Graduate Catalog 1993-1994
Academic and Registration Regulations
University Grading and Academic Standards
UNIVERSITY GRADING POLICY. At the end of each term, reports of
grades are sent to graduate students. The following quality grades are
used in the University of Delaware grading system:
A Excellent.....................4.00 quality points per credit
A- ..............................3.67 quality points per credit
B+ ..............................3.33 quality points per credit
B Good..........................3.00 quality points per credit
B- ..............................2.67 quality points per credit
C+ ..............................2.33 quality points per credit
C Fair..........................2.00 quality points per credit
C- ..............................1.67 quality points per credit
D+ ..............................1.33 quality points per credit
D Poor..........................1.00 quality points per credit
D- ..............................0.67 quality points per credit
F Failure.......................0.00 quality points per credit
X Failure, Academic Dishonesty.....0 quality points per credit
Z Failure, Unofficial Withdrawal...0 quality points per credit
NOTE: In courses requiring a minimum letter grade, for example, a
C or better, the minus grade, for example, C-, fulfills the
requirement. Similarly, when a B or better is required, a B-
fulfills the requirement. However, the quality points per
credit for a C- are fewer than for a C (see chart), and the
University requires that graduate students achieve an overall
cumulative grade point index of at least 3.00 for graduation.
L-Listener. Registration without credit or grade. Class attendance
is required.
LW-Listener Withdrawal. A Listener who does not attend sufficient
class meetings to be eligible in the judgment of the instructor
for the grade of L will receive the grade of LW.
P or F-Passing or Failing. Used only for 969, 899, and 999
registrations. Until the dissertation is defended, the
temporary grade of S or U is given for 969; after that, a final
grade of P or F is given. For Sustaining (899 and 999), only a
P or F grade is given. P/F grades are not given for other
courses at the 600 or 800 level. P grades are not calculated in
the index, F grades are calculated in the index.
W-Official Withdrawal. Passing at the time of withdrawal.
**WF-Official Withdrawal. Failing at the time of withdrawal.
** Students permitted to withdraw after the announced deadlines
for whom the grade of WF has been reported will receive a grade
of F for the course unless the Office of Graduate Studies
approves their withdrawal "without penalty."
TEMPORARY GRADES. No student will be permitted to graduate from
the University with temporary grades pending. (Students intending to
receive a master's degree who have been given permission to continue
studies toward a doctoral degree may retain those temporary grades
that do not apply to the master's course of study.) If a student does
not take steps to remove temporary grades, these grades will be
changed to F at the expiration of the regular degree program time
limits.
The following temporary grades are used:
I-Incomplete. Used to indicate incompleted assignments, absences
from final or other examinations, or any other course work not
completed by the end of the semester only because of
circumstances beyond the student's control.
An I grade must be removed no later than the end of the
first six weeks of the semester immediately following, e.g.,
incomplete work for the fall semester must be completed by the
end of the first six weeks of the spring semester following;
incomplete work for the spring semester must be completed by
the end of the first six weeks of the following fall semester.
Incomplete work for either summer session must be completed by
the end of the first six weeks of the following fall semester.
Under extenuating circumstances, the Office of Graduate Studies
may approve extensions to these time limits if requested to do
so in writing by the instructor.
At the time of grading, the instructor who gives an I grade
will be required to report to the department chair and the
Graduate Office by the I Grade Explanation Form: (1) the nature
of the incomplete (absence from the final examination, project
or paper not completed, etc.), (2) the student's reason for the
incomplete (illness, accident or injury, serious illness or
death in immediate family, etc.), and (3) the grade earned by
the student in the course exclusive of the incomplete work.
Copies of the I Grade Explanation Form will be sent to the
department chair and the Graduate Office for file and audit.
Instructors should submit a change of grade to the Graduate
Office in order to change the temporary grade of I to a
permanent grade by the deadline for completing incomplete work.
If the incomplete work has been made up, the instructor will
give the appropriate final grade for the course. If the work
has not been made up, the instructor may give the student a
final grade of F, or may have the option of giving the student
a passing grade based on the work that was completed for the
course. If the instructor has not reported a final grade upon
the expiration of either the deadline or the extension of the
deadline, the temporary grade of I will revert to a grade of F.
S-Satisfactory Progress. For dissertation, thesis, research,
special problems, and other courses that may carry over from
semester to semester.
U-Unsatisfactory Progress. For dissertation, thesis, research,
special problems, and other courses that may carry over from
semester to semester.
Temporary grades of S and U are recorded where the work
normally extends beyond the regular semester periods. The time
limit for such grades is determined by the nature of the
project. Final grades are normally recorded at the completion
of the project. The grade recorded for the last course entry (a
final grade) is understood to be the grade that applies to all
preceding S or U grades in that course. If instructors wish to
change individual S or U grades, they may do so in the regular
manner through change-of-grade forms. The revised current and
cumulative summaries will be posted on the permanent record at
the time of and along with the recording of grade changes.
THE GRADUATE INDEX. To be in good standing with the University and
to be eligible to be cleared for the advanced degree, students must
achieve a minimum cumulative index of 3.0. In addition, the grades in
courses applied toward the degree program must equal at least 3.0.
Certain graduate programs, however, may have additional requirements
that constitute good standing. A grade below a C- will not be counted
toward the course requirements for a degree even though it is
calculated in the cumulative grade point average.
REVIEW OF THE GRADUATE INDEX. For full-time students, the index is
computed and reviewed after the first semester and for every semester
increment thereafter as long as the student is registered full time (9
credits hours or 6 credit hours depending on contract status). For
part-time students, the index is reviewed after each 9-hour increment.
ACADEMIC PROBATION POLICY. The cumulative index after every 9-hour
increment determines academic standing. For students holding a
teaching, graduate, or research assistantship the increment is 6
hours. If the cumulative index falls below a 3.0, the notation
appropriate to the substandard index is assigned according to the
chart given below.
If a student is on: And gets an The status
index of: will become:
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Any status (or clear) 3.0 or above Clear
Clear 2.99-2.5 Warning
Clear 2.49-2.0 Probation
Probation 2.99-2.5 Special
Probation
Probation 2.49-2.0 Termination
Warning Below 3.0 Special
Probation
Special Probation Below 3.0 Termination
Any status (or clear) Below 2.0 Termination