Responsible Office: Academic Affairs
Policy Officer: Chief Academic Officer
Scope:
|Faculty
|Student
Approved By: President's Council
Approved Date: 7/17/2017
Effective Date: 1/17/2021
Category: Academics
Description/Purpose:
Policy regarding the grading system
Details:
A student's grade in each course is determined by the combined results of homework assignments, quizzes, examination, papers, presentations, class participation, and other class work, as described in the course syllabus presented at the beginning of each course. For this purpose, the following grading scale will be used.
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A
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-
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Superior command of subject matter and exemplary performance in virtually all course requirements (e.g., examinations, written assignments, projects, oral presentations, class participation). Comprehensive mastery of factual information and demonstration of superior ability in critical thinking.
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B
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-
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Highly developed command of subject matter. Consistently high level of performance in most course requirements, exceeding the instructor's expectations. Substantial mastery of factual information and highly developed ability in critical thinking.
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C
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-
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Fundamental command of essential subject matter. Satisfactory performance in most course requirements. Basic mastery of factual information, and demonstrated ability in critical thinking.
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D
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-
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Substantial deficiencies in command of subject matter. Minimal performance in several of the course requirements. Marginal fulfillment of course objectives.
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F
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-
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General failure to understand the subject matter. Unsatisfactory performance in many or most course requirements. Disqualifying deficiencies in ability to master basic factual information.
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FF
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-
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This grade is used for students who fail a course due to habitual absenteeism. An instructor who assigns a grade of "FF" is required to document the habitual absenteeism by reporting the student's last day of attendance in that class prior to the onset of two weeks of unexcused absence from a class that follows a conventional fourteen-week semester schedule. That formula will be applied proportionally to compressed classes that meet according to different schedules.
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I
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-
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Incomplete. This grade is to be used when the student has failed to complete all course requirements by the end of the semester. The grade of "I" may be used at the discretion of the instructor, but no instructor is required to extend this option to students. Each instructor should explain his or her policy on the grade of "I" to each class at the beginning of each semester.
The grade of "I" is intended for use in cases when small amounts of course work remain to be completed. Instructors must complete the "Incomplete Grade Form" for each "I" grade given, stipulating what work must be completed. The form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office, and a copy of the form will be sent to students after grades are recorded. A student receiving this grade must submit the required work to the instructor not later than 14 days after the beginning of the subsequent semester (summer sessions included); the instructor must submit a letter grade to the Registrar not later than 21 days following the beginning of the subsequent semester. Any "I" that is not replaced by a letter grade by that time will be changed automatically to the grade of "F."
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CN
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-
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CN = Continuing. This grade is used when unusual circumstances make it difficult or impossible for a student to complete course work by the end of the semester.
A "CN" grade may be used only when the student initiates the process by obtaining a "CN" contract from the Registrar's Office. In this contract, the student, the instructor, and the Chief Academic Officer must agree to both the intended date of completion and the specific nature of the assignment to be completed. Once the contract is agreed upon, it must be submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar will not accept "CN" grades which are not accompanied by an appropriately signed and dated contract.
Assignments not completed by the deadline date as shown on the contract will cause the course grade to be registered as "F".
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W
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-
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Withdrew after the drop/add period and prior to the deadline for withdrawal.
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AD
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-
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Took course for no credit.
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IP
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-
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Course in progress
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NR
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-
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NR = Not Reported. Grade not reported by instructor.
"NR" is not intended to be a permanent entry on the student's transcript. The "NR" will default to "F" seven days following the deadline for the submission of final grades if the instructor does not replace it with a letter grade.
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NG
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-
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Not a graded course
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Grades may be modified with "+" and "-" designators, indicating levels of performance that rank between the letter-grade definitions provided below. "Plus" and "minus" designators adjust the quality-point value of letter grades according to the formula described below.
Grades of "A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, F, W, and AD" are entered on the student's permanent academic record. Grades of "A, B, C, D, and F" are used to compute the student's quality point average. The G.P.A. is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credits taken for grade.
Each letter grade earns quality points as described in the example provided below.
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Grade Point Value
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Course Credits
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Grade Points
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A
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4
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x
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3
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12
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A-
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3 2/3
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x
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3
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11
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B+
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3 1/3
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x
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3
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10
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B
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3
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x
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3
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9
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B-
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2 2/3
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x
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3
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8
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C+
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2 1/3
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x
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3
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7
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C
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2
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x
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3
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6
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D
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1
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x
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3
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3
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F
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0
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x
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3
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0
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27
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66
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The Grade Point Average in this example is 66/27 = 2.444
Mid-Semester Grades
Mid-semester grade reports and semester grades will be available online to students through the campus network. No grade reports will be available for students who have outstanding financial obligations to the University.
Pass-Fail Grading Option
Selected courses may be taken for a "Pass-Fail" grade. The "Pass-Fail" option may not be used for courses which the student is required to take or for prerequisites for those required courses. Other regulations concerning the "Pass-Fail" option follow:
- The "Pass-Fail" option is not available to first year students.
- One "Pass-Fail" course may be taken in any given semester of the Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. However, every candidate for graduation must earn a minimum of 112 credits that are graded using the "A through F" grading scale.
- Students must inform their advisors and the Registrar of their intention to register for a course on the "Pass-Fail" basis prior to the final Drop-Add date by submitting a completed PASS-FAIL GRADING OPTION - APPLICATION FORM found on my.francis.edu.
- Faculty members are not informed about students electing the "Pass-Fail" option. Faculty are to grade all students on the "A through F" scale. The Registrar will convert the grade to Pass or Fail on the final grade confirmation sheet and the transcript.
- Students registering for a Pass-Fail course will receive either a "P" for Pass or "F" for Fail on their academic transcripts. Failing grades will be used to compute the G.P.A.
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