Grading System Policy

Authority: Academic Affairs
Date Enacted or Revised: Revised January 3, 2013; October 2, 2015; October 2017; August 2018; November 2018; January 9, 2019; June 9, 2021; March 8, 2022

System of Grading

  1. A student’s scholastic achievement is indicated by the following grades:
    • A – Excellent: Student’s performance approaches complete mastery of the course requirements.
    • B – Good: Student’s performance is above the level expected from most students but does not approach complete mastery of the course requirements.
    • C – Average: Student’s performance is about the level expected from most students. Grades of S (Satisfactory) and P (Pass) also signify average performance.
    • D – Below Average: Student’s performance is at or above the minimum level to pass the course but does not allow for progression in some programs or subsequent courses.
    • F – Failure: Student’s performance is below the minimum level to pass the course. The grade of U (Unsatisfactory) also signifies performance below the level required to pass the course.
  2. A faculty member may award a grade of I for incomplete work for a course taken by a student. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor about the possibility of receiving an I grade. The I automatically converts to a grade of F unless the student completes the necessary work as specified by the instructor within one semester. The faculty member, under extenuating circumstances and by email notification to the Office of the Registrar and Admissions (registrar@mcneese.edu), may allow the student up to one year to complete the work and remove the I. The grade of I is not included when computing the student’s grade point average (GPA) and cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements until it is resolved into a final grade.
    1. Federal financial aid recipients who have received a grade of I and who have a term GPA of 0.0 may be subject to a Federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation. To prevent this, a student must satisfactorily complete the necessary work, and the grade must be changed to a passing grade by the 30th calendar day after the last day of final exams. [Note: Federal financial aid recipients are those who received a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), and/or Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS).]
      1. When the Office of Financial Aid identifies such students, that office will notify the student, the instructor of the course, and the dean of the college in which the course is taught of the deadline to resolve the I grade.
  3. After the final date to register and before a designated date in the academic calendar, a grade of WZ is given when a student withdraws from a class, while a grade of W is given when a student resigns from the University. A grade of W is also assigned when a withdrawal is the result of military activation or deployment or administrative action. The grades of WZ and W are not included when computing the student’s grade point average.
  4. A grade of WN is assigned as a final grade when a student is withdrawn from a class by the instructor for non-attendance. The grade of WN is not included when computing the student’s grade point average.
  5. A grade of IN is assigned when a graduate student’s thesis is incomplete but still in progress.
  6. A grade of AU is assigned when a student audits a course for no credit.
  7. A grade of NR (Not Reported) is given when the instructor does not report a grade by the grading deadline. This is usually resolved and changed to the appropriate grade soon after the grading deadline.

Quality Points and Grade Point Averages

  1. On the student’s academic record, courses and grades are grouped by undergraduate and graduate level, and grade point averages are calculated for each distinct level.
  2. Quality points are the numerical values assigned to letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F.
    1. For a grade of A, four quality points are assigned for each semester hour for the course.
    2. For a grade of B, three quality points are assigned for each semester hour for the course.
    3. For a grade of C, two quality points are assigned for each semester hour for the course.
    4. For a grade of D, one quality point is assigned for each semester hour for the course.
    5. For a grade of F, zero quality points are assigned for the course.
  3. Quality, or GPA, hours are the number of semester hours in which grades of A, B, C, D, and F are earned.
  4. A grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the number quality points earned by the number of quality, or GPA, hours.
    1. The term grade point average of a student is computed by dividing the number quality points earned in a given term by the number of quality, or GPA, hours for that term.
    2. The overall, or cumulative, grade point average of a student is computed by dividing the total number quality points earned by the total number of quality, or GPA, hours.
      • The overall GPA includes quality points and hours from institutional and transfer coursework.
      • The overall, or cumulative, GPA is the benchmark figure used to determine academic honors, graduation honors, academic probation, academic suspension, and program admission.
  5. A 2.0 GPA means a C average, a 3.0 GPA means a B average, etc.
  6. When a student repeats a course, the last grade earned is recognized as the official grade for the course; however, all grades earned for the course (regardless of the number of attempts) are included in the computation of the term and overall GPAs except in cases of academic bankruptcy and grade forgiveness. Prior to Summer 1995, only the last grade earned was included in the computation of the term and overall GPAs.
  7. For meeting graduation requirements, an adjusted GPA or degree GPA may be used. The adjusted GPA is calculated using only the last grade earned in courses that are repeated. The degree GPA is calculated using only grades earned in courses applicable to the degree. Neither the adjusted GPA nor the degree GPA is placed on the student’s transcript. For other on-campus purposes, a student may apply to Student Central for the calculation of an adjusted GPA. Colleges may set specific rules regarding admission into and graduation from specified programs in reference to the adjusted GPA.

Change of Final Grade

Grade changes must be approved by the department head and dean. Grade changes should be made no later than the next regular semester after the grade is earned.

Materials Used in the Computation of Grades

Students have the right to see all graded materials or other items used in the computation of their grade. The course syllabus must clearly indicate how the student’s grade will be determined.

Course syllabi for courses that require application of learning such as clinicals, student teaching, practica, labs, internships, or otherwise require specific contact hours should indicate how the student will meet the contact hour requirement of the course. The course grade for clinicals, student teaching, practica, labs, internships, or courses with specific contact hours may require attendance as a participation component in the computation of the grade. The course syllabus must state clearly the implication of attendance for the computation of the grade. Absences excused in accordance with University policy may not result in punitive grades or a deduction from the final grade.

All records and materials used in the computation of the student’s grade and not returned to the student after grading should be retained for a period of at least one semester following the student’s completion of the course.

Posting Grades

Instructors are required to post grades in the student information system by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. Instructors must also post results of all graded class activities in Moodle in a timely manner.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the Academic Advisory Council and the University Policies webpage.

Related University Policies