Grades Policies

A student may register to audit a course with the permission of the course instructor. No grade and no credit will be given. 

Attendance requirements for audit students shall conform with the instructor's policy for the class as a whole, unless other arrangements are made between the auditing student and the instructor. Participation in the course is by agreement between the student and the instructor.

The student or the instructor has the prerogative to request the agreement be in writing. Upon satisfactory attendance and fulfillment of the agreement between the student and instructor, a status of AU will be recorded; no credit will be awarded. A status of Z will be recorded at the end of the course should the attendance and/or agreement not be fulfilled. The student may officially withdraw from the audited course according to the withdrawal policy.

Change of status in a course from audit to credit may be made only during the add period.

Change of status in a course from credit to audit may be made only during the first ten weeks of classes subject to the above mentioned requirements: by permission of and in agreement with the instructor.

A course taken for audit does not count toward a student's full-time status unless the student is required to audit the course with the approval of the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. A prerequisite cannot be satisfied by an audit. (Approved April 25, 1994; Modified by College Meeting December 14, 2006)

Students are required to pay all tuition and fees. Financial aid does not cover the cost of audited classes.

Instructors are responsible for submitting student grades. An instructor may change an existing grade up to two years from the time the original grade was posted by submitting a completed Change of Grade form. (Approved April 12, 2010) (The Change of Grade form is available on the W drive, Registration Office Forms.)

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) refers to the student’s overall grade point average.

Grades earned in Developmental Education courses will be calculated into the Semester Grade Point Average, but not into the Cumulative Grade Point Average. (Approved College Meeting May 8, 2006)

Students who demonstrate superior academic performance are named to the Dean's List at the end of each semester. Students are eligible for the Dean’s List in any semester during which they successfully complete 15 or more semester hours of credit graded at C or above with a grade point average of 3.00 or above, or complete 12-14 credit hours graded C or above with a grade point average of 3.20 or above.

Developmental Education course credit will not be calculated in determining total semester hour credit for Dean’s List Eligibility.

A student with a grade below C is not eligible for the Dean’s List in that semester.

A student with an incomplete in any course is not eligible for the Dean’s List in that semester. (Passed October 27, 1987)

Earning the Dean's List designation is indicated on the student's transcript. Students may access their Dean's List certificate via CampusWeb.

Each instructor must maintain up-to-date records in a standard record book. Grades are reported for each student at the end of each semester. Each letter grade is assigned a numerical value in quality points (see below). The grade point average (GPA) is the result of multiplying the numerical value of each letter grade by the credit hours for the course, and then dividing their sum by the total number of semester hours attempted that semester (including all F courses). Courses marked Z, W, P, INC, R and AU are not included since they have no numerical equivalent.

Letter grades earned in Developmental Education courses will be calculated into the Semester Grade Point Average, but not into the Cumulative Grade Point Average. (Approved College Meeting May 8, 2006)
 

1. A, A- indicate a general excellence marked by initiative and independence, and often by originality. B+, B and B- indicates a clear grasp of fundamental facts and principles and the ability to present them effectively. C+, C and C- indicates a reasonable grasp of essential facts and fairly effective presentation of the relationships between them. D+, D and D- indicates work of inferior quality but deserving credit. F indicates failure. P (Pass) indicates satisfactory completion of course requirements.
2. If the course is dropped prior to the seventh calendar day of the semester no record of the course will appear on the student's transcript. Thereafter, a grade of W will be recorded.
3. When a student fails to withdraw officially, or has an excessive number of absences, a Z grade may be recorded up to the end of the tenth week of classes.
4. Incomplete Grade Policy: At the discretion of the instructor, a grade of INC may be recorded beginning the thirteenth week of the full semester, or seventh week during a Q or Summer term, when the student is not able to complete the remaining course requirements due to circumstances beyond his or her control. To be eligible for an INC grade, the student must be meeting the course requirements through the twelfth week of classes during the full semester, or the sixth week of a Q or Summer term, and the instructor determines that the student could successfully complete the remaining course requirements. 
   
   The Agreement for an Incomplete Grade form must be completed and signed by both the student and the instructor. The completed form must be submitted to the Registrar no later than the last day of the term. The INC grade will then be recorded by the Registrar. The grade of INC is to be resolved to a letter grade no later than the last day of classes the following full semester (Fall/Spring). Failure to do so will result in an F for the course. (Approved by College Meeting, December 10, 2018)
5. A grade of R is only used in developmental education courses. It indicates that the student has made satisfactory progress as defined under "#2 Specific Evaluation and Grading Procedures" in the Instructor's Course Outline, but needs to repeat the course to meet the required exit proficiency level. (Approved by College Meeting, December 12, 1994)
6. From a procedural standpoint, courses are routinely graded by the letter grades A-F. In certain circumstances, however, it is educationally justifiable to grade a course Pass/Fail or to offer a student an option of either A-F or P/F grading. The following are policies and procedures for the utilization of P/F grading:
   • Pass/Fail (P/F) is a grading option in a course as determined by the department or other body responsible for the content of that course and upon approval of the Curriculum and Programs Committee.
   • A course with P/F grading may also have a traditional A-F grading system as determined by the appropriate department or other body responsible for the content of that course and the Curriculum and Programs Committee. Students who choose the P/F option must notify the instructor of this decision in writing by the end of the first two weeks of classes.
   • P means passing according to the existing College standards.
   • P is not calculated into the grade point average for any reason.
   • F is calculated into the grade point average.
   • Although a student may take as many courses on a Pass/Fail basis as he/she wishes, no more than 12 hours graded P will count toward the 60 hours required for a degree.

The Early Academic Intervention process is used by faculty to report academic concerns, as well as achievements. The Jenzabar Early Alert system provides a platform for faculty to reach out to students. It includes an early warning and student tracking program that helps faculty, advisors, and staff detect at-risk students in time to make a difference. The program also allows faculty to recognize student achievement.

Complaints or grievances filed in connection with assigned grades represent a special case within the Student Grievance Procedure. A student, who alleges an error or injustice in the grading process has occurred, may file an appeal challenging the grade by following specific steps as outlined in the Student Grievance Procedure. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the challenge is initiated no later than thirty (30) days following the date the grade was posted. Please refer to the Student Grievance Procedures.

Faculty Grade Record Books must be retained by the faculty member for a minimum of one full year beyond the end of the grading period.

Faculty may enter mid term warning grades (for students with a C- average or lower) into Campus Web.  Students are notified via email that Mid-Term Warning Grades have been posted; students can access mid-term warning grades through CampusWeb. 

The official grade report as maintained by the Registrar (the transcript) is to be preserved indefinitely. The complete Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule 01-11 (2011 Edition) can be accessed at www.mass.gov.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is used to compute student academic standing.

Grades earned in Developmental Education courses will be calculated into Semester Grade Point Average, but not into the Cumulative Grade Point Average. (Approved College Meeting May 8, 2006)

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) refers to the student’s overall grade point average.

Grades earned in Developmental Education courses will be calculated into the Semester Grade Point Average, but not into the Cumulative Grade Point Average. (Approved College Meeting May 8, 2006)