May 03, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

V. Grading


A. Grading Policy

At the beginning of a course, the instructor informs the students of the criteria to be used in determining the final grade. Numerical or letter grades may be used during a course, but the final grade must be submitted in letter form. The instructor determines the appropriate final grade. 

B. Grading System

A quality-point system will be used to determine academic standing:

A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0
C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0
D- = 0.7
F = 0.0

For Nursing courses only:

Exceeds Mastery, EM = 4.0
Mastery+, M+ = 3.5
Mastery, M = 3.0
Mastery-, M- = 1.0
Non Mastery, NM = 0.0

Non-Credit Equivalent courses will be graded as follows (except Mathematics courses):

S = Satisfactory
U = Unsatisfactory

Mathematics Courses: All grades SA-SB indicate 80% or higher competency.

PTA Clinical Courses are taken Pass/Fail only, with grades of “CR” or “NC” assigned. Passed courses, with a grade of “CR” are not calculated in the GPA. Failed courses, with a grade of “F” are computed in both the semester and cumulative GPA.

The grades of SA, SA-, SB+, SB, S, U, CR, AU, W, UF, X, I, and IP (In Progress) do not carry quality points.

Pass/Unsatisfactory

Pass (P) grade 

For the entire semester of Spring 2020 only, the Pass (P) grade can be awarded in place of a grade that indicates performance of a D or higher. The P grade carries no quality points. A student may elect to use the P option for a course only after consultation with an academic advisor and either the program coordinator or school specialist. The deadline to elect Pass/Unsatisfactory was 6/19/2020. After this deadline, a student may complete a petition to waive the academic rule for a late Pass/Unsatisfactory request through fall 2020. Grades may not be changed after a student has graduated. 

Unsatisfactory (U*) grade 

For the entire semester of Spring 2020 only, a U* may be taken in place of an F. A U* carries no quality points and does not affect the student’s GPA. 

C. Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of the earned quality points by the sum of the attempted credit hours, except as modified elsewhere. Transfer credit is not computed in the index.

D. Repeated Courses

All grades and credits are recorded on the student’s transcript. If a course is repeated, only the highest grade is computed in the GPA and used for graduation requirements. Only courses repeated at Onondaga Community College will affect a student’s GPA. Once a student has graduated, their grades are part of their permanent record and cannot be changed.

The following conditions apply to the NUR, RPD*, SGT, and PTA programs:

  1. A student is allowed to repeat a course with a program prefix only once.
  2. Students who fail to receive a “C” or “M” for a repeated course lose matriculation status in that program
  3. PTA students may repeat BIO 171 & BIO 172 only once.

E. Incompletes

In consultation with the student, the instructor may assign a grade of Incomplete “I”. An incomplete is assigned only when a student has completed most of the coursework. The instructor notifies the student that a grade of Incomplete is to be assigned. The reason for the incomplete and the plan for its removal will be specified through completion of the incomplete grade form to be maintained in the department. A student may not remove an Incomplete through unofficial participation in the major portion of any subsequent offering of the same course. Participation in the same course with another instructor is not valid for removal of an incomplete. Course requirements must be completed before the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) or the “I” becomes an “F”. An instructor may extend this deadline for one additional regular semester through written notification to the Office of Registration and Records.

F. Class Standing

A class standing grade may be requested by a student in the event of serious illness or other extenuating circumstance which prevents completion of the course. The class standing grade can be awarded only after the instructor certifies completion of 75% of the required course content, and upon approval of the Department Chairperson. No class standing grade may be higher than a “C”, with a lower grade being recorded if the student has not earned a “C”. The student’s permanent record will indicate that the grade represents class standing.

G. Grade Changes

After a grade is recorded by the Office of Registration and Records, a faculty member may request that the grade be changed. This request must be submitted to the Office of Registration and Records on an official Grade Change Form during the following semester. Grade changes for reasons other than computational or clerical error are subject to the approval of the Scholastic Standards Committee. Records of grade changes and the reason for the grade change must be kept in the department and Registration and Records. Grades may not be changed after a student has graduated.