Grading System

The evaluation of student achievement in course work is a responsibility of the teaching faculty. In an effort to clarify the standards being applied in determining the grades assigned, guidelines have been developed to describe the quality of performance expected for the various grading categories. Faculty judgments regarding student achievement in a particular course are based on the concrete evidence of the level of mastery demonstrated by the student on formal examinations, questions and participation on the part of the student in class sessions, term papers or other written assignments, written and oral quizzes, and other means of assessment used by instructors.

Formal instruction in writing and composition is provided in specific courses offered within the English curriculum, and written work submitted in meeting course requirements in all courses is expected to be of college-level calibre and will be considered in evaluating the quality of student work.

Note: the grading system outlined below and in the accompanying boxed chart applies to all undergraduate coursework. The system for graduate courses is given in the chart on the following page.

Excellent (A, A-) in course work is characterized by: mastery of subject matter; facility in use of critical thinking; analysis, synthesis, and independent judgment; creative response for application of the principles and concepts being studied; consistent command of communication tools; articulateness regarding the subject matter covered by course activities; and facility with methods of scholarship appropriate to field of study and level of course.

Superior to Very Good (B+, B, B-) achievement in course work is characterized by: better than adequate knowledge of the subject matter; evidence of perceiving relationships and of integrating new knowledge with prior and concomitant learning to a significant degree; insight and inquiry into the principles and concepts being studied; better than aver-age ability to organize and express ideas and knowledge both orally and in writing; and good use of methods of scholarship appropriate to field of study and level of course.

Good to Satisfactory (C+, C) achievement in course work is characterized by: sufficient knowledge of subject matter for continuing to other levels of study*; evidence of average achievement in making associations and applications and in recounting and explaining the principles and concepts being studied; adequate ability to use acceptable forms and vocabulary consistently and to communicate clearly; and ability to identify and use methods of scholarship appropriate to field of study and level of course.

Minimally Passing (C-, D+, D) achievement in course work is characterized by: minimal knowledge of subject matter; evidence of limited comprehension and achievement in recounting and explaining the principles and concepts under study; weak or inconsistent command of communication tools; and deficiency in organizing and expressing knowledge and ideas.

Failing (F) work is characterized by: inadequate knowledge of subject matter; evidence of inadequate levels of comprehension and achievement in recounting and explaining the basic principles and concepts being studied; inadequate command of communication skills; and consistently poor usage and immaturity of expression.

When an incomplete is assigned, it is the responsibility of the instructor to provide a written statement to the Academic Dean indicating the requirement that is outstanding as well as the date by which it must be satisfied. The "INC" becomes an "F" if the requirements are not satisfied within the time limit. In the case of an unforeseen emergency, students should contact the Office of the Academic Dean (day session), the Office of Evening Sessions (evening session), the Weekend College Office (weekend session), or the ACCEL Office (accelerated evening session).

The grade point average, or cumulative index, defines the level of scholarship achieved by a student. It is used in determining academic standing and in establishing eligibility for honors. The index is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours of credit carried by the student. Quality points are awarded as shown in the following chart for each of the assigned final grades.