Grading policies are determined by the faculties of each School or Division, yet a standard “common” grading policy is shared by most of these units, with only slight variations. Related practices are established by the University Registrar in conjunction with area Deans of Students and IT Services.

Common Grade Policy

  • Grades are to be submitted to the University Registrar the Tuesday following the end of each quarter.
  • The University uses a 4 point scale for grades; these “quality” grades are as follows 4.0 = A, 3.7 = A-, 3.3=B+, 3.0 = B, 2.7 = B-, 2.3 = C+, 2.0 = C, 1.7 = C-, 1.3 = D+, 1.0 = D, F = 0. (Note that there is no A+ or D- in the common grade scale.)
  • Grades of “P” indicate “Pass” and earned credit, but have no point value. “P” grades are not considered equivalent to a “B” or a “C” or any other grade when used for requirements. It is up to each department or division to make and hold to such determinations.
  • Grades of “R” indicate a “Registered” or “Audit” status, have no point value, and do not confer credit. Grades of “R” are either assigned by the instructor or arranged in advance by the student via the registration process. (Grades of “R” are not available for undergraduate students.)
  • Grades of “I” indicate “Incomplete” work. Once the work for an “I”-graded course has been completed, the University Registrar will record the new quality grade but leave the initial “I” as a qualifier, indicating that the work was completed late (e.g. IA or IB+).
  • Grades of “W” indicate “Withdrawn” (albeit not “dropped”). Grades of “W” either are assigned by the instructor in graduate/professional areas, while in the College, the grades of “W” are assigned by the student’s academic adviser.  Grades of “W” can also be assigned administratively by the University Registrar should the student’s area Dean of Students approve dropping a course with an effective date after the third week of the quarter.
  • Individual academic units determine how, and which, of all the above grades will be utilized for the courses offered in their areas. The Registrar then enforces those rules. With few exceptions, the level and offering unit of the course for which a student enrolls determines the grading rules that apply.