JCU Undergraduate Bulletin 2005-2007: Academic Policies & Procedures -- Grading System

Grading System

Grading System
Students are evaluated by their retention of substantial information, insight regarding the significance of this information, ability to apply it to new situations, and ability to communicate the knowledge assimilated.

Quality Points and Averages
Candidates for a degree must not only gain the number of credits required, but also attain a certain standard of excellence. This standard is determined on the basis of quality points.

The number of quality points applied to each grade is listed in the section below. The quality points for a course are the product of the credit hours in that course times the quality points applied to the grade earned in it. A grade of A earns 4.0 times as many quality points as there are credit hours in the course; a grade of A-, 3.7 times as many quality points, etc.

An average of at least 2.0 (C) in all courses taken for credit and at least 2.0 in the major is required for graduation. As a general rule, therefore, students must minimally accumulate quality points equal to twice the credit hours attempted at John Carroll.

Academic standing at the end of any semester is determined by the ratio of the total number of quality points received to the total number of credit hours attempted in that semester. For example, students who earn 32 quality points while attempting 16 hours have an average of 2.000 (32/16); students who earn 51.1 quality points while attempting 16 hours have a scholastic average of 3.194 (51.1/16). Similarly, the cumulative average at John Carroll is determined by dividing all quality points earned by all credit hours attempted. A student who over four semesters has earned 192 quality points and attempted 67 hours has a cumulative average of 2.866 (192/67).

The quality of work and the point system are indicated by the following grades:

A	Outstanding scholarship. 4 quality points per credit hour.
A-	3.7 quality points per credit hour.
B+	3.3 quality points per credit hour.
B	Superior work. 3 quality points per credit hour.
B-	2.7 quality points per credit hour.
C+	2.3 quality points per credit hour.
C	Average. 2 quality points per credit hour.
C-	1.7 quality points per credit hour.
D+	1.3 quality points per credit hour.
D	Work of the lowest passing quality. 1 quality point per credit hour.
F	Failure. If the subject is required, the course must be repeated. No credit hours, no quality points.
FA	Failure because of excessive absences.
HP	High Pass. Honors Program only.
P	Pass. Honors Program only.
W	Withdrawal through proper procedure.
WF	Withdrawal without following proper procedure.
AD	Audit.
AW	Auditor who fails to fulfill attendance requirements.
SA	Satisfactory. This grade is used in noncredit courses.
I	Incomplete. Work incomplete. Work is to be completed within one month following the last normal examination date of the semester in which the grade is incurred or the grade of I converts to F. An extension may be granted by the appropriate dean for very serious reasons, usually medical.
X	Absent from final examination. Courses whose final exams are not completed within one month following the last scheduled examination will convert to a grade of F.
CR	Credit granted for master's thesis upon approval, student teaching, and other designated courses. Also indicates achievement of a grade of C or better in courses taken on the Pass/Fail basis.

Courses in which the grades of F, FA, or WF have been assigned are counted among attempted courses in the computation of the overall average.