Grading
This policy guides all aspects of undergraduate and graduate student grading.
Undergraduate Grading
Queens uses the following system of grades and grade point values per credit hour for undergraduate classes:
| Grade | Grade Point Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.000 | Superior |
| A- | 3.700 | |
| B+ | 3.500 | |
| B | 3.000 | Good |
| B- | 2.700 | |
| C+ | 2.500 | |
| C | 2.000 | Satisfactory |
| C- | 1.700 | |
| D+ | 1.500 | |
| D | 1.000 | Poor |
| F | 0.000 | Fail |
| P | (0) | Pass |
| AU | (0) | Audit |
Withdrew (W) – Student withdrew from courses. No effect on grade points.
Incomplete (I) – An incomplete is a temporary grade that will become a letter grade upon either completion or the end of the time period for completion. No effect on grade points.
K – “K” is a temporary grade given at the end of the first term of a two-term course to indicate satisfactory progress. Will be replaced by a letter grade upon completion of the second term of the course. No effect on grade points.
Work in Progress (WIP) – A WIP is a temporary grade used on a transcript printed before the end of the term and will be replaced by a letter grade upon completion of the term. No effect on grade points.
Grade reports are provided to students at the end of each term. Midterm reports are issued to students in the undergraduate program in the fall and spring terms to indicate special difficulties in coursework in progress. Only final course grades are permanently recorded.
Grade Point Average
A student’s cumulative grade point average at Queens is based solely on academic work at Queens and is not affected by course credit earned at another institution. The grade point average is used to determine eligibility for graduation. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by the total number of graded credit hours attempted.
Pass/No Record
Pass/No Record (P/NR) is a grading system designed to encourage students to explore new areas. The grade of “P” is recorded when a student earns a grade of C- or better in the course. If a student earns a D+, D or F, the “Z” designation is used on the student’s grade report but is not recorded on the student’s permanent academic record and does not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average.
Some courses are designated P/N for all students. Other courses may not be taken P/N by any students. A student may take up to two elective courses per academic year, but no more than one course per term, on a P/N basis. Only elective courses may be taken on a P/N basis. A course that will meet a specific degree requirement, such as a general education requirement or major requirement, may be taken on a P/N basis only with special permission.
A student must request the P/N grade status at registration or during the drop/add period. However, the student who has begun a course with the P/N grade status can change to a regular graded basis until the date on the term calendar designated “last day to withdraw from a course.” The student is responsible for requesting this change in writing from the Registrar’s Office prior to this deadline.
Pass / Fail
Pass/Fail is the grading system used for specially designated courses. The grade of “P” is recorded when a student earns a grade of C– or better in the course. An F is recorded when the work is unsatisfactory. “P/F” differs from “P/NR” in that Fs are recorded on the student’s permanent academic record, while NRs are not.
Incomplete Status
The grade of Incomplete (I) is given at the discretion of the instructor and only when unusual circumstances make it impossible for the student to complete the coursework by the end of the term. The student is responsible for requesting an “I” by obtaining and completing the appropriate form from the Office of the Registrar. The student is also responsible for arranging to complete incomplete work. A grade of “I” received during the fall term must be changed to a regular letter grade by the end of the second full week of regular classes of the spring term; an “I” received during the spring term or summer term must be changed to a regular letter grade by the end of the second full week of regular classes of the fall term. Conversion of an “I” to a regular grade may affect financial aid. A grade “I” automatically becomes an “F” if the student fails to make up incomplete work satisfactorily by the above deadlines.
The Undergraduate Student Qualifications Committee (U-SQC) will review end-of-term transcripts of students who receive an “I.” The U-SQC will regard the Incomplete as grade neutral; therefore, the “I” will not affect the student’s grade point average until the “I” is converted to a regular grade. Nor will the “I” impact the potential of academic sanctions resulting from a student’s term and/or cumulative grade point average.
Repeated Courses
Some courses are specifically listed as “may be repeated for credit.” The following policies refer to repeating any other course.
If a student fails a course, the student may repeat that course only once, either at Queens, or at another regionally accredited institution with prior approval of the appropriate department chair or dean. The F grade will remain on the student’s record. If the course is repeated at Queens, both the F and the second grade will be figured into the student’s cumulative grade point average. If a course is repeated at another institution, the credit (but not the grade) will transfer; thus, the original F only will be figured into the cumulative average. A student also may elect to repeat a course at Queens in order to demonstrate mastery of the material. In this case, both the original and the second grade will be figured into the student’s grade-point average; no additional credit hours will be awarded. In either case, a course may be repeated only once, either at Queens or at another institution. No more than two courses in the student’s major field may be repeated. Tuition is charged for all repeated courses.
Auditing Courses
A student in the undergraduate program who is enrolled in 12 to 16 credit hours and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or better may audit a course with the prior approval of the advisor and the Registrar. The student receives no credit for an audited course, but the grade “AU” will appear on the student’s transcript. Drop/Add and course withdrawal policies apply to audited courses and auditors are expected to attend class regularly. Some courses may be closed to auditors. Regular tuition charges apply.
Academic Grievances
The substantive judgment of a faculty member about a student’s work (grades or other evaluation of assignments) is not within the scope of hearings regarding academic grievances. A student may challenge only the actual and objective elements of the content of student records (discrepancies in computation and transcription of grades), not the qualitative and subjective elements of grading. Students who believe they have detected an error in the computation or transcription of a grade should initiate the challenge process by the end of the first month in the following term in which the disputed grade was given, by consulting with the faculty member concerned. If a satisfactory agreement is not reached, the student should consult with the chair of the department in which the dispute occurred. If a satisfactory agreement is still not reached, the student should consult with the faculty member’s dean.
Graduate Grading
Grades are based on the quantity and quality of the student’s work. Graduate programs use the following system of grades and grade point values per credit hour.
| Grade | Grade Point Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.000 | Superior |
| B | 3.000 | Good |
| C | 2.000 | Satisfactory |
| F | 0.000 | Fail |
| P | (0) | Pass |
| AU | (0) | Audit |
Course Status Interpretation (No effect on Quality Points)
Withdrew (W) – Student withdrew from course(s). No effect on grade points.
Incomplete (I) – An incomplete is a temporary grade that will become a letter grade upon either completion or the end of the time period for completion. No effect on grade points.
Z/NR – No record is made on the transcript.
K – “K” is a temporary grade given at the end of the first term of a two-term course to indicate satisfactory progress, and will be replaced by a letter grade upon completion of the second term of the course. It has no effect on grade points.
Grade Point Average
The grade point average in the program is used to determine eligibility for admission and graduation. It is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of graded credit hours attempted. Graded credit hours include all courses with grades of A, B, C, and F. Courses with grades or status of P, W and I are not figured in the grade point average. In addition, a student’s cumulative grade point average at Queens is based solely on academic work at Queens, and is not affected by course credit earned at another institution.
Pass / Fail
Some graduate classes may be offered on a Pass/Fail basis. Pass in a graduate course is equivalent to a B or better. Coursework evaluated below the equivalent of a B receives a grade of F.
Pass / No Record
Some graduate classes are offered on a Pass / No Record basis. Pass in a graduate course is equivalent to a B or better. Coursework evaluated below B is considered No Record and the Z designation is used on the student’s grade report, but the course is not recorded on the student’s permanent academic record and does not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average. A graduate course may not be taken on a Pass / No Record basis unless this status is specified in the course description.
Incomplete Status
A faculty member may agree to assign a status of Incomplete (I) when the student is passing the course and has a compelling reason why he or she cannot complete final assignments before the end of the term. After discussion with the student if the faculty member agrees to assign a grade status of Incomplete the student must sign the appropriate form filed with the Registrar. This status must be changed within one year of the end of the term in which the status was recorded. The student has until this time to complete the missing work. After this time the student will be assumed to have abandoned the class and the instructor or the Registrar will change the status as appropriate.
Neither credit hours nor grade points are awarded for a course whose status is “I.” A student with a status of “I” in a course may not receive a degree.
Academic Grievances
The subjective judgment of a faculty member about a student’s work (grades or other evaluation of assignments) is not within the scope of hearings regarding academic grievances. A student may challenge only the actual and objective elements of the content of student records – that is, any discrepancy in computation and transcription of the grade – not the qualitative and subjective elements of grading.
If there is a possible error in the computation or transcription of a grade, the student should initiate a conference with the instructor within 30 days of the end of the term in which the grade was received. If a satisfactory agreement between the student and the instructor is not reached, the student may request a meeting with the program director. If a satisfactory agreement is still not reached the student may request a meeting with the dean.
Student Qualifications
The faculty has established standards of satisfactory academic progress which are administered by its Student Qualifications Committees. Each graduate program has a Student Qualifications Committee (SQC). At the end of each term, the committees review the academic record of each student who is in academic difficulty.