Grading System
The grading system employed in the evaluation of undergraduate student work is detailed in the Undergraduate Academic Code. The “descriptions” and “explanatory comments” are intended to be sufficiently general to apply across the University, but obviously have to be applied in a manner specific to each department.
| Letter Grade | Point Value | Description | Explanatory Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.000 | Truly Exceptional | Work meets or exceeds the highest expectations for the course |
| A- | 3.667 | Outstanding | Superior work in all areas of the course |
| B+ | 3.333 | Very Good | Superior work in most areas of the course |
| B | 3.000 | Good | Solid work across the board |
| B- | 2.667 | More than Acceptable | More than acceptable, but falls short of solid work |
| C+ | 2.333 | Acceptable: Meets All Basic Standards | Work meets all the basic requirements and standards for the course |
| C | 2.000 | Acceptable: Meets Most Basic Standards | Work meets most of the basic requirements and standards in several areas |
| C- | 1.667 | Acceptable: Meets Some Basic Standards | While acceptable, work falls short of meeting basic standards in several areas |
| D | 1.000 | Minimally Passing Work | Work just over the threshold of acceptability |
| F | 0.000 | Failing | Unacceptable performance |
| X | 0.000 | N/A | Given with the approval of the student’s dean (or the dean’s designee) in extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student. After consultation with the student’s dean (or the dean’s designee), the Registrar converts an X grade to an “F” if the grade is not otherwise resolved within 30 days after the beginning of the next semester. |
The following grades may be assigned by the Registrar. They may not be given by a member of the faculty.
| Letter Grade | Point Value | Description | Explanatory Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | N/A | Discontinued with permission. | Discontinued with permission of the student’s dean (or the dean’s designee) following the last day for course discontinuance, per the Undergraduate Academic Code. |
| NR | N/A | Not Reported | Final grade(s) not reported by the instructor because of extenuating circumstances. No final grade reported for the course. It will revert to an “F” if not resolved by the beginning of final week in the next semester for which the student is enrolled. |
| F* | N/A | Not Reported | No final grade reported for an individual student. Assigned when the instructor has failed to report a grade for either an individual student or an entire class. It reverts to “F” if not changed within 30 days after the beginning of the next semester in which the student is enrolled. |
The following letter grades may be given, but are not included in the computation of a student’s Grade Point Average.
| Letter Grade | Point Value | Description | Explanatory Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | N/A | N/A | Pass (Pass/Fail Option: Junior or senior undergraduates may file with their academic dean (or the dean’s designee), during the first six class days of the semester, the decision to take on a pass/fail basis one course per semester. Policy details are outlined in the Undergraduate Academic Code.) |
| S | N/A | N/A | Satisfactory work (courses with zero credit hours, as well as research courses, departmental seminars, colloquia or directed studies; workshops; field education and skill courses). |
| U | N/A | N/A | Unsatisfactory work (courses with zero credit hours, as well as research courses, departmental seminars, colloquia or directed studies; workshops; field education and skill courses). |