Grading and Grade Points

Faculty measures the quality of academic work through letter grades, which equate to numerical point values, creating a “grade point average.” Letter grades may be adjusted by use of the plus (+) and minus (-) modifiers. Beyond completion of reading, writing, performance or lab assignments and class participation, the following statements broadly suggest the meaning of the letter grades. Instructors may contextualize these statements according to the particularities of their courses.

Letter Grade Definitions:

A = superior performance (4 grade points). The student’s work exceeds the course learning outcomes by formulating new knowledge or unique evaluations of existing knowledge, upholding the highest standards of scholarship, exhibiting unusual creativity, and/or including profound application to personal experience.

B = very good performance (3 grade points). The student’s work meets all of the course learning outcomes by exhibiting a thorough understanding of the subject matter, employing competent scholarship, contributing well-reasoned conclusions and syntheses on course subjects, and/or reflecting on implications for personal perspectives.

C = satisfactory performance (2 grade points). The student’s work meets most of the course learning outcomes by representing an acceptable understanding of the subject matter with relatively few errors in reasoning, demonstrating adequate awareness of scholarly expectations, and/or applying the subject of the course to personal experience.

D = inferior performance (1 grade point). The student’s work does not meet several of the course learning outcomes by revealing significant gaps in understanding of the subject matter, lack of consistent use of scholarly conventions, and/or little personal application.

F = unacceptable performance (0 grade points). The student’s work fails to meet the course learning outcomes by demonstrating an insufficient understanding of the subject matter, poor use of scholarly conventions, and/or inability to connect the subject matter to personal experience.

P/NP = Pass/No Pass
I = Incomplete
IP = In Progress
R = Registrar received no grade
W = Withdraw
X = No Basis for Grade
AU = Audit

Plus or minus grades may be specified on the transcript but will not affect the calculation of the grade point average.

Incomplete Grades

An Incomplete (“I”) may be given only when the student has: 1) satisfactorily completed all course assignments through the date of request earning at least a 2.0 GPA in the assigned work for the course, and 2) if completion of other requirements is not possible because of factors beyond the control of the student. The “I” may be granted only after a completed and approved Request for Incomplete form has been filed in the Records Office. Incompletes must be filed before finals begin. An Incomplete taken in the fall semester must be completed by the end of the following spring semester; an Incomplete taken in the spring or summer semester must be completed by the end of the following fall semester. If the incomplete work is not completed within the stated time frame, the Registrar will automatically change the “I” to an “F.”

In Progress Grades

In Progress (“IP”) is offered only for research or thesis courses, internships, study trips, Independent Study, and summer semester courses. In order to issue an “IP” grade, the Registrar must receive a contract for completing the work signed by the student and the instructor. An In Progress taken in the fall semester must be completed by the end of the following spring semester; an In Progress taken in the spring or summer semester must be completed by the end of the following fall semester. If the in-progress work is not completed within the stated time frame, the Registrar will automatically change the “IP” to an “F.” An extension may not exceed the stated period without the approval of the Academic Policies Committee.

Pass/No Pass Policy

Courses at Warner Pacific University may be taken for a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) under the following stipulations:

• To earn a “P” the student must complete the requirements of the course with at least the equivalent of a “C” letter grade.
• No more than a total of 12 credits, and no more than six credits in any one term (except internships and student teaching) may be taken P/NP to apply toward graduation.
• Courses in the student’s major or minor may not be P/NP.
• Other courses which may not be taken for a P/NP include CLS 101, EN 101, EN 200 and BI 151. (Any exceptions to this list must be approved by the department offering the course.)
• Students choosing to exercise the P/NP option in a course must process a P/NP form. This form must be completed and on file in the Records Office by the Friday of the tenth week of classes. (This form is available in the Records Office.)
• Once the P/NP option has been elected, it is not possible to request a letter grade at a later date.
• Any exceptions to the above policy must be approved by the Academic Policies Committee.

Grade Changes

Once recorded, a grade of “A” through “F” can be changed only in the case of clerical or computational error. It is the student’s responsibility to bring to the attention of the instructor any error in grades received within one semester following the issued grade. The instructor will submit the grade change to the Registrar. The instructor who assigned the grade should be involved in any appeal procedure concerning grade changes.

_{As required by Title IX and 34 CFR §106.9, Warner Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities.}