47-00, 48-00, and 49-00 Grades
47-20
Basis for Grades-
47-40 Grading System
-
47-45 Grading System for M.D. Candidates
-
47-60 Definition of Grades
-
47-70 Online Student Progress Report (Formerly Mid-Semester Evaluation)
-
47-80 Repeating Courses
-
48-20 Failure to Complete a Course
-
48-30 Corrected Grades
-
48-40 Deferred Grades
-
48-50 No Grade (NG)
-
48-80 Symbols for Course Audit
-
49-20 Academic Integrity
-
49-40 Research Grades
-
49-60 Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory--Baccalaureate and
Associate Degree Candidates
Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the
instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement as set forth
in Section 47-60. The instructor should provide written notification of
the basis for grades to students within the first ten calendar days of a
semester or its equivalent. Any changes in that basis should likewise
be presented to students in writing.
For grade assignments related to cases of academic dishonesty, refer to Section 49-20 (sanction on grades) and G-9 academic integrity procedures.
Revised: 6/1/76
Revised: 9/8/77
Revised: 5/25/82
|
Revised: 5/3/83
Revised: 1/31/84
Revised: 12/4/01
Revised Editorially: 4/10/07 |
Grades for undergraduate and graduate students shall be reported by the following
letters: A, A-, B, B+, B-, C+, C, D, or F. In addition the symbols of SA and UN
may be recorded on the student's transcript in accordance with Section
49-60. Courses that do not carry credit shall be graded P if passed and F
if failed. The symbols of W, WN, R, DF, AU, and S also may be
recorded in place of grades in accord with Section 42-50.2; 48-40; 48-80;
and 49-40.
XF grade--see 49-20 for assignment, designates a disciplinary sanction assigned due to academic misconduct.
Revised: 1/9/73 (as Rule M-2)
Revised: 10/14/75
Revised: 1/6/76
Revised: 9/11/84
|
Revised: 10/2/84
Revised: 4/30/85
Revised: 10/8/95
|
Revised: 1/23/90
Revised Editorially: 1/11/05
Revised Editorially: 4/10/07
Revised: 3/16/10 |
The grading system for candidates enrolled in M.D. programs shall be
reported as follows:
| Honors |
|
(H)--Honors Grades (Outstanding Work) |
|
|
|
| High Pass |
|
(HP)--High Passing Grade |
|
|
|
| Pass |
|
(P)--Passing Grade |
|
|
|
| Low Pass |
|
(LP)--Low Passing Grade |
| Fail |
|
(F)--Failing Grade |
|
|
|
This grading system is limited to candidates for the medical degree
taking 400- and 500-level preclinical courses and 700-level clinical
"Low Pass (LP)" grade is for 700-level clinical courses only (Years 3 and 4).
Initial Legislation: 10/14/75
Revised: 1/6/76
Revised: 9/12/89
Revised: 10/10/89
Revised: 10/26/04
For undergraduates and graduates the grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, and F
indicate a gradation in quality from Excellent to Failure and are
assigned the following grade-point equivalents:
| Grade |
|
|
|
Grade-Point Equivalent |
| A |
|
|
|
4.00 |
| A- |
|
|
|
3.67 |
| B+ |
|
|
|
3.33 |
| B |
|
|
|
3.00 |
| B- |
|
|
|
2.67 |
| C+ |
|
|
|
2.33 |
| C |
|
|
|
2.00 |
| D |
|
|
|
1.00 |
| F |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Revised: 3/7/57 (as Rule M-3)
Revised: 4/11/72 (as Rule M-3)
Revised: 1/9/73 (as Rule M-3)
Revised: 6/1/76
Between the start of the third week and the end of the sixth week of classes during both fall and spring
semesters, each instructor shall evaluate the performance of each 1. non-transfer degree candidates who are enrolled in their first or second semester (summers not included) 2. provisional students and 3. nondegree regular students who have earned 27 or fewer credits. If any such
student has a grade of less than C, the instructor will record that information. The student and his/her adviser will be notified that
the performance is unsatisfactory.
Revised: 9/13/83
Revised: 4/28/87
Revised: 4/29/08
Revised Editorially: 9/1/09
A student may repeat a course in which a grade of D or F was received. A
course in which a grade of C or better was obtained also may be repeated
if written evidence of consultation is obtained from the student's adviser
and a copy is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. Any
course repeated under this policy may be counted no more than once as a
graduation requirement. Under this policy both grades are included in the
computation of the grade-point average.
Revised: 12/11/73 (as Rule M-3B)
Revised: 2/5/74 (as Rule M-3B)
Revised: 10/14/75 |
Revised: 11/11/75
Revised: 12/9/75
Revised: 10/6/81 |
- When a student officially drops a course within the course drop period, no symbol or grade of any kind is to be reported.
- When a student officially drops a course after the course drop period, a symbol of WN, according to the policies of Sections 34-89, is to be reported.
- When a student registers for a course but ceases to attend class
without officially dropping the course, the student is to be given a
grade of F in the course.
- When a student officially withdraws from the University in accordance
with Section 56-30, the symbol W shall be reported for each course,
unless an accusation of academic dishonesty has been made against the
withdrawing student. In such a case, Section 49-20 supersedes the
assignment of the symbol W in that course.
- A symbol of W shall be recorded for unsatisfactory attendance in an
audited course in accordance with Section 48-80.
Revised: 1/9/73 (as Rule M-4)
Revised: 9/8/77
Revised: 3/16/10
A corrected grade may be submitted by the instructor for a course taken
in a previous semester to correct a mistake made in calculating or
recording a grade for a particular student. Each student is responsible
for checking the semester grade report for accuracy immediately upon
receipt and for informing the instructor of any course in which the
student suspects an error has been made in grading. Each instructor is
responsible for checking the semester grade list on e-Lion after grades
have been recorded for a previous semester.
If an error in calculating or recording a grade is brought to an
instructor's attention, the instructor may request a grade change
authorization form to correct the error. This form must be signed by the
instructor. No grade change can be made more than one year after the end
of the semester in which the course was taken.
When a course instructor is no longer available to resolve an error in
calculating or recording a grade, the instructor's department head is
authorized to take the necessary action.
Initial Legislation: 1/6/76
Revised: 10/6/81
Revised: 5/25/82
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented
from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that
course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student’s transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under
emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable,
authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the
college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division
of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is
a provisional student; the campus chancellor of the student's commonwealth campus.
In certain courses where normal work of the course extends beyond the
scheduled period, deferment may be granted routinely for all students in
the course if prior approval of the Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs
has been obtained.
The period during which a grade may be deferred shall not extend
beyond ten weeks following the end date of the course (as it appears in the schedule of courses). A deferred
grade that is not changed to a quality grade by the instructor before the
end of this period automatically becomes an F. A deferred grade that is automatically converted to an F can later be corrected in accordance with Senate Policy 48-30.
Students with DF on their transcripts will not be allowed to graduate.
Revised: 1/9/73 (as Rule O-4)
Revised: 1/6/76
Revised: 1/29/85
Revised: 3/26/85
|
Revised 4/30/85
Revised Editorially: 2/4/05
Revised Editorially: 3/12/08 |
Revised: 10/20/09
Revised: 3/15/11
Revised Editorially: 8/30/11
|
If an instructor does not submit a grade for a student by the grade-reporting deadline and a deferred grade was not requested and approved (see policy 48-40), the symbol NG (no grade) appears on the student’s transcript until a grade is submitted.
The NG is to be reconciled within five weeks following the posting of the NG. If a grade is not forthcoming by that deadline, the registrar's office shall automatically change the NG to an F. A missing grade that is automatically converted to an F can later be corrected in accordance with Senate Policy 48-30.
Students with NG on their transcripts will not be allowed to graduate.
Initial Legislation: 4/26/88
Revised: 3/15/11
Revised Editorially: 8/30/11
When a student is registered in a course as an auditor, no final grade
is to be given, but the symbol AU shall be used if attendance has been
regular, the symbol W if attendance has been unsatisfactory.
Definition and expectations: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly
activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic
guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University,
and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with
this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct
states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students'
dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which
all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.
Academic integrity includes a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification,
misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical
principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
To protect the rights and maintain the trust of honest students and support appropriate
behavior, faculty and administrators should regularly communicate high standards of
integrity and reinforce them by taking reasonable steps to anticipate and deter acts of
dishonesty in all assignments (Senate Policy 44-40: Proctoring of Examinations). At the
beginning of each course, it is the responsibility of the instructor to provide students
with a statement clarifying the application of University and College academic integrity
policies to that course.
Committee on Academic Integrity: Each College Dean (or Chancellor as
determined by College policy) shall appoint a Committee on Academic Integrity made up of
faculty, students, and academic administrators with faculty being the majority. This
committee shall:
Promote expectations for academic integrity consistent with the definition
in this policy.
Ensure fairness and consistency in processes and outcomes. To ensure University-wide
consistency, College Committees will work with the Office of Student Conduct
and the Office of the Provost of the University to develop procedures for handling
and sanctioning dishonesty infractions.
Review and settle all contested cases in which academic sanctions are applied.
If necessary, further disciplinary action will be taken by the Office of Student Conduct.
Record all cases of academic dishonesty within a college and report them to the Office of Student Conduct.
Revised: 3/6/58
Revised: 9/8/77
Revised: 1/31/84
Revised: 2/28/84 |
Revised: 4/27/99
Revised: 10/26/99
Revised: 2/29/00
Revised Editorially: 4/10/07
Revised Editorially: 7/6/11
|
In specifically designated variable-credit courses in which it is
expected that students register for more than one semester, the instructor
may report the symbol R (Research) in place of a grade. This symbol
indicates that the student has devoted an adequate amount of time and
effort to the work, but has given no indication of its quality. Upon
completion of the work, the instructor reports an appropriate grade that
applies to all prior credits so scheduled and will replace the R symbol(s)
on the transcript. All affected grade-point averages are recomputed and
entered. A course with an unresolved R grade may remain on the transcript after graduation, but may not be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
Revised editorially: 12/7/10
A limited number of courses may be taken for credit by any baccalaureate
or associate degree candidates under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory
(SA/UN) grading system, subject to regulations of the college and the
limits of the degree program in which the candidate is enrolled. General
Education courses may not be taken under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory
option. Certain courses may be designated to be offered only under the
SA/UN grading system at the request of an academic unit and after the
approval of the Senate Curricular Affairs Committee.
- Each candidate, depending on the requirements and limitations of the
candidate's college, may schedule courses under the SA/UN grading system
up to a maximum of 12 credits for baccalaureate degree candidates and 6
credits for associate degree candidates.
- A candidate in the Division of Undergraduate Studies may take courses
under the SA/UN grading system. The candidate should confirm that the
regulations of the proposed program of study are not violated.
- No candidate may take more than two courses per semester on this
basis.
- Once the SA/UN grading system form is submitted, the candidate cannot
revert to a conventional (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, F) grade after 21
calendar days.
- Conventional grades submitted by the instructor to the Office of the
University Registrar are recorded as SA, meaning satisfactory
achievement or better (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C), or UN, indicating
unsatisfactory achievement (D, F), where applicable.
- If the grade is UN, a course may be taken again but only under the
conventional grading system.
- Courses abroad may not be taken under the SA/UN grading system except
under highly unusual circumstances and then only with the advance
authorization of the Office of Education Abroad Programs.
- Credits taken in courses offered only under the SA/UN grading system
will not be counted toward any SA/UN credit limit imposed elsewhere in
these rules.
Revised: 1/11/72
Revised: 4/11/72
Revised: 5/5/75
Revised: 10/14/75
Revised: 11/11/75
|
Revised: 12/9/75
Revised: 1/6/76
Revised: 1/13/79
Revised: 2/5/80
|
Revised: 5/5/81
Revised: 10/6/81
Revised: 9/13/83
Revised: 3/25/86 |
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