Details of the grading system in use are found in the Student Code.
Course Grades
Grades and the points used in the computation of grade point averages are found in the table on the next page.
A grade of F may be assigned to courses dropped for academic irregularities. A grade of F is assigned when an I (Incomplete) grade or DFR (Defer) in a non-thesis course grade is not replaced with a permanent grade by the deadline. See DFR and I below for more information.
In addition to assigned grades that are included in the computation of Grade Point Average (GPA), the following notations may be used, but are not included in computation of GPA: AU, CR/NC, DFR, I, NR, NV, S/U, W.
- AU: Audit; indicates attendance as a visitor only.
- CR /NC: Credit-No credit earned.
- DFR: Grade deferred. To be used only in courses that extend over more than one semester excluding 599 research credit. The grade must be converted to a permanent grade no later than 5:00 p.m. on Reading Day of the next semester in which the student is registered. If no grade change is submitted within that period, the DFR will be converted as follows: for letter graded courses to an F, for courses graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory to a U, and for courses taken on Credit/No Credit basis to an NC.
- I: Incomplete. A grade of “incomplete” may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor of the course to allow an extension of time to satisfy final exam requirements or other final course requirements. The period of time allowed to finish remaining course requirements will be set by the instructor and communicated to the student upon assignment of the I grade. The instructor may authorize such extension of time for a graduate student regardless of the level of the course. If no final grade is assigned by the deadlines described below the grade becomes an F (or U) by rule, depending on grading mode of the course. Reasonable extensions of time are granted by the Graduate College for justifiable reasons. A student will not be certified for a degree with an Incomplete grade on the academic record.
- I grades assigned in fall will become an F (or U) by rule after Reading Day in the spring.
- I grades assigned in spring will become an F (or U) by rule after the tenth day of instruction in the following fall semester.
- I grades assigned in the summer will become an F (or U) by rule after Reading Day in the fall.
- NR: Not reported. This temporary notation is automatically entered if an instructor does not report a grade by the deadline. A student will not be certified for a degree with an NR notation in the academic record.
- NV: Not valid. This temporary notation is used when an instructor reports a grade in a mode that has not been approved for use with that course.
- S /U: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. A permanent notation used as a final grade only in courses (generally thesis research or seminar courses) approved for this grade mode.
- W: Approved late course drop or term withdrawal without credit.
Minimum Grades and Credit for Repeated Courses
The Graduate College has no minimum grade policy, but a department or program may set a minimum grade to be earned in order for a course to count as credit toward the degree. Students are responsible for knowing their
departmental requirements. The program determines whether hours for repeated courses count toward the degree. When a graduate student repeats a course, all hours and grades count toward the cumulative graduate GPA.