A2200.20 Grading Contd.

 

Statement

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Students are graded according to the following system:

Letter Grade	Definition	Grade Points
A	Excellent Performance	4
B	Good Performance	3
C	Average Performance	2
D	Inferior Performance	1
P	Passing	0
F	Failing Performance	0
*I	Incomplete Work	0
**S	Satisfactory Work	0
***U	Unsatisfactory Work	0
W	Withdrawal from class after mid-term but by the end of academic penalty date	0
AU	Audit	0

 

Grade Point Average

GPA = total grade points earned (A,B,C,D, and F grades) ÷ total semester hours attempted

A student’s standing in a program is determined by his/her cumulative GPA. The cumulative grade point average is figured by semester hours attempted, not by semester hours earned. Only A, B, C, D, and F grades will be used in computing the GPA. An “F” will be computed in the GPA unless the course is later repeated with a satisfactory grade. An “F” grade will not count toward the GPA if the student repeats the course and earns an improved grade. Neither credit hours nor grade points will be computed in those courses where a grade of “I”, “W”, “S”, “P”, or “U” is assigned. Hours earned in non-credit courses (denoted on the transcript by an asterisk (*) will not be used in computing GPA.

 

Incompletes

A student may receive an incomplete (“I”) grade for unfinished work in a course provided the work was incomplete because of circumstances determined by the instructor to be unavoidable and approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning. A copy of the Incomplete Form must be forwarded to the Registrar with the course final grade report.

The student must complete the requirements of the course by the end of the next semester, excluding the summer term, in order to receive credit for the course. The student will receive an “F” if the course requirements are not completed by the deadline.

Although the grade of “D” is academically viewed as “passing” for some programs/courses as posted in the program guidelines, handbook, or syllabus, a grade of “D” may not be satisfactory to allow the student access to another curriculum within that program/discipline.

 

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory (“S”) or Unsatisfactory (“U”) grades are issued only to students enrolled in Adult and Community Education classes. These grades will not be used in computing the student’s GPA or college credit hours.

Independent Study

Students seeking independent study courses should meet with their academic advisor for possible options. Advisors will communicate with faculty on possibilities.

 

Pass/Fail

Students may elect to take some courses as Pass/Fail. To take a class pass/fail, the student must make arrangements with their advisor prior to the start of the class. This is usually done during the advisement/registration process.

The maximum hours of P/F that can be taken in any one (1) semester is four (4) hours. The total maximum number of P/F credits that can count toward any degree is 12 semester hours.

No general education core curriculum courses can be taken as P/F. Exceptions may be allowed under special circumstances with the written approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning.

Courses taken P/F can count only as elective credit.

 

Grade Review/Appeal

Faculty are responsible for assigning grades for work done in individual courses. Faculty are responsible to determine the evaluation measures of student academic progress in relation to the described content of the course.

Students have a right to a grade review if they believe an erroneous grade has been assigned and should be corrected. Also, they have a right to a grade appeal as a remedy if they believe an instructor has assigned a grade

• By using some basis other than academic or behavioral performance in the course;
• By using more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in that course;
• By using standards and/or criteria that are not clearly presented in the course syllabus, course materials, and/or other written communications;
• That is a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced or written standards in the course.

A student utilizing the grade appeal process is precluded from using the Student Grievance hearing process for the same occurrence.

 

Grade Review/Appeal Procedure

Step One

1. The student is to present the completed Grade Review/Appeal form to the course instructor via email no later than the midterm date of the following 16-week semester (excluding summer).
2. The instructor must respond to the email within thirty (30) calendar days. The instructor may change grades that are found to be in error during a Grade Review within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the completed request for a Grade Appeal.
3. The instructor may or may not change a grade after a review of the appeal within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the completed request for a Grade Appeal.
4. The instructor is to notify the student of the decision in either instance via email.

Step Two

1. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of Step One, he/she may forward the emails with the Grade Review/Appeal form and the instructor’s response to the appropriate Division Chair within fourteen (14) calendar days of the email with the instructor’s decision.
2. The Division Chair has seven (7) calendar days to provide the student with a decision via email.

Step Three

1. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of Step Two, he/she may forward the three (3) aforementioned emails to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning and/or the Vice President of Student Success and Services within fourteen (14) calendar days of the Division Chair’s decision.
2. The Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning has fourteen (14) calendar days to provide the student with a decision via email.
3. The decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning will be considered a sufficient review and will be the terminating step of the Grade Review/Appeal process.

During the Grade review/appeal process, all procedures and meetings, including names and related information, will be confidential unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by all parties involved. The grade Review/Appeal Form and Grade Change Form will be signed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning. All student appeals will be housed in the student file and in the course paperwork file.

 

Change Log
Date	Description of Change	Governance Unit