| California State University, Long Beach
Policy Statement
02-12
June 11, 2002
Obsolete Policy
GRADES AND GRADING PROCEDURES
This policy was revised by the Academic Senate on May 16, 2002 and
approved by the President on June 4, 2002.
(This Policy Statement incorporates and supersedes Policy Statements
73-11, 77-23, 78-25, 78-36, 80-02, 80-08, 83-07, 85-16, 85-16, 95-09
Revised, 96-11, 98-07, and 99-19. Reference: Executive Orders 268,
320, and 792.)
Part One Definitions
The following definitions apply to grades assigned in all undergraduate
and graduate courses. "A" Performance of the student has been at the
highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting all course
requirements and exhibiting an unusual degree of intellectual initiative.
"B" Performance of the student has been at a high level, showing
consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements.
"C" Performance of the student has been at an adequate level,
meeting the basic requirements of the course.
"D" Performance
of the student has been less than adequate, meeting only the minimum
course requirements.
"F" Performance of the student has been
such that minimal course requirements have not been met.
In addition to the standard grades, the University
permits students to select evaluation on a "Credit" or "No Credit"
basis. These grades are defined as follows:
"CR/NC" A "CR" is equivalent to an "A," "B," or "C," and "NC" is
equivalent to a "D," "F," or "WU." In two circumstances a grade
of "CR" reflects work at the level of "B" or better, and a grade
of "NC" reflects work at the level of "C," "D," "F," or "WU." Those
two circumstances are 1) in certain professional preparation courses,
providing that the students are notified of such a policy both in
class materials and in the catalog course description; and 2) for
graduate students in all courses at the 300, 400, 500, and 600 levels.
There are special regulations and procedures
governing the "CR/NC" grading system described later in this policy
statement.
The following definitions apply to administrative
grading symbols assigned in all undergraduate and graduate courses.
"AU"-Audit. Enrollment as an auditor is subject to permission of
the instructor; provided that enrollment in a course as an auditor
shall be permitted only after students otherwise eligible to enroll
on a credit basis have had an opportunity to do so. Auditors are
subject to the same fee structure as credit students and regular
class attendance is expected. It is the responsibility of the student
to request from the instructor what is meant by regular class attendance.
The symbol "AU" is posted to the student's permanent academic record
unless the student fails to attend a sufficient number of class
meetings. In these cases, the instructor will request that the student
be administratively withdrawn from the course. Once enrolled as
an auditor, a student may not change to credit status unless such
a change is requested prior to the last day to add classes. A student
who is enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the last
day to add classes.
"I"- Incomplete. The symbol "I" indicates that a portion of required
course work (normally not more than one third) has not been completed
and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen, but
fully justified, reasons and that, there is still a possibility
of earning credit. It is the responsibility of the student to bring
pertinent information to the attention of the instructor and to
determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements
which must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. A final grade
is assigned when that work has been completed and evaluated.
An "I" must normally be made up within one calendar year immediately
following the end of the term during which it was assigned. This
limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous
enrollment. Failure to complete the assigned work will result in
an "I" being converted to an "F," except as noted in item 3), below.
An extension of time may be granted for contingencies such as military
service or documented, serious health or personal problems.
The conditions for removal of the incomplete shall be reduced to
writing by the instructor on a "Requirements for Assigning an Incomplete
Grade" form. This form shall include a statement of:
1) all work completed in the course, the grades assigned for that
work, and the percentages of the final grade accounted for by each
item;
2) the work not completed and the percentage that each uncompleted
assignment will count toward the final grade; and
3) the final grade the instructor will assign if the course requirements
are not completed within one calendar year, or a shorter period
as specified on the form, immediately following the term in which
the "I" was assigned, without respect to continuous enrollment of
the student during this period.
A copy of the agreement is to be given to the student, a copy is to
be retained in the department office, and a copy is to be filed with
the Office of Admissions and Records at the time final grades are
submitted. Normally, the student should sign the "Incomplete form."
If the student is eligible for an Incomplete, a faculty member may
assign an "I" even when the student cannot be present to sign the
form. In such a case, the instructor will forward to the student a
copy of the form via the department office. When the work agreed upon
has been completed and evaluated, a final grade will be assigned by
an instructor. If an incomplete is assigned without an incomplete
contract attached, or with a contract which is not filled in acceptably,
the symbol of "RD" will be assigned to the student. The "Requirements
for Assigning an Incomplete Grade" form will be considered unacceptable
if: A) more than one third of the work remains to be completed, and
no justification has been provided;
B) the work required to complete the course has not been specified;
C) the faculty member failed to sign the form; or
D) the percentage fields have not been filled in.
Notice of the missing form, or a copy of the unacceptable form will
be sent to the department chair with the request that the chair work
with the faculty member to provide the information necessary to assign
the grade of incomplete.
"RD" Report Delayed. This symbol is used exclusively by the Registrar
to permit processing of all final grades when the grades for an
entire class section have not been reported by the instructor. The
symbol does not imply any academic evaluation.
If an instructor fails to report a grade for an individual student,
the Registrar will assume that an "I" could not be assigned and
so will enter a symbol "WU," discussed below.
"RP"- Report in Progress. The "RP" symbol is used in connection
with courses requiring multiple enrollment, i.e., that extend beyond
one academic term. It indicates that work is in progress but that
assignment of a final grade must await completion of additional
work. Re-enrollment is permitted prior to assignment of a final
grade provided the cumulative units attempted do not exceed the
total number applicable to the student's educational objective.
Work is to be completed within one calendar year immediately following
the end of the term during which it was assigned except for graduate
degree theses. If the "RP" symbol is not replaced by a terminal
grade within the specified time period or prior to the student's
declared graduation date, it will be changed to a "W." An "RP" symbol
cannot be replaced by an "I" (Incomplete) symbol; an "I" is not
a terminal grade.
"W"- Withdrawal. Withdrawal from classes is discussed in a separate
policy statement. The symbol "W" is used to signify that a student
formally withdrew from the course; no reference or implication of
passing or failing progress at the time of withdrawal is made or
implied. The symbol "W" is not a grade and does not alter a student's
grade point average.
"WU"- Unauthorized Withdrawal. The symbol "WU" indicates that an
enrolled student did not complete course requirements but did not
withdraw from the course. It is used when, in the opinion of the
instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were
insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible
(letter grades "A""F" or an Incomplete). For purposes of grade point
average this symbol is equivalent to an "F." A student who receives
a "WU" cannot complete additional work and have the "WU" changed
to a letter grade. In courses which are graded Credit/No Credit
or in cases where the student has elected Credit/No Credit evaluation,
use of the symbol "WU" is inappropriate and "NC" will be used instead.
Students who receive "WU"s in their first semester of enrollment
at CSULB will have those "WU"s automatically changed to "W"s. In
such cases the student will be notified that this policy applies
for that first semester at CSULB only.
Part Two Course Grading Option Policy
The faculty determine in advance which courses may be taken for
traditional (AF) grade only, "CR/NC" only, or either. When a course
is designated for "CR/NC" grading only or for traditional grading
only, mention of this fact shall be incorporated in the catalog
course description. Any undergraduate course may be designated for
or closed to the option of "CR/NC" grading whether or not the course
be a requirement for an undergraduate degree major, minor, certificate,
credential, or concentration.
No course in which a grade of "CR" has been assigned may be used
to fulfill the requirements for a master's degree, except that the
grade of "CR" may be permitted for master's theses or projects (to
a maximum of six units) when the individual department has specifically
designated "CR/NC" grading for the thesis/project course in the
department, and for fieldwork, practicum, and/or internship courses
(also to a maximum of six units). The option of "CR/NC" grading
for graduate students in undergraduate courses is subject to specific
regulations of the individual departments regarding their graduate
students and regarding the authorization for this option intrinsic
to the approved course. Otherwise, no limitation exists as to the
number of courses taken by graduate students under this policy.
An undergraduate student may elect "CR/NC" grading in no more than
a total of 24 units, of which no more than 12 may be upper division
units. No more than eight units per semester may be taken for "CR/NC"
grades. Exemptions from these limitations are: (1) courses graded
"CR/NC" taken at another institution, (2) course credit earned by
examination, and (3) courses in which "CR/NC" grading is the only
form of grading.
The decision to elect the "CR/NC" grading option for a course must
be made by the last day to add classes. To elect "CR/NC" grading,
the student must obtain the signature of the student's major advisor
and a stamp from the department/program in which the course is offered
on the appropriate form. The student must then file the signed form
with the Office of Enrollment Services. The decision to register
for a course on a "CR/NC" basis remains in effect unless a change
is requested prior to or on the last day to add classes.
The only exception to this rule is for students who declare new
majors after the final day to add classes. If the newly declared
major requires letter grading for the course in question and the
student has elected "CR/NC" grading, then the student may request
that traditional grading be used. Such a change must be requested
no later than the last day of instruction. The grading option may
not be changed after the end of the semester.
Part Three Assignment and Change of Grades
General
1. The faculty member of record in a course section (i.e., the
faculty member officially assigned to teach that section) has the
exclusive responsibility and authority to assign grades to all students
in that section, subject only to the following exceptions:
(a) should the faculty member of record be unable or unwilling to
complete this task because of death, disability, separation of employment,
or prolonged absence from campus during a regular academic term, the
department chair or program director, following notification of the
faculty member of record where appropriate and with the approval of
the college dean, may appoint another faculty member with the most
appropriate available disciplinary qualifications to complete the
assignment of grades; or
(b) in the event of a successful grade appeal (see section on Change
of Grade, below.)
2. University policy requires that final grades shall be based on
at least three, and preferably four or more, demonstrations of competence
by the student.
3. In no case shall the grade on the final examination count for
more than onethird of the course grade.
4. At the start of the course, instructors shall provide to their
students in writing the grading policies and practices to be employed
in the class and the rules that will apply to withdrawals.
5. Instructors shall keep a record of students' scores on each
of the demonstrations of competence on which the final grade is
based.
6. Instructors are expected to provide students with an opportunity
for demonstration of competence, relevant to the determination
of their final grade in the course, as early as is reasonable and
no later than the midpoint of the term.
7. Students have a right to be informed promptly of their scores
and to review each of their demonstrations of competence with their
instructors.
8. If materials submitted for a demonstration of competence are
not returned these materials will be retained for one semester by
the instructor. Should the instructor be absent during that term,
the materials shall be retained in the department office. In the
absence of the original instructor, a qualified instructor may be
appointed by the chair to review the demonstration of competence
with the student.
9. Grades reported to the Office of Enrollment Services are considered
to be official and final grades.
Conditions and Procedures for Change of Grade
A. Changes to grades or grading symbols can be made only on the
basis of:
1) an error,
2) a successful grade appeal. (See the separate policy statement
on Grade Appeals.), or
3) resolution of an Incomplete ("I"). A grade or grading symbol
shall not be changed on the basis of additional work submitted,
except where an "I" was recorded.
B. Original grades are replaced only when (1) the change is due to
an error, (2) the grade change is the result of a grade appeal, or
3) the Registrar receives a late report of grades for which the symbol
"RD" was substituted pending receipt. Original grades are not replaced
when the change of grade is the result of (1) the resolution of an
Incomplete or (2) the repetition of a course. Grades or administrative
grading symbols must be recorded for all enrollments beyond the census
date.
C. Except for changes of grades resulting from grade appeals, all
changes of grades must be filed within one year from the date of
the filing of the first grade, without respect to continuous enrollment
of the student. Only as the result of a grade appeal will a grade
be changed after the award of a degree or credential or certificate.
D. All requests for change of a final course grade shall carry
the recommendation of the instructor (except as provided for in
the Grade Appeals Procedures), the department chair, and the approval
of the dean of the college.
EFFECTIVE: Fall 2003 |
