Academic Catalog
Grading
The College maintains the following letter grading system:
A. (4.0), for work of exceptional quality that demonstrates deep insight into the material of the course and mastery of the discipline’s method of inquiry. It may also connote outstanding creativity and originality of thought.
B. (3.0), for work of good quality that demonstrates a thorough grasp of the material of the course and the discipline’s method of inquiry.
C. (2.0), for work that is satisfactory in quantity and demonstrates an acceptable acquaintance with the material and the method.
D. (1.0), for work that only minimally meets the standards of the course (NOTE: In the Master of Science Programs the grade of D cannot be awarded).
F. (0.0), for work that is unsatisfactory and/or incomplete, showing little or no mastery of the material or method of inquiry. F is also used when a student withdraws from a course after the withdrawal deadline.
P. (no grade point value), for satisfactory work in a course taken on a Pass/Fail basis. (A maximum of four Pass/Fail credits may be taken in any one semester.)
NP. (no grade point value) Doctoral program only. For work that demonstrates limited mastery of the material or method of inquiry. NP grades are non-punitive and do not calculate in the GPA.
W. For a course from which the student has withdrawn, with the approval of the instructor and advisor, or Provost or relevant Dean, before the withdrawal deadline. W grades are non-punitive and do calculate in the GPA.
WA. Academic or administratively initiated withdrawal. WA grades are non-punitive and do calculate in the GPA.
WF. (0.0) Academic or administratively initiated withdrawal while failing or for sanction. The WF grade is similar to an F and is calculated in the GPA. This grade is a terminal grade and changes are not accepted.
Other Grades
In addition, the instructor has the option of awarding grades of:
A- (3.75), B+ (3.25), and B - (2.75), and C+ (2.25), and C- (1.75).
Z. (no grade point value), used as a temporary placeholder for coursework that extends beyond the end date of the course's term. Used in rare cases for doctoral dissertations, certain internships and one-year courses. It is still assigned a conversion date, similar to the incomplete (GD) grade as listed below. Cannot be awarded using online grading.
Incomplete (GD) is given only for extraordinary reasons and means that an instructor granted an extension for a period established by the Provost or relevant Dean. Only students may request incompletes. Cannot be awarded using online grading. Incomplete requests must be finalized one week before the last day of classes or the last day of final exams for the semester within which they apply.
Incompletes must be finished by the following dates:
Fall Semester - February 1st
Wintersession - March 1st
Spring Semester - July 1st
Summer Session - October 1st
School of Graduate & Professional Studies Module Terms
Fall 2M Module - January 15th
Winter Module - April 1st
Spring 2M Module - July 1st
Summer Module - October 1st
Until then, a GD grade is entered on the transcript. If the work is not completed by the stipulated deadline, the student receives an F.
Pass/Fail Option
Students (except those on probation) may choose to take up to 4 credits a semester on a Pass/Fail rather than a letter grade basis. However, this grading option must be indicated on the registration form and can only be changed up to the end of the Add/Drop period. Thereafter the decision cannot be changed.
Note: All coursework to be counted toward the major and minor must be taken for a letter grade, and must receive a grade of C- or better, unless an individual department stipulates otherwise. The single exception to this is the internship taken on a pass/fail basis. Students who wish to fulfill a major or minor requirement with an internship on a pass/fail basis, must have approval from the department chair.
Grade Changes & Appeals
Grade Changes
Grades may be changed due to clerical or calculation error on the part of the instructor or the Registrar’s Office ONLY, not for work submitted after the end of the term (unless the previous grade was an incomplete) Requests for change of grade are to be made by the instructor on the student’s behalf to the provost (undergraduate) or dean of the appropriate graduate or doctorate program. Grade change requests must be made within 1 calendar year of the grade due date (as published in the Academic Calendar) of the term in which the coursework was taken. However, grade changes will not be accepted more than 45 days after the conferral of a degree, at which time the Registrar’s Office officially closes the student’s degree record. Exception: transcript remains open if there is pending grade appeal. This applies to grads and undergrads.
Grade Appeals
The instructor of a course is responsible for the evaluation of a student’s work in the classroom. If students believe that they can objectively demonstrate that a course grade is in error, or that some documented extenuating circumstance was not taken into consideration, they may pursue a Grade Appeal. Please note that the only permissible reason for a Grade Appeal is the unfair evaluation of academic work, and that only final course grades are subject to appeal. Course grades assigned as a result of academic dishonesty are overseen by the Board on Academic Standards and should not be appealed using the procedure here; see the section on Academic Dishonesty. NOTE: In accordance with FERPA, only the student may petition for an appeal. Parents, guardians, or other parties cannot initiate an appeal. Such individuals may participate in the process provided the student has identified them with FERPA waivers of confidentiality with the College.
Before submitting an appeal, students should consider the following questions:
Undergraduate Grade Replacement Policy
Starting in Fall 2012, undergraduates who re-take a course below the 4000 level will have the lower of the two grades removed from the GPA calculation as long as the initial grade was C- or lower. If a repeat attempt results in the same grade being earned, the previous attempt will be removed from the GPA. There is a limit of 5 grade replacements that may be applied within a degree program career. A course taken prior to the activation of this policy can still have its grade replaced, as long as the course is re-taken in Fall 2012 or later. This policy is not retroactive. Courses already repeated prior to Fall 2012 will stay with the old rules.
Undergraduate Grade Replacement Policy highlights and quick reference:
Undergraduate Grade Replacement Policy limitations:
the course will remain on a student’s transcript.
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