Course Credit and Grade Information
Grading System
The acceptable grades and corresponding points for GPA calculations are as follows. All grades except P, I, S, W, NGS are used in calculating GPAs. The GPA is not rounded it is truncated.
| Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 (excellent) |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 (good) |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 (satisfactory) |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.70 |
| F | 0 |
| P (Pass) | Not calculated |
| I (Incomplete) | Not calculated |
| S (Satisfactory) | Not calculated |
| W (Withdrawal) | Not calculated |
| NGS (No Grade Submitted) | Not calculated |
Satisfactory/D/Fail (S/D/F) Option
- The intent of the satisfactory/D/fail (S/D/F) option is to encourage exploration and experimentation in curricular areas in which the student may have had little or no previous experience. Students may rescind the S/D/F election and opt for a regular letter grade until the end of the 10th week of classes.
- Each undergraduate may elect S/D/F grading in no more than four courses in their bachelor’s degree program.
- A student may elect only one S/D/F course per semester.
- Any course for the major or minor must be taken for a letter grade unless the course is offered only on a pass/fail basis. In this context, required courses are those that are specified as such by number and title, or are selected to fulfill a specified number of department credits. Departments may set additional limits but cannot grant exceptions to the above stipulations.
- To exercise the S/D/F option, a student must complete an S/D/F option form on IC Workflow. This form must be submitted to the registrar by the end of the 10th week of classes in the semester in which the S/D/F credit is being taken.
- A student may rescind the S/D/F election and opt for a regular letter grade in a course until the end of the 10th week of classes (the same deadline for withdrawing from a course).
- Any S/D/F election that is rescinded before the end of the 10th week of classes does not count toward the total of four courses.
- Students who are registered for S/D/F and earn a grade below C- will have that grade (D+, D, D-, or F) calculated into their GPA. Grades of S are not calculated into their cumulative GPA.
- Students planning to transfer to another school or department, or to enter a graduate or professional school, are reminded that their admission may be affected by S/D/F coursework.
- The S/D/F option does not apply to pass/fail courses.
Repeating a Course
A course is considered a repeat if the original course and the subsequent course are taken at Ithaca College and have the same course subject and number.
REPEATABLE COURSES
A repeatable course is a course that may be taken multiple times for credit regardless of the grade earned. The repeat rule, listed in the course description, may indicate the maximum number of times the course may be taken (e.g. three times) or the maximum number of credits the course may accumulate (e.g. up to 12 credits).
A student may take repeatable courses up to the maximum times/hours indicated in the course description. If the student retakes a repeatable course beyond the maximum allowed, the College will apply the repeat rules for non-repeatable courses to the overage as described below.
NON-REPEATABLE COURSES
A non-repeatable course is a course that may be taken only once for credit. However, if a student repeats a course designated as non-repeatable the following rules apply:
- Students may repeat a course only once.
- Only the higher grade is counted in the cumulative GPA if the original grade is D+ or lower.
- In all other cases both (any grade earned above D+) grades are averaged into the cumulative GPA.
- Credit hours for a repeated course with passing grade(s) will only count once.
All instances of the repeated course and grades will appear on the transcript with an indicator that it is a repeated course (R) or an averaged course (A).
This policy applies only to courses completed prior to the degree being conferred. The cumulative GPA will not be adjusted under this policy for any courses repeated after a degree has been awarded.
Repeating a course may have financial aid implications; financial aid recipients intending to repeat a course should first seek advice from Student Financial Services.
Incompletes
Incompletes are given only when a student is doing satisfactory work but cannot complete the course for a reason not related to academic performance (i.e., medical, family emergency).
To request an incomplete, a student must meet with the faculty instructor of their course and present a legitimate reason to justify the request. The faculty member and student then determine the terms of the completion of the course including specific assignments with criteria for assessment and due date, which can be no later than the end of the following semester. If no complete grade is received by the due date, a grade of F is recorded on the transcript. Undergraduate students may not graduate from Ithaca College with an incomplete recorded on the academic transcript.
The Incomplete Grade request form must be completed by the faculty member in IC Workflow.
For “incomplete” deadlines for seniors, see the relevant section under Graduation Regulations.
Grade Changes
Grades as filed with the Office of the Registrar are final except where an error of judgment has occurred or an error has been made in computation or transcription. Shortly after the close of each semester, currently enrolled students can access their final grade report using the student information system website. Any student requesting changes to the final grade report must provide written notification of their request to the faculty member no later than two weeks from the date when classes begin in the succeeding fall or spring semester; hence, each student is advised to review each term report carefully and promptly. Before the registrar can amend any grade record, the change must have been approved by the faculty member and the dean of the school in which the course is offered.
Course Grading
MIDTERM GRADES
It is College policy that by the midpoint of each semester all students be evaluated in each course in which they have enrolled. The method of evaluation is to be determined by each faculty member. This assessment is reflected in a midterm grade submitted to the Office of the Registrar in accordance with the schedule published by that office. The only exception to this policy is in those block courses that conclude in half a semester.
Deans and directors handle this policy as it relates to the individual faculty members and courses within their school.
END OF SEMESTER GRADES
A final examination or its equivalent must be given in each course. All final examinations, whether cumulative or unit, or their equivalent, must be given at the time scheduled by the Office of the Registrar during final examination week. There are to be no final examinations or their equivalent given during the last week of classes each semester. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved in advance by the dean of the academic unit in which the course is being offered.
Note: Faculty requests for exceptions to this policy must be received by the appropriate dean no later than November 1 and April 1 for the fall and spring semesters, respectively.
Students who find themselves required by the schedule to take three examinations in one day may choose to take the middle examination at another time. Students who wish to do this must inform the appropriate instructor as soon as possible, but no later than the last scheduled class, so that a mutually acceptable alternative time may be arranged. If such an arrangement cannot be worked out, the student should contact the dean’s office of the school in which the course is offered.
Student activities are not usually scheduled during final examination dates. Any unusual circumstances of this nature will be dealt with on an individual basis.