Grading

• Grade Appeal Process
• Grade Point Average

A grade is assigned for each course in which a student is regularly enrolled. A passing grade may be earned only if the student is enrolled for the duration of the course.

To assist students in assessing their progress in classes, the University requires faculty to issue mid-term grades for students: all grades for freshmen are required and Ds and Fs for other students, undergraduate and graduate. Mid-term grades are not posted to transcripts; only final grades.

The following grades are used by Texas Wesleyan University:

* Not counted in calculating grade point average (GPA)

The following may appear on the transcript in lieu of a grade but are not included in the GPA calculation:

* Not counted in calculating grade point average (GPA)

The grade “I” (incomplete) is given only when the student’s work is satisfactory but, for reasons beyond the control of the student, has not been completed. Both students and instructors should note that an “I” is not given in lieu of an “F” (failing). It is the responsibility of the student to confer with the instructor of the course and to complete the prescribed requirements of the course by the designated date shown in the University Academic Calendar. For each “I” assigned, the instructor will file an Incomplete Grade Form with the Office of Student Records. On or before the designated date, the instructor will assign a grade and report it to the Office of Student Records. If a new grade is not reported by the designated date, the “I” will automatically convert to an “F.” Once an “F” is given, it cannot be changed without repeating the course in which it was given. No grade changes may be made after one (1) year from the time the grade was originally issued. This limit also applies to grades issued following completion of an “incomplete” (I) grade.

Undergraduate students enrolled in 7-week terms will have until the designated date shown on the Academic Calendar for the full term to remove an Incomplete grade.

Graduate online students taking courses in a compressed 7-week session must complete and remove an Incomplete grade by the deadline to drop a course during the 7-week session immediately following the session for which the “I” was given.

The grade “T” is a temporary grade assigned if a course extends beyond the regular semester dates. This grade is not used in lieu of an “I” but is given to students who are enrolled in courses in which grades will not be available until after the regular semester ends. Examples of such courses are Weekend University summer courses, EDU 2100 , BIO 1413 , and certain courses taken abroad.

It is possible for an undergraduate student to take a maximum of five elective courses (15 hours) toward a degree in which they may choose to be graded on a “P/F” basis. Courses in which the grades of “P” or “F” are regularly awarded to all students enrolled do not count among these five courses. Students may not choose to receive a grade of “P” or “F” in any course that is a general education curriculum requirement or a specific departmental requirement for a major, a minor, or a certificate. A student may enroll in only one of these five elective courses in any given semester and must have written permission prior to enrolling from their major advisor, the instructor, and the dean of the student’s major.

A factor in determining a student’s grade in any course will be competency in the use of written and spoken English.

Grade Appeal Process

1. Students wishing to appeal a grade must do so in a timely fashion. For grades assigned during a semester and which are incorporated into the final grade, the appeal must be initiated before the completion of the semester. For course grades or grades on assignments completed within the last week of the semester, the appeal must be initiated before the end of the following semester. For appeals of grades assigned in the fall semester, a student has until the end of the following spring semester; for grades assigned in the spring, the student has until the end of the following fall semester; for grades assigned during the summer, the student has until the end of the following fall semester. No grade may be appealed after one (1) year.
2. If a student decides to appeal a grade, the student contacts the instructor for discussing the grade assignment. This contact establishes an appeal. The student and instructor may interact face-to-face, by video conference, by telephone, or by email. If an instructor is not available because of part-time, sabbatical, or other circumstances, the student may begin with step (3). Under extremely unusual circumstances, grades may be appealed beyond these deadlines. Students should realize that pertinent documentation (e.g. other students’ papers) becomes less readily available as time passes. If the results of the discussions with the instructor are unsatisfactory, the student contacts the department chair or director*.
3. The student will provide the department chair or director with a written complaint (a) stating what grade is being appealed and, (b) on what basis it is being appealed. The student should also provide all pertinent materials such as; the assignment for which the grade is being appealed, the syllabus for the course, previous grades assigned in the course, etc.
4. The department chair or director* will review the materials and the appeal with the student with the thought of ascertaining the issues involved in the appeal. Additional information may be requested from the student and/or the instructor. The department chair or director will attempt to resolve the appeal informally between the student and the instructor.
5. If the appeal cannot be resolved informally, the department chair or director will meet with the dean to discuss the issues involved and to transmit the documentation developed to that point. The dean will then contact the student and the instructor to discuss the appeal. The dean will have the responsibility to determine the merits of the appeal. The dean may request assignments submitted by other students, a review or re-grading of the assignment, and a review of the grade(s) by qualified individuals or other faculty, and/or request other materials as necessary to support a decision. The decision to obtain more information or to refer the case to others is that of the dean.
6. The dean will make a written recommendation to the Provost to approve or deny the grade appeal.
7. If the grade appeal is denied, the student may appeal to the Provost as the chief academic officer. The Provost has the responsibility to review the procedures followed in the review process in order to determine if due process was followed.
8. If the grade appeal is approved, the instructor may appeal to the Committee on Faculty Grievances.

*If there is no department chair or director, the appeal discussions occur with the associate dean or dean and steps (4) and (5) are carried out by the dean. If the grade appeal concerns the department chair or director, the contact is made directly with the dean. If the grade appeal concerns the dean, the contact is made with the Provost. If the grade appeal concerns the Provost, the contact is made with the President.

Grade Point Average

Grade Point Average

Grade points are used in calculating the grade point averages (GPA) required for admission, graduation, and other scholastic requirements. Grade Point Averages are calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of attempted credit hours. Grade points are based on A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and F/WF=0. Grades of “W,” “I,” “P,” “DP” or “T” have no grade points and are not used in GPA calculation. When a course is repeated, the grade point average will be calculated using the most recent grade achieved.

For courses taken at another institution and repeated at the other institution prior to enrolling at Texas Wesleyan University, the last grade awarded for the course will be shown on the Wesleyan transcript.

• Term GPA: This is the GPA calculated for coursework taken within one semester (ie: Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Cumulative GPA: This is the overall GPA calculated across a student’s education and may include college/university level coursework transferred from regionally accredited institutions, not to include remedial or non-college level coursework.

GPA’s appear on unofficial and official transcripts, as well as degree audits and advising reports.

Major Grade Point Average

The calculation of a student’s major GPA is based only on those courses that are specific to the major and are required beyond the General Education Curriculum. These courses are listed under the degree requirements for each major and are labeled “Major Requirements.”