Grading System Undergraduate Grading Standard Graduate Grading Standard Pass/Fail Grades Course Withdrawal Incomplete Courses Recording of Course Grades Grade Point Averages Periodic Academic Review Course Instructor Evaluations Grading Standards Faculty members make use of the following grading system in determining academic scores for individual assignments, course grades, scores for final projects and comprehensive examinations. Student transcripts make note of these standards in the awarding of credit. Undergraduate Grading Standard Letter Grade Percentage Quality Grade Grade Point A 90% With Distinction 4.0 B 80 to 89% Above Average 3.0 C 70 to 79% Pass 2.0 P 70% & above Pass N/A F Below 70% Fail N/A Graduate Grading Standard Letter Grade Percentage Quality Grade Grade Point A 90% With Distinction 4.0 B 80 to 89% Pass 3.0 P 80% & above Pass N/A F Below 80% Fail N/A Return to Top Pass/Fail Grades Under very unusual circumstances, course instructors may award "Pass-Fail" grades. The grade of Pass (represented by the letter ""P") would be placed on the student s permanent record. The grade of Pass is equivalent to the score of "B" or better at the graduate level and "C" or better at the undergraduate level. Pass/Fail grades are not included in the calculation of the student s overall grade point average. Return to Top Course Withdrawal Students may formally withdraw from a course, if the written request to the University administration is postmarked within 13-weeks of the formal course enrollment date. Withdrawals will show as "W" on the student s official transcript. Should the student later re-enroll and successful complete the course in question, the designation of withdrawal may be removed from the transcript. Return to Top Incomplete Courses Students who do not formally withdraw from a course within the time allowed, but who do not satisfactorily complete the course requirements will fail the course and the grade of "F" (or another score as provided by the course instructor) entered in the permanent record. However, under special circumstances (illness, unforeseen tragedy or serious situations beyond the student s control), a student may petition the course instructor for a four week grace period during which they may complete the course requirements. Upon successful petition, the grade of "Incomplete" will be temporarily entered on the student s permanent record. Grades of "Incomplete" will be removed from the transcript only upon the student s successful completion of the course requirements within the grace period allowed. Without satisfactory resolution of the course requirements, and once the grace period has expired, a grade of "F" (or another score as provided by the course instructor) shall be entered on the student s permanent record. Return to Top Recording of Course Grades Immediately upon review of the final course assignment, the course instructor will calculate the student's course grade and issue the grade report. Under normal circumstances, the course instructor will issue the grade report to the student and the University headquarters by email within three weeks of the submission of the final assignment. The grade report form should be sent to the University Registrar within one week of grading the final assignment. Under unusual conditions, instructors may notify the student that additional time is needed for grading the final assignments and submission of final grades. Under no circumstances should the scores and final grades be submitted beyond 45 days from course module end date. Return to Top Grade Point Averages Internationally, educational institutions and employers alike make use of the grade point average as a means of comparing student achievements across the many grading and credit systems in higher education. The student s grade point average represents a weighted grade score that takes into account the grades achieved and course credits awarded. A simple weighted-average conversion is calculated to determine the grade point average for all courses receiving standard letter grades (not pass-fail). The grade point score awarded for each course is multiplied by the course credit (always in semester equivalent units) to produce a weighted grade point score. The weighted grade point scores for all courses are summarized and then divided by the total credits for all courses (not pass-fail). This produces the grade point average. Return to Top Periodic Academic Review As a required element of the program, students and primary mentors submit periodic academic reviews at least each calendar quarter. Since the University does not follow a traditional semester system, these periodic reviews make it possible for the University to monitor student progress and faculty performance in a continuing manner. The reports help identify problems and allow the University to address barriers to successful program completion. Periodic reviews also allow students and faculty to formally update the University administration concerning their correct contact information. Return to Top Course Instructor Evaluations In addition to period reviews submitted each calendar quarter, students submit evaluations of the course instructor following completion of each course. Students may comment concerning problems confronted in the following areas in working with the instructor: Progressing according to schedule Directing the work of the student Maintaining communications Guiding the student to learning resources Overseeing the field study placement Overseeing the research project Return to Top