Mid-Term Grades
Soon after the middle of the Fall and Spring terms, students are informed of their academic progress in all courses via the Midterm Grade Report. All students who do not have grades of C in at least three full course credits at midterm are encouraged to seek the counsel of their Academic Advisor.
Academic probation or suspension does not result from midterm grades, but is the result of unsatisfactory final grades. Failure to consult one’s Academic Advisor and to follow recommendations may affect the academic standing and enrollment status of a student who is not making satisfactory progress.
Dean’s List
A student who achieves a regular term GPA of 3.4 or higher while passing at least four total credits (to include all courses counting toward "load credit" including MAT 010, 011, and 012) will be named to the Dean’s List.
Grade Appeals
It is recognized that instructors must have the primary responsibility of assessing the quality of academic performance, advancement, and achievement of students in their classes. However, instructors are subject to human frailties; these frailties can cause errors in calculation or judgment that may affect assessment of a student’s performance. Instructors may appear to be capricious or inconsistent in their grading of a particular student. Consequently, students may feel rightly or wrongly, a need to appeal that assessment. Except in the most unusual circumstances, grades will be changed only upon the recommendation of the faculty member involved and then only with the consent of the Student Admissions and Academic Standing (SAAS) Committee. The following procedures, designed to protect both the student and the faculty member, are to be followed such that the issue is resolved fairly and expeditiously:
- Within 30 days of the start of the next regular term after assignment of the grade, the student must make a formal written appeal to the instructor involved explaining why the student believes the grade should be changed. If the instructor finds an error has been made, the instructor will request that the SAAS Committee approve a grade change and notify the student in writing of the request. If the instructor finds the grade to be correct, the instructor will notify the student in writing of the decision not to change the grade, specifically addressing the student’s stated reason for the appeal. The instructor’s response must take place within 30 days of receipt of the appeal, or—for reasons of college-related travel, sabbatical, or other extenuating circumstances such as sick leave—within 30 days of the start of the next regular term when the faculty member returns.
- If the student is not satisfied with the written response of the instructor, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the Chair of the Division in which the course is taught within 30 days of the date of the instructor’s written response. The student’s written notice of appeal should be accompanied by all relevant materials; a copy of the original written appeal to the instructor and a copy of the instructor’s written response must be forwarded to the Division Chair. Within 30 days of the student's written appeal to the division, the Division Chair will convene a subcommittee from the division. This committee will consist of the Division Chair and at least four other divisional faculty representing a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. The student and faculty member may be present for the hearing. If the Division Chair is the faculty member whose grade is being appealed, the Division Chair will appoint another member of the division to chair the appeal hearing. For GST, GSTR and WELL courses, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Curriculum and Student Success serves as the Division Chair and members of the Committee on General Education serve as the division committee. The decision of the designated division committee shall be communicated in writing to the student, the faculty member, and the Registrar within 14 days of the date of the hearing. The letter should address the department’s reason for supporting or denying the student’s appeal. (Also see the “Summary of Grade Appeal Policy” chart for this information presented in chart form.)
- If either the student or the faculty member does not agree with the decision of the designated division committee, either may appeal to the SAAS Committee. Within 30 days of the date of the division committee's written decision on the appeal, the student/faculty member must submit a letter contesting the division committee's decision to the Chairperson of the SAAS Committee. The SAAS Committee will base its decision on the following materials forwarded by the division: the original appeal by the student to the instructor, the instructor's written response, the student's written appeal to the division and all supporting materials, the designated division committee's responses to the student and the instructor, a written summary of the designated division committee's decision (if any), and any paperwork or materials considered by the designated division committee. Both the student and the faculty member may be present when the appeal is heard. The decision of the Committee will be final.
Summary of Grade Appeal Policy
| Action |
Time Limit |
Student submits written appeal to faculty member.
|
Within 30 days after start of the next regular term.
|
Instructor finds error was made, requests that SAAS Committee approve a grade change, and notifies student in writing of request for grade change.
OR
Instructor finds the grade to be correct, notifies student in writing, specifically addressing the student's stated reason for the appeal. |
Within 30 days of receipt of written appeal OR--for reasons of travel, sabbatical, or other extenuating circumstances, such as sick leave--within 30 days of the start of the regular term when the instructor returns. |
| Student is not satisfied with the written response of the instructor and submits written appeal to Division Chair (or the Associate Vice President and Dean of Curriculum and Student Success for GST, GSTR and WELL courses). |
Within 30 days of date of instructor's written response. |
| Division subcommittee holds appeal meeting. |
Within 30 days of student's written appeal. |
| Division committee's decision communicated in writing to the student, instructor, and the Registrar. |
Within 14 days of the division committee's decision.
|
| Either the student or instructor does not agree with the decision of the division's committee and appeals to the SAAS Committee. |
Within 30 days of the date of the division committee's written notification of its decision.
|
Grade Point Average
The GPA is a measure of a student’s academic achievement at the College, calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number of credits attempted. A term GPA and the cumulative average are computed at the end of each term for each student. For purposes of computing the Grade Point Average (GPA), the following weights are used: A=4.0; A-=3.7; B+=3.3; B=3.0; B-=2.7; C+=2.3; C=2.0; C-=1.7; D+=1.3; D=1.0; D-=0.7; and F=0.0. Included in the GPA calculation are the grades earned for Convocation credit, calculated as 0.25 convocation credit for CA and 0.0 credit for CF grades.
NOTE: Convocation credits do not count in the minimum earned credits needed for a degree. S, SC, I, and U grades are not used in calculating GPA. W, WP, WF, and I grades are not used in computing the GPA. All core, distribution, concentration, and collateral courses are used in the calculation of a student’s major GPA.
Grading Scale
The quality of a student’s academic achievement in each Berea College course is reported through final course grades in a grading scale adopted by the College Faculty in November 2007, as follows:
| A |
Excellent Work |
| B |
Good Work |
| C |
Competent Work* |
| D |
Poor work that is still worthy of credit
Raises serious concern about the readiness of a student to continue in related course work. |
| F |
Failing work that is unworthy of credit |
| CA |
The required minimum of 7 Convocation credits were earned |
| CF |
The required minimum of 7 Convocation credits were not earned |
| S/U/SC |
Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Satisfactorily Completed
Given in developmental mathematics courses and in other non-credit courses and projects. These grades are not used in determining the GPA. |
| P |
Passing work
Given for courses which do not affect GPA, but for which credit is earned. |
| CP |
Continuing Progress
Given when a student is enrolled in a class that continues into the next term. |
| I |
Incomplete
For an incomplete grade to be assigned, the student should provide a written request to the instructor of the course for the incomplete grade using the Request for Incomplete Grade form at least one week before the last day of class for the term, or as soon as reasonably possible in extenuating circumstances. When approved by the instructor, an incomplete grade may be assigned when at least 70% of the course has been completed but, for good and sufficient reason, a portion of the course cannot be completed by the end of the current term. Courses in which “I” grades are assigned must be completed by the deadline agreed upon by the student and the instructor as indicated on the form (usually no later than midterm of the next regular term in which the student is enrolled) or the grade will be recorded on the permanent academic record as “F” or “U” or as the grade indicated on the Request for Incomplete Grade form. Note that instructors may set an earlier deadline for completion of incomplete work than that set by the College.
|
| N |
No grade
A grade temporarily assigned 1) when extenuating circumstances prevent an instructor from submitting grades at the time grades are due or 2) when the specific requirements of the course prevent the student from completing all graded material in the course at the time grades are due. The second scenario usually occurs with Internship courses. A change of grade is required for 1) no later than 10 days following the assignment of the N grade and 2) as soon as all course work is completed and graded, but no later than the 12th week of the term after the Internship course is taken. No student may graduate with a N grade on their record. |
In addition, the course grades of A, B, C, and D may be modified by a plus (+) or minus (-) suffix, indicating achievement which is respectively at the higher or lower segment of each of these grade ranges.
* Please note that a C- does not count for sequenced courses requiring a C or higher in a previous course (e.g., FRN 102 requires a C or higher in FRN 101).
Achievement in courses at the College is recorded by grades of A+/A/A-/B+/B/B-/C+/C/C-/D+/D/D-/F/U/S/SC/P/CP/I. Also see "Dean's List" and "Graduating with Honors" in this publication.
Repeating a Course for a Higher Grade
A course in which a C-, D+, D, D- or F is earned may be repeated for a higher grade. The earlier grade will remain on the transcript, but only the higher of the two will be computed in the GPA. Earned credit will be given only once. Permission to repeat a course in which a grade of C or higher is earned may be given only by the Student Admissions and Academic Standing (SAAS) Committee. Courses may be repeated no more than two times without approval of the SAAS Committee. The highest grade will be computed in the GPA. Permission to take a course for the fourth time rarely will be given.
Some courses, such as GSTR 110, may have restrictions about being repeated. Please see the individual course description for any restrictions.
NOTE : For the purpose of meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress goals (see the Financial Aid and Student Accounts section in this publication), repeated courses will be counted only once toward meeting the minimum required passed course credits.