Grading Information
Grading
The following grades for undergraduate courses have quality point
value and figure in the computation of the grade point average.
- A = 4.0 quality points
- A- = 3.7 quality points
- B+ = 3.3 quality points
- B = 3.0 quality points
- B- = 2.7 quality points
- C+ = 2.3 quality points
- C = 2.0 quality points
- D = 1.0 quality points (Note: There is no grade of D for graduate
(500-899) courses. However, a D is a possible grade for graduate
students enrolled in courses numbered 100 through 499).
- F = 0.0 quality points
The following grades for undergraduate courses do not figure in the computation of the grade point average:
# This notation is used to signify a course that has been
repeated and for which a higher grade has replaced this grade.
If all three conditions listed above are not met, the instructor
has the option of assigning an "X" or of assigning a letter
grade based on completed work. Please note that an "I"
automatically becomes an "F" if not resolved by the last
day of instruction of the following semester.
NC - No Credit. (Audit. See explanation
below.)
S - Satisfactory includes SA, SB, SC grades. Equivalent
to a C or better.
T - Temporary. A designation given at the end of the term
when a course is scheduled to be continued beyond one term.
U - Unsatisfactory includes UD, UF grades. Equivalent to
a D or F.
W - Authorized Withdrawal.
X and I Grades. The grade of "X" can be assigned
by the instructor when an attending/participating student has stopped
attending/participating without notification and has not completed
all assignments for reasons that cannot be determined by the end
of the grading period. An "X" automatically becomes an
F if not resolved by the last day of instruction of the following
semester. The grade of Incomplete (I) is given when the work in a course
has been generally passing, but when some specifically required
task has not been completed through no fault of the student. An "I" grade can be assigned by the instructor when all three of the following conditions are met:
1. Student is regularly attending/participating in the class and has the potential to pass the course;
2. Student has not completed all assignments and has stopped attending/participating for reasons deemed justified by the instructor;
3. The student has notified the instructor prior to the end of the grading period.
The date assigned by the faculty member for completion of the work
for undergraduate courses cannot be later than the last day of classes
of the next term following the term in which the Incomplete grade
was received. (The time limit may extend up to four weeks into the
fall semester for Incomplete grades received during the spring semester.)
For all cases, the time limit applies whether the student is enrolled
or not. If a grade change is not submitted by the end of the time
limit, the Incomplete becomes an F.
As of Spring 2005 the following grades are no longer available for grading.
** - No Recorded Grade. This notation results when instructors have not turned in a grade for the student within the designated grading period. The student is directed by the University Registrar's Office to see the instructor about the grade. It is recommended that instructors submit grades within 48 hours of the final examination period.
NA - Never Attended Grade. A grade of "NA" can be assigned when the student's name appears on the course roster, but the instructor has no record of the student ever attending class. This neutral "Never Attended" grade does not impact term or cumulative GPA, but appears on the permanent record.
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Grade Point Average
A student's academic standing at Cleveland State University is
expressed in terms of the grade point average (GPA). This is determined
by dividing the total quality points earned during a semester by
the total credit hours attempted. All grade point averages are carried
to two decimal places unrounded. You can use the Grade Point Average Calculator to calculate your GPA.
Graduate Students - After admission to a graduate program and
registration as a graduate student, grades for all 400- to 800-level
courses taken on a letter-grade basis are computed into a student's
grade-point average.
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Taking Courses on an Audit Basis
The grade of "No Credit" is given when a student is auditing
a course. Before registering for a course on an audit basis a student
must obtain authorization from the dean's office. Students who audit
a course pay full tuition but do not receive a grade or credit for the
course. A course taken as an audit does not count toward full-time student
certification
Students wishing to audit a course must obtain authorization to do so
from their college Dean's office. This authorization must be submitted
with registration materials. It may be submitted to the University Registrar's
Office after registration, BUT must be BEFORE the end of the first
week of classes (last day to add). Full tuition is charged for an
audited course. A grade of NC (No Credit) is awarded.
Only students who have been admitted to the university may audit
a course. Students may not change their status in a course from
audit to regular grade basis, or vice-versa, after the last day
to register without permission.
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Taking Courses as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
An undergraduate in good academic standing with at least 30 credit hours
earned may take one course per term on an S/U basis for a total of four
courses. Any course, except those in the student's major field or specified
as required by course number or title, may be taken on an S/U basis. A
student on probation is not eligible to take courses on an S/U basis during
the term of probation. The S grade is defined as being a C or better.
Neither the S nor the U will have any bearing on the student's term average
or cumulative grade point average. To select the S/U option, students
must present authorization from their college Dean's office at the time
of registration. The last day to choose to take a course on an S/U basis
is the last day to add without permission for the term/session in which
the course is offered. See the calendar for last day to add without permission.
If you have already registered for the course and want to change your
grade basis, you need to obtain a signed Change of Grading Status form
from your dean's office. The last day to submit this form is the last
day that you may add without permission during the period for the session
in which the course is offered. After that date all changes are done through
a University petition.
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Repeat Course Policy
The Course Repeat Option provides students who have done poorly the opportunity to repeat courses and be able to calculate their new grades in place of their previous grades. Thus, if a course is repeated using this option, the grade of the most recent attempt of that course will be used in calculating the cumulative GPA and for completion of program requirements. The original course will remain on the official transcript for historical purposes only.
Repeating “D” or “F” graded courses
- Courses may be repeated when any grade equivalent to a D or below which affects the grade point average has been earned
- Course Repeat Option may NOT be applied more than two (2) times to the same course.
- The letter grade earned in the most recent attempt will be included in cumulative credit totals and grade point average, even if that grade is lower than the previous grade
- All subsequently repeated courses and grades will be recorded on the transcript and noted with a “# “ indicating that the course has been repeated
- All courses designated with a “# “ will not be included in cumulative credit totals and grade point averages and are not applicable toward graduation requirements
- Course Repeat Option does not apply to courses which have an alternative repeat policy stated in their course descriptions. Academic programs may also restrict the use of Course Repeat Option...
- Course Repeat Option does not apply to courses graded S/U. Only courses for which a letter grade can be earned are covered by Course Repeat Option.
Repeating Courses graded “C-“ or Higher
Students may choose to repeat courses in which a grade of a C- or higher is earned a maximum of two (2) times (depending on whether there are any restrictions specific to that course – see course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalogue to determine if restrictions apply). However, courses repeated under these circumstances will have all earned grades calculated into the cumulative GPA and overall credits earned and Course Repeat Option will not apply.
Note: Effective Summer 2005, this new comprehensive Course Repeat Option replaced the existing Course Repeat and Freshman Forgiveness policy. The Course Repeat Option is not retroactive to courses already repeated under prior policies. Students repeating courses originally taken on quarters or that do not have the same title, course abbreviation, or catalog number as the original course must submit a Course Repeat Form to Campus411 in UC 162.
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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TAKING GRADUATE COURSES
An undergraduate student who is pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Cleveland State University may be granted permission to take one or more (maximum of nine credit-hours) graduate courses at the 500 level if the student meets all the following conditions:
- The student must be within 30 hours of graduation.
- The student must have an overall grade point of 2.75 or better through the preceding semester.
- The student must have a 3.00 or better grade-point average in the major field.
- The student must obtain permission from his or her adviser, the instructor of the course, and the department chair, via signature on the Undergraduate Request for Graduate Course form.
An undergraduate student who is deficient in any of the above respects may not take a graduate course without the approval of the academic dean of the college where the course is offered and the graduate dean. Undergraduate students may not register for 600- to 800-level graduate courses.
Credit for these courses, up to a maximum of nine credits for courses where the grade received is B or above, may be applied at a later point to a graduate degree program provided that the credit was not used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements. Internal transfer of credit is subject to Graduate College transfer credit regulations.
Post-baccalaureate and non-degree students enrolled at the undergraduate level may not register for graduate-level classes.
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