Grading System

The quantitative measure of a student's scholastic standing is the Grade Point Average (GPA) or the weighted average of the student's academic standing as measured by the reported grades and weighted according to credit and letter value.

The college uses the following grading system (quality points are indicated under the grade or to the right):

Nursing students must attain at least a grade of C+ in required nursing and health courses. Education students must attain at least a GPA of 2.75 (undergraduate) and 3.00 (graduate) in required certification courses. 

For class ranking purposes, when there is a tie in cumulative Grade Point Averages, with two or more students, the number of credits successfully taken at Mount Saint Mary College will be the tie-breaker; the student(s) with more institutional credits will be ranked higher.

Pass/Fail Policy

Any sophomore, junior, or senior in good academic standing, with a GPA of 2.2 or higher, may take advantage of the P/F grading system.

1. Students may request a P/F only in elective courses counting toward the total 120 credits. Students may not request a P/F for any major, minor, concentration or certification courses.

2. A student may not request a P/F grade in a prerequisite course that requires a letter grade for the next course if using the course as a prerequisite. 

3. Students must submit the Pass/Fail form with the Registrar’s Office before the end of the add/drop period their intent to take a course pass/fail. Only the student and the Registrar will know of the election for the Pass/Fail for the selected course. At the end of the semester, the Registrar will change the letter grade received from the instructor to Pass (for A, B, C, or D) or Fail (F).

4. Although P/F courses earn credits when the grade is “P,” a final letter grade of “P” does not count toward a student’s GPA; a final letter grade of “F” does count toward the student’s GPA. Please note that taking a course pass/fail may disqualify a student from the Dean’s List. Students are eligible for Dean’s List only if they have 12 graded credits.

5. Students may convert a letter grade course to P/F only twice during their college career at the Mount. This rule also applies toward permission credits taken at another institution.

Incomplete Grade Policy

The Incomplete (I) grade is used only when a student has met the class attendance requirements of a course and must postpone, for reasons beyond his/her control (individual or family health or emergency problems), the completion of certain papers, reports, or other assignments. Student failure to complete course requirements in a timely manner during the semester does NOT justify the instructor awarding an Incomplete grade. The request for an incomplete grade must be initiated by the student. The student must obtain the proper request form from the Registrar and submit a written request to the instructor. After reviewing the student's record, the instructor will determine the validity of the request and approve or deny the Incomplete grade. If the document is signed and approved, the instructor will forward the completed form to the Registrar's Office when submitting the course Grade Report.

At the time the Incomplete grade is requested, the student and the faculty member must agree on a date by which the course work must be completed. Incomplete grades must be resolved by the fifth week of the following academic semester. If the grade is not changed by the date on the request form, the "I" grade will be changed to an "F" grade. Any extensions needed for students with incomplete grades must go through Academic Standards. 

If the student is not awarded an Incomplete and the student believes the required conditions have been met, a written appeal may be presented to the division chair responsible for the course. The division chair will evaluate the case and inform the student, the instructor, and the Registrar of the decision. If the division chair is the instructor, the VPAA will appoint a senior faculty member within the division to hear the student's appeal. The decision is final with no further appeal.

Repeating a Course

If a student voluntarily repeats a course, the better of the two grades will be used for the purpose of calculating the GPA and for meeting degree requirements. If the student withdraws from the course during the withdrawal period, the student will retain the first entered grade, which will be used in all calculations. The student's record will show that the course was repeated and the final grades for each time will be shown. Consult the Tuition Assistance Program in the Financial Aid section of this catalog for financial aid regulations regarding repeating a course. 

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