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Grading

Evaluation of student achievement in each course is made in relation to the attainment of specific course objectives. At the beginning of a course, faculty will distribute a syllabus explaining the objectives and the basis upon which grades are determined. Grades in each course are recorded in the student’s permanent record. The chart below represents the College’s grading system.

*The PC and NC Grades were used during the COVID Pandemic in the Spring 2020 semester only.

Incomplete. The grade "I" (Incomplete) is a temporary grade that may be given when students are unable to complete the semester's work or the final examination because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Students can request an "I" grade from the instructor, or instructors can give an "I" grade at their discretion. Valid reasons for the work missed must be presented. Students must make arrangements with the instructor to make up all incomplete work by the end of the following semester (not including summer); approval for an additional semester extension must be obtained from the faculty and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. No extensions beyond an additional semester are granted.

Examples of extenuating circumstances (professor may request documentation): 1. Incapacitating illness which prevents a student from attending classes for a minimum period of two weeks; 2. Death in the immediate family; 3. issues related to pregnancies and childbirth (consult Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972) 4. Military duty orders; 5. Other emergencies deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students who want to enroll in a course sequential to one in which an “I” was obtained must change the “I” to a passing grade before enrolling in the next course. When the work is completed, the permanent grade is recorded. If the work is not completed by the specified date, the grade “F” is recorded.

Grade Changes. Grade changes are permitted for up to two years (four semesters, Fall and Spring) after the semester in which the grade is earned.

Appealing Grades/Grievances. An appeal procedure is available should a student feel that a final grade is unjustified. Appeals must be taken seriously and should be made only when the student feels there is strong evidence of injustice. In the case of a disputed grade, a student must file an appeal within ninety (90) days of the end of the semester in which the course was taken.
Steps in Appeal Process

1. The student must discuss his/her concerns with the instructor.
2. If no agreement can be reached, then the student may appeal to the Chair of the department.
3. If no agreement can be reached, then the student may appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
4. The student may appeal directly to the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs after the Academic Appeals Committee has made its recommendation.

Repeating a Course. Students must repeat any ELS, Developmental Studies, pre-requisite, Writing Intensive or option/core/career course in which they earn a “D” or “F” grade. The choice of repeating any other course in which a “D” or “F” was earned is left to the discretion of the student. Additionally some academic programs may have special requirements. Normally, courses in which an “A,” “B,” or “C” have been earned should not be repeated. Both the original grade and the grade for the repeated course appear on the student’s transcript. When a course is repeated, the higher of the two grades is used when computing the cumulative average.

Grade Point Average (GPA). A student’s academic achievement is measured in part by grade point average, for work done in any one semester, and by the cumulative average, which shows the quality of all work done at the College. The cumulative average (all of the student’s work) and the semester average (work in one semester) are computed in the same manner. To determine the average:

1. Multiply the number of quality points that represent the letter grade received by the number of credit hours for the course to determine the quality points earned in each course.
2. Divide the sum of the quality points for all courses by the total number of credit hours of work. The quotient represents the semester average. When this method is applied to all work attempted to date, the quotient represents the cumulative average. For example: