Grading Scale and Academic Progress
Grading Scale
| Grade | Point Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | The student has consistently completed work of superior quality and has mastered course content. |
| A- | 3.7 | |
| B+ | 3.3 | The student has completed work of good quality and has a working knowledge of course content. |
| B | 3.0 | |
| B- | 2.7 | |
| C+ | 2.3 | The student has completed work of average quality and has an adequate knowledge of course content. |
| C | 2.0 | |
| C- | 1.7 | |
| D+ | 1.3 | The student has completed work of minimally acceptable quality and has marginal working knowledge of course content. |
| D | 1.0 | |
| F | 0.0 | The student has failed to complete work of minimally acceptable quality and is not working knowledge of course content. |
Grading Symbols
Withdraw Passing [WP]
The student has withdrawn from the class/University after the no-academic penalty drop deadline with appropriate authorization while passing the course. A “WP” does not affect the GPA.
Withdraw Failing [WF]
The student has withdrawn from the class/University after the no-academic penalty drop deadline with appropriate authorization while failing the course. A “WF” grade affects the GPA in the same manner that an “F” does.
Withdraw [W]
The student has withdrawn from the class/University after the no academic penalty drop deadline when no academic data is available for evaluations. A "W" grade does not affect the GPA.
Passing [P]
The student has completed a course taught on a Pass/Fail basis with a grade equivalent to a C- or higher. A grade of “P” in a Pass/Fail course does not affect the GPA. A grade of “F” in a Pass/Fail course affects the GPA in the same manner that a regular “F” does
No Credit [NC]
The student has completed a course/project that supplements other courses by generating research data or background information. The "NC" grade does not affect the GPA.
No Grade [NG]
The student has made significant progress in his/her doctoral dissertation/project but has failed to meet the goals for that stage due to circumstances beyond his/her control. The "NG" grade does not affect the GPA.
Incomplete [I]
The student has maintained a successful record appropriate for his/her program but has failed to submit a major project or to take a final examination due to circumstances deemed by the professor to be beyond the student’s control. An “Incomplete” is a temporary grade that is required to be removed by the end of the sixth week after the end of the semester. An “Incomplete” that is not removed by the deadline is changed to an “F”. Financial aid may be affected until the “I” is changed to a permanent grade.
Audit [Au]
The student has been accepted, registered for the course, met the attendance requirements, but has chosen not to meet all the academic requirements for the course. An "Audit" may be upgraded to credit, with approval, within one semester following the course by completing the remaining academic requirements and paying the balance of tuition. Credit status may be changed to "Audit" by the last date for "W."
* This repeated course does not affect the student's GPA
^ This repeated course affects the student's GPA.
Point System
The 4.0 system of awarding academic credit is used. One credit hour is awarded for a class meeting one hour per week for a semester, two credit hours for a class meeting two hours per week, and so on. Quality points are awarded using the following scale:
- 4 points for each credit hour of A-grade work
- 3 points for each credit hour of B-grade work
- 2 points for each credit hour of C-grade work
- 1 point for each credit hour of D-grade work
- 0 points for each credit hour of F-grade work Grade point averages are determined by dividing quality points by credit hours.
Undergraduate Grade Replacement
Students are allowed to repeat courses for which they have received a grade of D or F. The lower grade will remain on the transcript, but it will not be used in the computing of the student’s GPA. The student is allowed only one attempt to replace a D in a course, but multiple attempts to replace an F (only the original F will not be used in computing the GPA). Students who do not attain a C or better after two attempts in designated major courses within their program must receive approval from their respective school’s faculty and the Executive VP for Academic Affairs before being allowed to continue in their program of study.
Graduate Grade Replacement
With the appropriate permission, a student may repeat a course in which he has received C, D, F, or “WF.” The new grade replaces the lower grade in the calculation of the student’s GPA, but the former grade is not physically removed from the permanent record. A student is allowed multiple attempts to replace a grade, but financial aid will only cover at most a single repeat of a course. With the exception of the original grade, all subsequent grades will be computed in the GPA. Financial aid will only cover one replacement for the failed grade (including a D in a course in which the program requirement is a C). No additional financial aid will be awarded for improvement of a passed grade.
Academic Progress
All students will be reviewed for academic standing at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
A student fails to meet good academic standing if s/he does not meet the designated qualitative standard (GPA) and quantitative standard (completion rate) outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. A student who does not meet good academic standing will be notified by the Registrar. A student who wishes to appeal his/her status should do so by following the Academic Appeals Policy.
Academic Assistance
Students at the main campus whose academic record does not qualify them for standard admission may be recommended by the Admissions Committee for acceptance on the Academic Assistance Program. Acceptance is contingent upon participation in the required Academic Assistance coursework. The Academic Assistance Program will be in effect for a period of two semesters.
Academic Warning
Any student who does not meet either the qualitative or quantitative standard for his/her degree and/ or classification at the end of any payment period will automatically be placed on Academic Warning.
Academic Suspension
After an initial warning semester, any student whose semester GPA or completion rate does not meet the requirements for his/her degree and/or classification is placed on academic suspension. After a second semester on Academic Warning, a student whose cumulative GPA and rate of completion do not meet the requirements is placed on academic suspension.
The suspension will last for a period of one semester, and the student must reapply for admittance and must meet any standards mandated by the Admissions Committee at that time. Students reentering from Academic Suspensions will be readmitted on Academic Warning, will be guided by an approved academic plan, and will not qualify for Federal Financial Aid or institutional scholarships until they meet appropriate GPA and rate of completion requirements.
Readmission
A student on Academic Suspension is eligible to apply for readmission after one semester following suspension. Readmission is not automatic. If readmission is granted, a student will re-enroll on academic probation and will have two semesters to reach the appropriate minimum overall grade point average for removal of probation.