Credits and Grades
Unit of Credit
The university measures undergraduate and graduate academic progress using the quarter credit hour system with the exception of the doctoral and physician assistant studies programs, which operate under a semester credit hour system. Courses are offered in 3 formats — lecture, laboratory and experiential. Courses may combine 2 or more of these formats.
Generally, 1 quarter credit represents 10 hours of instruction, which includes class lecture and additional activities; 1 quarter credit hour equals 2 laboratory hours or 3 experiential hours. Furthermore, all courses require additional hours of study and preparation outside of the classroom or learning environment.
Undergraduate Grading System
The grading system is as follows:
| Grade Range | Letter Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| 95–100 | A+ | 4.00 |
| 90–94 | A | 4.00 |
| 85–89 | B+ | 3.50 |
| 80–84 | B | 3.00 |
| 75–79 | C+ | 2.50 |
| 70–74 | C | 2.00 |
| 65–69 | D+ | 1.50 |
| 60–64 | D | 1.00 |
| 0–59 | F | 0.00 |
| Withdrawal | W | |
| Audit | AU | |
| Challenge Exam Credit | CX | |
| Grade Pending | GP | |
| Incomplete | I | |
| No Credit | NC | |
| No Grade | NG | |
| Prior Learning Assessment | PL | |
| Proficiency | P | |
| Satisfactory | S | |
| Unsatisfactory | U |
Note: Not all grades are used by all colleges or schools.
Honors Option (H)
If a course was taken as an Honors Program requirement, the grade received will be followed by H (e.g., AH, BH).
Failure (F)#
A grade of F is issued if a student fails to achieve adequate scholastic progress. The grade is recorded permanently on the student’s academic record. Upon successful completion of the course at a later date, the term and cumulative grade point averages are adjusted to reflect only the passing grade. However, both grades will appear on the academic transcript.
Withdrawal (W)#
To record attempted credits, a grade of W is recorded when a student withdraws from a registered course after its add/drop period has ended or is withdrawn from a culinary/baking & pastry laboratory course or a course with an experiential education component due to excessive absences. This grade is not entered into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Audit (AU)#
An audit occurs when no academic credit is granted. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Challenge Exam (CX)
A grade of CX is granted for specifically designated courses upon successful completion of department challenge exams. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Grade Pending (GP)#
This is a temporary mark given when the completion of course requirements is still underway. A GP is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages and is generally used under extreme, extenuating circumstances. If a grade is not submitted to replace the GP within 1 year, it will automatically become an F.
Incomplete (I)#
A grade of I is issued to students if they are unable to complete course requirements because of authorized absences due to service commitment or illness. Outstanding work must be completed within 2 weeks of the final exam class day or the grade will automatically become an F and be included in the term and cumulative grade point averages. For classes graded S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory), an Incomplete (I) will change to a U.
No Credit (NC)#
This is a non-punitive designation issued to a student who has been authorized to withdraw from class, or the university, due to extenuating circumstances. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
No Grade (NG)#
A grade of NG is issued temporarily when there is no grade provided by the faculty member. This grade is not factored into the student’s GPA. Once a grade is submitted, the cumulative average and transcript will reflect only the new grade. If a grade is not submitted to replace the NG within 1 year, it will automatically become an F and the grade will be included in the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Prior Learning (PL)
Students may earn credit for the knowledge or skills they have mastered outside the classroom through volunteer work, employment, travel, professional training and seminars, or other comparable sources. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Proficiency (P)
A grade of P is granted for achievement of multiple levels of skills in progression where the self-paced approach is in effect. This grade is not calculated into the cumulative grade point average.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
A grade of S/U is used for designated courses throughout the university. These grades are not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
| # | These grades will be counted as attempted but not earned credits for the purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress. |
Graduate Grading System
The grading system is as follows:
| Grade Range | Letter Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| 97–100 | A+ | 4.00 |
| 93–96 | A | 4.00 |
| 90–92 | A- | 3.70 |
| 87–89 | B+ | 3.30 |
| 83–86 | B | 3.00 |
| 80–82 | B- | 2.70 |
| 77–79 | C+ | 2.30 |
| 73–76 | C | 2.00 |
| 70–72 | C- | 1.70 |
| 0–69 | F | 0.00 |
| Withdrawal | W | |
| Incomplete | I | |
| Audit | AU | |
| Grade Pending | GP | |
| No Credit | NC | |
| No Grade | NG | |
| Satisfactory | S | |
| Unsatisfactory | U |
Note: Not all grades are used by all colleges.
Any courses taken at the undergraduate level to satisfy foundation requirements follow the undergraduate grading system and will not be counted in the graduate-level grade point average (GPA).
Failure (F)#
A grade of F is issued if a student fails to achieve adequate scholastic progress. The grade is recorded permanently on the student’s academic record. Upon successful completion of the course at a later date, the term and cumulative grade point averages are adjusted to reflect only the passing grade. However, both grades will appear on the academic transcript.
Withdrawal (W)#
In order to record attempted credits, a grade of W is recorded when a student withdraws from a registered course after its add/drop period has ended or is withdrawn from a culinary/baking & pastry laboratory course or a course with an experiential education component due to excessive absences. This grade is not entered into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Audit (AU)#
An audit occurs when no academic credit is granted. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
Grade Pending (GP)#
This is a temporary mark given when the completion of course requirements is still underway. A GP is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages and is generally used under extreme, extenuating circumstances. If a grade is not submitted to replace the GP within 1 year, it will automatically become an F.
Incomplete (I)#
A grade of I is issued to students if they are unable to complete course requirements because of authorized absences due to service commitment or illness. Outstanding work must be completed within 2 weeks of the final exam class day or the grade will automatically become an F and will be included in the term and cumulative grade point averages. For classes graded S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory), an I will change to a U.
No Credit (NC)#
This is a non-punitive designation issued to a student who has been authorized to withdraw from class, or the university, due to extenuating circumstances. This grade is not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
No Grade (NG)#
A grade of NG is issued temporarily when there is no grade provided by the faculty member. This grade is not factored into the student’s GPA. Once a grade is submitted, the cumulative average and transcript will reflect only the new grade. If a grade is not submitted to replace the NG within 1 year, it will automatically become an F and the grade will be included in the term and cumulative grade point average.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
A grade of S/U is used for designated courses throughout the university. These grades are not calculated into the term and cumulative grade point averages.
| # | These grades will be counted as attempted but not earned credits for the purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress. |