The accumulation of grades below 3.0 in more than two courses of three or more credits each or Incomplete/In-Progress in more than three courses of two or more credits, or a combination of the above in four courses excluding thesis/alternate plan paper credits removes the student from degree status.
The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research will monitor the academic standing of all graduate students each semester and take the following actions based on the review of the graduate students' semester ending grade reports. A student who fails to meet the academic standards may be required by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research to withdraw from the university.
Students receiving financial aid must abide by federal, state, and institutional policies, including but not limited to, satisfactory academic progress standards. For additional information please see the web page of the Student Financial Services Office.
Individual academic programs may have published retention and dismissal policies that differ from those noted below. In these cases, the departmental policy will supersede the general university policy.
Academic warning letters will be sent to graduate students who receive a grade of less than 3.0, an In -Progress (IP), or Incomplete (I) in any graduate course of 2 credits or more, or who have a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0.
Probation letters will be sent to students who received an academic warning letter the previous term and who have subsequently failed to demonstrate significant improvement in their academic record. While under Academic Warning status, students who receive a grade of less than 3.0, a grade point average for the term of less than 3.0, a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0, or an In-Progress or Incomplete in excess of four graduate courses of 2 credits or more will be placed on probation.
Dismissal letters will be sent to all students who were placed on probation the previous term and who failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in his/her academic record and received a grade point average for the term less than 3.0, or a grade of less than 3.0, IP, or I in excess of four graduate courses of 2 credits or more.
No grade lower than a "C" is counted for graduation credit, but all grades earned (including Ds and Fs) are counted in determining the grade point average. Graduate courses may be repeated but credit for the course is applicable toward the degree only once. However, all grades earned for that course shall be used in calculating the grade point average.
A student's work in any course will be evaluated in accordance with the following system of letter grades: A, B. C, D, F, N, and P.
A represents work of definitely superior quality
B represents a better-than-average level of performance.
C represents a below-average-level of performance.
D represents unacceptable performance.
F represents unacceptable performance
NC represents an unacceptable level of performance (P/N graded courses).
P represents passing performance (P/N graded courses).
In addition to use of straight A, B, C, D, F, NC and P letter grades, faculty members will have the option of using +/- additions.
"AU" represents that a course has been audited. Audit courses do not satisfy program requirements, are not used in determining the grade point average, and cannot be applied to a degree. Tuition and fees, however, are paid.
Incompletes
The grade of “incomplete” is reserved for special cases and means that, because of extenuating circumstances, the student failed to meet a specific need and an important requirement of the course, but has in other respects done passing work for the semester. The incomplete must be made up in the next semester in which the student is enrolled, unless other arrangements have been made between the student and instructor who assigned the grade. The instructor must file an “Extension of an Incomplete” form with the Office of the Registrar if more time is to be granted. If the deficiency is not made up within the specified time, the grade automatically becomes an F (regular-graded course) or NC (P/NC graded course).
Students making up an incomplete should not re-register for the class. Students making up incompletes cannot be used for enrollment or financial aid verification in subsequent terms.
In-Progress Courses
The grade of “in-progress” is reserved for courses that are designed not to be completed by the end of the term. Courses that are In-Progress "IP" must be removed within 2 semesters of registration and replaced with a grade. Otherwise, the In- Progress course will turn to an "F" after one year, if it has not already been changed. (The Registrar's Office reviews them only once a year in August, and it only turns over those that have been on the transcript for no less than one year.)
P/N Grading System
Under the pass/no credit (P/NC) system, a student may register for a course with the understanding that a P will be recorded if passed. If the course is not passed, no credit will be given and an NC will be recorded on the permanent record. Whether the indication is P or NC, the hours taken will not affect the grade-point average.
To receive a P, the student will be required to perform at "C" level or better. Departments offering courses at the graduate level may use Pass/No Credit grades for theses, individual study courses, practicums, workshops, tours, seminars, and internships in the major field. They may not use Pass/No Credit grades for other courses in the student’s major without specific approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Graduate students may take any course for which they qualify as general education or elective on a Pass/No Credit basis. (Departments may, with approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, prohibit P/N students from graduate courses open only to their majors. These courses will be designated in the Class Schedule.)
Students are requested to check with respective departments for specific information. Students shall have the option of choosing the regular grading system or the P/N system in all courses open to P/N. All grading method changes must be processed through the Office of the Registrar by the posted deadlines. No more than one-third of a graduate degree shall consist of Pass/No Credit grades.
Quality Points
Quality points (grade points) are determined on the basis of letter grades. The number of quality points earned for a course may be determined by multiplying the number of points the grade commands by the number of credits the course carries.
Quality point calculations are as follows:
A+ = 4.00 A = 4.00 A- = 3.67
B+ = 3.33 B = 3.00 B- = 2.67
C+ = 2.33 C = 2.00 C- = 1.67
D+ = 1.33 D = 1.00 D- = 0.67
F = 0 P=0 NC=0
Grade-Point Average (GPA)
The total number of quality points acquired by the student divided by the total number of credit hours attempted on a regular grade basis, is called the grade-point average (GPA). For example, if a student has earned 102 quality points and has completed 48 credits of work, the grade-point average is 102 divided by 48, or 2.125. Grades of NC and P have no effect upon the calculation of a grade-point average.
Dismissal from a Program
Students may be dismissed from a graduate program "for cause" by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research on the basis of recommendations from the advisor, examining committee (if one exists), and the department chairperson. "For cause" includes professional judgment of the department involved and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research that the student does not meet the academic or professional standards required for a student earning a graduate degree in that area.
Registration Hold
On the recommendation of the appropriate department and concurrence of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, a hold may be placed on future registration of graduate students who are not making satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Appeal Review Process
A graduate student who feels he/she has been unfairly treated concerning grades or actions taken at the departmental level may appeal such treatment as follows:
The appeal process is initiated by a personal visit with the professor involved. In the case of a grade appeal, a written petition must be submitted within two weeks of university notification of a final grade, to which petition the instructor must respond in writing within two weeks.
If no resolution is achieved, the student should submit a written petition to the department chairperson with a copy to the instructor. The department chairperson may arrange a hearing with the student and the faculty member involved, and will, in any case, respond to the petition in writing within two weeks with copies to the student and the instructor.
If no satisfactory resolution is achieved, the student may appeal to the dean of the college in writing with copies sent to the department chairperson and the instructor. The dean may convene a College Grade Appeals Committee, if appropriate, which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the dean. Within two weeks the College Grade Appeals Committee will make a recommendation to the dean who will respond in writing to the student of the decision reached with copies to the instructor and the department chair.
If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the student will submit a written statement to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research with copies to the instructor, the department chairperson, and the college dean. The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research may convene a Grade Appeals Committee to serve in an advisory capacity. This ad hoc committee will be comprised of three members of the Graduate Sub-Meet and Confer and a graduate student. The chairperson of the Grade Appeals Committee will respond to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research within two weeks with copies to the student, the instructor, the chairperson, and the dean of the college. Both the student and the faculty shall be permitted to make a rebuttal to the written record compiled by the committee; this must be done within two weeks. The decision of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research shall be communicated in writing to all concerned parties. This decision is final.
Written petitions should describe the nature of the problem including relevant information, the remedy sought, and a statement that an attempt was made to resolve the issue at the appropriate levels. If witnesses are named in the petition, they should receive copies. The student should always keep a copy of all paperwork.