Undergraduate Policies
Grade Scale & Terminology
The University uses a plus/minus grading system. The passing grades for the University are “CR,” “A,” “B,” “C” and “D.” A grade of “F” signifies that the course has been failed.
- D- is a passing grade unless stated otherwise on syllabus and/or course description.
- Colleges and Programs may elect to use or eliminate grades of A+ and/or D- from their grade scale as noted on class syllabus and/or college handbook.
- Students who earn an “F” or “NC” grade are required to repeat the same course during the next term in which it is ered if the course is the only course that will satisfy the requirement or if they wish to have the failing grade replaced on the transcript.
The grade point average (GPA) is computed in the following manner:
- Multiply the number of Quality Points for each grade by the Credit Hour value assigned to each course attempted.
- Divide the sum of these products by the total number of credits attempted.
Admission to a Second Program
A graduate of one program of the University who is admitted to a second program has a cumulative GPA for the second program computed only on the grades earned in courses taken after the completion of the first program.
Grade Scale
GRADE |
QUALITY |
|
GRADE |
QUALITY |
A+ |
4.0 |
|
C |
2.0 |
A |
4.0 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
A- |
3.7 |
|
D+ |
1.3 |
B+ |
3.3 |
|
D |
1.0 |
B |
3.0 |
|
D- |
0.7 |
B- |
2.7 |
|
F |
0.0 |
C+ |
2.3 |
|
WF |
0.0 |
Grade Descriptions
A Excellent
|
Awarded to students who demonstrate an excellent understanding of the subject matter and who have achieved outstanding results in fulfilling the course objectives. Note: Grade of A+ signifies extraordinary performance but carries no additional quality points above 4.0 |
B Above Average |
Awarded to students who demonstrate above-average understanding of the subject matter and who show consistent achievement beyond the usual requirements of the course. |
C Average |
Awarded to students who perform at the satisfactory level and demonstrate acceptable levels of understanding of the subject matter commensurate with continued study in the next successive course. |
Note: To graduate, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above. |
|
D Below Average |
Awarded to students as evidence of less-than-average understanding of the subject matter and who demonstrate weak performance. It indicates insufficient preparation for students to enroll in any course reliant upon an acceptable level of understanding of the particular subject matter. Note 1: A grade of “D-” (.70) represents a minimum grade necessary to receive credit for a course. Note 2: Some courses require and identify a higher grade requirement for course and/or higher prerequisite as noted on course syllabus and course description. |
F Failure |
Awarded to students showing poor understanding of the basic elements of the course. |
I Incomplete |
The “I” grade indicates that a student has missed some portion of required coursework because of illness or another emergency beyond his/her control. It indicates that the student, with the approval of the professor, has agreed in writing to complete the missing course requirements within an extended period of time and not to exceed the end of the 6th week counting from the last day of the end of the semester in which the course was taken..(See current Academic Calendar for the exact date.) The professor has sole authority to grant or deny such a request. Failure of the student to complete the agreed-upon work in the prescribed time frame will result in a grade of “F” for the course. To obtain an “I” grade the student must submit an Incomplete Form to the professor for approval before the due date for final grades to be submitted to the Registrar. Copies of the form are available online on the University’s Registrar’s website. |
W Withdraw |
The W grade indicates that a student withdrew from a course during the scheduled withdraw period for a term. A W is not included in GPA calculations, but is included when calculating the credit completion rate. As a result, a W grade may affect a student’s academic standing for the cumulative credit completion rate. |
WF Withdraw Failure |
The WF grade indicates that a student withdrew from a course after the last day to withdraw with a W grade. A WF is included in GPA calculations and carries the same quality points as an F grade. It is included when calculating the credit completion rate. As a result, a WF grade may affect a student’s academic standing for the cumulative credit completion rate or the minimum GPA requirement. |
CR Credit |
The CR grade indicates that a student has successfully completed a course which is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. To obtain a CR grade, students must earn a “C” or better in the course. A CR grade is not included in GPA calculations, but is included when calculating the credit completion rate. |
NC No Credit |
The NC grade indicates that a student has not successfully completed a course which is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. This means that the student earned less than a “C” in the course. An NC grade is not included in GPA calculations, but is included when calculating the credit completion rate. As a result, a W grade may affect a student’s academic standing for the cumulative credit completion rate. |
AU Audit
|
The AU grade indicates that a student has audited a course. The AU grade is assigned by the faculty member at the end of the semester in which the student is registered for the audited course. An AU grade is not included in GPA or credit completion rate calculations, and has no effect on a student’s academic standing. This is the only eligible grade for an audited course, and will not replace a previously earned grade for a repeated course. Since it is automatic, this grade does not necessarily imply the completion of specific coursework by the student. |
| See Also: Auditing a Course; Grade Point Averages; Credit/No Credit Option; Fundamentals Courses; Academic Internships; Physical Education and Service Learning; Repeating Courses |