Final grades are the basis for admission to advanced courses, computation of grade point averages, the determination of academic honors or probation, scholarship status, etc. They are of fundamental importance to each student. Consequently, grade records must be maintained with meticulous accuracy and promptness.
The following procedures shall normally be followed by instructors:
- The instructor of record, for each course or section, is requested to submit grades electronically within 48 hours of their scheduled final exam. All grades are to be submitted by the specified deadline. If an instructor, because of illness or other unavoidable absence, is unable to meet this deadline, the department chair (or school dean/director) will arrange for assistance to ensure final grades are submitted on time.
- When a final grade (i.e., a grade other than Incomplete (I), Conditional (X), or Progress (P)) has been submitted, it becomes a part of the official records of the University, and no one other than the faculty member, or the department chair (or school dean/director) is authorized to change it.
- When submitting an Incomplete ‘I’ grade, documentation listing the reason for assigning the grade and the requirements needed to change the ‘I’ to a final grade is required.
- When submitting a Failing ‘F’ grade, the last date of attendance is required (if the exact date is unknown, approximate the date based on the last exam or assignment).
- Grade changes can be made online through BanWeb by the instructor of record. In the event that the instructor is unavailable, changes can be made by the department chair (or school dean/director) using change-of-grade forms which are obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Normally, this is only done if there was an identifiable error in reporting the final grade (e.g., this could be due to an error in computing the grade, missing assignments that were discovered, etc).
- The change-of-grade process outlined above will also be used for changing a grade from Incomplete (I), Conditional (X), or Progress (P) to a final grade. (Senate Policy 304.1)
Grading System The grades awarded by the University are:
| A | Excellent, with 4.0 grade points per credit. |
| AB | Very good, with 3.5 grade points per credit. |
| B | Good, with 3.0 grade points per credit. |
| BC | Above average, with 2.5 grade points per credit. |
| C | Average, with 2.0 grade points per credit. |
| CD | Below average, with 1.5 grade points per credit. |
| D | Inferior, with 1.0 grade point per credit. |
| F | Failure, with 0.0 grade point per credit. |
| I |
Incomplete: not computed in GPA calculation appropriate when:
An incomplete grade must be made up within 1 semester of being assigned regardless of residency according to the following schedule:
An I grade should not be used as a substitute for a failing grade or a withdrawal. Failure to complete the coursework within the timeframes defined above will result in the conversion of the I to an F. Incomplete grades at graduation are considered (F) grades in computing the final grade point average. |
| IS | In-Session; temporary grade indicating a course that remains in session and ends after the semester's final grade deadline. |
| X | Conditional: computed into the grade point average as an (F) grade given only when
the student is at fault in failing to complete a segment of a course, but in the judgment
of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. An X is appropriate when:
|
| M | Missing grade, see instructor for clarification. |
| N | No Grade, No Credit, No Grade Points; given when a student officially withdraws from school after the regular drop period, passing the subject. |
| P | Progress; may be used for 5000 or 6000 series research courses and approved 3000 or 4000 level project courses where projects may carry over for more than one semester. |
| Q | Inadequate Progress; may be used for 5000 or 6000 series research courses and approved 3000 or 4000 level project courses and courses where projects may carry over for more than one semester. |
| W | Drop, No Credit, No Grade Points; given when a student drops a course between the beginning of the fourth week and the end of the tenth week; after the tenth week, a student may request a late drop only from the Dean of Student Affairs. |
| CR | Credit by advanced placement or examination. (Board of Trustees Policy 13.2) |
Pass-Fail Grades
S and E grades are reserved to indicate a student's performance when a student has elected to enroll in a course under the Pass-Fail option.
| S | Satisfactory; credit but no grade points. A grade of S is given for performance equal to a letter grade of A, B, or C. |
| E | Effort Unsatisfactory; no credit, no grade points, and not included in student's grade point average. A grade of E is given for performance equal to a letter grade of D or F (Board of Trustees Policy 13.2) |
Audit Grades
| V | Satisfactory Audit, with no grade points or credit. |
| U | Unsatisfactory Audit, with no grade points or credit. |
A course taken as an audit may be taken at a later date for degree credit subject to the approval of the course instructor and student's academic adviser.
A course taken under the normal grade mode (A-F) may be taken for an audit at a later date, not for degree credit, subject to the approval of the course instructor and student's academic advisor.
Audit grades are not to be used as a substitute for a failing grade.
Academic Dishonesty
| E* | Effort Unsatisfactory due to Academic Dishonesty. No credit, no grade points; given for courses taken under the Pass-Fail option. |
| U* | Unsatisfactory Audit due to Academic Dishonesty. No grade points per credit; no academic credit. Indicates Unsatisfactory due to academic dishonesty for a course taken as audit. This grade will be administrated in the same manner as a grade of F*. |
Mid-Term Grades
| SA | Mid-term Satisfactory. Indicates that satisfactory progress is being made in the course at the end of the 6th week of class. |
| NA | Mid-term Not Applicable. Administratively assigned to a course for which a midterm grade is not applicable. |
| UN | Mid-term Unsatisfactory. Indicates that unsatisfactory progress is being made in the course at the end of the 6th week of class. |
| M | Missing. Status grade administratively issued to each student in a course whose instructor failed to meet the grade reporting deadline or when a grade is intentionally left blank by the instructor in cases where there is an academic integrity issue. |
Senate Policy 311.1
Senate Policy 309.1
Senate Proposal 26-05 (Grades E* and U*)
Senate Proposal 29-04 (In-Session Grades)
Senate Policy 302.1
Senate Proposal 7-95 (Grading System)
Amendment to Proposal 86-5 (Grading System)
Revised:
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
06/04/2015 - To reflect current University titles, "Board of Control" is now "Board
of Trustees".
03/31/2015 - Annual Review: To reflect current practice, the email address for questions
is now policy@mtu.edu. No changes made to content.
02/12/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners; revised grades
"I", "X", "P", Q", and "W" to reflect updates to the grading system from Senate Proposal
20-12; revised Audit Grades to reflect updates from Senate Proposal 21-13; revised
Academic Dishonesty grades to reflect Senate Policy 112.1; Mid-Term Grades symbol
"SA", the definition read: "Indicates that satisfactory progress is being made in
the course at the end of the 6th week of class" and now reads "Indicates that satisfactory
progress is being made in the course at the end of the 7th week of class" and grade
symbol "UN", the definition read: "Indicates that unsatisfactory progress is being
made in the course at the end of the 6th week of class" and now reads: "Indicates
that unsatisfactory progress is being made in the course at the end of the 7th week
of class." Added "Senate Policy 304.1 (Course Grades)"; "Senate Policy 311.1" now
reads "Senate Policy 311.1 (Grading System)"; "Senate Policy 309.1" now reads "Senate
Policy 309.1 (Mid-Term Grades)"; deleted "Senate Proposal 26-05 (Grades E* and U*)";
added "Senate Proposal 20-12 (Pass-Fail Grades)"; "Senate Policy 302.1" now reads
"Senate Policy 302.1 (Audit Grades)"; deleted "Senate Proposal 7-95 (Grading System)";
added "Senate Policy 112.1 (Academic Dishonesty)"; and deleted "Senate Proposal 29-04
(In-Session Grades)" and "Amendment to Proposal 86-5 (Grading System)".
03/13/2013 - Annual Review: "Senate Proposal 25-94" now reads "Senate Policy 304.1",
"Proposal 2012 (revised 04-11-12 (Grades I and X)), Approved by Administration: May
8, 2012", and "Senate Proposal 13-99 (Grades P and Q)" now reads "senate Policy 311.1";
"Senate Proposal 10-07 (Mid-Term Grades)" now reads "Senate Policy 309.1"; and "Senate
Proposal 9-78 (Audit Grades)" now reads "Senate Policy 302.1".
06/13/2012 - Revised to better define policies regarding grades of Incomplete (I)
and Conditional (X), especially as they impact the student’s grade point average and
their academic progress. Also revised wording applicable to the current practice of
electronic submission of grades has also been included.
07/18/2011 - Annual Review: Was previously 3.2.5; added mid-term grades, grades E*
and U*, IS and Q grades; to reflect current University titles and practice, quarter
is now semester, MTU is now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions is now
hbwebmaster.
02/10/2010 - Removed web link to rescinded Board of Control policy.