A student earns one official semester grade for each course; it may be a letter grade or a pass/fail designation. The course syllabus provides a statement of how the grade is determined, i.e., the assignments and relative weight of each. Although every course and field of study present unique challenges in assessing student performance, instructors refer to the following statements of interpretation when assigning grades.
Letter Grades
A Sustained mastery of course content and consistent demonstration of individual initiative and insight beyond the fulfillment of course requirements.
B Work displaying accurate knowledge of course content and some ability to use this knowledge creatively.
C Work demonstrating familiarity with basic course concepts, related methods of study, and full participation in class work.
D Work below the minimum standard as defined above. Although falling below this minimum, it is considered of sufficient merit to be counted toward graduation if balanced by superior work in other courses.
P Passing of a course elected for pass-fail grading. Neither credit hours nor quality points are used in computing grade point averages.
F Failure which may not be made up by re- examination.
I The student’s work is incomplete. If an I is not completed by the final class day of the next semester, it automatically becomes an F. The requirements for completion of a course for a grade, as well as the deadline for completion of the work, will not be extended in the case of leave of absence or withdrawal from the college.
N An interim grade assigned when there is no report by the instructor.
Z An interim grade assigned only in a course that does not terminate at the end of the current grading period. This interim grade is not included when computing the current quality point average. If a Z is not completed by the final class day of the next semester, it automatically becomes an F. The requirements for completion of a course for a grade, as well as the deadline for completion of the work, will not be extended in the case of leave of absence or withdrawal from the college.
W The student withdrew from the course during the withdrawal period which ends two weeks after mid- semester. (For courses lasting less than a full semester, the end of the withdrawal period will be determined by using the same proportion of the shorter period of time, to be determined by the Registrar.) After the withdrawal period a W grade will be given only upon medical or emergency withdrawal.
AU The student completed a satisfactory audit.
NA The student did not complete a satisfactory audit.
AH Successful completion of honors program contract with a grade of A.
BH Successful completion of honors program contract with a grade of B.
AT Transfer course with original grade of A+, A or A- reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
BT Transfer course with original grade of B+, B or B- reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
CT Transfer course with original grade of C+, C or C- reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
DT Transfer course with original grade of D+, D or D- reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
FT Transfer course with original grade of F+, F, or F- reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
PT Transfer course with original grade of P or S reported by the credit granting institution. Grade is not calculated into the Meredith or cumulative grade point average.
Pass/Fail Grading
Course content and requirements for pass/fail registrants are the same as those for students earning letter grades. A grade of P indicates that the student has achieved at least minimal passing performance in the course.
Some activity classes are taken automatically pass/fail and some are taken automatically for a letter grade. A student may elect to change how a course is graded for them according to the following policy. Grade change requests of this nature must be received in the Office of the Registrar according to pass/fail election deadlines, as noted in the academic calendar.
All PED activity classes and DAN activity classes at the 100 level are taken pass/fail. Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education may elect to take them for a letter grade. Students who have fulfilled the Health and Physical Learning component of General Education and who need these courses to fulfill major requirements must take them for a grade.
DAN activity courses at the 200, 300, and 400 level are taken for a grade. Students may take these courses as pass/fail to fulfill the Health and Physical Learning Component of General Education.
Some courses are taught only for pass/fail grading. Courses designated Pass/Fail Only are excluded from the following Pass/Fail restrictions:
- A student may elect to take a total of two courses for pass/fail grading. These courses must be taken during the student's junior year and/or senior year and may not include any course required for their major, minor, licensure, or general education (See Item 4 below.) However, with the department or school’s permission, a student may elect to take a seminar in their major for pass/fail grading.
- Only one such course may be elected during a single semester.
- A department or school may choose to offer courses for pass/fail grading. These courses will not count as one of the student’s two elected pass/fail courses.
- Licensure-only students must take all courses required for licensure (except those offered only as pass/fail) for a grade.
Some departments and majors choose to restrict pass/fail options for seminar courses. Students transferring into a new major will face reassessment of pass/fail credit. Only one course previously taken as pass/fail will apply to the major requirements; others taken pass/fail will be forfeited.
Students designate pass/fail courses at the time of registration. Changes in grade options must be made within the first 20 days of the semester. A passing grade in a pass/fail course indicates that the student has performed at the level of D or better. If a P is earned, the credit hours do not impact the student’s grade point average. If an F is earned, the credit does impact the student’s grade point average.
Guidelines for Incomplete Grades
- An Incomplete grade is appropriate for limited amounts of work due late in the semester (typically after the last day to withdraw) when extraordinary circumstances prevent the completion of required coursework within the time limits previously established.
- An Incomplete is only appropriate when the student’s record in the course is such that the successful completion of the indicated coursework would provide the student with an opportunity to pass the course.
- An Incomplete grade is always at the discretion of the instructor. Approval is not guaranteed.
- There are some courses for which an Incomplete grade may not be appropriate.
- Students should be mindful of the impact that an Incomplete grade may have on course prerequisites, progress towards graduation, Dean’s List eligibility, and financial aid. Students are encouraged to discuss the impact of Incomplete grades with their advisor, the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Financial Aid.
Mid-term Progress Reports
Midway into each semester, instructors provide the Office of the Registrar with progress/midterm reports for those students whose performance in class indicates work at the D or F level. Not a permanent grade, this report is an indication of the student’s progress thus far in the current semester. Mid-term progress reports are available on Self Service.
Class Attendance
Class attendance is essential to success in a course. Students are expected to prepare for and attend each class meeting, including conferences and other academic appointments, and to participate fully in the learning process. Instructors may include class attendance in the calculation of the course grade. The effect of class attendance on the grade will be clearly specified in writing by the instructor at the beginning of the course.
Grade Reports
A grade report is issued to the student online shortly after the end of the semester. The student may request a written copy with a written request to the Office of the Registrar. These requests will be processed as transcript requests.
Quality Point Ratio
The grade report provides a semester quality point ratio and an overall quality point ratio. These averages are calculated by assigning the following numbers to letter grades: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1. Quality point ratios are calculated by dividing the number of quality points earned by the number of semester credit hours attempted. A course that is repeated does not count toward additional credit hours attempted in calculating the quality point ratio. For courses taken on a pass/fail basis, a P will not be counted toward hours attempted for the quality point ratio, but an F grade will be calculated in the credit hours attempted figure.
Academic Appeals
Students who are experiencing academic problems either with a grade or other conditions of the course should first discuss the matter with the professor. It is the professor’s responsibility to explain fully all grades and requirements of the course. If the problem is not resolved, the student or professor should consult the department head. Should further action be required, the matter should be brought to the dean of the school. Any grievance concerning a grade that has not been satisfactorily resolved by the teacher, the department head, or the dean may be appealed in a written statement to the Senior Vice President and Provost. This appeal must take place within eight weeks of receiving the grade or initially experiencing the problem. Grades may be appealed on the basis of a question concerning (1) clerical or numerical error or (2) personal bias or arbitrary grading.