CHAPTER 8: GRADE NOTATIONS AND POLICIES Criteria for Awarding Grades The University awards letter grades in recognition of academic performance in each course. Students are graded according to their individual performance in the course and not on a curve. The grading criteria listed below are illustrative and subject to the specifications in a given course. These are described in each course syllabus. Criteria for awarding grades as described in the course syllabi may include, but are not limited to: Quality of assignments and peer assessments Sufficient participation in the discussion forums (according to the requirements laid out in the course syllabus) and the quality of the postings Performance on quizzes and final exams Completion of the Learning Journal The Grading System At the end of each course, a letter grade will be given by the Course Instructor for the course, based on the student's performance. The minimum passing grade for a course is a D-. The University has established the following grading scale. All instructional personnel are expected to comply with this scale: Grade Grade Scale Grade Points A+ 98-100 4. 00 A 93-97 4. 00 A- 90-92 3. 67 B+ 88-89 3. 33 B 83-87 3. 0 B- 80-82 2. 67 C+ 78-79 2. 33 C 73-77 2. 00 C- 70-72 1. 67 D+ 68-69 1. 33 D 63-67 1. 00 D- 60-62 0. 67 F Under 60* 0. 00 I N/A 0. 00 NF/NC N/A 0.00 W N/A N/A Summary of Transcript Notations Pass/Fail (P/F) Pass/Fail (P/F) graded courses are not included in the calculation of a student's GPA. Pass (P) indicates completion of the course with academic work equivalent to a D- or above. Fail (F) indicates completion of the course with academic work earning below a D-. Incomplete (I) An Incomplete “I” is a type of deferred grade that appears on a student's transcript when a course has not been completed during the normal time of instruction. It is not computed in the GPA. An Incomplete is given at the Course Instructor's discretion to a student who has not completed all course requirements, but who has attended, been active, and is passing the course at the time of the request. Students must request an incomplete grade prior to the term end date. All course incompletes must be completed within the first three weeks of the following term; however, other time arrangements are possible depending on the circumstances. When a student completes all outstanding requirements for an incomplete course, the permanent grade replaces the "I" on the transcript. If a student does not complete the work within the allowed period, the "I" grade will lapse to an "F", and a student's cumulative GPA and student status are recalculated at that time. No Credit (NC) No Credit (NC) and no grade points are earned for a course. No Final (NF) NOTE: This requirement may be implemented during the 2014-15 academic year, and students will be notified prior to the term in which it will take effect. Until such time, students choosing not to take the final examination will be granted the final letter grade earned in the course, taking into account the grade of “F” that will be assigned as the grade for the final examination.
Students who choose not to take a final exam at the end of a term are issued an NF (No Final) grade on their transcript for the course, and are required to repeat the course and take the final examination within one year of receiving the NF grade. Once the course is repeated, the new course grade is recorded and the original NF changes to No Credit (NC). Students required to pay Examination Processing Fees at the University who receive an NF grade will only be required to pay the fee once per course. This will happen at the point that they repeat the course and take the final examination, unless a student had already paid the fee the first time that he or she had registered for the course. Students may have no more than one NF grade on their transcript at a time. The second NF grade will result in an academic hold being put on the student's ability to register for courses or begin studying in the next term until the matter has been resolved. Students who do not complete the NF within one year will receive a grade of F for the course. Students receiving an NF grade in an elective course—a course not needed to satisfy a general education or major requirement for that student—have the option to petition the Student Affairs Committee to complete the course without taking the final exam, to receive the grade earned in a course without taking the final exam, including the grade of F that will be assigned as the grade for the final examination. All petitions should be sent to the Office of Student Services by the last day of the term and all decisions by the Committee are final. Students denied the petition will be required to repeat the course and take the final exam. Withdrawal (W) Withdrawal from a course within the withdrawal period is reflected on the student's official transcript. Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) All course credits where a letter grade is issued are factored into a student's term and cumulative GPA. A student's grade-point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of units attempted. The total grade points earned for a course equals the number of grade points assigned times the number of course units. For example, if a student takes three 3-credit courses and receives grades of A-, C+, and F, then the GPA for the term equals the total grade points (3.67*3) + (2.33*3) + (0*3) = 18 divided by the total course units (9). The resulting GPA is 2.00. Students are required to be in good academic standing and must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all coursework attempted at UoPeople and earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.00 in all courses taken in the major area of study in order to graduate from University of the People.
Grading Policies and Practices The University insures that students are issued grades in a timely fashion and that grades are determined in a manner that is accurate, fair, and consistently applied in accord with established standards. At the conclusion of each term of study, students may check their grades in their unofficial academic record in the Student Portal. Since the unofficial academic record is a permanent record of a student's academic performance, including course selections, grades, and credits earned toward a degree, it must be correct at all times. Students who believe an error has been made on their academic records should be in contact with the Office of Academic Affairs at academic.affairs@uopeople.edu. Students are encouraged to speak to their Course Instructors if they wish further clarification of their grades, would like to discuss their assessments, or are considering requesting a grade change. Students with further complaints regarding alleged unfair or improper grading at UoPeople and who are unable to reach a resolution with their Course Instructor may request a Grade Appeal form from the Office of Academic Affairs (academic.affairs@uopeople.edu). Grade Appeals 1. Students who believe they have been graded unfairly may appeal their final course grades. Students appealing a grade should note that the burden of proof in challenging a grade rests with the student. For a change in grade to be recommended, a student must make a compelling case that the grade originally given was unjustly or unfairly awarded. 2. To appeal a grade, students must contact their Course Instructor online within fourteen days of the last day of the term. This discussion is intended to provide the Course Instructor an opportunity to explain the basis for the grade and to provide the student with an opportunity to indicate possible errors or misjudgments in the assignment of the grade. Frequently, a discussion with the Course Instructor resolves the issue. 3. Course Instructors who decide to change the student's grade must inform the Office of Academic Affairs and submit the corrected grade. The Course Instructor has the discretion to increase, decrease, or leave the student's final grade as is in response to a Grade Appeal. The Office of Student Services will update the student's academic record and recalculate the student's cumulative GPA. 4. If the student and the Course Instructor are unable to reach a resolution, the student may request a Grade Appeal form from the Office of Academic Affairs (academicaffairs@uopeople.edu). The completed form must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs no later than 30 days after the last day of the term. Late appeals will not be accepted. 5. Next, the Office of Academic Affairs will send the completed form to the Course Instructor for comment. Upon completion, this form is then sent back to the Office of Academic Affairs. 6. Grade Appeals are reviewed by the Student Affairs Committee, and students are informed in writing of Committee's decision by the Office of Student Services. Decisions rendered by the Committee are final and binding. A record of the final decision and all related materials will become part of the student's official academic record. Student Recognition Announcements naming students to the President's List, Dean's List, and Honor's List are generally published around the 5th week of the term. President's List Degree Seeking Students will be named to the President's List for each active term in which they maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.85 — 4.00. Dean's List Degree Seeking Students will be named to the Dean's List for each active term in which they maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 — 3.84. Honor's List Degree Seeking Students will be named to the Honor's List for each active term in which they maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 — 3.49.
