Grades & Grading

Faculty members have the responsibility for grading. However, whatever criteria are used must appear in the course syllabus so students know what is expected, how to accomplish the objectives for the course, and due dates. Detailed procedures and student class rosters for midterm grades are provided to each faculty member by the Registrar before midterm grades are due. Final grade rosters and procedures for filing final grades are provided by the Registrar during the latter part of the semester. Final grades are due in the Registrar's office shortly after the end of a semester, on dates established by the Registrar.

During the last week of each semester, comprehensive final exams or other educational or evaluative events are expected for all courses, with certain exceptions (Labs, fieldwork and practicums, private lessons, and others as determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.) All final exams are to be given at the date and time indicated on the final exam schedule. Exceptions must first be cleared with the Dean, and the Assistant to the Vice President, to assure room availablility.

The grading system includes the following:

NOTE: An "I" grade indicates instructor's and College's willingness to assist the student in completing course requirements independently and to ultimately award a grade. It should be assigned only to students who are near the end of the semester when independent completion of course requirements is probable and achievable. Course requirements must be completed by the 8th week of the next full semester, or a failing grade will be assigned. Faculty can extend this time period under special circumstances.

GRADE RECORDS & ATTENDANCE

Due to financial aid audit requirements, the following procedures are implemented:

1. Student attendance records must be kept for five (5) years. If faculty do not wish to personally keep the records, they can be given to the division secretary for filing. They may be in the form of grade books or class rosters with verified attendance, or attendance records.
   
   
2. On all grade rosters there is a column for the last date of attendance for students who have stopped attending class. This date needs to be as accurate as possible.
   
   
3. Rosters are sent from the Registrar's office at 4-week intervals (4th, 8th, 12th, & 16th weeks). Mark last known dates of attendance for any students who have stopped attending class. It is helpful, as a verification measure, to mark the last date on each roster, even if the date has been recorded on an earlier roster.
   
   
4. Before the financial aid checks are distributed to students, the Financial Assistance Office will receive rosters from Admissions signifying that the students have not dropped or stopped attending. Therefore, rosters MUST be returned to the Admissions Office in a timely manner, signed and returned, even if all students are attending the class.

GRADE REPORTING FORMS

At the middle of each semester, faculty will be sent a class roster to be used for reporting mid-term grades. Mid-term grades are collected only for those students who are receiving "D" or "F" grades ("R" or "F" for developmental courses). Prior to the end of each semester, a final class roster to be used for final grade reporting is sent to all instructors along with directions for its completion. Every instructor is responsible for accurate grade reporting and submitting them by the deadline listed in the instructions. Instructors needing to change a final grade (e.g. an incomplete grade or correcting an error) will need to submit a Change of Grade Request form to the Admissions Office.