Grade Options and Policies

Grade Points
Calculate GPA
Repeat Grade Policy
Grade Changes
Mid-Term Grade Reports
Final Grade Reports

Grade Points
Unless designated as a Pass/No Pass class, all instructors will use the following grading options for the end-of-term grades:

A

4.0

Outstanding Performance

A-

3.7

Superior

B+

3.3

Excellent

B

3.0

Very good

B-

2.7

Good

C+

2.3

Better than satisfactory

C

2.0

Satisfactory

D

1.0

Passing
Note: Courses in which D grades are earned may not be used in the AAOT or to fulfill foundational requirements in other certificate or degree programs and may have limitations in specific certificate or degree programs. D grades are not considered passing for pre-requisite courses.

F

0.0

Not passing

I

n/a

Incomplete: An Incomplete (I) grade is assigned when a student successfully completes approximately 75 percent of course requirements, but for reasons acceptable to the instructor, the student is unable to complete remaining requirements during the given term. An "I" grade is not a substitution for a failing grade, but indicates that there is a reasonable expectation that the student will pass the course. An incomplete grade will not count toward academic warning, but it may affect Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

 

Students may request an Incomplete (I) grade by contacting the instructor prior to the end of the term. Students must complete the remaining requirements within one quarter after the end of the original course (summer term excluded) unless the instructor designates a later completion date. Instructors will submit a grade change to the Admissions and Records office within one week of the student completing the course requirements; if no grade is submitted, it is assumed the student did not complete the requirements and the I grade will convert to an F. (Note that if the student has earned a different grade without completion of these requirements, the instructor has the option to submit that letter grade instead.)

Students and instructors are strongly encouraged to complete an Incomplete Grade Contract in order to outline remaining requirements. Please see Incomplete Grade Contract on COCC's website for more information.

   
Other Grade Options Include:
IP n/a In Progress: Means that a course is continuing into the next term. Instructor should not submit a grade and an IP grade will automatically be assigned.
P/NP n/a Pass/No Pass: May be awarded only in authorized classes. "Pass" is interpreted as a "C" or better. Credits are awarded but not calculated in GPA. Note: All challenge examinations will be graded on the "pass/no pass" basis. The standard for a "P" in challenge courses is performance at the level of a grade of "B-" or better. Credits are awarded but not calculated in GPA.
W n/a Withdraw: Not computed in GPA. If a student drops a course between the eighth week of the term through the Wednesday before finals week, a student will receive a "W" on their transcript. Note: permission of the instructor is required to drop the course.

X

n/a

Audit: Not computed in GPA, does not count toward financial aid.

 

Calculate GPA
To calculate GPA, multiply the number of credits for each course by the grade points for the grade received in that course (grade points listed below). Add these numbers together and divide by the total number of graded credits for that term. Include F grades and exclude P, NP, W, X, I, and IP grades.

Repeat Grade Policy

The original course and grade will remain on the transcript, with an "R" indicating it is later repeated. The original course grade will not be counted in that term's GPA or the cumulative GPA. A student may repeat a course as many times as s/he wishes; however, only the original/first course's grade will be excluded from the term and cumulative GPA and only the most recent course will be used towards graduation requirements. There is no limit to the number of courses a student may repeat. If students wish to use the repeat grade policy for music or theater performance, studio art, Cooperative Work Experience and HHP activity classes, they must complete a Student Petition and submit it to the Admissions & Records Office; the course repeat policy will automatically happen for all other coursework.

Courses in music or theater performance, studio art, Cooperative Work Experience and HHP activity classes may be repeated for credit. The grades and credits for such courses will be recorded on the transcript and totaled cumulatively. In some cases, there may be a limit to the number of total credits allowed from those courses when used toward a certificate or degree.

The following illustrate this policy:

Student take course ABC 123 twice

First time

D

Doesn't count in term or cumulative GPA; course remains on transcript with an "R" or other indicator next to original grade

Second Time

B

Counts in term and cumulative GPA and towards graduation requirements

Student take course ABC 123 four times

First time

D

Doesn't count in term or cumulative GPA; course remains on transcript with an "R" or other indicator next to original grade

Second time

C

Counts in term and cumulative GPA

Third time

C

Counts in term and cumulative GPA

Fourth Time

B

Counts in term and cumulative GPA and towards graduation requirements

Note: This option is available beginning Fall 2006. A student must be a student under a catalog in which this policy was in place in order to take advantage of the repeat grade policy (e.g., a former student cannot ask to have a grade change unless s/he enrolls in Fall 2006 or later).

Grade Changes
The responsibility of assigning grades at COCC is entirely the instructor's. A student who disputes the final grade (A through F, P, or NP) in a course should meet with the instructor to review the grade. If not satisfied, the student may meet with the department chair, who can further review the grade with the instructor. If the student believes that the grade is arbitrary or capricious, the student has recourse through the College's grade appeal procedure.

Students who wish a change of grade to or from I, W or X must submit a petition directly to Enrollment Services. Requests for grade changes are considered only within one year of the grade being awarded.

Mid-Term Grade Reports
Midway through each term, instructors have the option to file grades of "D" and "F" or "NP" for those students whose performance indicates it, including those who are not regularly attending class. It is entirely the instructors discretion to submit or not submit a midterm grade report. If an instructor submits a midterm grade, the student will be sent an email at his/her college email address. Students must take responsibility for withdrawing if they do not wish to continue in a class.

Final Grade Reports
End of term grades will be available on the Thursday following the end of each term. Grades are available online only and can be accessed via the student's Bobcat Web Account .