Grading System
The scholastic year is divided into two semesters for full-time students; part-time students generally may study across three semesters (fall, spring, summer). Final grades are posted on S.S. IU at the end of the semester or session.
Grade Point Value Per Credit Hour
| A | Outstanding | Grade given for work of highest achievement; evidence of consistent ability and originality | 4.00 |
| A- | Mastery of subject matter considerably above the acceptable standard | 3.67 | |
| B+ | Above Average | 3.33 | |
| B | 3.00 | ||
| B- | 2.67 | ||
| C+ | Average | Standard performance | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 | ||
| C- | Passing, below standard performance | 1.67 | |
| D+ | Below Average | Passing, but inferior work | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 | ||
| F | Failure | No credit given | 0.00 |
| I | Incomplete | For some legitimate reason, all course work has not been completed | |
| HP | High Pass | Equivalent of B+, A- or A for course taken as pass- no credit option | 0.00 |
| P | Pass | Equivalent of C-, C, C+, B- or B for course taken as pass/-no credit option | 0.00 |
| W | Withdrawal | Not included in GPA | 0.00 |
Requirements for a degree are expressed in credit hours, indicating the amount of work, and in grade points, indicating the quality of work. The total grade points earned in a given course are obtained by multiplying the number of credit hours assigned to a course by the grade point value of the grade received. A three-credit-hour course in which the student receives an A carries 12 quality points; a B carries 9 quality points; a C carries 6 quality points, and so forth.
The grade point average is obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours carried.
Grade Appeals Procedure
Faculty members are responsible for outlining grading policies to students at the beginning of each course. If a student wishes to question a grade, the initial step is to discuss the grade with the faculty member teaching the course. If that 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 department/ division chair, or program director. Documentation regarding the appeal should be provided. Should the student continue to contest the grade following the ruling made by the department/division chair or program director, additional documentation should be brought to the appropriate dean. All grade appeals must be initiated within three weeks after the posting of grades.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete (“I”) grade is a temporary designation granted to a student who, due to documented illness or other serious emergency beyond the student’s control, is unable to complete final course requirements but has completed approximately 80–90% of the coursework and is reasonably expected to pass the course. An incomplete grade shall not be granted when a substantial portion of coursework remains unfinished or for reasons of poor academic performance.
An incomplete grade must be requested by the instructor using the Incomplete Grade Request form and approved by the appropriate College Dean. Faculty may not assign an incomplete grade without the required approvals and documentation.
All remaining coursework must be completed within four (4) calendar weeks from the last day of the academic term or session in which the incomplete grade was awarded. This deadline applies to all undergraduate and graduate courses, regardless of delivery format. If the required work is not completed by the stated deadline, the incomplete grade will automatically convert to a grade of F.
Extensions may be granted only in documented extenuating circumstances and must be approved in writing by the instructor and the appropriate College Dean prior to the expiration of the original deadline. Approved extensions must specify a revised completion date.
Upon completion of the required coursework, the instructor must submit the final grade through the Change of Term Grade form within seven (7) calendar days.
Students are responsible for understanding that an incomplete grade may impact academic standing, financial aid eligibility, athletic eligibility, and progression in programs with sequential or prerequisite requirements.
Pass-No Credit Option
Students have the option of taking 12 semester hours of general degree requirements on a high-pass, pass, no credit option. Only one degree requirement per semester may be taken for pass-no credit. In addition, juniors and seniors may take one elective each semester on a pass-no credit basis. The elective may not be within the student’s major field. Once the pass-no credit option has been selected, the actual grade will not be shown on the transcript. Instead, a grade of high pass, pass, or fail/no credit will be recorded. Credit will be given for a grade of C- or better, but it will not be computed in the student’s grade point average. Any general degree requirement course taken under the pass-no credit option must be repeated if a pass grade is not received. The student taking a course on a pass no-credit basis will notify the Registrar within the first three weeks of the semester but need not inform the instructor. The pass-no credit option is not available to students enrolled in courses meeting fewer than eight times.