Grading System
Every student of the University will have all course work evaluated and reported by the faculty using letter grades or administrative symbols. The University uses the traditional grading options as described in the California Code of Regulations and will adhere to following policies:
Plus/Minus Grading
Plus/Minus grading is not mandatory but is used at the discretion of the individual instructor. The grades of A+ and F- are not issued. The following decimal values of plus/minus grades are used in the calculation grade point average:
A = 4.0 C = 2.0
A- = 3.7 C- = 1.7
B+ = 3.3 D+ = 1.3
B = 3.0 D = 1.0
B- = 2.7 D- = 0.7
C+ = 2.3 F = 0.0
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Letter grades are defined as:
A (Excellent): Performance of the student has been at the highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting an unusual degree of intellectual initiative.
B (Good): Performance of the student has been at a high level, showing consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements.
C (Satisfactory): Performance of the student has been at an adequate level, meeting the basic objectives of the course.
D (Passing): Performance of the student has been less than adequate, meeting only the minimum course requirements.
F (Failing): Performance of the student has been such that minimal course requirements have not been met.
Nontraditional Grading
All courses are graded on an A through F basis, as described in the preceding column, except those specifically designated as follows:
Credit/No Credit:
Credit is awarded for grades equivalent to C or better.
No credit is awarded for grades equivalent to C- or less.
Courses graded Credit/No Credit, whether taken at this or at another institution, may not be used to satisfy requirements for the major, except specific courses designated by the discipline to be graded Credit/No Credit (refer to the curricular section of this catalog). General Education courses may not be taken at CSU San Marcos with a Credit/No Credit option. A maximum of nine (9) semester units may be taken at CSUSM with a Credit/No Credit option toward any undergraduate degree.
When, because of circumstances, a student does not complete a particular course, or withdraws, the following administrative symbols may be assigned by the faculty:
I Incomplete Authorized
SP Satisfactory Progress
U Unauthorized Incomplete
W Withdrawal
I (Incomplete): An Incomplete signifies that a portion of required course work has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen, but fully justified, reasons and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. It is the responsibility of the student to bring pertinent information to the instructor and to reach agreement on the means by which the remaining course requirements will be satisfied. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated.
An Incomplete must be made up within one calendar year immediately following the end of the term in which it was assigned. The limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment (please see definition under Definition of Terms section). Failure to complete the assigned work will result in an Incomplete being changed to an F.
RD (Report Delayed): The RD symbol is used in those cases where a delay in the reporting of a grade is due to circumstances beyond the control of the student. The symbol is assigned and is replaced by a more appropriate grading symbol as soon as possible. An RD is not included in the calculation of the grade point averages.
SP (Satisfactory Progress): The symbol indicates that work in progress has been evaluated as satisfactory to date but that the assignment of a precise grade must await the completion of additional course work. All work is to be completed within the time specified but not to exceed one calendar year of the term of first enrollment, and a final grade will be assigned to all segments of the course on the basis of overall quality.
U (Unauthorized Incomplete): The symbol U indicates that an enrolled student did not withdraw from the course but failed to complete course requirements. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible. For purposes of grade point average, this symbol is equivalent to an F.
W (Withdrawal): This symbol indicated that the student dropped the course after the second week of instruction.
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Auditing Classes
The symbol AU (Audit) is used by the Admissions and Records Office in those instances where a student has enrolled in a course either for information or other purpose not related to the student's formal academic objective. Enrollment is an auditor is subject to the permission of the instructor, provided that enrollment in any course as an auditor shall be permitted only after students otherwise eligible to enroll in the course on a credit basis have had an opportunity to do so. Auditors are subject to the same fees as credit students, and regular class attendance is expected. Once same fees as credit students, and regular class attendance is expected. Once enrolled as an auditor, a student may not change to credit status unless such a change is requested prior to the last day to add classes. A student who is enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the second week of instruction. An auditor is not permitted to take examinations in the course; therefore, there is no basis for evaluation or a formal grade.
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Final Course Grades
Because of the confidential nature of grades, you must either hand carry the rosters or send them through inter-campus mail. They cannot be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. If you are not going to be on campus when your grades are due, please arrange in advance to have them delivered in person to Admissions and Records by a staff member authorized by the Dean of your college.
If you have students participating in the University Honors program, please contact Vicki Golich for procedures on grading.
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Notations on Roster:
A "Y" on the "OU" column denotes an OPEN UNIVERSITY student. Students who WITHDREW form the class at anytime during the semester do not appear on the roster.
"F Grade" means FINAL GRADE.
Please call Admissions and Records at ext. 4800, if you have any questions.
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Grade Changes
The University recognized the prerogative of the faculty to set standards of performance and to apply them to individual students. The University will seek to correct injustices to students, but at the same time, believes that the instructor's judgment at the time the original grade is assigned is better than a later reconsideration of an individual case. Equity to all students is of fundamental concern. The following policies apply to changes of grades except for changes of Incomplete Authorized and Unauthorized Incomplete symbols.
- In general, all course grades are final when filed by the instructor in end-of-term course grade report. Each student is notified by mail of the grades earned during the term, and these grades become a part of the official record.
- A change of grade may occur only in cases of clerical error or where the instructor reevaluates the original course assignments of a student and discovers an error in the original evaluation. A clerical error is an error made by the instructor or an assistant in calculating or recording the grade. A change of grade shall not occur as a consequence of the acceptance of additional work or reexamination beyond the specified course requirements.
- A request for a change of grade shall be initiated by the student affected and shall be directed tot he instructor within sixty (60) calendar days of the first day of classes of the regular semester following the award of the grade. If the instructor determines that there is a valid basis for the change, a change of grade form shall be used to notify the Office of Admissions and Records. Forms are not to be handled by the student. If the instructor determines that there is a valid basis for the change, and denies the students request, the instructor's decision is final. The student may file a petition with the Associate Dean of Students on the basis of capricious or prejudicial treatment by the instructor.
- If a request for a change of grade is initiated after sixty (60) calendar days into the following semester, it will be approved only in extraordinary circumstances. An explanation of such circumstances must accompany the request and must be approved separately by the instructor and College Dean before acceptance by the Office of Admissions and Records.
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