Grades/grading policies

The Plus/Minus Grading System (4.00 scale, term system), implemented in fall 1998, applies to all undergraduate students and cannot be applied retroactively to grades earned or recorded, including incomplete (I) grades or contested grades, before fall 1998.

Grade Point Averages

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed as follows: First, multiply the units for each course taken in a term by the grade points (values below) assigned to the grade earned. Second, total the units and grade points for the term. Third, divide the total number of grade points by the total number of units to find the Grade Point Average (GPA) for the term.

Grades of S and U

The grades of S and U (satisfactory and unsatisfactory) are used primarily in those courses offered for development and selected courses that have been recommended by the academic departments and approved by the Academic Standards and University Curriculum committees. The grade of S denotes that work of 2.00 level or higher has been completed and that students have attained a level of competence sufficient to advance to the next course. A grade of U is given to students whose work is below 2.00 level quality. S and U grades are not calculated in students’ GPAs.

Grade of PS

The grade of PS (Pass) is assigned to a course selected on the Pass grading option when students earn a C grade or higher. Students who elect the Pass grading option and earn a grade of C- or below will have that grade recorded on the permanent record and used in calculation of the GPA.

Grade of PE

The grade of PE is assigned to those courses passed under the Credit for Prior Experience/Learning option. All grades are recorded on students’ permanent records, but are not calculated in students’
GPAs.

Grade of FX

The grade of FX is calculated in students’ GPAs. A grade of FX is given to students who never attend class or who stop attending during the term without officially withdrawing. (If students have officially withdrawn, a grade of W will appear on the final class roster.) A grade of FX is given to students who stop attending before they have completed more than half of the course work. Students who attend most classes but miss the final examination without a legitimate excuse, will receive a zero or F grade for the final examination and have that value or grade calculated with other grades earned during the term to determine the final grade.

Grade of W

The grade of W is administrative, nonpunitive, and is not calculated in students’ GPAs. A grade of W is given to students who officially withdraw from a course by the published withdrawal deadline each term. It is also given to students who obtain authorization from the Academic Standards Committee to withdraw from a course or courses after the deadline. Such withdrawals must be based on  documented medical difficulties or verifiable circumstances beyond students’ control.

Grade of I

The grade of I is given to students by their instructors when verifiable circumstances prevent students from completing a course within the term. The I grade should be given only in cases where students have completed most of the term and have a reasonable expectation of successfully completing the work required. It should not be given at a point earlier in the term when a withdrawal is appropriate. For more information on the Incomplete grade, see the section immediately following.

Changing Grades and Changing Incompletes

Incompletes may be granted toward the end of the term and only for verifiable medical reasons or for documented circumstances beyond the control of the student. Earlier in the term, a withdrawal may be more appropriate. The grade of I automatically becomes a grade of F 180 days from the end of the term following the granting of an I unless changed to another letter grade.

The grade of I may be extended by the instructor for a period not to exceed an additional regular term if the conditions for granting the original Incomplete still verifiably exist. To grant this extension, the Change of Grade/Incomplete Form must be used.

Although not part of the formal Incomplete grading option, as approved by the Academic Standards Committee, Incomplete Grade Agreement Forms may be used by faculty to establish a specific time by which students must complete the work for a particular course. This form may be used to supplement the issuance of the Incomplete grade on the Final Grade Roster. It allows faculty to designate a time prior to the end of the following term of study for the course work to be completed. These forms are available from each department’s administrative assistant and are to be retained by the faculty member with a copy being issued to the student. Faculty members using the Incomplete Grade Agreement Form should also note on the Final Grade Roster the actual date by which the work is due (e.g., work due on July 1).

It is the student’s responsibility to complete the work required before 180 days has elapsed in order for the Incomplete to be converted to a regular grade. Students do not repeat the course in which the Incomplete was given. Instructors may specify an earlier time by which the work required is due in order to remove the Incomplete. An Incomplete grade that is not resolved by the end of the next full term of study, excluding summer and Minimester sessions, is converted to an F grade and is calculated in students’ GPAs.

Grade changes, excluding I grades and repeated courses, must be submitted by the faculty member within one year. After one year, requests for grade changes may be made only for verifiable medical reasons and by petition to the Academic Standards Committee.

Graduating seniors must resolve any outstanding Incomplete grades within 180 days following graduation. Specific dates for each graduating class are included in the correspondence from the Graduation Office.

Unsuccessful Term/Academic Clemency

The following guidelines determine approval of the declaration of an Unsuccessful Term:

• Five full academic years must have elapsed since the term in question and

  graduation has not occurred.
• Students must have completed at least 24 units of 2.00 level work at Towson

  University since the term in question.
• Only one Unsuccessful Term can be granted in a student’s academic career.

Disagreements Related to Grading

Students who feel an earned grade is unjust must address their disagreements first to their instructor, who is primarily responsible for assigning grades. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved through this approach and the issue warrants further consideration, students may then direct an appeal through the following channels: department chair/program coordinator, college dean, Division for Student Affairs.

Repeating Courses

When courses are repeated, students will receive credit for the course only once. Only the higher of the two grades will be calculated in the GPA. The lower grade will remain on the record with the letter R preceding (e.g., RF, RX, RD, etc.) to indicate the course has been repeated.

Effective fall 2003, the lower grade will remain on the record with a repeat included or excluded message, whichever is appropriate. Students may not make a third attempt of a course except with prior approval. Students must complete a Petition for a Third Attempt Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Customer Service Center, Enrollment Services, room 223, before registering for the course. Grades of W are administrative and are not considered as part of the repeated course procedure. Courses that have been accepted previously for transfer credit by TU or have been attempted or completed for units at TU may not be repeated at other institutions.

Courses in which low or failing grades were earned at Towson MUST be repeated at Towson in order for the record to be adjusted and the GPA to be recalculated.