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Good Standing & Grading Policy

Good Standing

In order to remain in good standing, a student must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA for all graded courses taken while a graduate student. In addition, students are expected to consistently receive a grade of "P" (progress) in research credits. Students whose overall graduate GPA falls below 3.0 or who receive a grade of "Q" (unsatisfactory) in research credits will be sent a notification of academic probation. After receiving this notification, graduate students must meet with their advisor and/or graduate program director as soon as possible to plan a course of action for resolving the situation.

All courses used on a student's degree schedule must be graded, that is not pass/fail, audit, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

All courses used on a degree schedule must have B or better grades. However, at a student's graduate program’s discretion, 6 credits of BC/C grades may be used towards a degree as long as the credits are not in the student’s primary field of study.

Grades in courses that are not on a degree schedule will not affect standing except as they affect overall GPA. Graduate students are allowed to repeat courses in which they have received less than a "B." The old grade remains on the academic record, but is exempted from computation of the overall GPA.

Courses which are needed for background or breadth but will not be used on the degree schedule may be audited or taken pass/fail so as not to affect GPA.

Graduate Academic Performance

The academic progress of degree-seeking graduate students is monitored and those having academic difficulty may face sanctions. These sanctions include academic probation, suspension, and dismissal.

Graduate Academic Probation

Students whose scholastic performance is less than that expected are placed on academic probation. Academic probation is a strong warning to students that their scholastic performance is less than that expected by the University. Notices of academic probation are sent to students after the end of each semester during which the student receives a grade of "Q" in a research course or fails to maintain and overall GPA of at least 3.0.

Students will be removed from academic probation when their cumulative University GPA is 3.0 or greater, and, if applicable, upon receipt of a “P” grade in a subsequent research course.

Graduate Academic Suspension

Students may face academic suspension after two sequential semesters of academic probation. The Graduate School will consult with the student’s department and, if appropriate, the department will recommend suspension. Students who receive a notice of academic suspension will not be permitted to enroll at the University for at least one academic-year semester and summer semester. That is, students suspended at the end of fall semester may not reenroll until the following fall, and students suspended at the end of a spring semester may not reenroll until the following spring.

Graduate Academic Dismissal

Upon reinstatement after suspension, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress within one semester will result in academic dismissal.

Appeals of Graduate Academic Dismissal/Suspension

Students who are dismissed after failing to achieve good academic standing following a suspension can appeal to the Dean of the Graduate School using the Graduate Academic Dismissal/Suspension Appeal Form on-line form. Appeals of dismissal following academic suspension or dismissal will be considered if students can document that there are unusual or extenuating circumstances that have influenced their recent academic performance. Students must be confident that they will be able to show significant academic progress in the immediate future if they submit an appeal. Students should appeal to the Graduate School within two weeks of dismissal.

Grading Policies

Grades are assigned in accordance with University procedures. A grade of A, AB, or B must be obtained in each course used for credit toward a graduate degree with the exception that a total of 6 credits taken in cognate departments may carry a grade of BC or C, if approved by the chair of the major department. Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all course work taken while in graduate status.

Grading System & Grade Points

The grades awarded by the University are:

A	Excellent	4.00 grade points/credit
AB	Very good	3.50 grade points/credit
B	Good	3.00 grade points/credit
BC	Above average	2.50 grade points/credit
C	Average	2.00 grade points/credit
CD	Below average	1.50 grade points/credit
D	Inferior	1.00 grade points/credit
F	Failure	0.00 grade points/credit
I	Incomplete (no grade points per credit)—Given only when a student is unable to complete a segment of the course because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. It must be made up by the close of the next three semesters in residence or the incomplete grade becomes a failure (F). An I grade may be given only when approved in writing by the department chair. At graduation, an I grade is considered an F grade in computing the final GPA.
X	Condition (no grade points per credit)—Given only when the student is at fault in failing to complete a segment of a course, but in the judgment of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. The X grade becomes a failure (F) if it is not made up within the next semester in residence. An X grade is computed into the GPA as an F.
M	Missing grade—See instructor for clarification.
W	Late Drop (no credit, no grade points)—From the beginning of the fourth week through the end of the eighth week of a semester, course drops will be indicated by a grade of W on a student’s transcript. For the remainder of a semester, special late drops for graduate students (also indicated by a W) will only be issued by the dean of the Graduate School to correct errors in registration or events of catastrophic impact beyond a student’s control, such as serious personal illness, serious accidents, emergency hospitalization, and so on.
N	No grade (no credit, no grade points)—Given when a student officially withdraws from the University after the regular drop period, passing the subject. In these cases, the registrar notifies the instructor that the student has withdrawn from the University and should receive an N grade if passing as of the date of withdrawal. The student’s grade form will come to the instructor at the end of the course in the normal manner. The instructor will enter the appropriate grade, N or F, thus notifying the registrar.
P	Progress—(no credit, no grade points) Should be used with 5000- or 6000-level research courses where projects carry over for more than one semester. May also be used for approved 3000- or 4000-level project courses.
Q	Inadequate Progress (no credit, no grade points)—Should be used with 5000- or 6000-level research courses where projects carry over for more than one semester. May also be used for approved 3000- or 4000-level project courses.
Cr	Credit—Given by advanced placement or examination.
S	Satisfactory (credit given, no grade points)—Given for courses taken under the Pass-Fail option. A grade of S is given for performance equal to a letter grade of A, AB, B, BC, or C. Also indicates successful completion of research courses as evidenced by a successful defense of report, thesis, or dissertation.
E	Effort Unsatisfactory (no credit, no grade points)—Given for courses taken under the Pass-Fail option. A grade of E is given for performance equal to a letter grade of CD, D, or F.
Note: Audit Option—Courses are typically taken for audit by students wishing to refamiliarize themselves with the material. A course taken as an audit may be taken at a later date for credit subject to the approval of the student’s committee. Changes to audit option must be approved by the instructor. A student should find out what the instructor requires in an audit; it often is more than simply sitting in class.
V	Satisfactory audit (no grade points or credit)—Given for courses taken under the audit option.
U	Unsatisfactory audit (no grade points or credit)—Given for courses taken under the audit option.

Grade Reports & Transcripts

Students may access their semester-end grades through Banweb. Students should enter their campus username and ISO password to login. Upon gaining access, click on student services, student records, then final grades. Grades are mailed to the student only upon request.

Students or alumni may request official transcripts of their academic records from the Office of Student Records and Registration at no charge. Current students or students who attended Michigan Tech since 2003 may login to Banweb to request a transcript. Enter the campus username and ISO password to login. After gaining access, click on student services, student records, then select an official or unofficial transcript.

Former students who enrolled prior to 2003 can request a transcript in person, by mail, or by fax. See the Office of Student Records and Registration web page for more details.

Disputed Grades

A student having an error in a final course grade should contact the instructor and the registrar as soon as possible but no later than one month after the beginning of the next semester. Graded student work (exams, papers, homework, and so on,) that has not been returned to the student should be retained by the instructor of record for at least one month after the beginning of the next semester or until existing disputes have been resolved.