Grading

Grade point average

Your grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned during a given period by the number of credits for which you were enrolled and for which you received a regular grade during the same period.

For example, if you earn 27 grade points during a quarter in which you are enrolled for 9 credits, your GPA for the quarter will be 3.0.

Note:

• Except in cases of clerical error, no instructor may change a grade submitted to SAS.
• Students are not able to add additional work to improve a grade after it has been submitted to SAS.
• Grade changes may be made only in the quarter following the course.

Use of I, G, N, HW, W grades

“I” grade (incomplete): Indicates the student did not complete the work assigned for a course because of absence from school during the quarter due to illness or an acceptable emergency. The student must initiate the request for the “I” grade no earlier than two weeks prior to the final examination or last class session. Unless the student is incapacitated, this request should be made in writing. Documentation verifying the illness or acceptable emergency (e.g., a note from a medical doctor) may be required by the instructor. A student cannot carry more than 20 credits of incomplete grades without prior approval from the registrar.

The instructor is under no obligation to grant the request for an “I” grade. However, if the instructor chooses to issue an “I” grade, the instructor and student must formulate a plan for the student’s completion of the course requirements.

The student may not attend a future class in which she or he is not registered as a means of working toward completion of an “I” grade.

A timeline for course completion will be determined by the instructor. However, the student must submit final coursework within one calendar year or the “I” becomes an “E.” The student must initiate the removal of the “I” grade once coursework has been completed.

“G” grade: Used in only specified courses in which a final grade is dependent upon additional work and applies only to approved 6000–7000 level courses, including internships, theses, dissertation, and projects at the discretion of the graduate program. Work must be completed within three calendar years or the “G” becomes permanent.

“N” grade: Used in only specified courses in which a final grade is dependent upon additional work.

• The “N” grade indicates that work is satisfactory to date, but carries with it no credit or final grade until all work is completed.
• Work must be completed within one calendar year or the “N” becomes permanent.

A student’s degree will be awarded effective the quarter in which the final grade is assigned.

“HW”: The hardship withdrawal is assigned in rare cases by University administration after thorough review and substantiation of a student’s circumstances. Examples of situations leading to a hardship withdrawal include incapacitating illness or injury, or death of a a family member. 

“W”: Withdrawal with official approval during weeks two through six will result in a “W” appearing on the transcript. (See Withdrawal From Courses.)

Pass/no-credit option

• A “P” grade in this option must be at least equivalent to a “C” grade (2.0).
• 6000-level courses may not be taken for P/NC, with the exception of thesis, dissertation, research, and projects, to be determined at the discretion of the academic school or department.

Equivalent courses

Courses noted as being “equivalent” may be substituted for each other. You may not receive duplicate credit for two courses considered equivalent to each other. If you take an SPU course equivalent to a course previously completed at SPU, the rules outlined below in the section regarding “Repeating Courses” will be employed.

If you take an SPU course equivalent to a course previously transferred from another school, credit for the transfer course will be rescinded and the SPU credits and course grade will apply. Courses taken at another institution cannot replace an equivalent SPU course for which credit has been received.

Repeating classes

You may repeat any course previously taken at SPU (or enroll in an SPU course noted as being “equivalent”) for the purpose of earning a higher grade, unless the course is designed to be repeated for additional credit.

Effective Autumn 2011, the highest grade received in a course or its equivalent will apply to both the GPA for graduation and for honors at graduation.

The original and repeated course will still appear on the transcript, but the lower grade and credits will be excluded from the overall GPA and credit total. Only courses taken at SPU will be used to change course grades. A course may be repeated only once.

If you believe you have unusual circumstances, you may petition to repeat a course more than once by submitting a registration petition, accompanied by a statement from the course instructor, to Student Academic Services. Courses taken at another institution cannot replace an equivalent SPU course for which credit has been received.

Academic probation

Any graduate student whose cumulative SPU GPA falls below 3.0 shall be placed on academic probation.

• Students placed on academic probation must contact their program advisor to create a plan to raise the student’s GPA.
• Students on probation may take up to 9 additional credits in the graduate program in which they have been admitted following program advising.
• Failure to bring the cumulative SPU GPA to 3.0 or higher by the completion of the additional 9 credits will result in dismissal from the program and from SPU at the discretion of the program chair or the governing body of faculty within the student’s department.
• Students on probation must review their program handbook regarding specific program policies related to academic probation, dismissal, and reinstatement.
• A graduate student cannot graduate with a cumulative SPU GPA below 3.0.