Grading Policy
Undergraduate Grading System
A Excellent
A = 4.0 quality points
A- = 3.7 quality points
B Very good
B+ = 3.3 quality points
B = 3.0 quality points
B- = 2.7 quality points
C Satisfactory
C+ = 2.3 quality points
C = 2.0 quality points
C- = 1.7 quality points
D Unsatisfactory
D+ = 1.3 quality points
D = 1.0 quality point
F Failure Zero quality points
I Incomplete. Allowed at the discretion of the instructor when a student has successfully completed most of the coursework but is unable to finish due to an emergency or an unforeseen circumstance. An incomplete shall be requested in writing by the student at least one week before the end of the term and must be approved in writing by the instructor who completes this form. The instructor will determine the date by which the student must complete course requirements using the following time deadlines and include this information in the written approval.
A final grade for a fall semester course must be submitted to the Registrar’s office by March 31 of the following spring semester.
A final grade for a spring semester course must be submitted to the Registrar’s office by September 30 of the upcoming fall semester.
A final grade for a summer semester course must be submitted to the Registrar’s office by November 30 of the upcoming fall semester.
An "I" grade not resolved by submission of the final grade by the date identified will be changed to an "F" by the university registrar's office.
P Pass. Indicates performance at a level of C- or above. Does not calculate into the grade point average (no quality points). Given in certain courses designated Pass/Fail.
SP Satisfactory Progress. Indicates satisfactory achievement to date in a course which is intended to extend beyond the current grading period. This is not a final grade.
W Withdrawal. Indicates the student withdrew from the course between the fifth and ninth weeks of the semester. Does not calculate into grade point average.
Pass Option* - Allowed in elective courses for juniors (at least 56 credits completed) and seniors (at least 90 credits completed) with the university registrar's office approval by the end of the fourth week of the semester. A grade of C- or above submitted by the instructor will result in a "pass" grade on the student's record and will not apply towards the GPA (no quality points). Any grade below a C- is reported as the grade that was earned (D+, D, F) and counts towards the GPA (quality points).
Q Qualify - Awarded in Honors courses to indicate a high level of achievement. Does not apply toward the student's GPA (no quality points) but does provide credits.
Repeat Courses - When a course is repeated, both the initial grade and subsequent grade(s) appear on the transcript. Credit is awarded only once, and the higher grade is used to calculate the grade point average.
Graduate and Seminary Grading System
Refer to the graduate program or seminary catalogs.
Grade Appeal Process
A student who wishes to appeal a grade follows these steps in the order listed:
Confer with the instructor who gave the grade, stating the reason(s) they feel a change of grade is warranted. At this conference, the instructor has the obligation to explain to the student the basis for determining the grade that the student has been awarded.
If the instructor does not feel that a change in grade is warranted, the student may appeal to the chair/program director of the department/program in which the course is offered. The student confers with the chair/program director, stating the reason(s) they feel a change of grade is warranted and what the instructor told them. The chair/program director confers with the instructor and provides a written response to the student.
A final appeal may be made to the respective dean by the student, following the same guidance.
At each level of appeal, there is the responsibility to confer with the instructor, who may be required to review the basis used in determining the grade that was awarded to the student. All grade changes must be authorized by the person who agreed to the change and must use the formal grade change process of the university registrar’s office.
Timeline:
An appeal to any grade assigned between September 1 and December 31 must be initiated by February 15 of the following year.
An appeal to any grade assigned between January 1 and May 15 must be initiated by July 1.
An appeal to any grade assigned between May 16 and August 31 must be initiated by October 15.
Grade appeals are not considered formal grievances. Formal grievances are 1) a lack of institutional policy; or 2) an error in institutional policies or procedures, such that a discriminatory or harmful outcome may have resulted.