D5.0

GRADES

A. STATEMENT OF STANDARD

At the commencement of the course, and as appropriate throughout the course, it is the faculty member's responsibility to:

1. Define criteria for evaluation.

2. State the process for converting the professor's evaluation criteria to the RIT grading system.

B. DEFINITION

For each credit hour earned the following number of quality points will be awarded based upon the grade received, and will be calculated in the grade point averages:

Grade of: A (Excellent)= 4.00 quality points

Grade of: B (Good) = 3.00 quality points

Grade of: C (Satisfactory) = 2.00 quality points

Grade of : D (Minimum Passing) = 1.00 quality points

Grade of : E (Conditional Failure) = 0.00 quality points

Grade of : F (Failure) = 0.00 quality points

The "E" grade is a temporary grade given in the first or second quarter of a 2 or 3 quarter sequence of courses. If the sequential course is passed with a "D" or above, the "E" grade is changed to a "D"; if a failing grade is earned, then the "E" becomes an "F."

The professor determines and advises the student of the date necessary to complete the succeeding course, not to exceed 5 quarters. If the succeeding course is not completed within the next 5 quarters, the E grade reverts to an "F."

An "F" grade does not count toward residency requirements at the undergraduate level, and "D" or "F" grades do not count toward the fulfillment of program requirements for a graduate degree.

There are eight other viable evaluations of a course which do not affect GPA calculations. Only I, R and S can be assigned (as described below) by individual faculty members at the completion of the course:

____ Blank - that is, the grade has not yet been assigned or no grade is expected.

R - Registered - a permanent grade indicating that a student has registered for a given course but has yet to meet the total requirements for the course or has continuing requirements to be met. The grade is given in graduate thesis work. Completion of this work will be noted by having the approved/accepted thesis or dissertation title, as received by the registrar from the department, typed upon the student's permanent record. Full tuition is charged for these courses. "R" graded courses are allowed in the calculation of the residency requirement for graduate programs; however, they do not affect GPA calculations.

I - Incomplete - a temporary notation (not a grade) given where the professor observes conditions beyond the control of a student such that the student is unable to complete course requirements in the given quarter. The professor determines and advises the student of the due date, not to exceed two quarters (including summer quarter), by which the student must complete course requirements. If the registrar has not received a "change of grade" form from the professor by the end of the second succeeding quarter, then the Incomplete reverts to an "F" grade. An extension of time may be granted at the discretion of the faculty member. Full tuition is charged. Credit hours are not earned and the GPA is not affected until a permanent grade is assigned.

In circumstances where a professor has died, has become physically or psychologically unable to assign a grade, or has become unavailable to evaluate a student's work and assign a grade to replace an "Incomplete" notation, the head of the department where the course was taught will select a faculty member to act in the place of the deceased or otherwise unavailable faculty member. After appropriate evaluation of the student's work, that faculty member will assign a grade in place of the "Incomplete" notation.

W - Withdrawn - a grade that indicates official course withdrawal. Students are strongly advised to consult with their course advisor and instructor before they withdraw from a course.

Prior to the end of the eighth week of a quarter, a "W" will be assigned upon the student's online request. In processing the request, the student, the student's instructor, the student's advisor and the student's home program or department head will be notified.

After the eighth week and up to the end of the tenth week of the quarter, a "W" will be assigned only with the written signatures of the student, the student's instructor, the student's home program or department head, and the Dean from the student's home college. A student may not withdraw from a course either to avoid charges of academic dishonesty, or after the instructor has posted the final grade.

In unusual situations, a "W" may be granted after the end of the tenth week. Such an extraordinary request is administered through the Provost's Office, in consultation with (if possible) the student, the student's instructor, the student's home program or department head, and Dean from the student's home college.

While a "W" will appear on the student's transcript, it carries no credit and does not affect GPA.

Refunds are provided for official withdrawals on a schedule basis (Policy D6.0). Courses with a "W" assigned do not count toward the residency requirement.

Z - Audit - indicates a student has audited a course. The student may elect to take examinations and do course assignments with the permission of the instructor. Each college is responsible for identifying courses not available for audit. Audited courses do not count toward the residency or other degree requirements. Credit hours are not earned and GPA calculations are not affected. A student may register for audit any time during the official registration period for the quarter. However, a student may not change from audit to credit or credit to audit after the official drop/add period (first six days of each quarter). Changes from audit to credit must be accompanied by full payment of tuition.

Matriculated students registering for 12 or more hours, excluding audit courses, may take any additional hours for audit at no incremental charge provided the total hours do not exceed 18 credits.

Students registering for less than 12 hours, excluding audit courses, may take any additional hours for audit at a charge of one-half the normally assessed tuition rate.

S - Satisfactory may apply only to acceptable completion of cooperative work experience, internships, courses bearing course numbers of 099 or below, and study abroad courses offered by affiliated programs. With the exception of study abroad, such courses do not count toward residency requirements, earn credit hours or affect grade point average calculations. In the case of study abroad courses, credits covered by the "S" grade will count toward residency requirements and will earn credit hours. The "S" grade will not affect grade point average.

X - Credit by Examination - assigned for successful completion of various external or Institute examinations, provided such examinations cover or parallel the objectives and content of the indicated course. Credit must be assigned in advance of any credit received through registration for the indicated course. (In order to raise a grade or to remove a failure, the course must be repeated.) "X" graded courses do not count toward the residency requirement and do not affect GPA calculations. Credit hours are included as hours earned. A maximum of 12 quarter credit hours is allowed for graduate programs.

WAIVED - Waived courses - those courses eliminated from the list of requirements that a student must take to graduate. For undergraduate students, only Physical Education courses and cooperative work blocks may be waived because of previously completed experience. For graduate students, required courses may be waived because of previously completed academic work, but in no case shall the resulting graduate program requirements be reduced below 45 quarter credit hours. In addition, waiver credit for graduate courses can be applied only towards required courses and not towards elective courses. The process of waiving courses and thereby reducing graduate program requirements is not to be confused with the process of exempting certain requirements that are then replaced by an equal number of credit hours, thus retaining the total number of credit hours in the specified program.

Changing Grades - once a grade has been reported by a faculty member it is normally not the right of any person to change this grade unless an actual error has been made in computing or recording it. If an error has been made, the faculty member must complete the appropriate form and the completed form must be approved by the head of the department in which the faculty member teaches. When approved by both of these individuals, the form is to be forwarded to the registrar. There is, however, an appeal procedure for disputed grades through the Academic Conduct Committee of the college in which the course was offered, with final appeal to the Institute Appeals Board. In both of these appeals the faculty member who assigned the original grade has the final decision on any change of grade except as noted below.

In circumstances where a professor has died, has become physically or psychologically unable to assume his or her responsibilities, or is unavailable to participate in appeal procedures about grades, the head of the department where the course was taught will select a faculty member to represent the deceased or otherwise unavailable faculty member in such appeal procedures.

In extraordinary circumstances and at his or her discretion, the Provost may, without violating the student's right to confidentiality, after consultation with the instructor and the dean of the college in which the course was taken, settle special cases of an appeal of an assigned grade by administratively removing a student's name from an official course roster and removing the student's assigned grade from the student's official transcript. The Provost will inform the faculty member of this action and, if giving such information does not violate the student's right to confidentiality, explain the reason for it. The registrar will annually inform the Academic Senate of the number of such administrative actions in the course of the year.

Repeating Courses to Raise Low Grades - An undergraduate student may repeat a course to raise a grade. If a student repeats a course, the last grade will stand as final. Courses taken at other institutions may not be considered as repeats. Credit earned by examination/experience may not be used to repeat previous course work.

For graduate students, the grades of all courses attempted will count in calculating the program cumulative grade point average. This program cumulative grade point average shall average at least 3.00 ("B" average) as a graduation requirement. The dean of the college or his or her designee must approve all applications for graduate courses a student wishes to take a second time.

Exceptions to the maximum transfer credit or credit by exam for graduate programs can be granted by the Graduate Council in unusual circumstances upon appeal from the dean of the college involved.

C. GRADE POINT AVERAGE

There will be two methods of grade point average calculation for undergraduate and graduate students, and a third method for undergraduates only:

1. Institute-Quarterly, Yearly and Cumulative

2. Program-Quarterly, Yearly and Cumulative

3. Undergraduate Principal Field of Study (See E.1.a. below for description)

Institute averages will reflect all RIT course work completed at or above the 100 course number level with a grade of A, B, C, D, E, or F.

Program averages reflect course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in the student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to the Institute and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the Institute catalog in force at the time the student was accepted into the program. The Program GPA will be used as a criterion for graduation and graduation with honors. The Program Quarterly GPA will be used to place students on dean's and probation lists.

Note: Program GPA's will be calculated by the college. Institute GPA's (calculated by the Registrar's Office) will in the vast majority of cases be identical to the Program GPA's. The registrar, through various reports, will provide aid to deans and to academic advisors in order that they may note the cases where Institute GPA's are different from Program GPA's. In cases where Institute and Program GPA's are different, the college will furnish, on request, the Program GPA.

The Quarterly Grade Point Average (with the above noted differences between Institute and Program GPA's) reflects a single quarter of academic activity. The calculation will be carried out to two decimal places; rounding will be done by adding .005 to the unrounded results and truncating after the second decimal place.

The Yearly Grade Point Average (with the above noted differences between Institute and Program GPA's) reflects the student's academic activity for a year ending with the spring quarter (inclusive of the previous summer's work). The primary purpose is to facilitate consideration of part-time students for the dean's list at the end of the spring quarter. The rounding would be done in the same manner as the Quarterly GPA.

The Cumulative Grade Point Average (with the above noted differences between Institute and Program GPA's) reflects the sum total of course work completed at RIT (or in the specific program) and will be updated each quarter the student is in attendance.

In order to have a reliable Cumulative GPA, it is necessary to separate the following:

- Courses repeated to improve previously earned grades

and

- Courses repeated to show continued study (e.g., independent study, thesis)

As the first case requires a file maintenance procedure, that is, the former grade is no longer used in the calculation of the grade point average when that course is repeated, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the department of the student's attempt at grade improvement. The department will inform the registrar on an appropriate form. Upon completion of a "Request for Repeat of Grade Form" the credit hours and quality points (if any) of the corresponding previous course will be stricken from the computation of the current cumulative GPA. The student's academic record will show a statement indicating the course has been repeated. The change will not affect previously posted academic actions.

The Program GPA will be used in determining graduation honors and part of the graduation requirements. As in the Quarterly GPA, it will be carried to two decimal points and rounded in the same manner.

Exception: A student who completes undergraduate studies at the Institute and then engages in graduate study will begin a new graduate Cumulative GPA when re-classified as a graduate student.

D. DEAN'S LIST

By action of the college concerned, matriculated undergraduate students will be placed on the dean's list if their Program Quarterly GPA is at least equal to a 3.40 or higher; they do not have any grades of "Incomplete," "F," "E," or "D" (including physical education, orientation classes and any other non-credit but required courses); they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 quarter credit hours per quarter; they are not on probation due to a low cumulative grade point average in their principal field of study.

Exception: Matriculated undergraduate students who are primarily part-time may qualify for the spring quarter dean's list if in the preceding three quarters they have taken 18 hours of credit with a Program Yearly Cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 or higher, or in the preceding three quarters plus summer quarter, summer evening or day session they have completed 24 quarter credit hours with at least a 3.40 or higher Program Yearly Cumulative GPA; in both cases this is accomplished without grades of "Incomplete," "F," "E," or "D", and without being placed on probation due to a low cumulative grade point average in the principal field of study.

E. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION POLICY

1. Undergraduate Policy

Matriculated undergraduate full-time and part-time degree students will be placed on probation or suspended from the Institute according to the criteria enumerated below. All actions are taken at the end of the quarter; however, a student may petition the dean of the college for reconsideration of probation or suspension should removal of an incomplete grade (I) raise the appropriate Grade Point Average above those stated below. Each matriculated undergraduate student will generate three different grade point averages. The Institute average reflects all course work completed at RIT. The Program average reflects course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in a student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to Institute and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the Institute catalog. The third average, in the Principal Field of Study, reflects course work completed in a student's specialized field of study.

a. Any student whose Program Quarterly Grade Point Average (see C. above) falls below a 2.00 (C average) or whose Grade Point Average in the principal field of study (based upon at least 20 credit hours attempted in the principal field at RIT) falls below 2.00 will be placed on probation. The principal field of study is for undergraduate students only and is generally defined to be all courses within the college offering the program.

b. Any student who has been placed on probation according to 1.a. above is removed from probation for achievement of both a 2.00 Program Quarterly Grade Point Average and a 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average in the principal field of study, based upon at least 20 credit hours attempted in the principal field at RIT.

c. Any student who is on probation according to 1.a. above and who is not removed from probation in the two succeeding periods of study in which credit is earned will be suspended from RIT for a period of not less than one quarter.

d. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose Program Cumulative Grade Point average is below 2.00 will be suspended. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose Program Cumulative Grade Point Average is 2.00 or above will be granted one quarter to be removed from probation before suspension from RIT.

e. Any student whose Program Quarterly Grade Point Average falls below 1.00 will be suspended from RIT.

f. Students who have been readmitted to their original program, after having been suspended, and then go on probation will be suspended from RIT.

g. A suspended student may not enroll in any academic course at the Institute while on suspension. When there is evidence that the student's scholastic problems are the result of inappropriate program choice, or other extenuating circumstances, the suspension may be waived or the student may be admitted to another program or allowed to take courses on a non-matriculated basis if it is approved by the dean of the college in which the enrollment is requested.

In evaluating the request for waiver of suspension, the dean may seek the recommendation of the Counseling Center as to the appropriateness of the program for the career goals of the student under consideration.

h. Students may apply to the director of admissions for re-admission at the end of their suspension. Such re-admission must be approved by the dean of the college they wish to attend upon return (this may be the original college or another).

2. Graduate Policy

Matriculated graduate full-time and part-time degree students will be placed on probation or suspended from the Institute according to the criteria enumerated below. All actions are taken at the end of the quarter; however, a student may petition the dean of the college for reconsideration of probation or suspension should the removal of an Incomplete grade (I) raise the Program Grade Point Average above those stated below. Each matriculated graduate student will generate two different grade point averages. The Institute average reflects all course work completed at RIT. The Program average reflects course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in a student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to the Institute and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the graduate catalog.

a. Any matriculated graduate student whose Program Grade Point Average (see C. above) falls below a 3.00 (B average) after 12 quarter credit hours or subsequently will be placed on probation and counseled by the departmental advisor concerning continuation in the graduate program.

b. Those students placed on probation must raise their Program Cumulative Grade Point Average to the 3.00 level within 12 quarter credit hours or be suspended from the graduate program.

c. Should it be necessary to suspend a graduate student for academic reasons, the student may apply for readmission to the dean of the college or designee (department head, program director, coordinator, etc.) upon demonstration of adequate reason for readmission.

3. Non-Matriculated Undergraduate and Graduate Policy

Any non-matriculated undergraduate student who has a cumulative GPA below 2.00 (or non-matriculated graduate student who has a cumulative GPA below 3.0) after 20 credit hours may not register for classes without the specific approval of the department head offering the course(s).

F. GRADUATION WITH HONORS

(Applies to undergraduate degree students only.)

Honors posted to the academic record will be based upon the student's Program Grade Point Average upon completion of the degree requirements. Honors reported for inclusion in the Commencement program must be based on a minimum of 45 quarter credit hours. (See residency requirement for graduation in Policy D12.0.)

The numerical criteria for graduation with honors are as follows:

Highest Honors - 3.80 Program GPA

High Honors - 3.60 Program GPA

Honors - 3.40 Program GPA

The registrar will post honors to the student's academic record.

NOTE: The dean may, in extraordinary circumstances, act to grant graduation with honors to students who do not meet all the criteria listed. A copy of the notice of exception, with reason, is to be sent to the registrar to become part of the student's academic record.

G. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

One of the traditional concerns of colleges and universities is with the definition and recognition of excellence. The award for outstanding undergraduate scholarship has been established to recognize excellence in academic achievement by students. Those selected to receive the award are designated RIT Scholars and the achievement is recognized through an especially designed award emblematic of high academic attainment. The awards are presented at a special convocation held prior to the end of each academic year.

The Procedure for the Selection of Award Winners is:

1. Maximum number of students eligible

a. The maximum number of recipients of the award in any year will not exceed 1 percent of the full-time equivalent enrollment of each college in the preceding fall quarter.

b. It is the intent of this policy that each college will be permitted to nominate at least one student for the award although the college may choose not to do so.

c. It is the intent of this policy that transfer students and part-time students will be eligible to receive the award.

d. It is the intent of the policy that generally the award be limited to those registered at RIT during the fall quarter. However, students identified by a college as not currently enrolled, but who are actively pursuing completion of degree requirements, can be added to the list of candidates.

2. Minimum Institute Requirements

a. Must have completed 125 quarter credit hours of work, including any acceptable transfer credit. Transfer students being considered for the award should also have completed at least 125 quarter credit hours of study, of which not less than 45 hours should be in RIT courses.

b. Must have an Institute GPA of 3.85 for all work completed at the Institute.

c. Transfer students meeting requirement b. must also have a cumulative average of 3.85 for all college work attempted, regardless of whether or not transfer credit was granted by RIT. For previous college work not graded on a four point scale, a judgment should be made as to whether the cumulative average for all college work is equivalent to 3.85.

3. Selection Process

A committee as specified below will be responsible for selecting the recipients of the award in each college.

a. In making its decision the committee will give careful attention to the academic achievements and activities of the student and to factors which in the judgment of the committee are closely related to such academic achievements and activities. Examples might include, but would not be limited to, the following:

creative work, employment, student committees, civic activities, independent research projects.

The committee will be free to call upon other persons from the faculty, staff or student body for help in reaching a decision.

On the basis of these deliberations the committee will choose, or will decide not to choose one or more recipients of the award, but the number is not to exceed 1 percent of the college F.T.E. enrollment of the previous fall quarter.

b. Names of students chosen to receive the award must be accompanied by:

- a brief biography of the student;

- a statement from the selection committee giving reasons for its choice of the student;

- statements from at least one non-major faculty member in support of making the award to that student.

c. The names of award winners must be forwarded to the chief academic officer by the third Monday in November.

4. Selection Committee

The dean of the individual college will appoint a committee of faculty and the dean not to exceed five members, including the dean, from that college. The committee will in turn invite a person from outside the college to serve on the committee.

Approved October 1956
Last revised May 10, 2007