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Grading System
The semester hour is the basic unit of work, in which each course has credit value in terms of a certain number of semester hours normally conforming to the number of contact class hours per week. For example, courses meeting three hours a week normally carry three semester hours of credit. A typical exception occurs in laboratory work, in which two or three hours of class contact have a one-credit-hour value.
Grades and quality points represent the instructor’s final estimate of the student’s performance in a course. All grades assigned remain on the student’s permanent record and transcript. The following letters denote grades which are included in the computation of the grade-point average:
A = Excellent; 4 quality points per hour
B = Good; 3 quality points per hour
C = Satisfactory; 2 quality points per hour
D = Passing; 1 quality point per hour
WF = Withdrew Failing; 0 quality points
F = Failing; 0 quality points
The following letters denote cases in which the grade is not included in the computation of the grade point average:
I = Incomplete
A report of “I” indicates that a student was doing satisfactory work at the end of the term but, for non-academic reasons, was unable to complete all requirements for the course. A report of “I” requires the subsequent completion of all course requirements within a time limit specified by the instructor, not to exceed one calendar year from the end of the term in which a grade of incomplete is assigned, regardless of the student’s enrollment status during the period specified for completion. Students are responsible for making arrangements with their instructor for completion of course requirements within the time specified, in accordance with this regulation. If an “I” is not changed within one calendar year, it will be changed to the grade of “F.”
K = Credit by Examination (AP, CLEP, etc.)
S = Satisfactory
V = Audit
NR = Not Reported by Instructor or course ending date is after the scheduled end of the semester
IP = In Progress (course scheduled for more than one semester)
U = Unsatisfactory
W = Withdrew, without penalty
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (i.e., an average of at least “C” in all work attempted) is required for graduation from VSU. Grades for credit accepted in transfer or by examination are posted in a student’s permanent record but are not included in the calculation of the VSU cumulative GPA.
The cumulative GPA will be calculated by dividing the number of hours scheduled in all courses attempted in which a grade of A, B, C, D, F, or WF has been assigned into the number of quality points earned on those hours scheduled. Computation of the cumulative GPA treats WF and F grades identically. Grades of W, NR, S, V, U, K, IP, and I are not computed.
Courses passed with a grade of D cannot be counted as satisfying the requirements in the major area or in a minor.