Grading Policy
Grading System
The grading scale for students enrolled for credit is A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, and F. Grades F and C are not removed from a student’s transcript even if a course is repeated.
AAP Grading System
Students are graded under the following system:
| Grade | Meaning | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | |
| A- | 3.70 | |
| B+ | 3.30 | |
| B | 3.00 | |
| B- | 2.70 | |
| C | 2.00 | |
| F | Failure | 0.00 |
| P | Pass | |
| I | Incomplete | |
| IP | In Progress | |
| W | Withdrawal | |
| AU | Audit | |
| NG | No Grade |
Performance Standards
If a degree candidate receives a grade of C or below in a core course, the student must repeat that course. Even if the course is repeated, the original grade will remain on the student’s transcript, and the student may not receive another grade of C or below. For specific guidelines on what courses are considered core, please review the curriculum requirements listed for the corresponding program in this catalogue.
Special students—those who satisfy all requirements for admission to degree candidacy but who choose not to seek a degree—are held to the same performance standards as degree candidates. Provisional students must receive a grade of B or better in all courses taken while under provisional status.
Probation and Dismissal
Degree candidates who receive a grade of C or below are on placed on academic probation and will maintain that status. When a course is repeated, both the original grade and repeated grade appear on the transcript. The degree candidate receives credit only once for the course; however, the original grade of C (or below) places the student on probation. If a degree candidate receives a grade of C in an elective course, the course need not be repeated, and the course can be counted toward degree requirements. Degree candidates who receive a second grade of C or below in either a repeated core course or any course taken in the program will be dismissed from the program. Special students are held to the same performance standards as degree candidates. Provisional students who receive a grade of B- or below in any course cannot repeat the course and are dismissed from the program.
Students who are dismissed may apply immediately to another program in Advanced Academic Programs. Admission is not guaranteed. A dismissed student must wait one year from the date of dismissal before reapplying for admission to the program from which he/she has been dismissed. Readmission is not guaranteed.
Incomplete Grades
Students who experience extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing coursework within a given term may request an Incomplete (I) grade from their instructor. An approval of an incomplete grade request is neither automatic nor guaranteed.
To receive an “I” in a course, the student must at the minimum have a passing grade in the coursework completed at the time of the request and receive instructor approval.
A student must request an Incomplete grade from the instructor in writing on or before the last day of the semester. An Incomplete grade can’t be formally granted until after the Withdraw/Audit deadline. Requests must include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances. The Instructor has the right to ask for documentation. All documentation must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs for evaluation to safeguard student privacy, not directly to the instructor.
If the instructor, after consultation with the Program Director (or designee), determines that circumstances warrant an Incomplete grade, the Instructor and the student will complete the Request for Incomplete Grade form. This form outlines the reason for the Incomplete, the remaining work to be done, and the deadline. The instructor also indicates the grade the student will earn if he or she fails to complete the outstanding assignments.
The instructor establishes the conditions for resolving the missing work. It is the student’s responsibility to submit all work at the agreed-upon time. If a student does not complete the missing course work within 60 days from the last day of the term, the “I” will automatically convert to the grade indicated by the instructor on the Request for Incomplete Grade form.
Students with incomplete grades in required courses for degree completion at the date of degree conferral will not graduate. Students with incomplete grades in courses that are not required for degree completion may still graduate. However, the deadline for completion is abbreviated; students must resolve incomplete grades within 30 days after the date of degree conferral, which is when the university closes their graduate record.
<!–
Scale
The grading scale for students enrolled for credit is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, and F. An “I” (Incomplete) grade is assigned by the instructor who has given the student permission to delay completion of specific coursework for a justifiable reason for a specific amount of time. “WD” (official Withdrawal), and “AU” (Audit) are requested by the student and cannot be assigned by the instructor. A grade of F indicates the student’s failure to complete or comprehend the coursework. An F grade is not removed from a student’s transcript even if a course is repeated.
Requirements
Degree candidates who receive two grades of C or below will be dismissed from their program. If a degree candidate receives a grade of C or below in a core course, the student must repeat that course. If a degree candidate receives a grade of C in an elective course, the course need not be repeated and the course can be counted toward degree requirements. Even if the course is repeated, the original C will remain on the student’s transcript, and the student may not receive another grade of C or below. Special students—those who satisfy all requirements for admission to degree candidacy but who choose not to seek a degree—are held to the same performance standards as degree candidates. Provisional students cannot continue in a program if they earn a grade of B- or below in any course taken while they are in provisional admissions status.
Probation and Dismissal
Degree candidates who receive a grade of C or below are on academic probation. When a course is repeated, both the original grade and repeated grade appear on the transcript. The degree candidate receives credit only once for the course; however, the original grade of C (or below) places the student on probation. Degree candidates who receive a second grade of C (or below) in any course taken in the program will be dismissed from the program. Special students are held to the same performance standards as degree candidates. Provisional students who receive a grade of B- or below (B+ or below for the Writing or Science Writing programs) in any course cannot repeat the course and are dismissed from the program.
Students dismissed may apply to another program in Advanced Academic Programs immediately. Admission is not guaranteed. A dismissed student must wait one year from the date of dismissal before reapplying for admission to the program in which he/she has been dismissed. Readmission is not guaranteed.
Incomplete Grade
Students who experience extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing coursework within a given term may request an incomplete (I) grade from their instructor. Approval of incomplete grade requests is neither automatic nor guaranteed. To receive an “I” in a course, the student must be in good academic standing at the time of the request, have completed all assignments up to that point, and receive instructor approval.
A student must request an Incomplete Grade from the instructor in writing. Requests made before the withdrawal/audit deadline will not be considered as students still have the opportunity to withdraw or switch to audit at that point. Requests must include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances. The Instructor has the right to ask for documentation.
If the instructor, after consultation with the Program Director, determines that circumstances warrant an Incomplete Grade, the Instructor and the student will complete the Request for Incomplete Grade form. This form outlines the reason for the Incomplete Grade, the remaining work to be done, and the deadline. The instructor also indicates the grade the student will earn if he or she fails to complete the outstanding assignments.
An Incomplete Grade is granted at the instructor’s discretion; the instructor establishes the conditions for resolving the missing work. It is the student’s responsibility to submit all work at the agreed-upon time. If a student does not complete the missing course work within 60 days from the last day of the term, the “I” will automatically convert to the grade indicated by the instructor on the Request for Incomplete Grade.
–>
Grade Appeals
Grades are awarded for an individual student’s academic work during each semester based on that individual’s mastery of the course content. Grades are determined by faculty, and AAP will not override an instructor’s considered academic judgment when it comes to grade award decisions. Unhappiness with the grade is not a sufficient basis for a grade appeal.
Facts considered during a grade appeal include but are not limited to: (1) verification that there was not an error in recording the grade or (2) whether the grade was a result of a faculty member’s failure to follow the syllabus, assignment guidelines, or other instructions provided by the instructor for assigning grades.
Grade appeals on the basis of discrimination are not within the purview of this policy. Students should send concerns regarding discrimination directly to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE).
Grade appeals can only occur after a student has been granted a final grade for the course and appeals in a timely manner including all appropriate documentation. The appeal and supporting documentation must be submitted within 30 calendar days after the student’s final course grade has been posted.
Prior to submitting the appeal, the student must first contact the instructor to attempt to resolve the disputed grade. If the instructor and the student are unable to reach an agreement, or if the instructor does not respond to the student’s attempt to contact them, the student may submit a formal appeal to the AAP Grade Appeal Committee [email protected]. The student should work with their advisor to prepare necessary documentation for submission, which include a student’s statement justifying the grade appeal along with all related supporting documentation. [Note: In the event that the course instructor is also the student’s faculty advisor, an alternative mediator will be identified by the Program Director and/or the Faculty and Academic Affairs Officer.]
Once the formal appeal has been submitted, the AAP Grade Appeal Committee has 10 business days to verify that the appeal meets the above criteria and all documentation has been submitted. Once the appeal is verified as complete, the AAP Grade Appeal Committee will reach out to the instructor for clarification of the grade; the instructor has 7 business days to respond. The AAP Grade Appeal Committee then has 14 business days from the time of the instructor’s response to determine whether the disputed grade should be changed or retained and inform the student and the instructor of its decision. If the committee supports the appeal, the instructor has 10 business days to complete any work directed by the committee and update the grade.
The committee’s decision is final. Limited appeals to the Associate Dean following a committee decision are possible only if (1) the timeline or process for the grade appeal was not followed, (2) the instructor did not follow the guidelines set forth in the appeal decision, or (3) if new evidence is made available after the AAP Grade Appeal Committee decision. A student submitting a limited appeal of the Committee decision must submit a statement and supporting documentation to the [email protected] mailbox. This appeal must be made within 10 business days of the receipt of the AAP Grade Appeal Committee’s decision to deny the appeal or of the resubmission of the student’s grade.