Students.sunyocc.edu

Policy A3
Policy Name:  Grading
Responsibility for Maintenance:  Certification and Records

Date of most recent changes:  January 25, 2010

I. Policy Statement 

Grades shall be assigned for all OCC courses in accordance with the standards set forth in this policy.

II. Reason for Policy 

This policy is designed to promote fairness in grading by ensuring that grading practices are adequately disclosed and by setting forth the basis on which students’ academic standing is to be determined.

III. Applicability of the Policy 

All students, faculty and Certification and Records office personnel should be familiar with this policy.

IV. Related Documents 

• Onondaga Community College Policy A4 Grade Dispute Procedures  
• Onondaga Community College Policy A2 Registration and Program Changes  

V. Contacts 

VI. Definitions 

Definitions and standards for certain grading terminology are set forth below.

VII. Procedures 

Instructor Grading Policy 

At the beginning of a course, the instructor informs the students of the criteria to be used in determining the final grade. Numerical or letter grades may be used during a course, but the final grade must be submitted in letter form. The instructor determines the appropriate final grade at his or her discretion.

Grading System 

A quality-point system will be used to determine academic standing:

For Nursing Courses only:

The grades of SA, SA-, SB+, SB, S, U, CR, AU, W, X, I, and IP do not carry quality points.

Non-Credit Equivalent courses will be graded as follows:

Any courses other than Mathematics:

S = Satisfactory

U = Unsatisfactory

Mathematics Courses:

All grades SA-SB indicate 80% or higher competency.

PTA Clinical Courses are taken Pass/Fail only, with grades of “CR” or “NC” assigned. Passed courses with a grade of “CR” are not calculated in the GPA. Failed courses with a grade of “NC” are computed in both the term and cumulative GPA.
Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average will be calculated by dividing the sum of the earned quality points by the sum of the credit hours of all completed courses (attempted credit hours), except as modified elsewhere. Transfer credit is not taken into account in computing the index.

Repeated Courses 

When a course is repeated, all grades and credits are recorded on the student’s transcript. If a course is repeated, only the last grade is used in computing the student’s grade point average and used for graduation requirements. If the last grade is a “W” or “X” it will not replace a previous quality point grade. Only courses repeated at Onondaga will affect a student’s index.

If a course is repeated at Onondaga, for a course in which transfer credit was previously awarded, the transfer credit will be removed from the student’s academic record.

The following conditions apply to the NUR, RPD, SGC, and PTA programs:

• A student is allowed to repeat a course with a program prefix only once.
• Students who fail to receive a “C” or “M” for a repeated course lose matriculation status in that program.
• PTA students may repeat BIO 171 & BIO 172 only once.
• RET students may repeat any required CHE or BIO course only once.

Incompletes 

In consultation with the student, the instructor may assign a grade of Incomplete (“I”). An Incomplete is assigned only when a student has not completed a major assignment or examination. The instructor notifies the Office of Certification and Records that the grade of Incomplete is to be assigned. The reason for the Incomplete and the plan for its removal will be specified. A student may not remove an Incomplete through unofficial participation in the major portion of any subsequent offering of the same course. Participation in the same course with another instructor is not valid for removal of an incomplete. Course requirements must be completed before the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) or the “I” becomes an “F”. An instructor may extend this deadline for one additional regular semester through written notification to the Office of Certification and Records.

Class Standing 

A class standing grade may be requested by a student in the event of serious illness or other extenuating circumstance which prevents completion of the course. The class standing grade can be awarded only after the instructor certifies completion of 75% of the required course content, and upon approval of the Department Chairperson. No class standing grade may be higher than a “C”, with a lower grade being recorded if the student has not earned a “C”. The student’s permanent record will indicate that the grade represents class standing.

Grade Changes 

After a grade is recorded by the Office of Certification and Records, a faculty member may request that the grade be changed. This request must be submitted to the Office of Certification and Records on an official Grade Change Form by the end of the following semester. Grade changes for reasons other than computational or clerical error are subject to the approval of the Scholastic Standards Committee by the end of the following semester.

Exceptions 

In unusual or extenuating circumstances the Scholastic Standards Committee will consider exceptions to the requirements of this policy. Petition forms are available at Student Central.

Approved by OCC Board of Trustees April 3, 2006

Updated and approved by the President January 25, 2010