Grade reports are issued to students at the completion of each semester/term. Grades are based on the quality of work as shown by written tests, laboratory work, term papers, and projects as indicated on the course syllabus. Earned quality points are calculated for each course by multiplying the quality point value for the grade received for the course times the credit hour value of the course. For example, a three-credit course with a grade of B would earn nine quality points [credit value of course (3) times quality point value of B (3)]. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is calculated by dividing the total earned quality points by the total attempted credits.

All IELP courses and developmental Math courses (098/099) are graded P+, P, and F, with P as the lowest passing grade. It is also the lowest passing grade in ENGL 100 and UNIV 100. Internships and Study Tours are graded on a P+, P and F scale.

I: An incomplete (I) is issued no sooner than the last two (2) weeks of the semester to a student who has satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the course work, but for nonacademic reasons beyond the student’s control, he/she is unable to meet the full course requirements on time. The course instructor issues this grade, subject to approval by Dean or Chair and the Provost. The incomplete course work must be completed by the end of the subsequent semester/summer session. If the student does not complete the work within the stipulated time, the incomplete is changed automatically to the grade of F. An incomplete must be processed at the time of the concession (e.g., authorized suspension of attendance, accepted tardiness/non-completion of assignments, etc.). The university does not grant incompletes retroactively.

AU: No credit is given for audit (AU) classes, nor is the grade included in the student’s academic average. Students must receive written permission from the Dean or Chair to audit a class, or classes, prior to the first day of the semester. Instructor approval may be required for some courses.

W: A student is allowed to withdraw officially from a course no later than the end of the ninth week of the semester (end of the fourth week in a summer session). The W is calculated in Satisfactory Academic Progress but is not calculated in the CGPA. Students are not permitted to withdraw after this deadline. W is used to denote withdrawal of students in the case of dismissal by a Conduct Council.

The previous chart describes the impact of each grade on a student's academic progress. For calculating rate of progress (see below), grades of F (Failing), W (Withdrawal), and I (Incomplete) are counted as hours attempted, but are not counted as hours successfully completed.

A student may repeat a course either to replace a failing grade with a passing grade or to try to improve a passing grade achieved the first time the student took the course. A previously passed course may be repeated only once. A previously failed course which is repeated and failed again may be retaken only one more time, for a total of three attempts. A course in which a grade of C or higher is received may only be repeated within one year from receiving the initial grade or as soon as the course is offered again if it is not offered during this one-year period. A student who has completed all degree requirements will not be allowed to repeat courses for the purpose of improving grades.

When a course is repeated, the best grade received is calculated into the CGPA. The lower grade(s) will be followed by an asterisk (*) indicating that the course has been repeated. Both original and repeated credits will be counted as attempted credits in rate of progress calculations. In the case of repeating a course from which the student has previously withdrawn, a W remains on the student's transcript, while the new grade (also shown on the transcript) substitutes for the W in the calculation of the CGPA.

In order to receive credit, the student must repeat any required course in which a grade of F or W is received.

In the case of students who have been accepted to the university as degree candidates (including those whose programs are "undecided"), failing and/or withdrawing a required course (other than developmental courses) three times may be grounds for dismissal. Such dismissal will be determined by the Dean or Chair of the Academic unit housing the student's degree program (Arts and Sciences in the case of undecided students). When a student registers for a course the third time, he/she may only do so subject to the conditions set by the appropriate Dean or Chair.

The university informs the student at midterm when his/her grade in any course is less than C. This is done in person by the instructor; and the report provides reasons for the poor performance as determined by the instructor.

Questions and concerns about grades often result from misunderstandings about grading practices and expected standards. Direct communication between instructors and the students usually clear up these misunderstandings. In some cases, however, a grade appeal is warranted.

Students have the right to appeal a grade and request a reconsideration of the assigned grade; however, they must provide sufficient, tangible evidence to support their request for a re-examination of the assigned grade. Reasons for reconsideration of a grade appeal may include:

• Miscalculation of marks;
• Misgrading of a paper, project or exam;
• Application of an evaluation or grading system which was not included in the course syllabus;
• A departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards;
• Assignment of a grade on some basis other than the student’s performance in the course;
• Demonstrable evidence of discrimination or prejudice in the assignment of the grade;
• Arbitrary assignment of grade (lack of consistent and equitable standards for grading).

Grade Appeals will be dismissed if:

• Allegations by the student do not indicate erratic grading;
• The basis of the disagreement is with the instructor’s particular grading standards;
• The appeal is not submitted within the given one month period subsequent to the issuance of the grade.

Students should follow the steps listed below to clarify any questions about a particular grade or the instructor’s grading policy:

1. The student should make an appointment with the appropriate instructor when there is any question about a particular grade or the instructor’s grading policy. Students in the Study Abroad Program (SAP) may contact the instructor via telephone or email;
2. The student seeking additional clarification related to grading should make an appointment with the appropriate Dean, Chair or Program Director;
3. The student seeking further recourse related to a grade received should make an appointment with the Provost/Chief Academic Officer. The Provost/Chief Academic Officer will discuss the questions raised with the instructor, give the student a perspective regarding the grade and review the mechanism for appeal;
4. The student may request a Grade Appeal Council to review the matter. Composition/ operations of the Council parallel those of the Honor Council;
5. In the event that the grade in question is received in a course taught by the Provost/Chief Academic Officer, the Dean, Chair or Program Director will discuss the matter with the President, give the student a perspective regarding the grade and review the mechanism for appeal. All grade appeals must be submitted within one month subsequent to issuance of the grade;
6. If a student chooses to appeal a decision beyond the Grade Appeal Council decision, all documentation can be submitted to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer for review. Final review may be requested of the university’s Grievance Officer.

Additional information/documentation on the grade appeal process can be obtained at the Office of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer.