Grading Policy
Grading Scale
The College awards numerical grades and grades of Satisfactory/No Credit. Numerical grades are reported in 0.1 increments, with 0.0 being the lowest possible grade, 0.8 the lowest passing grade, and 4.3 the highest possible grade.
Auditing Courses
Space permitting, a student otherwise regularly enrolled may audit a course with the permission of the instructor.
Repeating Courses
A student may repeat a course which he or she has completed, provided that no course may be repeated in which the student has earned a 2.0 or better on a graded basis or a Satisfactory on an S/NC basis. The course must be repeated on the same grade basis (either numerical or S/NC) as originally taken. A student repeating a course in which credit was earned will receive no additional credit toward graduation. Both grades, however, will appear on the transcript, except for S/NC grades, and both grades will be used when determining cumulative average.
Withdrawal from Courses
A student's freedom to withdraw from courses for which he or she has registered, the procedures required for withdrawal, and how a withdrawal will be recorded on the student's permanent record depend on the type of courses for which the student has registered and the timing of withdrawal.
Students may not withdraw from required courses without securing the permission of the Dean or the Dean's designee.
Students may withdraw from any elective course prior to the withdrawal deadline for that course by executing a change of registration form and submitting it to the Student Records Office at the College of Law. The signature of the Dean or the Dean's designee is required. A change of registration form processed through other offices of the University will not be recognized. The withdrawal deadline for oversubscribed courses and other courses designated by the Dean or the Dean's designee as a limited withdrawal course is 5 p.m. on the 6th calendar day after the beginning of classes. A list of the courses subject to this early withdrawal deadline will be maintained in the Student Records Office. The withdrawal deadline is 5 p.m. on the 29th calendar day after the beginning of classes. If a student withdraws from an elective course prior to the withdrawal deadline for the course, the course will not be shown on the student's permanent record.
Students may withdraw from required courses or from elective courses after the withdrawal deadline only for good cause shown to the Dean or the Dean's designee. To be granted permission to withdraw, the student must clearly demonstrate that one of the following conditions exist:
- illness or injury as verified by the student health service or private physician
- serious personal or family problems as verified by the student's family minister, physician, etc.
- necessary change in work schedule as verified by the student's employer
- financial inability to continue at the University
- call to active military service.
If a student is granted permission to withdraw from a required course or from an elective course after the withdrawal deadline, the grade of "W" will be entered on the student's permanent record.
A student will not be permitted to withdraw from a course simply to avoid a low grade in the course. A student who fails to complete the requirements for a course from which the student has not withdrawn in accordance with the above rule will be assigned a grade of 0.0.
Withdrawal from College
A student wishing to withdraw from the College of Law must present the request to the Dean of the College of Law or the Dean's designee. If the request is approved, the Student Records Office will send a letter, which must be accompanied by a signed Withdrawal Form to the University Registrar and provide written notification to the course instructor(s) and the student's advisor. To complete official withdrawals from the College, the student must also report to the Withdrawal Office, 212 Student Services Building, to be cleared through the Treasurer's Office, University Housing, and other University service centers.
Temporary Grades
When, for good cause shown (such as serious illness or other disability), a student fails to complete all requirements for a course in which he or she is enrolled, the course instructor may assign the student a temporary grade of "I" (incomplete). A student receiving this grade should arrange with the instructor to take whatever action is needed to remove the grade at the earliest possible date, and, in any event, within one year after the course was attempted. A grade of "I" which is not removed within the succeeding year in which the student is enrolled will revert to "F." However, a student need not be formally enrolled at the College of Law to remove a temporary grade by examination.