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Grading Policies and Procedures PDFDownload to print

The transcript is an accurate and complete historical record of work attempted at the university. Changes to transcript entries that alter the enrollment history of a student are not to be made.

Academic Grades and Administrative Marks

Student proficiency in coursework is recorded by the following letter grades:

A (4.000) Denotes "excellent scholarship" for undergraduate students and "superior scholarship" for graduate students
A- (3.700)
B+ (3.300)
B (3.000) Denotes "good performance" for undergraduate students and "average performance" for graduate students
B- (2.700)
C+ (2.300)
C (2.000) Denotes "fair or average performance" for undergraduate students and "below average performance" for graduate students
C- (1.700)
D+ (1.300)
D (1.000) Denotes "poor (unsatisfactory but passing) performance" for undergraduate students and "far below average performance" for graduate students
F (0.000) Denotes failure
AU The mark AU denotes that students have registered to audit a course. Students may audit without credit any course subject to space availability and departmental approval. An audited course is not counted as part of the course load, but students must go through registration procedures and pay the normal registration fees. For graduate students, an audited course may not be counted as fulfilling the minimum course load requirements. An instructor may impose whatever attendance requirements deemed necessary upon the students registered for audit. The students must be informed of these requirements at the beginning of the semester. Failure to meet such attendance requirements subjects the students to being withdrawn from the course by the instructor. This will be accomplished by the instructor’s insertion of the mark W for the students on the final grades list.
IN The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently passing and have completed at least 12 weeks of the semester. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriate for summer sessions and flexibly scheduled courses. Appropriate documentation is generally required to support the extenuating circumstance. The student must initiate the request for the Incomplete mark from the instructor, and it is the responsibility of the student to arrange to make up the incomplete work. Incomplete grades must be made up within one semester (not including summer sessions) for undergraduate students, one calendar year for graduate students and three months for College of Podiatric Medicine students. Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Form to the department chair at the time grades are assigned. This form includes justification for awarding the Incomplete, describes the work to be completed for the course and specifies the grade to be assigned if the work is not completed (default grade). A copy of the Incomplete Mark Form is provided to the student. Incomplete grades will not be counted in the computation of grade point averages until the work is completed, at which time an appropriate grade will be assigned based on the instructor’s evaluation of the work submitted and a new grade point average computed. Unless the course is completed or an extension is granted, Incomplete grades will automatically lapse to the grade designated on the Incomplete Mark Form at the end of one semester for undergraduate students and at the end of one year for graduate students.
IP The grade IP (In Progress) may be given to students to indicate that research, individual investigation or similar efforts are in progress and that a final grade will be given when the work is completed. The IP grade can be utilized only in designated courses and is not used in computing grade point averages. For graduate students, an IP grade is used for thesis (6xx99) or dissertation (8xx99) courses during those semesters in which a student is in the process of completing a thesis or dissertation. For courses required for the degree, a final grade must be given before a degree can be granted. The IP grade when given for thesis registration remains a terminal grade if the student changes from a thesis option in the master’s degree to another degree option.
M The grade M (Missing) was used until 1980. It is similar to the NF and SF grades (see below) and counts as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages.
NF The grade NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course. The NF grade counts as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages. In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the NF grade will be changed to a Z (fail) grade.
NR    A mark NR (Not Reported) indicates the instructor did not submit a grade.
S The grade S denotes satisfactory completion of a course in which a regular letter grade is inappropriate. Satisfactory work is interpreted as average or superior attainment. The credit hours are awarded but are not considered in computing grade point averages, but work earning an S grade may be applied toward meeting degree requirements. For graduate students, the S grade, along with the U grade (see below) are the only grades to be used for thesis (6xx99), dissertation (8xx99), workshops and courses involving internship/practicum. The instructor intending to use the S and U grades in a course other than these must do so exclusively and only where permitted. The instructor will announce this intent to the particular class at the beginning of the course and note it on the course syllabus.
SF The grade SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw. The SF grade counts as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course. Faculty who cannot determine the exact date of last attendance may use the date of the last academic activity in which students participated. SF grades are not appropriate for students who stop attending after the course withdrawal deadline. After that time, grades should be based on student performance in the completion of course requirements. In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the SF grade will be changed to a Z (fail) grade.
U The grade U denotes unsatisfactory performance in a course for which a regular grade is inappropriate. Credit hours are recorded as credit hours attempted, and the grade will be counted as an F in computing grade point averages. For graduate students, the U grade, along with the S grade (see above) are the only grades to be used for thesis (6xx99), dissertation (8xx99), workshops and courses involving internship/practicum. The instructor intending to use the S and U grades in a course other than these must do so exclusively and only where permitted. The instructor will announce this intent to the particular class at the beginning of the course and note it on the course syllabus.
W The mark W denotes that the student has withdrawn from the university or from any individual course without evaluation. For students in the College of Podiatric Medicine, this mark is given to students who withdraw prior to midterm exams.* The W mark is not used in computing grade point averages.
WF The mark WF is used by the College of Podiatric Medicine to denote that the student has withdrawn from the university or from any individual course/rotation with failing status after seven weeks of course instruction.* The WF mark is not used in computing grade point averages.
WP The mark WP is used by the College of Podiatric Medicine to denote that the student has withdrawn from the university or from any individual course/rotation with passing status after seven weeks of course instruction.* The WP mark is not used in computing grade point averages.
Y The grade Y denotes a passing grade in undergraduate pass/fail courses or in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are not considered in computing grade point averages.
Z The grade Z denotes failing performance in undergraduate pass/fail courses or in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are not considered in computing grade point averages.

* Please refer to the College of Podiatric Medicine section in the University Catalog for procedures for withdrawal.

Grade-to-Grade Change Policy

Once grades are submitted, they are final and will not be changed except in cases of administrative error. Grades will not be changed by allowing the students to do additional work (e.g., retaking exams; redoing papers; submitting extra credit papers, reports, etc.) or by using criteria other than those applied to all students in the class.

In the event of a possible administrative error, the students must contact the instructor as soon as possible following the awarding of the grade.* If the instructor is not available, the department/school chair/director should be contacted.

Grade appeals for reasons other than administrative error must follow established policy and procedures for student academic complaints, see policies 4-02.3 for Kent Campus and 8-01.4 for regional campuses in the University Policy Register (www.kent.edu/policyreg).

* Request for a grade change in the College of Podiatric Medicine for posted scores (e.g., didactic exams, quizzes, lab practicals), course or rotation grades or other forms of evaluation must be submitted within seven calendar days of posting or receipt. All grade change requests for reasons other than removal of an F grade or an IN (incomplete) mark must be submitted within the first two weeks of the succeeding academic term. No challenge will be considered or adjustment made after that period.

Grade Point Average

Quality points are awarded on the following scale:

  • Each hour of A equals 4.000 points
  • Each hour of A- equals 3.700 points
  • Each hour of B+ equals 3.300 points
  • Each hour of B equals 3.000 points
  • Each hour of B- equals 2.700 points
  • Each hour of C+ equals 2.300 points
  • Each hour of C equals 2.000 points
  • Each hour of C- equals 1.700 points
  • Each hour of D+ equals 1.300 points
  • Each hour of D equals 1.000 point
  • Each hour of F equals 0.000 points
  • Each hour of NF equals 0.000 points
  • Each hour of SF equals 0.000 points
  • Each hour of U equals 0.000 points

A grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of points earned by the number of quality hours taken. Totals are extended to three decimal points and are not rounded up.

As an example, assume a student has completed 30 credit hours with a grade distribution of 3 hours of A, 3 hours of B, 3 hours of B-, 15 hours of C, 4 hours of D and 2 hours of F.

  Points
3 hours of A at 4 points per hour 12.000
3 hours of B at 3 points per hour 9.000
3 hours of B- at 2.7 points per hour 8.100
15 hours of C at 2 points per hour 30.000
4 hours of D at 1 point per hour 4.000
2 hours of F at 0 points per hour 0.000
Total      63.100

Dividing 63.100 by 30, a grade point average of 2.103 is obtained, which is slightly above a C average. Cumulative averages are computed by dividing the total quality points by the total quality hours. Grades of S, Y and Z are not included in grade point average.

Grade Reports

Final grades are reported at the close of each academic term and become a part of the students’ permanent records. Grades are available in FlashLine.

Midterm Evaluation

A midterm (seventh week) evaluation is completed for all undergraduate freshmen. Midterm results are available to advisors and college/school/campus deans and will be used for counseling purposes when achievement is considered unsatisfactory (i.e., D or F quality). This evaluation will not be included as part of the students’ academic transcripts. The midterm evaluation is available to freshmen in FlashLine.