The Institute uses a system of letter grades that are equivalent to numerical "quality points" according to the table below:
Each faculty member or teaching team is responsible for developing criteria for grading. These criteria shall be published, distributed to students at the beginning of the semester, and made available for review.
Semester and Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
The semester GPA is calculated by dividing the number of quality points earned in that semester by the number of credits attempted and graded in that semester (Excluding classes graded with a "P"/Pass grade.)
The cumulative GPA is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credits attempted and graded (Excluding classes graded with a "P"/Pass grade.).
Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
All students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 each semester.
Failure to do so will place the student on academic probation for the following semester as approved by the Dean/Chair/Program Director. Students who are placed on probation must regain a cumulative 3.0 GPA within the following semester or they will be subject to academic dismissal.
Financial Aid Implications
A student who does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements after one semester is placed on financial aid warning. Financial Aid Warning allows the student to retain their financial aid for one semester without any action taken on the student’s part. The student is notified via IHP e-mail from the financial aid office indicating they have entered this warning status and the repercussions of not meeting SAP for a consecutive semester.
At the next SAP check (end of the next semester), if the student is now meeting SAP requirements, the student is removed from warning status. If after the next SAP check the student still fails to make SAP after the warning semester (a subsequent semester of cumulative GPA < 3.0) the student loses their aid eligibility. The student is notified via IHP e-mail upon losing aid eligibility by the financial aid office.
Students who lose their aid eligibility, due to these two subsequent semesters of not meeting SAP, are eligible to appeal this decision in writing to the Financial Aid Office. Per the Department of Education, the appeal must explain why the student failed to make SAP and what has changed in the situation that would allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation. All appeals are reviewed by the Financial Aid SAP Committee.
Time Limits for Completion of a Program
Each program determines the number of years allowable for completion of program requirements. The student's program committee will review and act on petitions from students requesting extensions beyond the deadline established by each program.
For School/Program specific guidelines, visit our Handbooks, Manuals, and Guides page on our website.
Pass/Fail Option
Certain courses are offered for Pass/Fail grading with a Pass grade equivalent to an A, B, or C.
A student may select the Pass/Fail option when completing registration online.
Students wishing to change a letter graded course to the Pass/Fail option post registration must complete the Change of Grade Scale Form and submit it to the Registrar by the Pass/Fail deadline as listed in the most current official academic calendar.
Each program determines the number of Pass/Fail options that a student may exercise. Refer to your specific program manual for this information.
Note: Grades of "P"/Pass, are not factored into GPA Calculations. "F"/Fail grades are factored into GPA Calculations regardless of the grading option chosen for a course.
Incompletes
A student who does not complete all requirements for a course may arrange with the instructor(s) for a temporary grade of incomplete. Students must complete all course requirements to change an incomplete grade according to the timeline agreed upon by the instructor(s), not to exceed two calendar years from the date of the request. If a student does not complete the required work within the stipulated time period, the grade will automatically change to a "Fail". Permission from the instructor(s) will be required for extension of time for completion.
Course Repeat
For students who are required to repeat a course due to a previous failure, grades for both registrations of the course remain on the permanent academic record, but the higher of the two grades will be the one factored into the cumulative GPA. Exceptions to this policy are not allowed.
Grade Change Policy
All grades with the exception of the grade of "I", or "PR" are considered final.
Students who believe an error has been made in calculating or recording a course grade should contact the course professor.
A grade will be changed only by the instructor or School/Program Dean, Chair, or Director.
No grades will be changed following the awarding of the degree except in the case of clerical error.
Process for Challenging a Final Course Grade
This section sets forth the sole process by which a student may challenge a final course grade. To initiate the process, students who wish to dispute a final course grade must bring written notification of their concerns to the course instructor, the Program Director, or their faculty advisor within ten business days from receipt of the grade. The written notification must include a description of how the student's performance satisfied course requirements as outlined in the published course syllabi. The following steps are included in the process:
- A copy of the written notification of concerns will be sent to each of the following individuals: the course instructor, the Program Director, and faculty advisor.
- It is highly recommended that the student and the faculty member meet first to try to resolve the dispute, and it is the student's responsibility to make efforts to set up a meeting to address the written concerns with the faculty member. At any such meetings between the student and faculty member, the faculty member will keep written documentation of the efforts to resolve the dispute.
- If the student and faculty member cannot come to agreement, then a meeting will be held with the student, the faculty member, and either the Associate Director of the Program, the Director of the Program, or the Provost based on availability. This administrative faculty representative shall attempt to reconcile the matter. This meeting will be scheduled within 10 business days of receipt of the written notification.
- Final disposition of grading will rest with the faculty of record. The student will be notified of the final disposition within 10 business days of the conclusion of this meeting.