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Normandale Community College Policies and Procedures

3.9 Grading

Related Minnesota State Board Policy: None

Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: None

Purpose: To establish a standard course grading system for the college.

Part 1: Grading System

Subpart A: The following course grade options are available for faculty:

  1. A, B, C and D: Grade point values of 4 through 1, respectively.
  2. F: Failed, completed course, grade point value 0.  
  3. NA: Never attended. This grade is assigned as a result of faculty last date of attendance reporting when the student does not attend a course during the first five days. Excluded from GPA.  
  4. NW: Never officially withdrew. This grade is assigned to a student who did not officially withdraw from the course but stopped attending a face to face class or participating in an online class for at least two consecutive weeks prior the withdrawal deadline. Assigned as a result of faculty last date of attendance reporting. Excluded from GPA.
  5. I: Temporary grade assigned by instructor in unusual circumstances in which the student cannot complete the course by the end of the academic term, grade point value 0. Reverts to an F in the subsequent semester if course requirements have not been completed. Excluded from GPA.  
  6. P: Pass for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), music proficiency, and courses below 1000 only, Excluded from GPA.
  7. NC: No Credit for CPL, music proficiency and courses below 1000 only, excluded from GPA.  
  8. AU: Audit, no credit, excluded from GPA.
  9. W: Withdrawal, must be completed before 80% of the course has finished, excluded from GPA.  
  10. Z: Class in progress or no grade recorded, excluded from GPA.  

Subpart B: The college does not use plus or minus grading (i.e. grade shading).

Subpart C: The course number and its assigned grade determine how it is considered in the assessment of Satisfactory Academic Progress (see policy 3.3, Academic and Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress).

 

Part 2: Administration of Grades

Subpart A: Grading is the responsibility of the assigned instructor, who defines and explains their course grading policy in the official course syllabus.

Subpart B: The registrar is responsible for recording grades on student records as they are submitted by instructors.

Subpart C: In accordance with Normandale Procedure 3.7.2, Student Request for Grade Review, a student has the right to appeal the assignment of a grade if they believe there was an error in the calculation or if there was a departure from the method of grade calculation described in the syllabus

Part 3: Grade Point Average

Subpart A: Definition. The grade point average (GPA) is the system of recording academic achievement based on an average, calculated as the total number of grade points received over a given period divided by the total number of credits attempted. A GPA is a number that ranges from 0.00 to 4.00.

Subpart B: Course repeats will be considered in accordance with Normandale Policy 3.91 and Procedure 3.9.1. 

Subpart C: Academic Renewal. Courses that have been granted academic renewal are excluded from credit and GPA calculations for certain purposes and included in others.

  1. Satisfactory Academic Progress:

               a. For enrollment eligibility: Courses for which academic renewal has been applied will be excluded from GPA and completion rates for satisfactory Academic Progress for enrollment eligibility.

               b. For financial aid eligibility: Per federal regulations, courses for which academic renewal has been applied will be included in GPA and completion rates for Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility.

2. Academic program requirements: Courses for which academic renewal has been applied cannot satisfy program requirements (MnTC, degree, certificate, major or emphasis).

3. Minimum GPA for graduation: Courses for which academic renewal has been applied will not be included in the GPA calculation to determine whether a student has earned the minimum 2.00 graduation requirement.

4. GPA for Commencement Honors: Courses for which academic renewal has been applied will be included in the GPA calculation to determine whether a student has earned the minimum GPA required for commencement honors.

 

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: December 28, 2011

Department Owner: Records & Retention

Date and Subject of Revisions:

04/23/2018: Reviewed no changes recommended.

12/13/2018:

Revised Part 3 Subpart A to include PSEO repeat policy

Added Subpart C to Part 3

Changed MnSCU nomenclature to Minnesota State

8/27/2019:

Revised Part 1, Subpart A.3 to reflect the FN is excluded from GPA calculation

4/14/2020:

Revised Part 1, Subpart A.3 to change grade of FN to NA, and updated definition.

Revised Part 1, Subpart A.4 to change grade of FW to NW, and updated definition.

Added “grade shading” to further define plus/minus grades in Part 1, Subpart B.

Part 1, Subpart C: Changed FN and FW to NA and NW.

5/12/2020:

Part 1, Subparts A.3 and A.4: Updated grade definitions to align with Procedures 3.9.1 definitions.

3/20/2024:

Part 2, Subpart C: Added reference to Procedure 3.7.2, Student Request for Grade Review

Part 3, Subpart B to refer information about repeated courses to Policy 3.91 and Procedure 3.9.1

4/23/2024:

Part 1 Subparts A and C: Removed reference to credits attempted/completed, as changes to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and Procedure has changed the rules for developmental courses.

Part 3 Subpart C: Deleted for redundancy.

Part 3 Subpart D: Changed to Subpart C and added clarifying language.

 

Next Review Date: 2027