VIII.  Undergraduate Grades

(Graduate grading is covered in the Graduate Catalog)

A. Significance of Undergraduate Grades.

The grades reported are as follows:

A   Excellent

B   Superior

C   Medium

D   Inferior

F   Failure

I    Incomplete

S   Satisfactory - Indicates credit has been earned for the course scheduled.

U   Unsatisfactory - Indicates credit has not been earned for the course scheduled.

DL Delayed – Permissible for undergraduate research 3099/4099 and must be removed at the end of the next semester or a "U" grade will be assigned by the Registrar.

Y   No grade available

Grades of "S" and "U" are permitted only for orientation courses, seminars, special problems, special readings, independent study courses (Numbered 3000, 4000, 4010 and 4099), education laboratories, research, and Pass/Fail courses. Standard grades also may be used for all of the above courses except the Pass/Fail courses.

The purpose of the "I" grade is to allow a student to complete a course when due to illness, unavoidable absence, or active military service, would be otherwise unable to do so.

B. Incomplete Grades due to illness and unavoidable absence unrelated to active military service. The grade of “I” will be given only at the end of a fall, spring or summer session, and only if the student has been prevented from completing a course due to sickness or unavoidable absence (unrelated to active military service) within the last four weeks (three weeks of classes plus finals week) of a fall or spring semester, or within the last week and a half plus the final exam period of an eight-week summer session, and then only if the student has a passing grade in the course up to the time of such sickness or unavoidable absence. The student must complete the work in which they are deficient within one calendar year from the close of the semester in which the "I" grade was recorded. Failure to do so will result in a grade of "F" being recorded for the student. The student may not enroll for a course in which they have a grade of "I" on file. A student may not withdraw from courses in which they have received an "I" grade.

C. Incomplete Grades due to active military service. Students who are called to active military service, as defined by the Missouri Revised Statute 41.948.1, are entitled to either withdraw from school, or receive a grade of “I” in all their classes. Students called to military service are entitled to an “I” grade regardless of when during the semester they are called to serve, and regardless of their prior academic performance in the class.

A withdrawal form obtained from the Office of the Registrar, must be completed, and the student must present documentation of their military orders. Once completed, the form is retained in the departmental office of the teaching department. For the  purpose of determining scholastic standing, the grade of "I" will not be used.

The chair of the teaching department will determine what course work the student must complete to resolve the “I” grade.  If it is impractical to have the student complete the original course, the chair may assign the student to an academically similar course. The student may not enroll for a course in which they have a grade of “I” on file.  A student may not withdraw from courses in which they have received an “I” grade.

D. Grades Reported Twice During Each Semester. All grades, except for Summer Session, will be reported to the Registrar both at mid-semester and at the end of each semester or term.  Except for grades in undergraduate and graduate seminars and Special Problems courses, which need not be reported at mid-semester. At the end of each semester or session, all final grades will be recorded.

E. Semester Honor Roll. At the end of the semester all  undergraduate students  who meet all of the following conditions will be designated as honor students for that semester:

1. Obtained semester GPA of at least 3.2. 

2. Completion of 12 or more semester hours of work.

3. Obtained passing grades in all courses for that semester.

F. Changes in Grades. A faculty member may change grades that they have reported at the end of any semester or session. Faculty can change grades electronically through Joe'SS for 12 months after grades are posted. After twelve months, the faculty member will need to submit the paper Change of Grade form. This form can be provided by the Office of the Registrar and will need to be signed by the instructor and the department chair.

G. Repeat Course and GPA Adjustment. If a course is repeated, the last grade will be used in determining satisfaction of degree requirements.  Undergraduate students cannot repeat courses in which they previously received a grade of “C” or higher.

Missouri S&T coursework repeated Fall of 2001 or later, when a grade of “D” or “F” is received in a Missouri S&T course, the grade may be replaced in the calculation of the GPA if the course is repeated at Missouri S&T. No more than 15 semester hours will be dropped from the calculation of the student’s GPA and a repeated course may only be used to replace one previous grade in that same course in the GPA calculation in which the student is registered. Grades of “I”, “W”, “HR” or “Pass/Fail” will not replace the previous grade. Course must have the same subject and catalog number. All grades earned will appear on the student’s transcript. A statement of the repeat policy will be included on the transcript to explain the calculation of the GPA. After repeating a course, the student must submit a Repeat Course GPA Adjustment form to the Registrar’s Office to have the GPA changed. The new grade will replace the old grade in all GPA calculations in which the previous grade was used, with the exception of the UM GPA used for calculation of graduation honors. If a student does not submit the Repeat Course GPA Adjustment, both grades will be used in GPA calculations. The  scholastic standing of a student for a past semester will not be changed as a result of repeating a course. This policy applies to undergraduate students only and may not be applied once the student has graduated.

H. Determining Scholastic Standing.

1. 1. Semester Grade Point Average. At the close of each semester, the semester average for each student is computed as the total grade points earned during that semester divided by the total number of credit hours scheduled (except courses taken under the "Pass/Fail" option).
   2. Cumulative Grade Point Average. A student's cumulative grade  point  average  is  calculated  by dividing cumulative total grade points by cumulative total credit hours attempted using all courses taken for college credit for which a letter grade (or equivalent) has  been  given  except  courses  taken under the "Pass/Fail" option. This grade point will be used by the Registrar to determine a student's eligibility for Honors at the time of graduation (see Section III.I). 

I. Grade Appeal Procedure -Pending Faculty Senate Approval-

1. 1. The grade appeal procedure is available only for review of the final grade in a course that the student alleges was graded capriciously, not for review of the judgment of the instructor in assessing the quality of students' work or for questioning the stated grading criteria selected by the instructor. Only a student who alleges they were subjected to capricious grading may use the grade appeal procedure. (NOTE: This process should be applied following verification that the posted grade is not a clerical error and reflects the instructor’s assessment of the student’s performance. It is recommended that the student first speak with the instructor to ensure the accuracy of the posted grade).

2. Capricious grading, as used here, consists only of any of the following:

1. 1. 1. The assignment of a semester grade to a particular student on some basis other than those related to academic performance in the section.
      2. The assignment of a semester grade to a particular student by more exacting or demanding criteria than were applied to other students in the same section. (NOTE: Additional and/or different grading criteria may be applied to graduate students enrolled for credit in a course numbered below the 5000 level).
      3. The assignment of a semester grade to a particular student by criteria that represents a substantial departure from the instructor's previously announced criteria.
      4. The assignment of a semester grade that is based in whole or in part upon unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected status identified in the Collected Rules and Regulations (CRR) of the University of Missouri, specifically CRR 600.010.

3. Grade Appeals Involving Allegations of Discrimination or Harassment

1. 1. 1. Mandatory Referral to Equity Officer. Any student who alleges that a final grade was assigned in whole or in part because of conduct described in paragraph 2.d shall be referred to the campus Equity Officer. Such allegations shall be processed exclusively under the University's Equity Resolution Process.
         Any instructor, department chairperson, dean, or other University employee who, in the course of a grade appeal under Section 4, becomes aware of information reasonably indicating that a grade may have been affected by discrimination or harassment prohibited by CRR 600.010 shall promptly report that information to the Equity Officer, regardless of whether the student has characterized the appeal as involving discrimination.
      2. Exclusive Process. The University's Equity Resolution Process shall be the exclusive process for investigating and resolving allegations that a grade was affected by discrimination or harassment prohibited by CRR 600.010.
      3. Coordination with Section 4. If a grade appeal includes both an allegation described in paragraph 2.d and other allegations of capricious grading under paragraphs 2.a through 2.c, the allegations described in 2.a through 2.c may be stayed pending completion of the Equity Resolution Process. The 30-day filing deadline in Section 4.a, and any other deadline otherwise applicable under Section 4, shall be tolled during any such stay, and the student shall have no fewer than thirty (30) days after conclusion of the Equity Resolution Process to pursue any remaining concerns described in 2.a through 2.c if not resolved through the Equity Resolution Process.
      4. Effect of Equity Resolution Process. Upon conclusion of the Equity Resolution Process, any grade-related remedy identified through that process shall be implemented. If unresolved allegations of capricious grading remain that are not addressed by the Equity Resolution Process — that is, allegations under paragraphs 2.a through 2.c — the matter shall be referred to Section 4 for resolution of those remaining issues.

4. Grade Appeals Not Involving Allegations of Discrimination or Harassment

1. 1. 1. Instructor Discussion. Except as provided in Section 3, the initial step in the grade appeal procedure shall be for the student to review with the section instructor the semester grade, the stated grading criteria and how the stated grading criteria were applied to determine the student's semester grade. Any appeal under this policy shall be filed within thirty (30) days following the posting of official grades, except that this 30-day period shall be tolled during any stay described in Section 3.c. If the student and the instructor fail to reach a mutually satisfactory decision during this discussion, then the student may proceed to step
      2. Department Chair Mediation. The student shall contact the chair of the instructor's department and request their service as a mediator during a discussion between the student and the instructor. If the department chairperson has a conflict of interest — including but not limited to being the instructor whose grading is at issue, or having a close personal, familial, or supervisory relationship with the instructor or student — the dean shall appoint a substitute to fulfill this role. If the student and instructor fail to reach a mutually satisfactory decision during this discussion, the student may then proceed to step c.
      3. Request for Ad Hoc Review Group. The student shall request, in writing, that the department chairperson inform the instructor and convene an Ad Hoc Review Group composed of the following: the chairperson (or designated representative) of the instructor's department, the dean (or the dean's designated representative), and a third member to be appointed by the provost from the faculty. The student's written request should include: course, instructor, semester, rationale for considering the grading as arbitrary and capricious, and the outcome sought. Any member of the Ad Hoc Review Group who has a conflict of interest with respect to the student or instructor shall recuse themselves, and a substitute shall be designated in the same manner as the recused member.
      4. Ad Hoc Review Group Determination. The student and instructor shall be allowed to appear before the Ad Hoc Review Group. The determination reached by the Ad Hoc Review Group on the question of alleged capricious grading shall be binding and final on both the student and the instructor. The identities of the parties and the substance of the appeal shall be kept confidential by all participants in the review, except as necessary to conduct the review or as required by law.
      5. Remedy. If capricious grading is substantiated by the Ad Hoc Review Group, the Ad Hoc Review Group shall assign the student a grade consistent with the stated grading criteria. A report of the Ad Hoc Review Group, with the student's semester grade, shall be forwarded by the department chairperson to the Office of the Registrar, normally within 30 business days of the request for an Ad Hoc Review Group. This process may take longer based on the nature and circumstances of the reported concern.

5. Retaliation Prohibited

1. 1. 1. Retaliation against any individual who files a grade appeal or participates in a grade appeal under Section 3 or Section 4 is strictly prohibited. Any allegation of retaliation shall be referred to the appropriate University process.

J. Transfer Credit Policy. Missouri S&T accepts all college-level courses from accredited institutions.  Courses that are remedial, preparatory, vocational, technical or non-college-level will not be accepted and transferred to Missouri S&T. The Registrar's Office will refer to the transcript key or catalog of the sending institution in deciding as to the level or purpose of the course in question. Courses are evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and/or the discipline specific department.

All grades, quality points and credit hours are transferred and computed in the cumulative GPA. Grades not included in the transfer institution’s GPA due to a repeat or forgiveness policy may be removed from the Missouri S&T cumulative GPA upon verification to the Registrar’s Office. No more than 15 semester transfer hours will be dropped from the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA. Courses transferred from international institutions with a C- or higher will receive an EX grade.

College level (not remedial, technical or vocational in content) course credit earned while enrolled in high school (dual- credit) shall follow the same policy as transfer credit.

K. Academic Forgiveness Policy. Missouri S&T has an academic forgiveness policy to enable those students who did not perform adequately in their undergraduate enrollment at Missouri S&T to be given a second chance to pursue their undergraduate academic goals. Students returning to Missouri S&T to pursue an undergraduate degree after an extended absence may request permission to remove one or more complete academic terms from future degree and GPA considerations. Academic forgiveness is a policy of Missouri S&T and as such may not be recognized by outside institutions or agencies.

1. Eligibility - To be eligible for academic forgiveness consideration, students must meet these requirements:

a. Students must have not been enrolled as degree-seeking at Missouri S&T or any other University of Missouri System campus for four or more consecutive years.

b. Students must not have graduated from Missouri S&T.

c. Students must be admitted as degree- seeking and have earned a minimum of 12.0 credits hours with at least a 2.5 GPA of record for those hours at Missouri S&T within the past 12 months.

2. Conditions -  Academic forgiveness is based on the following conditions:

a. All courses and credits taken during the chosen term(s) will be removed from consideration for GPA and degree requirements. Students may not combine individual courses from multiple terms to compose the semester(s) dropped.

b. All courses and grades for the chosen term(s) will remain on the student’s academic record with a notation showing that those hours and grades will not count toward cumulative hours, nor GPA, nor can they be used to fulfill any degree requirements.

c. Forgiveness may be applied only to academic terms completed prior to the student’s extended absence.

d. Students may only be granted academic forgiveness once.

e. Students who choose academic forgiveness must meet the degree requirements of the Missouri S&T undergraduate catalog at the time of their readmission.

f. Degree requirements met during the dropped terms must be repeated.

g. To be eligible for a degree, students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at Missouri S&T after the granting of academic forgiveness.

h. Academic forgiveness only applies to Missouri S&T undergraduate courses and is not applicable to transfer work or graduate work.

i. Only students who are readmitted to a degree program at the undergraduate level at Missouri S&T are eligible to apply for forgiveness.

j. Academic Forgiveness must be approved by the primary academic department on a case-by-case basis.

3. Procedures

a. Students should discuss their desire to pursue academic forgiveness with an academic advisor in the primary department to which they have been admitted.

b. Students should submit an Application for Academic Forgiveness form to the Office of the Registrar.

c. For each term approved for academic forgiveness, a note will appear on the transcript.

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