3.2.6 Course Grades; Teaching - Faculty Rights and Responsibilities; Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook

Chapter 3. Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Section 3.2 Teaching

3.2.6 Course Grades

Final grades are the basis for admission to advanced courses, computation of grade point averages, the determination of academic honors or probation, scholarship status, etc. They are of fundamental importance to each student. Consequently, grade records must be maintained with meticulous accuracy and promptness.

For two important reasons it is essential that all final grades be delivered to the Registrar's Office by the specified final deadline:

Students' schedules and financial aid for the coming semester often depends on grades received in the preceding semester.
The economical and efficient operation of the Registrar's Office is impaired when work for a new semester is interrupted to post late grades from the preceding semester.

Details of grades and scheduling are given in the University Catalogs.

The following procedures shall normally be followed by instructors:

At the end of each semester, the person in charge of each course or section will enter final grades on the forms provided for this purpose, sign the forms, and deliver them to the Registrar's Office by the specified final deadline. (It would be extremely helpful if they were delivered as soon as possible after the scheduled course final so that they can be processed immediately. The Registrar's Office requests that instructors try to turn their grades in within 48 hours of the scheduled finals. A large volume in the last two days before the deadline negatively impacts the ability of the Registrar's Office to process the grades in a timely manner.) If an instructor, because of illness or other unavoidable absence, is unable to meet this deadline, the department chair (or school dean/director) should arrange for assistance so that final grades can be delivered on time.
When a final grade (i.e., a grade other than incomplete (I), conditional (X), or progress (P)) has been delivered to the Registrar's Office, it becomes a part of the official records of the University, and NO ONE OTHER THAN THE FACULTY MEMBER IS AUTHORIZED TO CHANGE IT. Normally, this is only done if there was an identifiable error in reporting the final grade (e.g., this could be due to an error in computing the grade, missing assignments that were discovered, etc.). Signed and dated corrections are made on change-of-grade forms which are obtained from the Registrar's Office after an instructor has called them to report the need for the form and the change which is needed. The normal basis for such a correction should be a clearly identified error in the originally reported grade. (However, there is a place on the change-of-grade form to indicate that a clearly identified error was made in the originally reported grade. If that is not checked, a record of the original grade will appear on a student's transcript along with the changed grade.) The signature of the department chair (or school dean/director) is required on change-of-grade forms.
Change-of-grade forms will also be used for changing a grade from incomplete (I), Condition (X), or progress (P) to a final grade. (Senate Proposal 25-94)

Grading System

The grades awarded by the University are:

A	Excellent, with 4.0 grade points per credit.
AB	Very good, with 3.5 grade points per credit.
B	Good, with 3.0 grade points per credit.
BC	Above average, with 2.5 grade points per credit.
C	Average, with 2.0 grade points per credit.
CD	Below average, with 1.5 grade points per credit.
D	Inferior, with 1.0 grade point per credit.
F	Failure, with 0.0 grade point per credit.
I	Incomplete; given only when a student is unable to complete a segment of the course because of circumstances beyond the student's control. It must be made up by the close of the next three semesters in residence or the incomplete grade becomes a failure. A grade of incomplete may be given only when approved in writing by the department chair. Incomplete grades at graduation are considered (F) grades in computing the final grade point average.
IS	In-Session; temporary grade indicating a course that remains in session and ends after the semester's final grade deadline.
X	Conditional, with no grade points per credit; given only when the student is at fault in failing to complete a segment of a course, but in the judgement of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. It must be made up within the next semester in residence or the grade becomes a failure. An (X) grade is computed into the grade point average as an (F) grade.
M	Missing grade, see instructor for clarification.
N	No Grade, No Credit, No Grade Points; given when a student officially withdraws from school after the regular drop period, passing the subject.
P	Progress; may be used for 500 or 600 series research courses and approved 300 or 400 level project courses where projects may carry over for more than one semester.
Q	Inadequate Progress; may be used for 500 or 600 series research courses and approved 300 or 400 level project courses and courses where projects may carry over for more than one semester.
W	Drop, No Credit, No Grade Points; given when a student drops a course between the beginning of the fourth week and the end of the eighth week; after the eighth week, a student may request a late drop only from the Dean of Student Affairs.
CR	Credit by advanced placement or examination. (Board of Control Policy 13.2)

Pass-Fail Grades

S and E grades are reserved to indicate a student's performance when a student has elected to enroll in a course under the Pass-Fail option.

S	Satisfactory; credit but no grade points. A grade of S is given for performance equal to a letter grade of A, B, or C.
E	Effort Unsatisfactory; no credit, no grade points, and not included in student's grade point average. A grade of E is given for performance equal to a letter grade of D or F. (Board of Control Policy 13.2)

Audit Grades

V	Satisfactory Audit, with no grade points or credit.
U	Unsatisfactory Audit, with no grade points or credit.

A course taken as an audit may be taken at a later date for credit subject to the approval of the student's major department. Students auditing courses will be charged the same tuition as if taken for credit. Students have six weeks from the start of instruction to change a course to an audit status.

Academic Dishonesty

E* and U* grades are administered differently than the F* grade. For the F* grade, a student is typically assigned an F for a course and the Office of Judicial Affairs provides the student an opportunity complete an assignment that will not cause the F grade to change to a F* grade. For the E* and U* grades, a student is assigned the E* and U* for a course and then the * is removed upon completion of an assignment. This procedure means that the E* or U* remains on the student’s transcript during the period in which he/she is completing the assignment, which is not the case for the F* grade. This Proposal would ensure uniform administration of the F*, E* and U* grades.

E*	Effort Unsatisfactory due to Academic Dishonesty. No credit, no grade points; given for courses taken under the Pass-Fail option.
U*	Unsatisfactory Audit due to Academic Dishonesty. No credit, no grade points; given for courses taken for audit.

Mid-Term Grades

SA	Mid-term Satisfactory. Indicates that satisfactory progress is being made in the course at the end of the 6th week of class.
NA	Mid-term Not Applicable. Administratively assigned to a course for which a midterm grade is not applicable.
UN	Mid-term Unsatisfactory. Indicates that unsatisfactory progress is being made in the course at the end of the 6th week of class.
M	Missing. Status grade administratively issued to each student in a course whose instructor failed to meet the grade reporting deadline or when a grade is intentionally left blank by the instructor in cases where there is an academic integrity issue.

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Senate Proposal 10-07 (Mid-Term Grades)
Senate Proposal 26-05 (Grades E* and U*)
Senate Proposal 29-04 (In-Session Grades)
Senate Proposal 13-99 (Grades P and Q)
Senate Proposal 9-78 (Audit Grades)
Senate Proposal 7-95 (Grading System)
Amendment to Proposal 86-5 (Grading System)

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Revised:
07/18/2011 - Annual Review: Was previously 3.2.5; added mid-term grades, grades E* and U*, IS
and Q grades; to reflect current University titles and practice, quarter is now semester, MTU is
now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions is now hbwebmaster.
02/10/2010 - Removed web link to rescinded Board of Control policy.

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