Grading Information

The following grades are included in computation of the grade point average (GPA).

A-, A (90%-100%)

indicates a mastery of the knowledge and skills of the course. The student receiving this grade has demonstrated the ability to recognize, analyze, and solve new problems independently.

B-, B, B+ (80%-89%)

indicates achievement of a high order, involving high proficiency in the attainment and application of knowledge and skills.

C-, C, C+ (70%-79%)

represents an adequate performance, indicating familiarity with the content of the course and active participation in the work of the class.

D-, D, D+ (60%-69%)

indicates work that is in one or more respects below the acceptable standard for graduation, but which is sufficient in quantity and quality to be given credit toward the degree if offset by a sufficient amount of superior work in other courses.

F (Below 60%)

indicates failure. No credit is awarded. It is calculated into the GPA.

Honor Points

Each of the grades identified above carries the Honor Points indicated below:

• A = 4.0
• A- = 3.7
• B+ = 3.3
• B = 3.0
• B- = 2.7
• C+ = 2.3
• C = 2.0
• C- = 1.7
• D+ = 1.3
• D = 1.0
• D- = 0.7
• F = 0

Additional grades which are available for use, but which are not computed in the grade point average are:

• I = Incomplete; final examination or project deferred for reasons of health or serious emergency; not a computable grade. It must become a computable grade within thirty days into the next term; if not completed, it will become an F. Students must be passing the course to receive this grade.
• P = Passing; represents A through D- as defined above.
• L = A grade noting a leave, recommended by the Office of Campus Life, after consultation with the instructor, when emergency circumstances dictate a student’s leaving Elmira College for a period of time that forces the student to miss the final examination or project at the conclusion of the term in which the student is registered. A student who is either on a leave of absence or withdrawing may receive this grade. The L grade must be made up within one year of the term in which it is taken and will be replaced by grades A-F, W, as deemed appropriate by the course instructor. L grades may be extended by the course instructor when appropriate. Students must be passing the course in order to receive this grade.
• W = Withdrawal; indicates withdrawal while passing the course.
• S = Satisfactory, identified as C– or higher

Grade Point Average

A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 to graduate, as well as a 2.000 minimum average in courses taken in completion of the major.

The grade point average (GPA) is calculated according to the following formula:

GPA=Sum of Quality Points (i.e. credit hours x Honor Points)/Sum of Quality Hours Earned (A-F, WF)

(Only credits received from Elmira College are included in this calculation although all college credits will be considered when calculating Latin Honors and for the valedictorian and salutatorian awards.)

Grade Changes

Grades, once submitted to the Office of the Registrar, may be changed only under specific circumstances. Clerical and calculation errors may be corrected by the instructor and submitted to the Office of the Registrar until the end of the following term. Requests for grade changes resulting from other circumstances (such as illness, family death, miscommunication) should be brought by the instructor to the Educational Standards Committee for consideration. Grades may not be changed for the purpose of ensuring good academic standing. Once a course has been finished and the final grade submitted, the grade may not be changed by the completion of missed assignments or additional (extra credit) work.

Complaints from students about grades received must be registered in writing with the Dean of Faculty within six months of the date the grade was recorded by the Office of the Registrar. A complete statement of College policy on grade appeals is set forth in the Student Handbook in the section on Academic Affairs.

S-D-F Grade Option

Students may elect to take up to 12 credits of work in which the announced grading system is A-F on a S-D-F basis according to the following guidelines:

• Such election cannot be taken in courses that apply to the major, minor, or Education concentration or specialization.
• Prorations for transfer students will be administered by the Office of the Registrar.
• Students electing a S-D-F grade must indicate this option during the last two weeks of classes in a 13-week term, during the last eight days of a nine-week term, the last five days in a six-week term and during the last three days in a three-week term. S-D-F forms may be picked up in the Office of the Registrar, McGraw Hall, room 113, and must be filed with the Office of the Registrar during the appropriate period. The advisor must sign all S-D-F forms.
• Instructors are not notified of the student's choice and will submit letter grades for all students. The Office of the Registrar will convert the grades for those students electing the S-D-F option.
• Satisfactory (S) grades do not affect the GPA (Satisfactory grades represent A through C-). However, credits are awarded towards earned credit hours. D+, D, D-, F and WF grades affect the GPA, and no credit is granted for F and WF grades.
• Students planning to enter a graduate or professional school are reminded that their admission might be affected by S-D-F coursework.

The proposal does not affect courses that are currently only offered on a pass-fail basis:

• Student Teaching I and II
• Career-Related Nursing Practicum
• Human Services Practicum
• Encore
• Community Engagement
• Career-Related Internship

“Incomplete”

An Incomplete grade (“I”) is given at the discretion of the instructor when the student normally would have received a passing grade but at the conclusion of the term has been prevented from completing a course by an unforeseen emergency beyond her or his control. The Incomplete grade must be removed within thirty days of the beginning of the term following that in which it was assigned. An Incomplete not removed within the stipulated time period automatically becomes an F. An Incomplete grade received at the close of Term III or the Summer Session must be removed within thirty days after the opening of Term I.

The instructor who gives an “I” must accompany the grade with a statement of requirements the student must complete to remove the “I.” Copies of this statement must be given to the student and the Registrar. When the stated requirements have been completed, the instructor who gave the “I” must notify the Office of the Registrar in writing of the new grade to be assigned. Although instructors may extend incomplete grades into the following term, grades of incomplete may continue for no longer than two years. At that point, the instructor must submit a computable grade, or an administrative F will be posted by the Office of the Registrar effective beginning with Incompletes initially assigned during the 2011-2012 academic year.