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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

The following grades are determined and assigned by faculty based upon appraisal and evaluation of student performance in completing requirements of a course:

A (4.000) Denotes “superior scholarship.“
A-    (3.700)
B+ (3.300)
B (3.000) Denotes “good performance” for students in undergraduate courses and “average performance” for students in graduate courses.
B- (2.700)
C+ (2.300)
C (2.000) Denotes “fair or average performance” for students in undergraduate courses and “below average performance” for students in graduate courses.
C- (1.700)
D+ (1.300)
D (1.000) Denotes “poor (but passing) performance” for students in undergraduate courses and “far below average performance” for students in graduate courses.
F (0.000) Denotes failure of the student’s overall performance. This grade is earned and is not used for students who never attended or stopped attending the course (see NF and SF marks in Administrative Marks section below).
S The grade S (Satisfactory) denotes passing performance and is used for courses where S/U grading, rather than letter grading, is permitted. The credit hours are awarded, but the grade is not counted in computing grade point averages. Work earning an S grade may be applied toward meeting degree requirements.
U The grade U (Unsatisfactory) denotes failing performance and is used for courses where S/U grading, rather than letter grading, is permitted. This grade is earned and is not used for students who never attended or stopped attending the course (see NF and SF marks in Administrative Marks section below). Credit hours are recorded as attempted, and the grade is counted as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages.
Y The grade Y denotes a passing grade in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are awarded, but the grade is not counted in computing grade point averages.*
Z The grade Z denotes failing performance in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are recorded as attempted, and the grade is not counted in computing grade point averages.*

* Please refer to the Pass/Fail Grade policy in the University Catalog for conditions governing the acceptability of pass/fail grades at Kent State.

ADMINISTRATIVE MARKS

The following administrative marks are assigned when a letter grade is not appropriate.

AU The mark AU (Audit) denotes enrollment in a course without benefit of a grade or credit, typically for purposes of self-enrichment and academic exploration. Students may audit any course subject to space availability and prior departmental approval. To audit a course, students must go through registration procedures and be assessed registration fees. An audited course cannot be applied toward a student’s degree or certificate. 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. The AU mark is not used in computing grade point averages.*
CP The mark CP (Complete) denotes completion of requirements for registered course COOP 20092 Cooperative Education. The CP mark is not counted in computing grade point averages.
CR The mark CR (Credit) denotes credit hours, but not letter grade, earned through successful completion of an alternate credit program (e.g., exam credit, trade competency or other non-institutional credit). The CR mark is not counted in computing grade point averages.
IN The mark IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who—due to extenuating circumstances—are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriately for summer sessions and flexibly scheduled courses.

To be eligible, undergraduate students currently must be earning a minimum D grade, and graduate students currently must be earning a minimum C grade. Appropriate documentation is required to support the extenuating circumstance. The student or university-approved designee must initiate the request for the IN mark from the instructor, and it is the responsibility of the student to arrange to make up the incomplete work.

Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Contract to their department chair/school director 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 Contract is provided to the student.

The IN mark is not counted in the computation of grade point averages; when the work is completed, 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, the IN mark automatically will lapse to the default grade designated on the Incomplete Mark Contract at the earliest of one of the following: (1) the default date designated on the Incomplete Mark Contract; or (2) at the end of one semester for undergraduate courses, at the end of three consecutive terms for graduate courses and after 90 calendar days for College of Podiatric Medicine courses.
IP The mark IP (In Progress) may be given to students to indicate that work is in progress toward a thesis, dissertation, research, individual investigation or a similar effort that requires additional time beyond a semester. A grade will be given when the work is completed. The IP mark can be utilized only in designated courses and is not counted in computing grade point averages. The IP mark remains a terminal mark if the student does not complete the requirements for the course. For courses required for a degree or certificate, a grade must be given before the credential may be granted.
M The mark M (Missing) was used until 1980. It is similar to the NF and SF marks (see below) and counts as an F grade (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages.
NC The mark NC (Not Complete) denotes requirements have not been completed for registered course COOP 20092 Cooperative Education. The NC mark is not used in computing grade point averages.
NF The mark NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended any class session nor formally withdrew from the course. The NF mark counts as an F grade (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages.* In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the NF mark will be changed to a Z (fail) grade.
NR    The mark NR (Not Reported) indicates the instructor did not submit a grade. The NR mark is not counted in computing grade point averages. For courses required for a degree or certificate, a grade must be given before a degree can be granted.
SF The mark SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw. The SF mark counts as an F grade (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. In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the SF mark will be changed to a Z (fail) grade.
T The mark T denotes student participation in a national or international academic exchange program and is not counted in computing grade point averages.
TR The mark TR (Transfer) denotes accepted transfer coursework and is not counted in computing grade point averages.
W The mark W (Withdrawal) denotes that the student has withdrawn from the university or from any individual course without evaluation. For courses in the College of Podiatric Medicine, this mark is given to students who withdraw prior to midterm exams.** The W mark is not counted in computing grade point averages.
WF The mark WF (Withdrawal–Fail) 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 counted in computing grade point averages.
WP The mark WP (Withdrawal–Pass) 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 counted in computing grade point averages.

* A course receiving the AU, NF or SF mark is not applied toward a student’s course load for financial aid and other purposes.

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

GRADE/MARK-TO-GRADE CHANGE POLICY

With the exception of the IN, IP and NR marks, once grades or marks 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) 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).

Approved grade change requests for reasons other than removal of the IN, IP and NR marks must be submitted no later than the end of three consecutive terms after the grade was submitted or before the student’s degree is posted officially to the permanent academic record, whichever comes first.* No challenge will be considered or adjustment made after that period. Deadline for removing the IN mark is noted in the Administrative Marks section above.

* 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 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.

TRANSCRIPTS

The integrity of academic transcripts is fundamental to the validity of coursework and degrees certified by the university. Therefore, all student transcript entries (grades and other notations) are finalized when the degree is officially posted to the permanent academic record following the effective date of graduation (visit the University Registrar website for the degree-posting deadline).