University of Delaware Graduate Catalog 1995-1996 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 GRADE POINT AVERAGE. 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 G.P.A. 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 GRADE POINT AVERAGE. 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 G.P.A. is reviewed after each 9-hour increment. ACADEMIC PROBATION POLICY. The cumulative G.P.A. 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 G.P.A. 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: 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