Academic Policies
Section VI: Academic Measurement and Evaluation
- Grading System
- Grade Point Average
- Academic Warning and Dismissal
- Academic Honors
- Procedures for Use in Appealing Allegedly
Capricious Term Grades
- Rank in Class
A. Grading System
- Types and Definitions
- Letter Evaluation: A B C D F.
At the end of the course, letter grades are awarded as defined:
- A (4 quality points per semester hour) Excellent. Denotes work
that is consistently at the highest level of achievement in a
college or university course.
- B (3 quality points per semester hour) Very good. Denotes work
that consistently exceeds the level of achievement that is expected
in a college or university course.
- C (2 quality points per semester hour) Satisfactory. Denotes work
that meets college or university standards for academic performance
in a course.
- D (1 quality point per semester hour) The lowest passing grade.
Denotes work that in some respects meets and in other respects falls
short of college or university standards.
- F (0 quality points per semester hour) Failure. Denotes work that
fails to meet college or university standards for academic
performance in a course.
- Credit/No Credit: Cr/NCr.
- Cr (quality points not calculated in grade point average) Pass.
Denotes pass with credit at least at the level of C work, in courses
that are graded Cr/NCr.
- NCr (0 quality points per semester hour) No credit. Denotes work
that fails to meet college or university standards for academic
performance at least at the level of C work.
Students are reminded that, with the exception of courses that are
offered only on a Cr/NCr basis, no courses in the major may be completed
under this grading system. Only one selected course in a minor may be
taken under this system. Students are also urged to consider any
regulations concerning academic honors, scholarship eligibility, or
tuition refund plans which may be affected by use of this grading
system. Certain courses (for example, University Choir) are available
only under the Cr/NCr grading system. Students may enroll for no more
than one course per term, up to a total of eight courses, on a Cr/NCr
basis. This is in addition to any courses that are offered only on a Cr/NCr
basis.
- Change of Grading System.
- Students may change between systems "a" and "b"
above by petition in the Registrar's Office at any time up until the end
of the first calendar week of the term. No changes will be authorized
beyond that date.
- Incomplete Grades - Regulations and Procedures
Aurora University permits the assignment of a grade of I (Incomplete) under
limited circumstances upon petition by the student.
- A grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned by the instructor only if
the student has filed a Petition for Incomplete Grade. This petition
form, which is available in the Registrar's Office, must be completed
and signed by the student, the instructor, and jurisdictional dean.
- The petition must specify the reason the student has been unable to
complete the work, the work to be completed, a timetable for completion,
and the date by which all work must be turned in to the instructor.
- Petitions for Incomplete Grades must be filed by the deadline
specified by the Registrar's Office for submission of final grades, or
by the time the instructor files the final grade sheet for the course,
whichever is earlier.
- Completion dates for I grades must be on or before the last day of the
fourth week of classes of the term following the term in which the grade
is assigned, excluding the summer term. In the event that a final grade
is not reported to the Registrars' Office on or before the date one week
after the deadline specified in the petition, the Registrar will contact
the instructor requesting that a grade be submitted in writing.
Instructors report grades to replace I grades in writing to the
Registrar's Office, using the Change of Grade form.
- In extraordinary circumstances, the instructor may, upon receiving
written documentation from the student, petition for an extension beyond
the deadline established in section d. Such petitions must be filed with
the jurisdictional dean on or before the deadline for completion
originally specified in the petition for an I grade. Petitions approved
by the jurisdictional dean must be received by the Registrar on or
before the original deadline for filing of the grade.
- A grade of I may be assigned only in cases of illness, accident, or
other catastrophic occurrence beyond the student's control. In cases of
emergency, the petition may be filed on the student's behalf by the
course instructor. At the earliest possible time, the course instructor
will take responsibility for confirming the petition with the student
and securing the student's signature. If the student does not accept the
conditions of the petition, the instructor will assign a permanent grade
to be entered by the Registrar.
- A student's Academic Warning status in a given term will be determined
by the term GPA resulting from the work completed in that term. If a
subsequently-completed I grade causes the student's GPA to rise above or
fall below 2.0, the student's warning status, and the permanent record
thereof, will be changed accordingly.
- Deferred Grade Policy - Regulations and Procedures
A deferred grade (X) is for use in certain courses in which it is
anticipated that the student's learning experience will continue beyond a
regular academic term. The deferred grade is available for use in the cases
of field experiences, practica, internships, independent study, application
or research projects, and sequential courses for which a deferred grading
situation has been contracted at the initiation of the experience.
- In the event that a course or other learning experience is planned to
extend over more than one academic term, the student(s) enrolled will be
given a deferred grade (X) at the end of the first term. The permanent
grade will be posted when received from the instructor at the conclusion
of the course or learning experience.
- Courses or other learning experiences for which deferred grades (X)
are to be assigned must be so designated and indicated in the University
catalog. The deferred grade (X) is available for use in cases of field
experiences, practica, internships, independent study, application or
research projects, and sequential courses for which a deferred grading
situation has been contracted at the initiation of the experience. After
a review by the jurisdictional deans, the Registrar will publish an
approved list of courses in the University catalog for which the X
(Deferred) grade may be used. Any revisions in the approved list will
need the approval of the jurisdictional dean and must be submitted to
the Registrar prior to the beginning of the term.
- Tuition for multi-term courses or other learning experiences is billed
and payable with respect to the first term of registration, and the
course counts in the student's load only in the first term of
registration. No additional registration process is required during
subsequent terms while the course is being completed.
- A deferred grade (X) has no effect on the student's GPA and is not
considered by the Academic Standards Committee or other University
bodies in the review of student progress. When the permanent grade is
posted, the effect of this grade will be assessed by University review
bodies as though the grade were part of the work completed in the term
when the grade is posted.
LISTING OF COURSES FOR DEFERRED GRADE OPTION
| COURSE NUMBER |
TITLE |
| 288, 388 |
Travel Study |
| 294, 394 |
Career Investigation Field
Experience |
| 494 |
Career Application Field
Experience |
| 497 |
Honors Research |
| 498, 598 |
Independent Study |
| ____ |
Course by Special
Arrangement |
| CRJ461 |
Research Monograph |
| CRJ471 |
Criminal Justice Management
Project |
| EDU475 |
Student Teaching |
| REC479 |
Recreation Administration
Internship |
| SWK411, 412, 413 |
Generalist Social Work
Practice I, II, III |
| SWK421, 422, 423 |
Field Instruction I, II, III |
| Revised: Fall
1991 |
- The "D" Grade
A "D" cannot be applied to a major without the approval of the
Academic Standards and Conduct Committee. Aurora University reserves the
right to require a student to repeat a course in which he/she has received a
"D" grade if he/she proposes to apply that course toward a major
or continue on in a truly sequential course of study.
- No fractional amount of credit is given for less than completion of any
course or academic experience.
- Change of Permanent Grades
- Permanent grades (A, B, C, D, F) may be changed by the instructor who
originally issued the grade to correct computational or clerical errors.
- Changes of permanent grades must be approved by the jurisdictional
dean before they are forwarded to the Registrar, and must include an
explanation for the change.
- Changes in permanent grades arising from clerical or computational
errors must be received by the Registrar no later than 30 days following
the date when the original permanent grade was filed with the Registrar.
- In cases where it is necessary to correct a grading error on the part
of an instructor who has left the University or who cannot otherwise be
contacted in a timely fashion, or in cases where an instructor fails to
correct an evident error in a timely fashion, the jurisdictional dean
may assign another faculty member to review the relevant materials and
correct the error.
- Changes may be made in grades to reflect coursework completed after
the deadline for grade submission only in instances in which the student
received a grade of I or X for the course.
- All changes in permanent grades other than those arising from clerical
or computational errors are addressed under the University regulations
for appeal of alleged capricious grading.
B. Grade Point Average
Three Grade Point Averages (GPA) are calculated by the Registrar's Office:
- Type 1: Term GPA A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0, NCr=0, Cr=Not Calculated into
GPA. Based only on courses taken in a given term at Aurora University, the
unit of credit is multiplied by the quality points assigned to the grade
earned. The sums are then added and the total quality points divided by the
calculable credit units producing the Term GPA. (If a course is repeated
only the higher grade is calculated into the GPA and, of course, only
academic credit from one can be counted toward graduation.)
- Type 2: CUMULATIVE GPA of courses AT AURORA UNIVERSITY Calculated in the
same way as the TERM GPA but is based upon all work taken at Aurora
University over all terms of attendance.
- Type 3: CUMULATIVE GPA of ALL COLLEGE WORK Since Fall 1990, only work
completed at Aurora University has been included in the cumulative GPA of
Aurora University students. Calculations of GPA for work at previous
colleges are carried out by the Admissions Office for purposes of
determining admission and by the Registrar for purposes of student
classification and to provide data for the financial aid process. No
calculation of GPA including work at previous colleges is maintained as part
of the student's official academic record.
C. Academic Warning and Dismissal
- When a student's work falls below acceptable standards, the instructor
should send a Warning Notice to the Academic Advisement Office. The academic
advisor will then contact the student to set up an appointment, during which
the problem will be discussed, after which the advisor will report back to
the instructor the results of the conference. Should a student feel he/she
is doing badly in a course, he/she may set up an appointment to see his/her
advisor to discuss the problem.
- A student is placed on Academic Warning when her/his TERM GPA (Type 1: see
Section VI-B) is below 2.0. Fully approved students placed on Academic
Warning for a second time (not necessarily consecutive) may be dismissed for
poor scholarship. Freshmen admitted conditionally under the guidelines of
the Admissions Review Committee may be dismissed at the conclusion of their
first year if their TERM GPA is below 2.0. Transfer students admitted on
Academic Warning will be reviewed and may be dismissed for poor scholarship
whenever their TERM GPA is below a 2.0.
- Last Term Warning Status: A student who encounters repeated academic
difficulties may be placed on Last Term Warning. Once a student is placed on
this status, he or she remains on Last Term Warning until the student has
completed three consecutive terms (excluding summer) with a term GPA of at
least 2.0 and Aurora GPA of at least 2.30, or upon graduation or until the
TERM GPA drops below 2.0, in which case the student is dismissed from the
University.
- Students dismissed for poor scholarship by the Academic Standards and
Conduct Committee may appeal for a full hearing before the Committee. At
such a hearing the student may appear in person to make a statement and
answer questions. A letter requesting an appeal and briefly outlining the
basis for the appeal should be sent to the Registrar. Such a letter should
also indicate whether or not you wish student members of the Committee to be
present and participate in the decision. The participation of student
members means that your academic record and the contents of your personal
file are open to those students for inspection.
- A student who is dismissed from Aurora University for poor scholarship may
apply for readmission after one calendar year. The application is filed with
the Academic Standards and Conduct Committee during the term preceding the
term when the student wishes to return to the University.
D. Academic Honors
Academic Honors at Graduation
- 1. To be eligible for Academic Honors at Graduation, students must have:
- a. A minimum of 90 semester hours of credit for a letter grade, of
which 45 semester hours must have been earned at Aurora University.
- b. A cumulative GPA (Type 2: cumulative of work at Aurora University)
of:
- 3.500-3.699 to receive the degree Cum Laude
- 3.700-3.849 to receive the degree Magna Cum Laude
- 3.850-4.0 to receive the degree Summa Cum Laude
- c. In addition a student who has a minimum of 90 semester hours for a
letter grade at Aurora University and a cumulative GPA (Type 2:
cumulative of work at Aurora University) of 3.70 or above will receive
the Gold Ivy Leaf Award (pin and certificate).
Students in the RN Completion program who earn 30 semester hours through
the ACT Proficiency Examination Program are eligible for graduation
honors if they have a minimum of 85 semester hours of credit for a
letter grade and at least 45 semester hours for a letter grade earned at
Aurora University. They must meet the same GPA requirements as outlined
in VI-D-1-b above.
- 2. Term Dean's List (Ivy Leaf Card)
Students will be placed on the published Dean's List and receive an Ivy Leaf
Card at the end of each term that these conditions are met:
- a. A minimum of 7.00 semester hours for a letter grade.
- b. A term GPA (Type 1) of 3.60 or higher.
- c. Students with a term GPA (Type 1) of 4.00 will be cited for High
Honors on a special section of the Dean's List.
E. Procedures for Use in Appealing Allegedly Capricious Term
Grades
- 1. Introduction
- a. The following procedures are available only for review of alleged
capricious grading, and not for review of the judgment of an instructor
in assessing the quality of a student's work. Capricious grading, as
that term is used herein, is limited to one or more of the following:
- 1) the assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis
other than performance in the course;
- 2) the assignment of a grade to a particular student by more
exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students
in that course;
- 3) the assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the
instructor's standards announced during the first fourth of the
term.
- b. The assessment of the quality of a student's academic performance
is one of the major professional responsibilities of university faculty
members and is solely and properly their responsibility. It is essential
for the standards of the academic programs at Aurora University and the
integrity of the degrees conferred by this university that the
professional judgments of faculty members not be subject to pressures or
other interference from any source.
- c. It is necessary, however, that any term grade be based on evidence
of the student's performance in a course, that the student have access
to the evidence, that the instructor be willing to explain and interpret
the evidence to the student, and that a grade be determined in
accordance with announced guidelines. These guidelines should be
announced in and put in writing for each class at the beginning of each
term.
- 2. Appeal Procedures
- a. A student who believes his/her term grade is capricious may seek
clarification and, where appropriate, redress, as follows:
- 1) The student shall confer with the instructor, informing the
instructor of questions concerning the grade, and seeking to
understand fully the grounds and procedures the instructor has used
in determining the grade. The aim of such a conference is to reach
mutual understanding about the grade, the process by which it was
assigned, and to correct errors, if any, in the grade. The student
should do this within two weeks of receiving his/her final grade.
- 2) If after consultation with the instructor, the student believes
that a grade is capricious, the student shall confer with the
program chair, who shall consult and advise with both the instructor
and student separately or together, in an effort to reach an
understanding and resolution of the matter.
- 3) If Steps One or Two do not resolve the problem, the student may
submit a petition in writing to the Dean. This petition must be
submitted to the Dean of the school or college not later than the
end of the fourth week of the term following that for which the
grade is being appealed, excluding the summer term.
- b. The petition shall request a meeting with the Dean and shall
present evidence that the grade is capricious as defined above, and
shall present the student's arguments which substantiate his/her
conclusions. The Dean shall refer the petition to the instructor and
secure from the instructor a response in writing, setting forth the
instructor's position on the matter.
- c. On the basis of a consideration of the student's petition and the
instructor's response, the Dean shall conduct an inquiry which shall
include a meeting with the student and the instructor separately or
together and ascertain and consider relevant facts. (The instructor
and/or student may bring an advocate if he/she so chooses. If an
advocate is to be present at a meeting, the Dean must be informed prior
to the meeting.)
- 3. Decision. The Dean shall make one of these decisions:
- a. That the grade was not assigned capriciously and shall stand as
assigned.
- b. That the grade was assigned capriciously and should be changed. The
Dean shall then, as a result of his/her consideration, assign a grade
different from the grade decided to be capricious. The Dean shall
authorize the Registrar to make the grade change and such a decision
shall be final.
F. Rank in Class
Each year Spring and Summer Graduates will be ranked together on the basis
of their cumulative GPA of ALL AURORA UNIVERSITY COURSEWORK (Type 2: See Section
VI-B). This ranking will be completed in June (Summer graduates will be ranked
with Spring graduates based upon work completed by the end of the Spring Term).
Rank will be reported to graduate schools and employers only upon written
request by the student.
Posted: 11 March 2002
