Academic Policies

SECTION X: Transcript Information

1. Administrative Notations Used With All Grading Systems
2. Academic Record on Computer
3. Course Descriptions
4. Participation Credit
5. Graduation Honors
6. Internships and Field Experiences
7. Grade Point Average - 4-point system

*TITLE ABBREVIATIONS are sometimes necessary on computer printed transcripts. The course is always identified by the course number. Refer to the catalog course descriptions for complete course titles.

*Grading Systems

A. Administrative Notations Used With All Grading Systems

1. Grades
   • I Incomplete: temporary assignment when a student's progress has been interrupted for reasons beyond his/her control.
   • X Deferred: for use in certain courses in which it is anticipated that the student's learning experience will continue beyond a regular academic term.
   • W Withdrawn: assigned automatically through the end of the seventh week of the term (calculated proportionally for nonstandard sessions) when a course is dropped, after this date only if passing work is in progress. A student who drops and is not passing after the seventh week receives a F or NCr.

B. Academic Record on Computer

1. Beginning with the Fall Term 1985, academic records are generated on official transcript paper from our computer system. Work completed before Fall 1985 is shown on a photocopy of the official records (with a raised seal in the case of official copies). Students attending before and after Fall 1985 receive a two-part transcript (computer form and photocopy). Credit and grades earned before Fall 1985 are summarized on the computer transcript, if one is issued.
2. Beginning with the Fall Term 1995 a summary of all credits accepted in transfer from other institutions is posted on the student's transcript.
   1. *Unit of credit effective Fall 1996: Semester hour
   2. *Unit of credit since Fall 1972
      • 1 course = 3 Semester Hours
      • 1/2 course = 1 1/2 Semester Hours
      • 1/3 course = 1 Semester Hour
      • 2/3 course = 2 Semester Hours
      • Prior to Fall 1972 Semester Hours
      • Prior to Fall 1960 Quarter Hours
      • Prior to Spring 1942 Semester Hours
   3. *120 Semester Hours required for graduation for a baccalaureate degree COURSE CODE/NUMBERING SYSTEM: Effective Winter Term (January 1991)
      1. See Section VIII - F
      2. The first two letters indicate department, division or school (e.g. EN = English, SO = Sociology); numbers reflect internal organization of courses within the department. NOT LEVEL; single letter following the numbers suggests the unit value of the course; I, D, A, N, or X preceding the course title indicates level.
         • I Introductory N Not for College Credit
         • D Developmental X Not applicable toward degree
         • (intermediate level)
         • A Advanced
         • G Graduate Course Work

C. Course Descriptions
Catalog course descriptions are included in published catalogs. Descriptions of Independent Studies, Directed Studies, Honors Research, and Internships are contained in the petition by which the learning experience was approved. Descriptions and outlines of Selected Topics courses are provided by the sponsoring department at the time the course is submitted to the Registrar; copies are permanently filed by the Registrar and copies of those selected topics offered in a given term are on file for reference in the Advisement Office. Descriptions of Courses by Special Arrangement do not differ from published catalog descriptions.

D. Participation Credit
Since 1981 only athletic credit has been available. Formerly, credit was granted for Music, Drama, Student Government, Athletics, Student Publications, etc. No more than 3 semester hours applicable toward the degree. Additional credit listed in parentheses through Spring 1996.

E. Graduation Honors
CUM LAUDE, MAGNA CUM LAUDE, SUMMA CUM LAUDE, Gold Ivy Leaf.

F. Internships and Field Experiences
Internships are offered in all departments at two levels.

• 294/394 Career Investigation Field Experience (CIFE). 1 to 4 semester hours per term, at least sophomore standing required at start of placement.
• 394/494 Career Application Field Experience (CAFE). 3 to 9 semester hours per term, at least junior standing at start of placement.

Life Experience/Education Assessment Program

For students entering Fall 1990 courses posted on the transcript with numerical prefixes ranging from 190 to 490 indicate portfolio-assessed credit and course titles which reflect the assessed credit. Graduate credit (590, 690) is awarded by special arrangement with graduate programs.

G. Grade Point Average - 4-point system

1. From Fall 1972 through Spring 1976 NCr grades were not included in GPA. S, X, and I grades were also not included. Beginning Summer 1976 three GPAs as outlined below are calculated and NCr grades are included in the calculation. W, X, and I grades are not included. Beginning Fall 1992 F grades are calculated in GPA.
2. GPA's are recorded at the bottom of the last term's grades
   1. TGPA 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 granted for the courses 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.
   2. ACUM Cumulative GPA of courses at Aurora University is calculated in the same way as the TERM GPA but is based upon all work taken at Aurora University over all terms of attendance.
   3. TCUM Cumulative GPA of all college work (Prior to Fall 1990). This GPA includes all courses taken at Aurora University as well as courses taken at other institutions and transferred to Aurora University and/or courses which would have transferred except that they were failed or represent unbalanced D's. Courses which did not transfer because of their technical or occupational nature would not be calculated into this GPA regardless of their grade.
   4. Effective Fall 1990 TCUM is based only on Aurora University courses for students entering Fall 1990 and after. This is the GPA which is used in the determination of Academic Honors and Class Rank. An accurate view of the student's performance at the post-secondary level can be achieved only by requesting that the student submit original transcripts from each of the institutions attended.

Posted: 11 March 2002