Grading Issues |
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Student progress is measured by grade point average, or GPA. This average is sometimes called a quality point average, or QPA. Students can compute their GPA by dividing the number of credit hours they have taken into the number of grade points they have received. Grade points are assigned in this manner:
*If students have taken 30 credit hours and have 90 grade points, their Grade Point Average is 3.0 (90 divided by 30 = 3.0, a "B" average). When courses are repeated, the lower grade is not counted toward the GPA. *Courses below 100 level (i.e., ENG 080) are not included in the calculation of GPA. or selection for academic honors (i.e., dean's list or president's list). The following grading system is used at Surry Community College.
Final grades for each class will be mailed directly to students as soon after the end of each semester as possible. Students will receive one grade mailer which lists all courses for which they were registered during the semester. In addition to the semester grades, this grade mailer will show the students' semester grade point averages, the total number of credit hours they have earned as students here, and their cumulative grade point averages. Students should read this mailer carefully, and be certain that they have received a grade for each class. If they think there is an error of any kind, they should come to Student Development to have it checked. When students receive a grade of "I" in a course, they should reregister and pay the appropriate tuition for it if completion will require attending the class. The "I" grade for all other courses can be removed by working with the instructor to complete the work necessary to finish the course. The instructor then turns in a change of grade form to Student Development, and this final grade is placed on the student's transcript replacing the "I." Students having an "I" grade on their transcripts have a maximum of one year from the date it was given in which to remove the "I." If at the end of this time the "I" has not been removed, it will remain on the transcript as an "I." If students need credit for the course, they will need to reregister and repeat the entire course. Transfer students should be aware that "I" grades not removed before transferring are treated as an "F" for computation of grade point averages by many receiving institutions. The Dean’s List The Dean’s List is published for fall and spring semesters to honor those students who achieve significant academic status in their classes. It recognizes each student who carries at least twelve college-level credit hours of coursework during the semester, maintains at least a 3.25 quality point average for the semester, and has no final grade lower than a "C" in any course taken. The Dean’s List is posted each semester on bulletin boards around campus and published in local newspapers. Courses below 100 level (i.e., ENG 080) are not considered part of the course load for selection for the Dean's List or President's List. The President's List The President's List is used to recognize full-time students who achieve true academic excellence as measured by a minimum semester quality point average of 3.75, with no grade below a "C" in any course. Each President's List student receives a congratulatory letter from the College President. Honors Graduates In order to qualify as an honor graduate, a student must have completed the requirements for graduation (see Graduation Requirements) with a 3.25 average on all work required for the degree at Surry Community College with no grade lower than "C". At the beginning of each semester, instructors are required to give each student a course syllabus that should explain all course requirements, the grading scale, and the attendance policy for that class. Students have a much better chance of being successful if they understand all the procedures and requirements for each class. All instructors do not use the same grading scale or the same attendance policy. Given the diversity of courses taught within this college, students may find that a particular number grade may be awarded different letter grades in different courses. For example, a 90 may be a "B" in one course and an "A" in another course. Regular class attendance is a key element in becoming a successful college student. It is the student's responsibility to know and understand the attendance policies for each instructor and to understand how attendance in class might affect his or her final grade. Any leave of absence from a particular class must be approved by the individual instructor and will include arrangements for missed tests, class work and any other assignments. Students who successfully complete a course (minimum "C" or "S" grade), may repeat the course twice. Students who do not successfully complete a course may repeat it as many times as necessary to be successful. Some curriculum students may be advised to audit a course more than once in order to gain basic skills necessary for success in the selected course. Students who completed a course five or more years earlier may repeat the course more than twice in order to improve their grades, or to refresh their knowledge of, or skills in, the subject. Tuition and fees charged to students who repeat courses, as well as the reporting of student hours, follow regulations as set out in the current North Carolina Administrative Code. When curriculum courses are repeated, the highest grade earned is recorded as the final grade for the course and is the only grade used in calculating quality point averages or hours earned toward graduation. Quality point averages, hours necessary for graduation, and other specific information concerning audits and repetition of courses as related to graduation requirements are outlined in other sections of this catalog. Special concerns related to the repetition of courses taken through the Continuing Education Division are described in that section of the catalog.
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