Awarding of Grades
Grades are earned by students and awarded by faculty. Grade changes can only be made by the instructor with the approval by the department chairperson and the dean of the college.
The Grading System
The Pittsburg State University grading system includes the following grades: A, B, C, D, P, F, XF, IN, IP, W and NC.
- A Excellent achievement, credit given, four grade points per semester hour.
- B Above average achievement, credit given, three grade points per semester hour.
- C Average achievement, credit given, two grade points per semester hour.
- D Below average achievement, credit given, one grade point per semester hour.
- P Passing work (equivalent to A, B, C, D achievement), credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not used in the computation of the grade point average.
- F Failing work, zero credit given, this grade is given at the end of the semester or if the student withdraws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is doing failing work. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted. Included in computation of grade point average.
- XF Indicates the F was the result of academic dishonesty. Zero grade points given per semester hour. Counted as a course attempted. Included in computation of grade point average.
- IN Incomplete, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. Temporarily recorded as a grade when a student is granted an extension of time to complete course work because course work could not be completed for reasons beyond the student's control. Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student's grade point average. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within one year from the date the IN was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall be regarded as a failure and the IN grade will be changed to F and included in the computation of the student's GPA. Graduate independent study courses (theses, problems, readings, etc.) are excluded from the one-year regulation.
- IP In Progress, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. Temporarily recorded as a grade when a student is enrolled in a course that requires the student to engage in projects that extend past the end of the semester. The “IP” signifies that the faculty member acknowledges the student is enrolled in a long term project and that the project is not yet complete. Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student’s grade point average. An In Progress course must be satisfactorily completed within one year from the date the IP was given. An In Progress not removed within one year shall be regarded as a failure and the IP grade will be changed to F and included in the computation of the student’s GPA.
Courses to be established for the use of the IP grade must be legislated through department/college curriculum committees and the Faculty Senate/Graduate Council. Courses can be legislated to be excluded from the one-year regulation of changing to F if the course is not completed.
- W Withdrawal, zero credit, zero grade points per semester hour. This grade is not computed in the grade point average. This grade is given under two conditions: 1) when a student withdraws from a course prior to the end of the eleventh week; 2) when a student withdraws from the university after the last day of the eleventh week and is passing.
- NC No Credit, zero credit given, zero grade points per semester hour. No credit given (does not necessarily imply failure).
Grade Point Average
Earned grade points are computed by multiplying the point value of A, B, C, D, F and XF grades earned by the number of credit hours of the course in which the student was enrolled.
When a student repeats a course, only the last grade earned is computed in the student's GPA. Grades earned on the first attempt will continue to appear on the transcript but will be marked as a repeat and will not be calculated in the GPA. Grades of P earned in "Pass-Fail" courses are not used in the computation of the GPA. Grades of F earned in a "Pass-Fail" course are used in the computation of the GPA. Grades of IN, NC, and W are not used in the computation of the GPA.
Mid-Semester Report of Low Grades
After the eighth week of the fall and spring semester, all mid-semester D and F grades are reported by the Office of the Registrar to the dean of the college having jurisdiction over the academic program in which the student is completing a major. All D and F grades earned by a student will be reported by the Registrar to the student and the student's academic advisor. No mid-semester report of low grades is distributed for the summer session.
Final Grade Report
At the termination of each course, a final grade report will be made by each instructor for each student. This grade report will follow reporting instructions issued by the Office of the Registrar. Grades awarded are to be only those as defined by the faculty of the university.
All grades earned by a student will be reported by the Registrar to the student, the chairperson of the student's major department, the student's advisor, and the dean of the student's college.
Grade Appeals
Final course grades are to be awarded upon criteria knowledgeable to the student prior to the assignment of the grade. If the student believes that an error has been made in the assignment or recording of a grade, the student should confer with the instructor. If such a conference does not resolve the problem, the student should use the relevant departmental student grievance procedure. |
