Grading System

The community and technical college grading system uses a series of letters, to which are assigned grade-point values. The system is based neither on an absolute numerical system nor on a distribution curve, but on the following descriptions:

Grade A represents exceptionally high achievement. It is valued at four grade points for each credit hour in courses numbered 100 or above.

Grade B represents high achievement. It is valued at three grade points for each credit hour in courses numbered 100 or above.

Grade C represents satisfactory achievement. It is valued at two grade points for each credit hour in courses numbered 100 or above.

Grade D represents the minimum achievement for credit. It is valued at one grade point for each credit hour in courses numbered 100 or above.

Grade E represents unsatisfactory achievement and indicates failure in the course. It is valued at zero credit hours and zero grade points in courses numbered 100 or above. A student receiving this grade can obtain credit in the course only by repeating the entire work of the course.

Grade F presents an unsatisfactory grade in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis.  The student who receives a grade of F in a course shall not be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s).  It has no value in computing the grade point average.  Credit may only be obtained by repeating the entire course.  This grade may be used for developmental courses.

Grade AU (Audit) has no value in computing grade-point average. A student who has been admitted to the college may elect to enroll in a course(s) as an auditor, except in selective admissions programs. Auditing courses in a selective admissions program requires admission to the program and availability of space in the courses.

Any change from audit to credit by a student admitted to a college must be accomplished by the last date to enter a class, and any change from credit to audit must be made by mid-term of the semester or session in which the student is enrolled. An audited class may be taken for credit at a later date. Anyone who desires to audit a class must be admitted to the college and officially registered for the course.

V.A. regulations specify that no payment of educational benefits will be made to a veteran or other person eligible to receive V.A. benefits for audited courses or courses for which the grade assigned is not used when computing graduation requirements.

Grade I means that part of the work of the course remains unfinished. It shall be given only when there is a reasonable possibility that a passing grade will result from completion of the work. The instructor shall not give an I grade when the reason for incompleteness is unsatisfactory to the instructor.

The instructor and student will discuss the requirements for completion of courses with the time limit for completion not to exceed a maximum of one year; failure to do so will result in a change of grade from I to an E. 

Each college shall maintain a file record of incomplete grades recorded in courses of the college. This record, completed by the instructor at the time the I grade is reported, shall include: (1) the name and number of the student, (2) the course number and hours of credit, (3) semester or session and year of enrollment, (4) signature of the instructor, (5) a brief statement of the reason(s) for recording the incomplete grade, and (6) an adequate guide for removal of the incomplete grade.  In the instructor's absence, the division chairperson or designee, shall forward to the president (or designee) the appropriate letter grade to replace the incomplete grade.

For students receiving V.A. benefits, V.A. regulations require that an incomplete grade (I) must be converted to a credit grade counting toward graduation or a punitive failing grade, within one calendar year after the date on which the I was assigned.

Grade Pass-Fail may be selected for a maximum of two elective courses, subject to certain restrictions, by students with at least 30 credit hours and not on academic probation. These can count toward graduation but are not used in calculating grade-point standing. Courses taken on a pass-fail basis shall be limited to those considered as elective in the student's program, and such other courses or types of courses as might be specifically approved by the Community and Technical College Council. Prerequisites for such courses may be ignored at the student's own hazard. Any community college student who receives a grade of P in a course shall be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s). The student is expected to participate fully in the course and take all examinations as though the student were enrolled on a regular basis. Students may not change from a pass-fail basis nor from a regular basis to a pass-fail basis after the last date for entering an organized class. Courses offered only on a pass-fail basis, remedial or developmental or taken by special examination, shall not be included in the maximum number of elective courses which a student may take under these provisions.

V. A. regulations specify that no payment of educational benefits will be made to a veteran or other person eligible to receive V. A. benefits for courses for which the grade assigned is not used when computing graduation requirements.

Grade W represents a withdrawal from the class without completing course requirements. A student may officially withdraw from any class up to and including the date of mid-term with a W grade.  After the date of mid-term and through the last class of the semester or session, any student my officially request a W or WP grade grade,  which may be given at the discretion of the instructor. Each instructor shall state on the first or second class meeting the factors to be used in determining the assignment of a W or WP grade during the discretionary period.  An instructor shall not assign a student a W or WP grade for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from that class in a manner prescribed by the college. The grade W may be assigned by the Community and Technical College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights.  It may not be assigned to a student found guilty of an academic offense without permission of the inst5ructor in whose class the offense occurred.   The president of a college (or designee) may, if the student concurs, assign a W to a student who has been reported to the president for unsatisfactory scholarship or excessive absences and who, after being reported, has made no improvement.

V.A. regulations stipulate that no payment of educational benefits will be made to a veteran or other person eligible to receive V.A. benefits for courses from which the veteran or other eligible person has withdrawn.

Grade P represents a satisfactory grade in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis.  The student who receives a grade of P in a course shall be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s) the grade of P may be assigned by the Community and Technical College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights.  It has no value in computing the grade point average.  This grade may be used for developmental courses.

Grade MP represents Making Progress and may be assigned only for developmental courses and means that the student has made significant progress but needs and deserves more time to achieve a passing grade.  The student should re-enroll in the course in order to continue advancement to the level of competency set for the course.   Grades may be earned following re-enrollment for developmental courses.  The grade of MP has no value in computing grade point average.