2016-2017 Catalog

Grades and Grade Changes

Scholastic standing of both undergraduate and graduate students is indicated by the following grades: A, excellent; B, good; C, satisfactory; D, barely passing; F, failure. A grade of Incomplete (INC) may be used for an undergraduate and Deferred (DEF) for a graduate under conditions outlined below. A grade of Course in Progress (CIP) is given to indicate that a course is still in progress at the end of the semester. A W grade indicates the student withdrew from a course after the eighth week of the semester or has withdrawn from the College at any time during the semester. CR/NC grades, used in certain courses, are described below. When a charge of academic misconduct is pending, a grade of NR is given; it will be changed to a letter grade when the pending judicial or other matter is resolved.

An Incomplete (INC) indicates that although the work completed is of passing grade, some portion of the course remains unfinished because of illness or for some other reason over which the student had no control. A student must petition prior to the last day of classes to receive an INC grade. Except under extraordinary circumstances, any student who has two Incompletes on the record from previous semesters cannot petition for an additional one. This grade, which must be approved by a dean or an associate dean, will be removed and replaced by a letter grade upon completion of the course requirements with a notation on the official transcript. The maximum time allowed for completion of course requirements, whether the student is enrolled or not, is one year from the date the Incomplete was incurred. At that time the grade will revert to the default grade submitted by the professor.

Students retaking a failed course will have both grades appear on the transcript and both grades averaged into the grade point average.

A graduate student’s grade may be Deferred (DEF) by the instructor who specifies the time within which the coursework is to be completed, the limit not to exceed one year except in the case of M.A. theses. If not removed within the specified time, a Deferred grade generally becomes an F.

Instructors file written statements of reasons for assigning Incompletes and Failures with their grade reports at the end of each semester. In the case of an Incomplete, the statement indicates the work necessary to attain a final grade. A copy of this statement is given to the student.

Grades will not be changed for work done after the semester has ended.