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Grading and Grading Policies

Grading

The following table lists the grades that are used at Manhattanville College:

* This scale will change in the 2017-18 academic year

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W. For a course from which the student has withdrawn, with the approval of the instructor and advisor, or Provost or relevant Dean, before the withdrawal deadline.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:

• Does the calculation of final numerical grades match the percentages stated in the instructor’s syllabus?
• What was your true attendance record?
• Have all course requirements been met, as stated in the syllabus? Does your submitted work satisfy the requirements for each assignment?

• If, after answering these questions, the student believes that a grade appeal is needed, he/she must first make every effort to contact the course instructor and attempt to resolve the situation. If the instructor is difficult to reach or unresponsive, the student should request that the department contact the instructor.
• If the student is unable to reach a resolution after consulting the instructor, or if the instructor cannot be contacted, the student may then file a Grade Appeal with the chair of the relevant academic department.  (If the instructor and the department chair are one and the same, the appeal should be made to the relevant Dean.) A student’s appeal should demonstrate an objective discrepancy between the way in which s/he was evaluated and the grading standards outlined in the syllabus.
• Grade appeals must be made in writing and must be filed within 45 days of the grade award date. By submitting a grade appeal, the student acknowledges that the final grade resulting from the process may be the same as the original, higher, or even lower.
• The student’s appeal will be considered by an ad hoc departmental or divisional committee. After considering the student's appeal and consulting with the instructor, the department will notify the student of its decision in writing.  This notification will be no later than the end of the semester following the one in which the grade was given.
• If the student believes that the departmental appeal process failed to consider important evidence, or was procedurally incorrect, s/he may further appeal the grade to the Grade Appeals Committee by filing a second Grade Appeal within 14 days of the department's decision.  Such an appeal will only be considered on the basis of new evidence or a lack of due process. The Grade Appeals Committee is convened by the relevant Dean and consists of faculty members with relevant academic expertise.  The decision of the Grade Appeals Committee is final.

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:

• The policy applies to repeated course work taken during the Fall 2012 term on forward. This policy is not retroactive. Courses already repeated in previous terms will stay with the old rules.
• Grade Replacement may only be applied to a course if the previous grade earned was a C-, D or F. The replaced grade will appear on grade displays and transcripts with a “#” sign to the left of the grade letter, appearing as a #C-, #D or #F.
• Grade replacements may only be applied for courses retaken in the 1000, 2000 and 3000 levels. The lower of the two grades will be replaced and removed from both the term and cumulative GPA calculations for the term containing the course. If a repeat attempt results in the same grade being earned (“Grade Tie”), the previous attempt will be removed. All 4000-level courses are excluded from this policy.
• Credit is granted only once for any repeated course. The earlier course attempt will be the course that will carry the completed credit value.
• There is a limit of 5 grade replacements that may be applied within a degree program career.
• Degree Audit and grade replacement: Since Degree Audit displays only course work that carries earned credit, the previously taken course with the “#” replaced grade will appear on a student’s audit lists to fulfill requirements. This is not a cause for concern as Degree Audit’s focus is to track and tally courses that carry earned credit and completed status. Degree Audit is not a transcript!

Undergraduate Grade Replacement Policy limitations:

• Only the last grade earned will count in the grade point average (GPA). However, all grades for

the course will remain on a student’s transcript.

• Faculty do not assign replacement grades. The posting of #C-, #D or #F replacement grades and administration of the grade replacement policy is managed by the Registrar’s Office. Students must continue to consult with their advisors on whether repeating a course for an improved grade fits with their particular program requirements and academic goals.
• Grade replacements must match course for course. Example: PSY.1004 for PSY 1004. Independent Studies taken as equivalents for standard courses may not be used for grade replacement.
• A student receiving a letter grade can only replace that grade with another letter grade. Students may not elect to retake a course for a Pass/Fail (“P”) or Audit (“AU”) grade and then use it for grade replacement.
• A “W” grade (Withdrawal) cannot replace previous letter grades under this policy. Also, this policy will not remove previous “W” grades from a term record or transcript.
• Only Manhattanville courses are eligible for grade replacement. Transfer course work may not be used to replace an earlier grade on a Manhattanville transcript.
• Grade Replacement is an automatic policy that cannot be applied selectively on an individual course basis.
• Undergraduate term academic standings such as “Deans List”, “Good Standing” and “Probation” are awarded at the completion of each Fall and Spring term. Previously awarded standing distinctions will not be re-evaluated or adjusted when grade replacements occur in past terms.
• When a student submits an official transcript to apply for admission or transfer to another academic institution, that institution may include all grades in the calculation of GPA’s for admission purposes, including replaced grades under this policy. Always review and understand a prospective institution’s admission and transfer policies before applying.
• In accordance with Department of Education regulations, all attempted coursework is included to determine Financial Aid eligibility; no portion of the academic transcript can be excluded. Consult with the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

About the MFA Program

Manhattanville’s 36-credit Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing brings students into a dynamic literary community of writers from all walks of life. Courses are scheduled in the evenings and on weekends in order to meet the needs of working adults. The program can be completed in two years, though students may work at their own pace, beginning in either the fall or spring semester, or with Summer Writers’ Week, held annually at the end of June.

Our MFA Program aims to develop writers who can participate effectively in professional, academic and community settings while raising their own literary capacities to their highest potential. Our students learn and hone their craft in a challenging, nurturing environment that fosters community and personal growth.

We believe that taking a minimally structured approach to a post-graduate writing curriculum ensures a more well-rounded, prepared and versatile writer. That is why our students are welcome to explore and study all genres, to enter workshops and independent studies of their choosing, and ultimately select the genre that fits best for their thesis project. This approach ensures surprising and rewarding results.

Degree Requirements

Manhattanville’s unique non-tracking MFA curriculum assures flexibility. Students participate in workshops each semester, working in a single genre or across genres with gifted teachers and mentors who are also award-winning authors. The Manhattanville MFA Program is comprised of three required courses and regular workshops:

• Foundations in Graduate Creative Writing (3 credits)
• Advanced Seminar in Graduate Creative Writing (3 credits)
• Thesis Project (3 credits)
• Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting workshops (12 credits)

Beyond these required courses, MFA students select electives that fit their immediate interests and long-term goals. Course offerings include Research Across Genres; Writers Week and Writers’ Weekend, and a variety of Literature and Topics courses that change each semester. All graduate writing courses are given a 5000-level ENW designation. Course descriptions can be found in the course description section of the Catalog and on the MFA Program’s website: http://mvillemfa.com/

Summer Writers’ Week & Fall Writers’ Weekend

Summer and Fall Writers’ Weekend are writing-intensive experiences open to the public and offered to MFA students for academic credit. These conference-style courses provide students with the opportunity to participative in workshops with some of the country’s most celebrated writers. In recent years, visiting professors have included National Book Award-winning YA author Thanhha Lai, Wole Soyinka Award-winning science fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor, legendary author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, and renowned poets Patricia Smith, Claudia Rankine, and Kazim Ali.

The Manhattanville Review

The Manhattanville Review is an online journal of literature, art & ideas, run by students of the MFA Program. The Review publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, cross-genre writing, and art. Editors of The Manhattanville Review receive tuition remission for their work on the journal, and are encouraged to take ownership of the journal and envision new ideas and projects to pursue during their tenure.

Financial Assistance and Housing

When applying to the program, students may also apply for financial assistance and housing. Financial assistance is offered in the form of $500 merit scholarships. Graduate assistantships are also offered, allowing up to six students each semester to work in the writing center, the program office, or on the Manhattanville Review for a three-credit tuition remission. Graduate housing is also available, and students interested in housing should inquire with the program administration.

Special Events at Barat House

The MFA Program and the Dowd-O’Gorman Center for Creative Writing are located in Barat House, a building that is the center of our literary community. Each month in Barat House, the MFA Program Director hosts a “Literary Lunch” for students and alumni, who meet to discuss topics in the “writing life.” Monthly “Director’s Dinners” are also held so that students and faculty can meet informally and cook a meal at Barat House. Literary panels, reading groups, and other special events are scheduled throughout the year in our home building, helping to create a uniquely engaging and personal quality to the writing program.

Meet the Writers Series

Each semester renowned authors are invited to read and discuss their work in our Meet the Writers series. Past guests have included Edwidege Danticat, Philip Gourevitch, Pete Seger, Tracy K. Smith, Amy Goodman, Terrance Hayes and Ben Lerner. These evening events and other readings, panels and conversations are free and open to the public.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the program, students speak with the program administration about the appropriate first-term course load and selection. Each semester, students are invited to set up advising sessions in advance of registration to discuss their plans and pacing through the program, and to stay on track to graduate. For spring semester course registration, you will receive an email to set up an appointment in October or November. For fall courses, advising takes place in March or April.

Course Registration

In the first semester at Manhattanville, students must complete a paper registration form and return it to the MFA Office for approval and processing. The registration form can be found online. In subsequent semesters, registration is completed online via WebAdvisor.

Web Resources

After confirming enrollment in the MFA Program, students are sent instructions for setting up an online account that may be used to sign into WebAdvisor and other web services.

Students can access the following information by using WebAdvisor:

• Current course schedule, with classroom locations
• Each semester’s full course schedule
• Final grades at the end of the semester
• Academic record from past semesters

To learn more about WebAdvisor and how to start logging on, students may view a PowerPoint "How-To-Access/Use WebAdvisor" tutorial by going to: http://www.mville.edu/students/default.aspx.

Grade Reports

To access your grades, log into Web Advisor and select Students. Under Academic Profile, choose Grades. Choose a term/semester and choose Submit. Class titles, grades and credit hours for the chosen semester should appear.

Transfer Credits

Under certain conditions and with the approval of the Program Director, students may transfer up to 12 graduate credits toward electives in the Master of Fine Arts degree program. Coursework eligible for transfer must come from regionally accredited institutions or from non-regionally accredited institutions with comparable curricular and standards to those at Manhattanville College.

Satisfactory Progress

Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress as long as they are enrolled in at least six credits during each Fall and Spring semester. Completion of the program entails 36 credits. To complete the program, the GPA must be 3.0 or better. Students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA will not be in good standing. Students who are not in good standing must meet regularly with the MFA director and will have one semester to return to good standing.

No student working towards a degree may be enrolled in the program for more than five years.

Leave of Absence

In general, a leave of absence is intended to provide a student time away from his/her studies due to a temporary circumstance or situation (financial, personal or medical). Students must request a leave in writing to the Director. If granted, a leave is normally one semester.

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