Grading System
USAO is dedicated to producing excellent students, and the official record of that excellence can be found on the academic transcript. While grades are not the only index to achievement, the college transcript remains a strong indication of the quality of a student's university work.
| GRADE |
NOTE |
GRADE POINTS PER HOUR |
OTHER SYMBOLS
|
| A |
excellent |
4 |
W
|
withdrawal
|
| B |
good |
3 |
P
|
passing |
| C |
average |
2 |
NP |
not passing |
| D |
passing |
1 |
RP |
remedial pass |
| F |
failing |
0 |
RF
|
remedial fail |
| I |
incomplete |
|
|
|
| AW |
administrative withdrawal |
| AU |
audit |
| N |
grade was not submitted by the instructor by the appropriate deadline. |
A grade of “I” can be given when the student does not complete the work in a course for such reasons as illness or family emergencies. The instructor will deem sufficient cause in awarding an “I.” An “I” not changed by the instructor within one calendar year of its being awarded will become permanent and remain on the student's transcript but will not contribute to the student’s GPA. The "N" grade must be replaced by the appropriate grade prior to the end of the subsequent term.
Administrative withdrawal may be assigned by the Office of Academic Affairs to indicate that a student has been “involuntarily withdrawn” from class(es) after the add/drop period for disciplinary or financial reasons, or inadequate attendance documented by the instructor.
Audit is used for the student not interested in obtaining a course grade, but who is enrolled to get course information. A student may change from audit to credit during the add period but must meet admission/retention standards.
For each hour of “A,” students receive four grade points; for “B,” three points; for “C,” two points; and for “D,” one point. Incomplete and failing grades earn no points. Grades of W, AW, AU, RP, and RF are not counted as hours attempted, and are not calculated in the retention/graduation GPAs. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies are completely separate from academic policies. If a student withdraws from a course failing, the grade is recorded as an “F” and the hours are counted as hours taken, which affects the GPA.
The total number of grade points earned by the student divided by the total number of hours taken results in a grade point average (GPA). For example, if a student has earned 100 grade points and has taken 40 hours of work, the GPA is 100 divided by 40, or 2.50.