course. Credit by Examinations are graded on a "S/U" basis. Further information on procedures is available at the student's college office.
Credit may be earned by attainment of appropriate score levels on selected subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). See Continuing Education, International and Summer Programs.
A student may also receive credit for coursework taken at another institution, in which the final grades were equivalent to "C" or better but which did not transfer because of BGSU policies, by taking a validation examination.
A student in the School of Nursing may take the National League for Nursing exam to validate coursework taken before entrancen into BGSU's baccalaureate program in nursing.
Under specified circumstances undergraduate students with excellent scholastic records may register for graduate coursework prior to having received the baccalaureate degree. For further information see the Graduate Catalog, Graduate courses for undergraduates.
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