Grading System

Credit   The unit of credit at the University is the semester hour. Each semester hour represents one class period of a minimum of 50 minutes per week for each week in the semester. Lecture-recitation courses require a minimum of one 50-minute class period each week in the semester for every one hour of credit earned. Laboratories and field work require a minimum of two 50-minute class periods (or the equivalent amount of time) for each week in the semester for every one hour of credit earned.

Grades   Grades and symbols used to record academic progress are listed in the following grading system table. Each school determines its own grading system. Students are graded according to the grading system of the school in which they are registered, not according to the grading system of the school through which the course is taught. (Additional regulations apply to courses taught on a credit/no credit basis, and are described in the section entitled "Credit/No Credit Grades.")

Grades and Grade Point Averages   Grade points are assigned to all grades and some symbols listed in the following grading system table. Grade point averages are calculated by totaling the number of grade points earned, then dividing that total by the number of credits carried toward the GPA.

Grade	Grade Points	Included in GPA	Credits Earned
A+[1] [7]	4.000	Y	Y
A	4.000	Y	Y
A-	3.700	Y	Y
B+	3.300	Y	Y
B	3.000	Y	Y
B-	2.700	Y	Y
C+	2.300	Y	Y
C	2.000	Y	Y
C-	1.700	Y	Y
D+	1.300	Y	Y
D	1.000	Y	Y
D-	0.700	Y	Y
F	0.000	Y	N
Symbol	Definition
CR [2]	Credit	N	Y
NC [2]	No credit	N	N
W	Withdrawal	N	N
WP [3] [4]	Withdraw passing	N	N
WF [3] [4]	Withdraw failing	N	N
WD	Administrative withdrawal	N	N
S [3]	Satisfactory	N	Y
U [3]	Unsatisfactory	N	N
AU	Audit	N	N
IN	Incomplete	N	N
IV	Invalid grade	N	N
NG [6]	No grade	N	N
NR	Non-Resident	N	N
YR [1] [3] [5]	Year long course	N	N

^[1]Not valid in School of Nursing.
^[2]Commerce School courses (COMM) may not be taken on CR/NC basis.
^[3]Not valid in School of Commerce.
^[4]Not valid in College of Arts and Sciences.
^[5]Not valid in School of Architecture.
^[6]NG is included in GPA in the College of Arts and Sciences.
^[7]In the School of Law, an A+ carries 4.300 grade points.

Incompletes   The symbol IN (incomplete) is used when additional course work is required or examinations need to be taken in order to fulfill the requirements of a given course. Policies governing the use of the incomplete symbol may vary by school, and are described in subsequent chapters.

Grade Changes   No grade may be changed after it has been submitted to the university registrar without the approval of the dean. The dean is not authorized by the faculty to change a grade submitted to the university registrar except when an instructor certifies that, because of an error in calculation or transcription, an incorrect grade has been submitted. Specific grade change policies may vary by school, and are detailed in subsequent chapters.

Credit/No Credit Grades   Students have the option of receiving the grades CR (credit) or NC (no credit) in place of the regular grades A through F. The option is selected when students register for courses. Instructors have the right to refuse to permit students to take courses on a CR/NC basis. If this occurs, students may either change back to the regular grading option, or drop the courses entirely. Courses taken for CR/NC may not be used for any major or basic area requirements. Specific CR/NC policies for each school are detailed in subsequent chapters.

Continue to: Graduation
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