SA-6 Grading Policy

Policy Type: Student Affairs
Policy Title: Grading Policy
Policy Number: SA-6 (Combines and updates former policies SA 6, 7, 8 and 25)

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Purpose:
Provide grading system definitions, policy, and procedures.

Scope:
All students, staff, faculty and administrators of Green River.

Definition:

GPA: Grade point average

Grade: A grade earned by a student, based on course work accomplished.

Letter Grade Translations:

Letter grades are translated to the following decimal grades:

Grade and Symbol Definitions:

I = Incomplete

An instructor may record a student's work as incomplete when the student has been delayed in completing the required work for a reason deemed appropriate or sufficient by the instructor.

N = Audit

Indicates the student enrolled for information only (no credit given) and attended class regularly. “N” does not affect GPA. “N” is considered a grade but is not considered in the repeat grade policy.

NC = No Credit

Indicates the student petitioned the Registrar for a P/NC grade (prior to the end of the eighth week of the quarter) and earned a decimal grade lower than 1.5. OR the class is graded on a pass/no credit basis.

P = Pass

Indicates the student petitioned the Registrar for a P/NC grade (prior to the end of the eighth week of the quarter) and earned a decimal grade equal to or greater than 1.5. OR the class is graded on a pass/no credit basis.

S = Satisfactory

Indicates student is making satisfactory progress but has not completed all the competencies for a given level of instruction. No credit is awarded.

W = Official Withdrawal

Indicates the student initiated an official withdraw from class. “W” does not affect GPA.

Grading symbols - May also be used on grade reports or transcripts:

* = Missing Grade
No grade assignment given.

R = Repeat
The symbol “R” after a grade indicates the student repeated the class.

Y = Work in Progress
The class is in progress at grading time.

Incomplete Agreement: An agreement between an instructor and student to defer a specific course's completion deadline.

Official Withdrawal: A student completes the appropriate withdraw/drop paperwork and submits the paperwork to Enrollment Services by the deadlines published in the quarterly Class Schedule. Or the student may withdraw/drop using online services.

PIN: A randomly selected Personal Identification Number assigned by Green River.

SID: An individualized Student ID number assigned by Green River. An SID is not changeable.

Unofficial Withdrawal: A grade of 0.0 may be assigned by the instructor if the student ceases attendance of a class and does not officially withdraw from the class.

Grading Policy:

Under Green River's numerical grading system, instructors may report grades of 0.0 or between 1.0 to 4.0 in 0.1 increments, or report grading symbols (I, S, P). Only an instructor may change an assigned grade.

Pass/No-Credit (P/NC) grading policy:
This petition is a contract and is not rescindable. Note: No more than 25 percent of the required credits may be graded “Pass” to satisfy requirements for any transfer degree. Students are urged to consult the catalog of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer.

Satisfactory (S) grade policy:
The “S” grade may be used only for Basic and ESOL classes numbered under 100. Courses with “S” grade designators cannot be applied toward any degree or certificate program. Courses with “S” grade indicate “work in progress” and do not denote course completion.

Repeat grade policy:
Students may repeat a course for which they have earned credit when such a repeat is necessary to satisfy a distribution requirement or improving a previously-earned grade. If deemed necessary to repeat, students may only do so twice (this is defined as the original enrollment, plus two repeats). Some programs of study may have more restrictive policies regarding repetition of classes. This policy applies to enrollment in credit-bearing or Adult Basic Education (ABE/ESL) courses, including transferred-in courses. This policy does not apply to non-credit continuing education courses or courses taken by audit. The highest grade earned of the original or repeated courses will be used to calculate the student's cumulative grade point average.

Incomplete (I) grade policy:
An instructor may record a student's work as incomplete when the student has been delayed in completing the required work. “I” grades do not affect GPA. Student has four quarters (or less, if instructor indicates) to finish the Incomplete agreement with the instructor. After four quarters, if the “I” grade still appears on the transcript it will be changed to a 0.0 by the Office of the Registrar.

Change of Grade policy:
Change of Grade forms are to be completed by the instructor of record. In cases where the instructor is not available, the division chair or instructional dean may submit a change of grade. Grade changes are not valid for withdraw (“W”), pass/no-credit (P/NC), or audit (“N”). To ensure academic record integrity, Change of Grades will only be accepted from faculty, staff and administrators. Change of Grades will not be accepted from a student.

Obtaining grades policy:
Only grades and credits earned at Green River will post to a Green River transcript.

In order to comply with Family Educational Privacy Act 1974 (FERPA), student information (including grades) will not be released to third parties without prior written permission of the student.

Grade discrepancies must be addressed by the student with the issuing faculty member. If the issuing faculty member is no longer at Green River, contact the appropriate division chair or instructional dean.

Grading Procedure:

Instructors will report grades to the Office of the Registrar for recording to students' permanent academic transcript by the start of the 4th business day after the last day of instruction.

Pass/No-Credit (P/NC) Grading Procedure:
To declare an intention to be graded pass/no-credit, the student must file a petition with the Office of the Registrar no later than the end of the eighth week of the quarter (fall, winter, spring) or the end of the fifth quarter (summer). For students who qualify, the Office of the Registrar will convert the decimal grade submitted by the instructor either to credit (P) or to no credit (NC).

Repeat Grade Procedure:
The highest grade earned of the original or repeated courses will be used to calculate the student's cumulative grade point average. If the repeated courses involve a P/NC and a decimal grade, the decimal grade will be kept in the GPA calculation if it is over a 2.0. If it is 1.9 or below, the P/NC will be kept in the GPA calculation and considered the "higher" grade earned.

Incomplete Agreements:
Coursework may be completed according to an agreement between the instructor and student. Any student seeking to establish an Incomplete Agreement must contact the instructor for the class. At the instructor's discretion, an Incomplete Agreement may be created and will reside with the instructor of record. The instructor will assign an “I” grade during the grading period. Once the terms of the Incomplete Agreement have been met, the instructor submits a change of grade to the Office of the Registrar. In cases where the instructor is not on contract with the college, the division chair or instructional dean may submit a change of grade.

Change of Grade Procedures:
To submit grade changes, the instructor of record submits a change of grade form online (via college intranet, instructor briefcase, or STAR). Students must contact the instructor regarding questions about the grade received.

Obtaining Grades:
Current quarter grades are posted to students' transcript approximately 5-business days upon completion of the quarter. Students may access their grades on the internet (greenriver.edu) using their Student Identification (SID) number and Personal Identification Number (PIN.)

Specific Authority:
Instruction Council (IC)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
Green River College Registrar

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History of Policy or Procedure

Draft Date: March 1, 2005
Adopted: June 29, 2007
Revised: June 22, 2020 Updates and combines SA-6, 7, 8 and 25
Reviewed by: Student Affairs Leadership Team
Contact: Jenny Wheeler, director of the office of the registrar, ext 3411
President's Staff Sponsor: David Larsen, Dean of Enrollment and Completion, 253-833-9111, ext. 3307, dlarsen@greenriver.edu