2002-2003 UAF Catalog

Academic Regulations

Grading System and Grade Point Average Computation

All course grades are letter grades unless otherwise specified in the class schedule. The method of grading (letter or pass/fail) is an integral part of the course structure and is included in the course description. It is the same for all students taking the course. Instructors are expected to state their grading policies in writing at the beginning of each course. Grades appearing on academic records are as follows:

A -- An honor grade, indicates originality and independent work, a thorough mastery of the subject and the satisfactory completion of more work than is regularly required.

B -- Indicates outstanding ability above the average level of performance. This is the lowest acceptable grade in an undergraduate course used in a graduate program.

C -- Indicates a satisfactory or average level of performance. This is the lowest acceptable grade in a graduate-level course used in a graduate program.

D -- Indicates work of below-average quality and performance (not acceptable in graduate programs).

F -- Indicates failure. All F grades, including those earned in pass/fail courses, are included in the GPA calculations.

P Pass -- The pass grade indicates satisfactory completion of course requirements at either the undergraduate or graduate level. A pass grade does not affect your grade point average, but credits earned with pass grades may meet degree requirements and may be used as a measure of satisfactory progress. Satisfactory performance is the equivalent of a C grade or better in undergraduate coursework and B grade or better in graduate courses. The entire class must be graded pass/fail and the grading system is noted in the class schedule.

DF Deferred -- Indicates that the course requirements cannot be completed by the end of the semester, that credit may be withheld without penalty until the course requirements are met within an approved time. This designation will be used for courses such as theses, special projects, etc., that require more than one semester to complete.

AU Audit -- A registration status indicating that you've enrolled for informational instruction only. No academic credit is granted. You may be given a W if you don't attend a course you are auditing. (See Auditing.)

W Withdrawn -- Indicates withdrawal from a course after the first two weeks of a semester.

I Incomplete -- A grade used to indicate that you haven't been able to complete the course during the scheduled course time.
When the I grade is given, the instructor will include a statement of the work required of you to complete the course and the time limits you have to complete the work. The maximum time to be allowed is one year. At the end of the defined time limits, the instructor may issue a grade based on the work turned in. If the instructor does not change the I grade, it becomes permanent at the end of one year. The I grade is not computed in your GPA. You can't graduate with an I grade in either a UAF degree or major course requirement.

Computing Your GPA

Your grade point average (GPA) is a weighted numerical average of the grades you earn in your courses at UAF. To compute your GPA, the total number of credits you have attempted is divided into the total number of grade points you have earned. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of grade points awarded, according to the chart below, by the number of credits attempted for the course. The following grades are figured in your GPA: A, B, C, D and F. Grades of I, DF, W, P, AU and CR don't carry grade points and don't affect your GPA. Non-credit courses, transfer credits and credit by examination do not affect the GPA calculations.

Repeating Courses

All grades (original and retakes) for a course completed at UAF will be shown on the permanent record. For scholastic standing calculations, the GPA calculation for graduate students includes all courses listed on your advancement to candidacy (including repeats and undergraduate courses approved for your program). If you haven't been advanced to candidacy yet, your GPA will include all courses (including repeats) you have taken since your admission to graduate study.