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Grades and Grade Points

Grades and Grade Points

All study for university credit is recorded with the following grade designations:
A+       4.00 Grade points per credit
A         4.00 Grade points per credit
A-        3.67 Grade points per credit
B+       3.33 Grade points per credit
B         3.00 Grade points per credit
B-        2.67 Grade points per credit
C+       2.33 Grade points per credit
C         2.00 Grade points per credit
C-        1.67 Grade points per credit
D+       1.33 Grade points per credit
D         1.00 Grade point per credit
D-        0.67 Grade points per credit
F          0.00 Grade points per credit
FN        0.00 Grade points per credit
I          Incomplete
P          Pass
IP        In Progress
AU       Audit
W        Withdrawal
EX        Exchange – used to document registration. This grade does not affect GPA or Satisfactory Progress.

Grade changes may be submitted by the instructor or dean up to three years after the conclusion of the course.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the number of grade points earned in a given course or courses by the number of credits attempted. The GPA is based on MSUM grades only. Transfer courses are not used in computing the GPA.

Credits with grades of “P”, “I”, “IP”, “AU”, “W”, or “EX” are not included in computing the GPA.

Credits with grades of “F” and “FN” are included in computing the GPA.

In Progress Grades

The grade of in progress or "IP" is reserved for special cases and means the particular course is not designed to be completed by the end of the term. An "IP" must be completed by the student within two semesters (undergraduate courses) and four semesters (graduate courses), not including summer. If the in progress grade is not completed within the specified time, a grade of "F" will be awarded. Students should never complete the course by re-registering for the class. "IP" grades will be converted to "F" before a degree is conferred.

Pass-Fail Courses (P/F Grades)

Certain courses which offer insufficient opportunity for graded evaluation may be offered with only the grading options of Pass “P” or Fail “F”. Student teaching and internships are always graded on a pass-fail basis.

Pass-Fail Courses (P/F Grades) Option

Students with sophomore, junior, or senior standing may request to take letter graded courses on a P/F basis. Students may not request this option for courses required for their major or minor program. No course taken with P/F grading may be applied to the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC).

Students may make this request for only one course per semester. Students may apply up to 16 credits under the P/F grading option to a baccalaureate degree program.

No letter graded course which a student has previously failed may be repeated under the P/F grading option.

A grade of "P" will be recorded for any course successfully completed under the P/F option. The grade of "F" will be recorded if the course is failed and computed in the GPA.

A P/F grading form to request the P/F grading option must be returned to the Registrar's Office on or before the tenth class day of the semester. Summer session due dates vary based on the length of individual sessions and classes. Once the form has been submitted, the student may not change the course back to letter grading.

Incomplete Credits

The mark of Incomplete “I” is granted when students are unable to complete course requirements for reasons beyond their control and when arrangements have been made with the instructor before the end of the semester. If an incomplete requires substantial class attendance in a subsequent term, the student must register to repeat the course and pay tuition and fees.

"I" grades are administered by completion of the "Incomplete Grade" form by the student and instructor. "I" grades must be completed by the finish of the next semester or they will change to "F". All "I" grades will be converted to an "F" before a degree is conferred. Grade changes may be submitted as outlined above.

Course Grade Appeals

All students have the right to expect thoughtful and clearly defined approaches to course grading, but it must be recognized that varied standards and individual approaches to grading are valid. Course grading methods should be thoroughly explained to students at the beginning of the semester and must appear on the course syllabus.

In a course grade appeal, only arbitrariness, prejudice, and/or error will be considered as a legitimate bases for an appeal.

Arbitrariness: The grade awarded represents such a substantial departure from accepted academic norms as to demonstrate that the instructor did not exercise professional judgment in the matter.

Prejudice: The grade awarded was motivated by ill will, and is not indicative of the student's academic performance.

Error: The instructor made a mistake, or failed to give students required notice of grading policies in the syllabus.

If a student believes that discrimination or harassment were factors in the determination of the course grade awarded, a complaint should be filed with the Affirmative Action Officer under Minnesota State Colleges and Universities board policy.

A student may appeal a grade reduced for academic dishonesty through the course grade appeal policy.

The course grade appeal process must be initiated by the student prior to the close of week six of the following semester. If the student moves to the formal grade appeal process it must be completed before the end of the semester in which the appeal was initiated. In cases where an incomplete was originally assigned, an appeal must be made within six weeks of the date the final grade is posted by the Registrar's Office and available to the student on the web. If the student uses the formal process, the process must be completed during the first ten weeks of the next academic year term.

Course Grade Appeal Process

Step 1: Informal Process

  • The student will discuss the issue with the instructor, and may consult with the department chairperson, in an attempt to resolve the matter.
  • If the matter is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, the student may discuss the issue with the dean in whose college the course was offered. If the matter cannot be resolved informally, the student may choose to file a formal appeal.

Step 2: Formal Process

  • The student must request a "Course Grade Appeal" form from the dean. The student will submit the completed form, along with any supporting documentation, to the dean. It is recommended the student keep a copy of all materials submitted. The dean will send the form and supporting documentation to the instructor.
  • The dean will discuss the matter with the instructor and the student in an attempt to resolve the appeal.
  • If no resolution can be reached, an ad hoc college committee will be formed. The dean will contact the Faculty Association President and request the appointment of one faculty member from the academic department offering the course, two faculty members from other departments within the college, and two upper division students who are majors in fields represented in that college. The dean will ask for a volunteer from among the appointees to chair the committee.
  • The instructor of the course will submit a written response to the appeal and supporting documentation of their choosing. The student will receive a copy of the material. Any material content protected by data privacy statutes will be redacted.
  • The ad hoc appeals committee performs an investigative role and may request additional written information from the student and/or the instructor through the committee chairperson or the dean.
  • Based on the information submitted, the committee will prepare a written finding with regard to the issues raised in the appeal. The committee will speak to one or more of the criteria as the basis for its finding. The committee chairperson will forward a written copy to the student, instructor, and dean.
  • The instructor and the student may each respond in writing to the dean if they believe the committee's findings are acceptable or unacceptable. If either does not respond within seven days, the dean will assume the committee's written findings are acceptable to that person.
  • If no resolution has been reached, the dean will review the written findings of the committee and the responses of the instructor and the student. The dean will send his/her recommendation, the committee's written finding, and all supporting documentation and correspondence to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or designee), the students, and the instructor.
  • The Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee) will review all the materials and submit a written recommendation to the President (or designee), and copies of that recommendation to the student and instructor. The President (or designee) will make the final decision.
  • The final decision may take the form of a recommendation to the instructor, change of grade, and/or determination that no action is warranted.
  • If at any time during the formal course grade appeal process resolution is reached, the course grade appeal process terminates.

Final Exam Policy

No student should be expected to write/take more than two (2) final examinations on the same day during the Final Exams Schedule. Any student who has three (3) exams on a single day as scheduled by the University may appeal to any of the instructors concerned to reschedule one of the exams. Should the instructor(s) be unwilling to reschedule the examination, the student may appeal to the Academic Dean of their appropriate college.

The last examination given in a course during the semester must be given during Finals Week as scheduled by the University. Classes must meet during the Finals Week as scheduled by the University. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Academic Dean of the appropriate college.

Proctoring Exam Policy

It is not acceptable for clerical staff or student workers to proctor course examinations.

It is appropriate to ask faculty colleagues, preferably within the department, to proctor an exam when the course instructor must be absent.

In emergency situations, individual faculty members might have no alternative but to ask either the departmental clerical staff or a student worker for assistance during an exam period. However, in the absence of such an emergency, faculty members are expected to administer their own course examinations