Definition of Grades, Graduate

Grades and Grading System

Students who have more than three absences, excused or unexcused, cannot be given a satisfactory grade.

A Outstanding Achievement

B Commendable Achievement

C Marginal Achievement

D Unsatisfactory Achievement

F Failing

I Incomplete
A grade of “I” may only be issued when a student has attended at least two-thirds of the course sessions and is unable to complete the requirements due to uncontrollable and unforeseen circumstances. Students must communicate these circumstances (preferably in writing) to the instructor prior to the final day of the course. If an instructor decides that an “Incomplete” is warranted, he/she issues a grade of “I” and notates the conditions for removal of the “Incomplete” in the student’s record. Students receive notification via e-mail about the assignment of an “Incomplete,” including the conditions for its removal. The information remains in place until the “Incomplete” is removed or the time limit for removal has passed.

An “Incomplete” is not issued when the only way the student could make up the work is to attend a major portion of the class the next time it is offered. Students must resolve “Incomplete” grades no later than six months after the official course end date. Students can be required to remove an “Incomplete” in a shorter period of time at the discretion of the instructor. The Office of the Registrar sends a courtesy e-mail reminder regarding the “Incomplete” on record when four months has elapsed since the course end date, provided the instructor has not specified a shorter end date.

An “I” that is not removed within the stipulated time becomes an “F” or a “U” based on the grading criteria of the course. No grade points are assigned. The “F” is calculated in the grade point average.

U Unsatisfactory
A permanent grade given indicating that a credit attempt was not acceptable. An “Unsatisfactory” grade merits no grade points and is not computed in the grade point average.

W Withdrawal
Signifies that a student has withdrawn from a course after midnight of the ninth day of the session. A “Withdrawal” is not allowed after the twenty-first (21st) day of the session. This is a permanent mark with no grade points assigned.

S Satisfactory
Credit is granted and no grade points are assigned. This is a grade assigned for satisfactory work in practicum, residencies, and field experience courses.

IP In Progress
A designation representing a project/thesis/research/practicum/internship/field study course that allows up to 12 months for completion. No grade points are assigned for the “IP” grade.

The following grades are assigned for selected project/practicum courses identified in the course description section of this catalog:

H Honors
Signifies outstanding work. No grade points are assigned.

S Satisfactory
Signifies acceptable work. No grade points are assigned.

U Unsatisfactory
Signifies unacceptable work. No credit is awarded and no grade points are assigned.

Plus/Minus Grading

National University uses a plus/minus grading system. The grade of A+ is not issued. In the plus/minus system, the grade points per credit used in the calculation of the grade point average are specified below. Instructors may elect not to use the plus/minus system. Instructors may elect not to use the plus/minus system provided that they clearly state this in the course outline.

Grade Changes

All grades are final. Students are not allowed to complete additional work after the final grade has been assigned or to repeat examinations in order to improve a grade. Students may request a review of their records if the possibility of a clerical or computational error exists. (Please see the section on Grade Appeals in this catalog.)

Computing Grade Point Averages

To compute a student’s grade point average (GPA), the total number of credit units is divided into the total number of grade points. Course units count only once toward graduation requirements. “H,” “I,” “IP,” “S,” “U,” and “W” carry no grade points and are not considered in computing the grade point average. When a course is repeated, the original grade is excluded from the GPA calculation but remains part of the permanent record.

Grade	Grade Points	Grade	Grade Points
A	4.0	C	2.0
A-	3.7	C-	1.7
B+	3.3	D+	1.3
B	3.0	D	1.0
B-	2.7	D-	0.7
C+	2.3	F	0.0