Grading Policies
The highest grade awarded is an A. The grade of “I” for “Incomplete” is a temporary grade and must be approved by the Dean. All such authorized grades of incomplete must be changed to traditional letter grades within three weeks of the beginning of the subsequent semester. An automatic “F" is transcribed if the work is not completed within the time frame.
The grade of “IP” for “In Progress” is given to students involved in practica and/or internships whose approved field experiences remain active after the grading period. The faculty moderator must submit the final grade (P-Pass or F-Failure) for the experience when all requirements have been met.
The grade of “W” is assigned to students who withdraw from a course after the third class session. The course will be included on the student’s transcript with this grade.
Access to semester grades is available through SSIU; grades will not be given over the phone. At the end of each semester, the university makes every effort to expedite grade processing.
Grades
The following chart sets forth the grading system for graduate courses at Immaculata University.
| Grade | Rating | Definition | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Outstanding | Performance of highest achievement, evidence of consistent ability | 4.00 |
| A- | Superior | Performance of highest achievement | 3.67 |
| B+ | Above average | Mastery of subject matter | 3.33 |
| B | Average/satisfactory | Standard performance | 3.00 |
| B- C+ C |
Less than satisfactory | Below standard performance | 2.67 2.33 2.00 |
| C- D+ D |
Below acceptable standards | Performance does not meet minimal standards | 1.67 1.33 1.00 |
| F | Failure | No credit | 0.00 |
| I | Incomplete | For a grave reason, all course work has not been completed within the timeframe of the semester | 0.00 |
| P | Pass | Equivalent of at least B for course taken as pass-fail option; completiion of course requirements | 0.00 |
| W | Withdrawal | Not include in Grade Point Average toward earned credits | 0.00 |
Grade Appeals Procedure
Faculty members are responsible for outlining grading policies in writing to students at the beginning of each course. If a student wishes to question a grade, the initial step is to discuss the grade directly with the faculty member teaching the course within three weeks after posting the grade.
If the step does not result in a satisfactory explanation or resolution of the perceived problem, the student may bring the matter to the attention of the respective department/division chair or to the appropriate program director within one week after receiving the decision from the faculty member. Documentation supporting the student’s appeal must be provided.
Should the student continue to contest the grade and wish to pursue an appeal, additional documentation supporting the student’s claim should be brought to the appropriate dean within one week after receiving the decision from the department/division chair of program director. The dean’s decision is final.
Incomplete Courses
The grade of incomplete is given as a temporary grade, and must be approved by the instructor, department/division chair, and graduate dean in writing using the official incomplete grade request form available in the graduate office. For semester-based courses, all such authorized incompletes must be changed to traditional grades within three weeks of the start of the following semester. For courses offered in an alternate, non-semester-based format, all authorized completes must be changed to traditional grades within three weeks of the end of the course in which the Incomplete is given. If the course is not completed within the allotted time, the student will receive an F. If there are extenuating circumstances, extensions to the incomplete time period may be granted subject to appropriate approvals.
Probation
Students may be placed on academic probation if they fail to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 (Master’s) or 3.3 (Doctoral). Students who receive two grades in the category of “below standard performance” will be placed on academic probation. Any grade at the “D” level will result in academic probation.
When placed on academic probation, students will be informed in writing by the dean of the college. Students must contact the department/division immediately for academic advisement. The student will be issued a remediation plan that must be taken or completed within a specified timeframe. These remediation’s could include, but are not limited to: repeating the course, meeting a certain GPA within a specified timeline, or other guidelines as determined by the department/division. Students on academic probation may not sit for the comprehensive examination, apply to internship/practica, or graduate. Students failing to fulfill recommendations will be dismissed from the University. Psy.D. students are referred to the Psy.D. handbook for elaboration of probation policy as it pertains specifically to Psy.D. students.