2016-2017 Catalog

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Grading System

  • A – Excellent: The student has demonstrated outstanding proficiency in mastering course objectives. (4 points per credit in computation of grade point average)
  • B – Above average: The student has demonstrated above average proficiency in mastering course objectives. (3 points per credit in computation of grade point average)
  • C – Average: The student has demonstrated average proficiency in mastering course objectives. (2 points per credit in computation of grade point average)
  • D – Below average: The student has demonstrated below average but passing proficiency in mastering course objectives. (1 point per credit in computation of grade point average)
  • F – Failing: The student has not demonstrated a minimum passing proficiency in mastering course objectives. (0 points per credit in computation of grade point average)
  • FX – Failure related to non-attendance: The student stops attending a class or participating in an online class, does not return, and fails. (0 points per credit in computation of grade point average).  The FX grade was discontinued after the 13/SP quarter.
  • I – Incomplete: Due to extenuating circumstances, students may be given an extension of time to complete course objectives. Assignment of I grades is a faculty prerogative and is issued when students, who have completed the majority (at least 60 percent) of the course requirements, are unable to complete the remainder due to unusual or extenuating circumstances. An I grade must be made up no later than three weeks prior to the end of the next quarter or it becomes an F.  Prior to issuing the Incomplete grade, the instructor and student meet to discuss a timeline for completing the remaining assignments and/or tests in order for the student to earn a quality letter grade. The instructor sends an email to the student, and copies the appropriate academic dean, confirming the due date for the remaining work. (Does not count in computation of grade point average)
  • P – Pass: P is an indication that the student has completed the coursework satisfactorily. It is used for developmental courses and other courses at the discretion of the College. (Does not count in the computation of grade point average)
  • R – Re-enroll: The student has made satisfactory progress and should re-enroll until course objectives are completed. R is used for developmental courses only. (Does not count in computation of grade point average)
  • V – Audit: An audit (no credit) does not count in computation of a grade point average. Audit requests may only be submitted during the first week of class and are processed during the second week. An audit is not an option for online classes.
  • W – Withdrawal: W is an indication of an action requested by the student. The student must officially withdraw from a course prior to the last day to drop classes. The student may drop via My Services or call Registration to officially withdraw. Ws may not be changed to a grade. (Does not count in the computation of grade point average)
  • Z – Unreported grade: Z indicates that a grade has not been reported by the faculty member. (Does not count in computation of grade point average)

Grade point average

Students’ GPAs are determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted in those courses that count toward students’ GPA.

To calculate a GPA:

grade value x credit hours completed = grade points

A 4 x 4.5 = 18
B 3 x 4.5 = 13.5
C 2 x 4.5 = 9
D 1 x 4.5 = 4.5
F 0 x 4.5 = 0

Example

Course Grade Hours completed Grade points
ENGL 1010 A 4.5 18
BSAD 1000 C 4.5 9
INFO 1001 F 4.5 0
ACCT 1050 D 3.0 3
Totals   16.5 30

Take the total number of grade points (30) and divide by total hours completed (16.5): GPA= 1.82

Note: Actions of R, P, W ,V, and Z do not apply toward the GPA but do appear in attempted hours.

Auditing a course

Students who wish to attend a course without taking examinations or receiving credit for a course may request to audit the course.  Students intending to audit should not register for the courses as they cannot already be enrolled in a class they wish to audit.  Instead, they must request an audit from the instructor during the first week of class only. Students who audit a class pay the regular tuition rate and fees.  Audited courses do not count toward graduation requirements nor do they satisfy prerequisite requirements for other courses.  However, audited courses do appear on the transcript marked with a V.

Courses that are eligible for audit are determined by the appropriate academic dean; some courses may not be available for audit. Online courses may not be audited. An audit student may not change from audit to credit status once the course has started.

Audited courses are not considered when establishing the full- or part-time status of a student receiving financial aid or veteran's benefits.

Repeating a course

Students may repeat a course in an effort to earn a better grade.  Both grades remain on the permanent record; the latest grade is used to compute the GPA.  Students using federal financial aid to pay for courses may not use financial aid funds to repeat a course in which they earned a C or better.

Final grades for repeated courses for those graduating must first be verified by the Records office in order for those students to be considered for graduation requirements.

Appeals to change course grades

Students who wish to appeal a final course grade need to follow the appeal procedure listed below. The appeal process for final course grades must be initiated no later than the end of the quarter (the last class day) following the quarter in which the course was completed.

The procedure for a final course grade appeal at MCC requires that the student and instructor first have a conversation with the expectation of resolving the grading issue between them. The question is mainly whether or not the instructor’s syllabus has been followed.

If, after that conversation, there is still disagreement about whether or not the instructor has adhered to the syllabus in dealing with the student’s final grade issue, the student may choose to follow a formal appeal process.  

The formal appeal process begins when a student puts his or her concern officially in writing by sending a letter or email to the instructor (first level of appeal). Upon receipt of the instructor’s response, the student may appeal, if necessary, in writing to the next level, the appropriate academic dean (second level of appeal). Upon receipt of the academic dean’s response, the student may appeal, if necessary, to the final level, the vice president for academic affairs, for a final decision.

The purpose of the initial first-level appeal letter (or email) is to seek resolution between student and instructor, pointing specifically to the syllabus and how the student can show that the procedures set up in the syllabus were not upheld.

The instructor’s written reply to this letter usually suffices to resolve the issue.

A grade appeal makes it to the level of the academic dean only in the rare cases when a written appeal to the instructor is unsuccessful.

The purpose of the written appeal to the academic dean is to show how the student was not dealt with in accordance with procedures set up in the instructor’s syllabus and how the instructor erred in his or her response to the student’s written appeal. When a written appeal is submitted to an academic dean, the student must attach the syllabus for the course, the student’s written appeal to the instructor, and the instructor’s written reply.

A grade appeal makes it to the level of the vice president for academic affairs in the unlikely event that an appeal was not resolved at the first level (instructor) or the second level (academic dean). The student must submit a written appeal that shows how the student was not dealt with in accordance to the procedures set up in the instructor’s syllabus and, specifically, where the instructor and the academic dean erred in their respective responses. When a written appeal is submitted to the vice president for academic affairs, the student must attach the syllabus for the course, the student’s written appeals to both the instructor and the academic dean, and the respective responses from the instructor and the academic dean.

Decisions made by the vice president for academic affairs concerning appeals to change a final course grade are final and not subject to further appeal.

Academic amnesty

Students who wish to petition for academic amnesty (elimination of a course(s) from a previous quarter), must meet the below provisions. The amnesty process begins when a student meets with an academic advisor to complete the petition. The petition requests the elimination of up to two quarters of students’ classes from the computation of their GPA.

  • Academic amnesty can be granted only one time and is not reversible.
  • Students must have successfully completed a minimum of 24.0 credit hours at 1000- or 2000-level MCC classes with a minimum GPA of 2.50 after the most recent quarter being petitioned for amnesty.
  • Academic amnesty is applied to D and F grades only, which are eliminated from GPA calculation and hours attempted. Courses in which students received an A, B, or C grade continue to be included in students’ overall GPAs and are exempt from academic amnesty.
  • Students’ permanent records (transcripts) reflect the original grade(s) received. Original grades are marked with a pound sign (#) on students’ transcripts but are not included in the GPA calculation.

NOTE: Academic amnesty has no bearing on financial aid eligibility, as all quarters, including those for which academic amnesty is granted, must be considered.