Grading Policy Memo
To: All Graduate Faculty
From: Graduate Studies Committee
Date: October 20, 2003
Topic: Implementation of the Plus and Minus Grade Policy
Currently, faculty may assign plus and minus grades, and although they appear on the transcript, the plus and minus have no effect on the grade point average for graduate students. However, the following policy was approved by
the Graduate Studies Committee in March 2003 and will be implemented in the Fall 2004 term. Information about implementation of the policy is provided below.
The + and - are the equivalent of the undergraduate numerical designations, as noted in the Undergraduate Bulletin, with the exception that there are no 'C-' or 'D' grades. The scale is as follows:
| A | = | 4.0 |
| A- | = | 3.7 |
| B+ | = | 3.3 |
| B | = | 3.0 |
| B- | = | 2.7 |
| C+ | = | 2.3 |
| C | = | 2.0 |
| F/WF | = | 0.0 |
- Text in the 2004-2005 Graduate Bulletin will reflect the new policy. Both continuing and new graduate students should be made aware of the change.
- Beginning with the 2004 Fall term, all grades submitted with a plus and minus (as noted above) will be assigned a numerical value.
- The policy has no retroactive impact on grades already placed on the transcript. The value of grades with a plus or minus awarded in previous semesters will remain unchanged.
- Because the new grading scale uses an "A" as the highest possible grade, the transcript will no longer show any "A+" grades that might be awarded by the faculty. The numerical value of 4.0 for an "A" is the maximum to be used in calculation of the GPA.
- Under the new policy, graduate students receive no academic credit for grades lower than a "C," which is valued at a 2.0, on graduate level courses. No such restriction is in place for graduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses. However, grades for undergraduate courses are not used in auditing transcripts for graduation and do not compute in the GPA or hours earned by graduate students.
- Students often ask for transfer credit when they have taken graduate level courses at other institutions. Students must have earned a grade of B (3.0) or better on all transfer credit.
- Implementation of the new policy might create occasional circumstances that would need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis in The Graduate School.