1996-1997 catalog
Undergraduate
Academic Regulations
The Baccalaureate Core
Courses that may be used to satisfy general baccalaureate core requirements have course numbers ending with 'X.' For example, English 111X, Communication 141X and other such courses meet specific core requirements. See the requirements for the baccalaureate core for a listing of other specific courses.
Courses meeting the upper division writing intensive and oral communication intensive requirements for the baccalaureate core are identified in the course description of the catalog with the following designators:
O - oral communication intensive course
W - writing intensive course
Two courses designated 'O/2' are required to complete the oral communication intensive requirement.
Specific Degree Requirements
Courses that may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements (e.g., humanities elective for the B.A. degree, or natural science elective for the B.S. degree) are identified in the course description section of the catalog by the following designators:
h - humanities n - natural science
m - mathematics s - social science
For example, you may use ANTH 309, Arctic Prehistory (3+0)s to satisfy the 'social science elective' requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Some courses, including all special topics and individual study courses, are not given course classifications.
Full-, Part-time Status/Study Load
If you're an undergraduate student registered for 12 or more semester credits, you are classified as a full-time student. In order to complete an undergraduate program in four years, you must earn 16 or 17 credits each semester. You may enroll in up to 18 credits per semester without special permission. To enroll in 19 credits or more, you need a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and an overload approval by your adviser and department head.
Credits carried at any UAF unit are considered in determining study load hours and full-time or part-time classification. Courses that are audited or taken for credit by examination are not included in the study load computation. Only semester-based correspondence study courses count in the study load.
Grading System and Grade Point Average (GPA) 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. |
| C | Indicates a satisfactory or average level of performance. |
| D | The lowest passing grade, indicates work of below average quality and performance. |
| F | Indicates failure. All 'F' grades, including those earned in pass/fail courses, are included in the GPA calculations. |
| P | Pass - The grade 'pass' 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 grade of 'C' or better in undergraduate course work and 'B' or better in graduate courses. The entire class must be graded pass/fail and the grading system is noted in the class schedule. |
| Cr | Indicates credit was given under the credit-no-credit option. |
| 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 temporary grade used to
indicate that you've satisfactorily completed (C or better) the majority of the
work in a course, but for personal reasons beyond your control, haven't been
able to complete the course during the regular semester. Normally, an incomplete
is assigned when you've been in class until at least the last three weeks of the
semester or session. Negligence or indifference aren't acceptable reasons for an
'I' grade. (The deferred grade (DF) may be used for those cases when you're
unable to complete a course due to institutional reasons, such as a breakdown of
laboratory equipment.)
When the 'I' grade is given, the instructor includes a statement of the work required of you to complete the course. You must make up an incomplete within one year or it will automatically be changed to an 'F' grade. The 'I' grade is not computed in your GPA until it has been changed to a regular letter grade by the instructor or until one year has elapsed, at which time it will be computed as an 'F.' Seniors cannot graduate with an 'I' grade in either a UAF or major course requirement. To determine a senior's GPA at graduation, an 'I' grade will be computed as a failing grade. |
| NB | No Basis - Instructors may award a No Basis (NB) grade if there is insufficient student progress and/or attendance for evaluation to occur. No credit is given, nor is 'NB' calculated in the GPA. This is a permanent grade and may not be used to substitute for the Incomplete (I). It can't be removed by later completing outstanding work. |
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, NB, W, P, AU and CR don't carry grade points and don't affect your GPA.
| Grade | Grade Points per Credit |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Non-credit courses, transfer credits and credit by examination do not affect the GPA calculations. Once you complete your bachelor's degree, your GPA in future work is calculated only on the credits and grades earned since your degree was awarded. An exception to this is made if you're officially admitted to a second bachelor's degree program.
All grades (original and retakes) for a course completed are included on your academic record, but only the last grade earned for a course is computed in your GPA unless the course is one that can be repeated for credit.