Academic Affairs

Grades

The following +/- grading policy is used for traditional nondevelopmental-level courses and program internships:

Letter Grade

Numerical Value

Grade Points
A 93-100 4.0
A- 90-92 3.7
B+ 88-89 3.3
B 83-87 3.0
B- 80-82 2.7
C+ 78-79 2.3
C 73-77 2.0
C- 70-72 1.7
D+ 68-69 1.3
D 60-67 1.0
F Below 60 0
FA Below 60 0
P/F Credit/No Credit Granted 0
I Incomplete 0
W Withdrawal 0
R Audit 0

*The FA grade is given for failing a course and missing 30 percent or more of the classes.

Individual course grading policies may vary depending on the competencies required for particular academic programs (see below). Students are urged to see the appropriate faculty member regarding specific courses and programs.

Credit for Life/Work Experience Pass
Credit by Exam Pass/Fail
Co-op Courses Pass/Fail
Nursing Practicum Courses Pass/Fail
Developmental-level Courses #A, #B, #C, #F, #FA

Additional Grades

CR - Credit This grade is awarded as transfer credit for program requirements successfully completed at another institution.

I - Incomplete Work This is a conditional grade given at the discretion of the faculty member when extenuating circumstances prevent the completion of all course requirements by a student. The student must complete all requirements within 30 days of the last day of classes of the semester or summer session. If this condition is not met, the “I” automatically becomes an “F” grade after the 30 days have expired.

P - Pass This grade is given to students who satisfactorily meet the course requirements in the following types of courses: credit for life/work experiences, credit-by-exam, health practicum courses and co-op courses. “P” grades are not calculated into a student's GPA.

R - Audit This is not a grade but indicates a student took the course for no credit and, therefore, no grade.

W - Withdrawal This grade signifies official withdrawal from a course after the drop/add period.

Credit Hours

A credit hour is the unit by which academic work is measured. In a 15-week semester, a minimum of 50 minutes spent in class per week represents a credit hour. For students taking a three-credit course during a 15-week semester, they can expect to attend class once a week for a minimum of 150 minutes, twice a week for a minimum of 75 minutes or three times a week for a minimum of 50 minutes. Students should expect to prepare two hours per week outside of class for every credit hour enrolled.

Hours Attempted and Earned Hours attempted

is the total number of credit hours in all the credit college-level courses for which students receive one of the letter grades where a grade point average is awarded.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average is used to determine a student’s academic standing, eligibility for academic honors and progress toward graduation. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for graduation. Courses numbered below 100, as well as courses of study using the pass/fail grading system, are not calculated into a student’s GPA.

The following method is used to determine the grade point average:

  1. List all courses and grade points.
  2. Convert the letter grade to grade points, using the chart below.
  3. Multiply grade points for each course by the number of credits attempted for each course to arrive at quality points.
  4. Total the number of credits attempted for all courses.
  5. Total the number of quality points for all courses.
  6. Divide the total number of quality points by the number of credits attempted. Carry the quotient to two places.  The result is the grade point average.