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2017-2018 Academic Catalog 
    
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2017-2018 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Grading and Academic Standing

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Grading System

Academic Grades

A/A- (Excellent): Student has demonstrated a high level of competence in meeting course objectives. Four grade points per unit of credit are awarded. (A- yields 3.7 grade points.)

B+/B/B- (Good): Student has demonstrated a more than satisfactory level of
competence in meeting course objectives. Three grade points per unit of credit are awarded. (B+ yields 3.3 grade points and a B- yields 2.7 grade points.)

C+/C/C- (Satisfactory): Student has demonstrated a satisfactory level of competence in meeting course objectives. Two grade points per unit of credit are awarded. (C+ yields 2.3 grade points and a C- yields 1.7 grade points.)

D+/D/D- (Unsatisfactory): Student has demonstrated only a barely passing level of competence in meeting course objectives so that it is not necessary to repeat the course for credit. One grade point per unit of credit is awarded. (D+ yields 1.3 grade points and a D- yields 0.7 grade points.)

F (Failure): Student has not demonstrated a minimally passing competence in meeting course objectives. Credit is not merited. Zero grade points is assigned.

CR (Credit): Student has demonstrated at least a satisfactory C level of competence in meeting course objectives (at least B level in graduate courses). Not used in grade point average calculations.

NC (No Credit): Student has not demonstrated minimally satisfactory competence in meeting course objectives. Credit is not awarded. Not used in grade point average calculations.

Grade Availability

Students may access their term course grades on the Web at my.csustan.edu.

Administrative Symbols

WU-Withdrawal Unauthorized: The symbol WU indicates that an enrolled student did not withdraw from the course and failed to complete course requirements. It is used for courses graded A-F when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible. In courses where the student is graded CR/NC, use of the WU is inappropriate and NC is used instead. For purposes of grade point average computation, the WU symbol is equivalent to an F.

I-Incomplete Course: Students have not completed course requirements due to reasons beyond their control. Must be made up within the time limit set by the instructor (no more than one calendar year following the end of the term in which the grade was assigned). Failure to complete the assigned work will result in an incomplete reverting to a grade of NC for grading options 1 and 2; and to a grade of IC for grading option 3. (See Grading Options in the following section.) An extension of time may be granted via approved petition. Not used in grade point average calculation. (See Incomplete Work under Academic Policies and Procedures.)

RD-Report Delayed: No grade reported by the instructor. RD grades will revert to a NC or IC grade, depending on the course grading option, one semester after assignment.

W-Withdrawn from Course: Indicates that the student was permitted to drop the course after the Enrollment Census Date. It carries no connotation of quality of student performance and is not used in calculating grade point average. (See Withdrawal from Stanislaus State under Academic Policies and Procedures in this catalog.)

RP-Report in Progress: Indicates that work is in progress, but that assignment of a final grade must await completion of additional work which normally requires more than one term to complete (e.g., master’s thesis). RP grades shall be removed within one year after issuance of the grade except for thesis or project. A student whose graduate thesis or project is planned to extend over more than the term of first enrollment in a 5990 or 5960 course may receive an RP grade. The RP will remain through the period
of the program which is limited to a maximum of seven years. If the RP is not removed within these time limits, the grade will revert to NC for grading options 1 and 2 and to a grade of F for grading option 3. An extension of time may be granted by approved petition. The RP is not used in grade point average calculation. (See Academic Policies and Procedures.)

AU-Audit: The recorded grade if a student enrolls in a class and fulfills attendance requirement but is not receiving credit. Not used in grade point average calculation. (See Auditors under Academic Policies and Procedures.)

IC-Incomplete Charged: The IC symbol is used when a student who received an authorized incomplete “I” in a course with grading option 3 has not completed the required coursework within the allowed time limit. The IC replaces the “I” and is counted as a failing grade for grade point average and progress point computation.

Credit/No Credit Grading

Any student may elect to be graded on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis in any course approved with a Credit/No Credit grading option. Courses approved for CR/NC are indicated as such in the Schedule of Classes. In no case shall more than one-third of the required upper-division or graduate units or courses in a degree program be graded CR. No more than 24 Stanislaus State CR semester units, including winter and summer term courses, but excluding credit from challenge examinations, may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree.

The student must elect the Credit/No Credit grading option on a Registration Options form by the Enrollment Census Date of the term unless the instructor agrees to establish a later date and verifies this agreement by signing the student’s Registration Options form requesting the grade option change. Registration Options forms are available online, under Enrollment Services Forms. The Credit (CR) grade is earned for C work or better (B or better in graduate courses) as judged by the instructor concerned. Credit (CR) and No Credit (NC) grades will have no effect on grade point average.

Upper-division courses graded CR/NC taken at this or another institution may not be used to satisfy requirements for the student’s major except for those courses identified as graded exclusively on a CR/NC basis.

The only courses with a CR/NC option which may be repeated are those in which the student previously received a grade of “No Credit.” If a course previously taken for a grade is repeated for a grade of “credit,” only the original grade will be used in computation of the grade point average. (See Repeated Courses.)

Note: Students planning to attend graduate or professional schools should be aware that CR may be counted as a C and NC as an F by some graduate admissions officers.

Grade Point Computation

Grade point averages are computed by multiplying units and grade points in courses graded A, B, C, D, F, IC, and WU and dividing the total number of grade points by the number of graded units attempted. Prebaccalaureate courses and courses with the administrative symbols: AU (Audit), CR (Credit), I (Incomplete), NC (No Credit), RD (Report Delayed), RP (Report in Progress), and W (Withdrawn) are not included in this calculation. Plus/minus grading is a faculty option. Faculty members who choose this option must state in their course syllabi if this option will be used. If an instructor uses this option it applies to all students in the class. The effect is explained below:

Grade Plus (+) Grade Points Standard Grade Points Minus (-) Grade Points
A N/A 4.0 3.7
B 3.3 3.0 2.7
C 2.3 2.0 1.7
D 1.3 1.0 0.7
F N/A 0.0 N/A
WU N/A 0.0 N/A

Grading Options

Stanislaus State courses carry different grading options, indicated below, which are listed in the Schedule of Classes Informational Guide.

  1. Courses graded exclusively Credit/No Credit.
  2. Courses graded A, B, C, D, F-with the student’s option to receive a Credit or No Credit grade.
  3. Courses graded A, B, C, D, F.
  4. Courses graded A, B, C, N/C (remedial courses only).

Repeated Courses

Courses may be repeated by undergraduate students and only the most recent grade earned will be used for credit and grade points. The grading option for the original effort and the repeated effort must be the same. In addition, the following regulations apply:

  1. Undergraduate students may repeat courses only if they earned grades lower than a C.
  2. Course Repeats with “Grade Forgiveness” (Grade forgiveness is the circumstance in which the new grade replaces the former grade in terms of the calculation of GPA, etc.):
    2.a. Undergraduate students may repeat up to 16 semester-units with grade forgiveness.
    2.b. Undergraduate students may repeat an individual course for grade forgiveness no more than two times.
    2.c. Grade forgiveness shall not be applicable to courses for which the original grade was the result of a finding of academic dishonesty.
  3. Course Repeats with “Grades Averaged”:
    Undergraduate students may repeat up to an additional 12 semester-units, i.e., units in addition to the 16 semester-units for which grade replacement is permitted.  In such instances the repeat grade shall not replace the original grade; instead both grades shall be calculated into the student’s overall grade-point average.
  4. These limits apply only to undergraduate students and to units completed at Stanislaus State.
  5. These limits apply to all courses at Stanislaus State except those which are specified as being “repeatable for credit.”
     

Postbaccalaureate students doing work at the undergraduate level, such as pursuing a second major, are to be treated as undergraduates for purposes of repeating a course.

Graduate students, by prior permission of the department, may repeat a course, and the original grade will be included in computing the grade point average but will not be included in computing the grade point average for the master’s degree.

At admission to Stanislaus State, the repeated-course actions and policies of former institutions will be honored.

Grade Assignment and Grade Appeal Procedures

The grade assignment and grade appeal procedures of California State University, Stanislaus are based upon the following premises:

  1. An important duty of teaching faculty is the timely and accurate evaluation of student work and the assignment of an appropriate grade.
  2. It is the responsibility of qualified faculty to assign a grade when the instructor of record does not do so.

Grade Assignment

  1. Reporting Grades. At the end of each term, instructors are required to submit grades electronically via the Faculty Center to the Enrollment Services Office within 72 hours after each final examination period. The Enrollment Services Office provides a cover sheet outlining the procedures to follow in reporting grades and the specific due dates.
  2. If the instructor of record fails to assign a grade within 10 working days after grades are due, the department chair shall appoint two (2) appropriate faculty members and these three persons will jointly determine the grade. The department chair will be vested with the authority and required to inform the Enrollment Services Office in writing to record the grade.
  3. If the chair is the instructor of record, the appropriate College Dean or his/her designee shall assume the responsibility normally discharged by the chair.

Change of Grade by the Instructor of Record

Grade changes are submitted to the Enrollment Services Office by the instructor on the Change of Grade Card. The appropriateness of the instructor’s grade change is determined by the department chair, whose signature is required on the Change of Grade Card in addition to the instructor’s signature. The Change of Grade Card is accepted only from the instructor, the department secretary, or other duly authorized department representative. There is no time limit imposed for such grade changes.

Grade Appeal Policy and Procedures

To initiate a grade appeal, the student must complete the Grade Appeal Form and adhere to the procedures and timelines described below.

  1. By order of the Chancellor’s Office, the Senate of Stanislaus State is responsible for providing students a grade appeal procedure.
  2. There is a presumption that grades assigned by faculty members are correct. Thus, the burden of proof rests with the student who is appealing.
  3. Appeal procedures are available only for review of alleged capricious grading and not for review of an instructor’s judgment in assessing the quality of a student’s work. In the absence of capricious grading, the grade determined by the instructor of record is final.

Capricious grading, as used here, constitutes any of the following:

  1. Instructor’s failure to notify students as to the basis of grade determination in a clear and timely manner.
  2. Grading that results from a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards.
  3. Grading based on anything other than the student’s performance in the course.
  4. Discrimination or prejudice.
  5. Error in calculating the grade.
  6. Arbitrary grade assignment (the lack of consistent and equitable standards for grade assignment).

The grade appeal shall be dismissed by the Grade Appeal Committee if:

a. The allegations would not constitute capricious grading, or
b. The only disagreement is with the instructor’s grading standards, or
c. The appeal was not timely, or
d. The student has not provided the instructor with written notification.

  1. Students who can demonstrate a reasonable doubt about the correctness of an assigned grade deserve access to a due process hearing before an appropriate body and, when justified, deserve to receive a grade correction.
  2. If a student believes a grade assigned is incorrect, the student must file with the instructor a written statement of appeal and the Grade Appeal Procedures form within the first four weeks of the immediately following fall or spring semester. (The Grade Appeal Procedures form is available from the Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, MSR 380, or by calling 209/667-3332, or online here). This appeal must detail and document the compelling reasons which form the basis for the student’s contention that the assigned grade is incorrect. The instructor will respond in writing, within 15 working days on receipt of the appeal, indicating either approval or denial of the appeal. (If the appropriate College Dean or his/her designee judges that the instructor of record is inaccessible, the student may initiate the appeal with the department chair.)
  3. In the event the instructor denies the appeal or fails to respond in writing, and the student wishes to pursue the matter further, the student shall submit the written appeal to the department chair with any further clarifications and/or contentions the student chooses to add to the original appeal. This action must be taken within 15 working days of the time the instructor informs the student of the denial. The department chair will, on receipt of the written appeal from the student, constitute a Grade Appeal Committee within 15 working days.
  4. The Grade Appeal Committee shall be appointed by the chair in consultation with the student and instructor and consist of one faculty member from the involved department, one faculty member from outside the involved department, and the President of the Associated Students or his/her designee. The department chair shall, in consultation with the instructor and student, appoint the chair of the Grade Appeal Committee. In those cases in which a Grade Appeal Committee is constituted to hear multiple appeals of capricious grading from students in the same class, the Committee Members must take actions to ensure confidentiality/privacy of each student and render an independent decision for each case.
  5. The duties of the Grade Appeal Committee shall be completed within 20 working days from the date constituted. This committee shall be provided all prior written correspondence from the student and instructor related to the grade appeal.
  6. The Committee will review the written documents and take one of the following actions:
    1. Judge that the appeal has no merit and so inform the student and instructor in writing, in which case the matter is ended, or
    2. Judge that there is reasonable doubt regarding the correctness of the grade and, in this event, initiate a hearing.
  7. In the event a hearing is initiated, the Committee shall investigate and discuss the matter with the involved student and instructor. Both shall be entitled to be present throughout the hearing and to present evidence, including testimony by other persons. The student and instructor may be accompanied by a person from the University faculty or student body to assist them in presenting evidence. The hearing shall not be open to the public. At the close of the hearing, the Committee shall deliberate privately. The chair shall assure that the following procedures are employed in the conduct of the hearing:
    1. Efforts may be made to resolve the matter by extra-procedural settlement at any time.
    2. The student shall first make an opening statement by presenting evidence which the student believes constitutes legitimate grounds for the grade appeal.
    3. After the student has presented his/her evidence, the Committee may agree to terminate the hearing, if the evidence presented does not constitute legitimate grounds for the grade appeal.
    4. After the student presents evidence in support of the grade appeal, the instructor may present rebuttal evidence.
    5. Following the private deliberations of the Committee, the chair shall, in writing, inform the student, instructor, and department chair of its findings. If the Committee finds that there is a compelling reason to approve the grade appeal, the instructor is expected to change the grade to the grade recommended by the Committee.
    6. In the event the instructor chooses not to change the grade, the department chair shall be vested with the authority and required to inform the Enrollment Services Office in writing to change the original grade to the grade recommended by the Committee. The transcript shall reflect that the grade was changed as a result of administrative action.
  8. If the department chair is the instructor of record, or serves in lieu of the instructor, the appropriate College Dean or his/her designee shall assume the responsibilities normally discharged by the chair.
  9. In the event the student or instructor alleges that improper grade appeal procedures were employed, the appropriate College Dean or his/her designee shall investigate and take corrective action, if improprieties have occurred.
  10. The Committee is not authorized to reprimand or otherwise take disciplinary action against the instructor. Evidence put before the Committee shall be admissible in any disciplinary proceedings which may thereafter be undertaken against the instructor, but the disciplinary body shall make an independent determination of whether that evidence and any other information before that body constitutes sufficient proof of the conduct charged.
  11. None of the established procedures available to the instructor to raise grievances before the Faculty Affairs Committee or through CSU grievance procedures shall be abridged or affected by the actions of the Committee.
  12. The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs or his/her designee
    shall annually provide a written summary of grade appeals to the Stanislaus State Academic Senate and President.

Specific questions regarding Grade Appeal Procedures should be addressed to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, whose office is located in the Mary Stuart Rogers Building, Suite 380. Students may also call (209) 667-3082. Detailed grade appeal procedures are also included in the Faculty Handbook and the Student Handbook.

Incomplete Work

 An incomplete signifies (1) that a portion of required coursework has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen but fully justified reasons beyond the student’s control, and (2) that there is still a possibility of earning credit. It is the responsibility of the student to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements which must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. The conditions for removal of the Incomplete shall be put in writing by the instructor and given to the student, with a copy placed on file with the department chair. A final grade will be assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated.

Any Incomplete must be made up within the time limit set by the instructor; in any case, no more than one calendar year following the end of the term in which the Incomplete was assigned. An incomplete should never be used to (1) give a failing student an opportunity to redo unsatisfactory work or complete additional work; or (2) give a student more time to complete his/her work when the reasons for the delay have been within his/her control. This limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment. Failure to complete the assigned work will result in an incomplete reverting to a grade of NC for grading options 1 and 2, and to a grade of IC for grading option 3. (See the Academic Standards section of this catalog and the Schedule of Classes Informational Guide for grading options.)

In cases of prolonged illness or any emergency which necessitates an extension of time to complete the course, t he student may petition through the academic department where the course was offered. Students may not be permitted to graduate until all Incompletes are removed or evaluated as “IC” grades. Students are not to reregister in courses in which they have an Incomplete.

Report in Progress

The RP (Report in Progress, formerly Satisfactory Progress Work) symbol is used in connection with courses that extend beyond one academic term (e.g. master’s thesis or project). It indicates that work is in progress, but that assignment of a final grade must await completion of additional work. RP grades shall be removed within one year after issuance of the grade except for graduate degree thesis or project. A student whose thesis or project is planned to extend over more than the term of first enrollment in a 5990 or 5960 course may receive a report in progress (RP) grade. The RP will remain through the period of the program which is limited to a maximum of seven years. If the RP is not removed within these time limits, the grade will revert to NC for grading options 1 and 2, and to a grade of F for grading option 3. An extension of time may be granted via appropriate petition to the academic department where the courses were offered for undergraduate students or the Graduate School for graduate students.

Honors List of Students

Each semester Stanislaus State publishes a list of undergraduate honor students. To qualify for the list during the semester under consideration, a student must:

  1. Register for and earn a minimum of 12 units of credit of graded coursework at the University, and
  2. Achieve a 3.5 grade point average for all coursework attempted at the University that semester.

In addition to the List of Honor Students each semester, Stanislaus State also publishes a list of undergraduate students with honorable mention. To qualify for the list during the semester under consideration, a student must:

  1. Register for and earn a minimum of 8 to 11 units of graded coursework at the University, and
  2. Achieve a 3.5 grade point average for all coursework attempted at the University that semester.

 

Academic Probation

A student is subject to academic probation if at any time the cumulative grade point average in all college-level work attempted or cumulative grade point average at Stanislaus State falls below 2.0. A student shall be removed from academic probation when the cumulative grade point average in all college-level work attempted and the cumulative grade point average at Stanislaus State is 2.0 or higher. Any veteran who remains on academic probation beyond two consecutive semesters without a significant improvement in academic standing will be ineligible for veterans educational benefits and will be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Academic Disqualification

A student on academic probation is subject to academic disqualification when:

  1. As a freshman (fewer than 30 semester hours of college work completed) the student falls below a grade point average of 1.50 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Stanislaus State; or
  2. As a sophomore (30 through 59 semester hours of college work completed) the student falls below a grade point average of 1.70 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Stanislaus State; or
  3. As a junior (60 through 89 semester hours of college work completed) the student falls below a grade point average of 1.85 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Stanislaus State; or
  4. As a senior or postbaccalaureate student (90 or more semester hours of college work completed) the student falls below a grade point average of 1.95 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Stanislaus State.

A student not on academic probation becomes subject to academic disqualification when:

  1. At the end of any term, the student has a cumulative grade point average below 1.0, and
  2. The cumulative grade point average is so low that in view of the student’s overall educational record, it seems unlikely that the deficiency will be removed within a reasonable period.

A student on probation will be continued on probation if not eligible for removal from probation or subject to disqualification. A student disqualified at the end of fall semester is eligible to attend winter term. In such cases the effective date of disqualification shall be the last day of the winter term. A student disqualified at the end of a spring semester is eligible to attend summer term. In such cases the effective date of disqualification shall be the last day of the summer term.

The Academic Success Center may disqualify a student not on probation who has fewer cumulative grade points than cumulative credits attempted at the end of fall or spring semester, and whose cumulative grade point delinquency is so great that its removal within a reasonable period seems unlikely.

No student will be automatically disqualified. The Academic Success Center will review the case of each student eligible for disqualification. Students also may be subject to expulsion, suspension, and/or probation for other causes. See Student Conduct in the Appendix.

Special Administrative Action

A student may be placed on administrative-academic probation for any of the following reasons:

  1. Withdrawal from all or a substantial portion of a program of studies in two successive terms or in any three terms.
  2. Repeated failure to progress toward the stated degree or other program objective, including that resulting from 15 credits of NC, when such failure appears to be due to circumstances within the control of the student.
  3. Failure to comply, after due notice, with an academic requirement or regulation which is routine for all students or a defined group of students (e.g., failure to take EPT/ELM or other tests; failure to complete remedial or other specified coursework, etc.).

Written notification of such action shall provide the conditions for removal from probation and the circumstances which would lead to administrative-academic disqualification. Furthermore, a student who has been placed on administrative-academic probation later may be administratively disqualified if:

  1. The conditions for removal of administrative-academic probation are not met within the period specified, or
  2. The student becomes subject to academic probation while on administrative-academic probation, or
  3. The student becomes subject to administrative-academic probation for the same or a similar reason for which the student has been placed on administrative-academic probation previously, although not currently in such status.

Written notification of such action shall provide an explanation of the basis for the action.

Reinstatement after Disqualification

Students who are disqualified may be considered for reinstatement by submission of a Reinstatement Petition to the Academic Success Center. However, reinstatement generally is not approved for the semester immediately following disqualification. Advising Center decisions may be petitioned to the University Appeals Committee.

A reinstated student who has not been enrolled at the University for one year or who has matriculated at another institution since last attending Stanislaus State must also apply for readmission following the Admissions dates and deadlines (See Undergraduate Admissions section).

Students whose reinstatement petitions are approved and have been readmitted to the University, will be on probation status only, regardless of the grade point average earned at any other institution.

Academic Renewal

Courses with unsatisfactory grades either at Stanislaus State or at other institutions may be excluded from credit and grade point consideration if course repetition is inappropriate (e.g., change of major, or courses not offered at Stanislaus State), subject to all of the following provisions:

  1. At least five calendar years must have elapsed since the coursework was attempted.
  2. The student must be an undergraduate who has completed at Stanislaus State 15 semester credits with a 3.0 grade point average, or 30 semester credits with a 2.5 grade point average or 45 semester credits with a 2.0 grade point average.
  3. A maximum of one academic year of coursework may be disregarded; when such action is taken, all work attempted during those terms must be disregarded.
  4. The student must provide evidence that past performance was due to extenuating circumstances and that additional enrollment would be necessary to qualify for a degree if the request were not approved.
  5. The permanent academic record will be annotated, ensuring a true and complete academic history. A student must initiate such action using an appropriate petition form; upon satisfaction of all the above four provisions and obtaining approval of the faculty adviser, College dean, and the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Admission and Records personnel will implement the policy.

Students admitted to Stanislaus State will have the academic renewal actions and policies of former institutions honored.