Grading
- Credit Hour
- Grades with Quality Point Value
- Grades Without Quality Point Value
- Audit of Courses
- Grade Dispute / Grade Changes
- Grade-Point Average
- Satisfactory Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grading Basis
- Course Repeat Policy
Credit Hour
The university is conducted on the semester plan, the school year being divided into two semesters, each lasting 15 weeks. Each semester credit represents approximately 15 hours of classroom instruction or the equivalent.
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Grades with Quality Point Value
The following grades for undergraduate courses have quality point value and figure in the computation of the grade-point average.
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
D
F—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—4.0 quality points
3.7 quality points
3.3 quality points
3.0 quality points
2.7 quality points
2.3 quality points
2.0 quality points
1.0 quality points
0.0 quality points
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Grades Without Quality Point Value
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 (used prior to Spring 2007 term).
I - Incomplete Grade. An "I" grade can be assigned by the instructor when all three of the following conditions are met:
- Student has the potential to pass the course;
- Student has not completed all assignments for reasons deemed justified by the instructor;
- The student has notified the instructor prior to the end of the grading period.
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.
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 .
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.
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 - X Grade. 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. Should the faculty member choose not to submit a grade for a student, e.g., student never attended, a grade of "X" will be assigned.
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Audit of Courses (NC)
The grade of "No Credit" is given when a student enrolls in a course on the audit grading basis. Before registering for a course on this basis, a student must obtain authorization from the dean's office. Students who audit a course pay full tuition but do not earn credit for the course. A course taken on an audit basis cannot be included in the calculation of enrollment status.
Only students who have been admitted to the university may audit a course. Students may not change the grading basis of a course after the last day to register without permission.
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Grade Dispute/Grade Changes
Note: effective Fall 2006:
A faculty member may change a grade (1) because of an error in computation or (2) because of circumstances he or she deems “extraordinary” which bears on the appropriateness of the grade awarded. In order to initiate a grade dispute, the student should contact the course instructor. In either circumstance, the following procedures must be followed.
If the instructor agrees that the grade should be changed, the instructor must obtain the approval of the academic dean (or his or her designated administrator) for the change to take effect.
If the instructor does not agree the grade should be changed, the student may contact the department chair (program coordinator or designee) who should attempt to settle the dispute by gathering information from both the student and the instructor, and where possible, arranging a meeting with both parties. If the instructor now agrees that the grade should be changed, the instructor must obtain the approval of the academic dean (or his or her designated administrator) for the change to take effect.
If the faculty member or the administrator declines to approve a grade change, the student may petition the appropriate undergraduate college grade-dispute committee (typically the Admissions and Standards Committee) for relief. The student's petition must provide the basis for the claim. The college grade-dispute committee will consider the relevant documents and testimony of both student and instructor. That committee has final authority in deciding if there is substantial justification for the claim.
The decision and rationale of the undergraduate college grade-dispute committee must be forwarded to the University Admissions and Standards Committee which determines whether appropriate procedures have been followed. If the University Admissions and Standards Committee determines due process has been afforded, the decision of the college grade-dispute committee stands and there are no further appeals within the university.
In sum, a student's grade may be changed only if (a) the faculty member and the dean or dean's designee agree to the change, or (b) the college's grade-dispute committee determines that a grade change is justified and the University Admissions and Standards Committee determines due process was afforded. Grade changes are to be submitted with appropriate signatures (paper or electronic) to the Office of the University Registrar.
Note: Grade changes for "I" and "X" grades do not require approval beyond the individual faculty member if they are submitted within the stated time limits — the last day of instruction of the following semester, as specified in the section on "grading" in this catalog.Return to Grading menu | Return to top
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 by the total credit hours attempted. All grade-point averages are carried to two decimal places unrounded.
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Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grading Basis
A student who has earned at least 30 credits may take one course each term on the S/U basis, up to the limit of four courses. A student on probation is not eligible to take courses on this basis.
Students may elect to enroll in any course on this grading basis except those in their major field and those which are specified in their curriculum by course number and/or course title. No more than one course completed on this basis may be used to satisfy an elective requirement in a minor field. Students may not change the grading basis of a course after the last day to register without permission.
The S grade is defined as C or better, and neither the S nor the U will have any bearing on the student's grade-point average.
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Course Repeat Policy
The Course Repeat Option provides students who have done poorly the opportunity to repeat courses, up to two times. Students may use the “D or F Option” to attempt to increase their grade-point average (excluding pass/fail courses) using their new grade to replace their previous grade. The previous course(s) will remain on the official transcript for historical purposes only. Students may use the “C or Higher Option” for completion of program requirements that may require a higher grade than was initially received by the student.
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.
- Prior to Spring 2007, repeated courses and grades were recorded on the transcript and noted with a "#" indicating that the course has been repeated. Effective Spring 2007, repeated courses are designated with the comment "Course Repeated, Attempt Forgiven"
- All courses designated with a "#" or the "Course Repeated, Attempt Forgiven" comment 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 attempted hours 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 MC 116G.
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Academic Misconduct
The university policy on undergraduate academic misconduct is outlined in a statement available in the college offices. Initially, a faculty member is expected to deal with academic misconduct by assessing the appropriate penalty as recommended in the Academic Regulations section.
If a student disagrees with either the charge or the penalty, she or he may seek redress through the department chair and the dean. If academic misconduct is determined to have taken place, the student is informed of the decision, the penalty is imposed, and the misconduct recorded in the college and in the University Registrar's Office. The notation remains on the student's record for a period of three years or until the student graduates, whichever comes earlier. It is removed thereafter unless the student has been found guilty of a second offense.
The academic misconduct procedure provides for an appeal through the University Academic Misconduct Review Committee. If the committee determines that no violation has occurred, it will authorize the removal of the notation from the record. Otherwise, an appropriate penalty will be assessed.
Official Academic Transcripts
Students may request an official academic transcript via the Web (at http://www.csuohio.edu/registrar/webtranscripts.html), mail or in person at Campus411. Written authorization from the student along with payment is required before any order can be processed.
Transcripts will not be released for students who have an outstanding financial obligation to the university.
Additional information regarding transcript policies and procedures are available at www.csuohio.edu/registrar/