Grading System

Graduate Grading System

Grading System Explanation
Only courses for which the grades of A, B, C, or S have been received are acceptable in fulfillment of graduate degree requirements. The letter grades A, B, C, D, and F are included in computing the grade-point averages for academic retention. If a graduate student repeats a course with the permission of the graduate dean, both grades will be counted in the grade-point average. Graduate students will not receive graduate credit for Pass/Fail grades. They may not receive a grade of Pass/Fail in a 400-level course graded Pass/Fail on an elective basis.

400-level courses
Most 400-level courses may be taken for graduate credit. The Graduate Catalog will indicate those 400-level courseswhich may be taken for graduate credit. No grades of Pass/Fail may be given for a 400-level course for graduate credit. The instructor in a 400-level course which can be taken for graduate credit has the discretion to decide whether to require additional work for graduate credit.

Withdrawal
Except for the WU grade, A W indicates authorized withdrawal from a course prior to the date indicated in the Schedule of Classes Information for the term in which the course was taken. The student's record will reflect the courses from which the student had withdrawn with the symbol W and the week of withdrawal. Program changes to drop a course during the first two weeks of classes result in no entry being made on the student's record (consult the section entitled Withdrawal from Courses and from the University for additional information on withdrawal procedures and deadlines).

Incomplete
An INC is assigned when, for reasons beyond their control, students engaged in passing work are unable to complete all class assignments. An INC must be changed to a completed grade within a time period designated by the instructor. INC is not included in grade-point computation.

To complete the work from the original registration, a student should not register for the course again, but should complete the work for the original registration if the original registration is within the normal time limits established for the degree.

Deferred
When the work is completed in a course for which DEF has been assigned, the grade is changed to a letter grade by the instructor, except in the case of theses and dissertations. When a thesis or dissertation has been submitted to the Graduate School as approved, the grade is automatically changed to S. If a thesis or dissertation is found unacceptable and the student is dismissed from the program, the grade of U is automatically assigned upon receipt by the Graduate School of the action dismissing the student.

Audit
A student registering for a course on an audit basis receives no letter grade and no credit hours. The student's registration must indicate audit registration and the same fees are paid as when registering for credit. During the first two weeks of a regular semester a student registered for a course for credit may change to audit status or vice versa through the official program change process. Thereafter, the change may not be made.

Changing of grades
At the completion of a course the final grade assigned to a student is the responsibility of the instructor of the course. Grades given at the end of the course are final and may not be changed by additional work or by submitting additional materials; however, clerical errors in recording grades can be corrected. To correct a clerical error, the assigned instructors should submit a grade change card together with an explanation and justification of the grade change for the approval or disapproval of the department chair, the appropriate college dean, and the dean of the Graduate School. In cases of theses and dissertations, for which DEF grades are given, the Graduate School changes the DEF grades upon presentation and acceptance of the thesis and dissertation and receipt of the departmental approval papers. In courses for which INC and DEF grades have been given, the assigned instructors has the responsibility of determining the final grade to be assigned and notifying the Office of Admissions and Records of the final grade by means of the grade change card.

Questions regarding the Graduate Assistantship\Fellowship Office: Contact gaoffice@siu.edu