Grading System

The following grading system has been established by the faculty and approved by the Board of Trustees of Thomas University:

The following symbols may be used on the student's academic transcript:

• A "W" will be assigned by the registrar to any student who formally withdraws from any class after the last day of the drop/add period, and prior to the last day to drop a course without academic penalty.
• A "WF" will be assigned by the instructor to any student who formally withdraws from any class or from the college while doing unsatisfactory work after the last day to drop. The "WF" will be used in the determination of the grade point average.
• A "V" will be assigned to any student who audits a course. Students may not transfer from audit to credit status or vice versa after the drop/add period.
• A "K" will be assigned to any student who receives credit for the course in an approved institutional credit-by-examination program.
• An "I" will be assigned by the instructor only to those students who were doing satisfactory work but did not complete the course due to approved extenuating circumstances. An "I" will be converted to an "F" if all course requirements are not completed by the end of the subsequent semester. An "I" may not be completed by attending class during the subsequent semester. Completion of requirements to convert an "I" to a letter grade is the sole responsibility of the student.
• An "E" will be assigned to designate credit earned through experiential learning. Thomas University uses the guidelines of ACE and CAEL to determine appropriate credit for training, workshops, military service, etc. that has taken place outside a college setting.

Grade Point Average

Quality points are used to compute the student's grade point average and are determined by multiplying the grade points for each letter grade by the number of hours for each respective course.

The grade point average is computed two ways at the end of each semester. The first time is to determine the semester grade point average. The semester grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned that semester by the total number of hours attempted that semester.

The second time the grade point average is computed is to determine the cumulative grade point average. The cumulative grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points accrued by a student at the university by the total number of hours attempted by that student at Thomas University.

NOTE: Hours earned at other institutions and transferred to Thomas University are not included in Thomas University's grade point average.

Grade Appeal Policy

(The policy stated here is quoted from pages 28-29 of the 2006-2007 Thomas University catalog.)

There are a variety of protections offered students at the University to assure a fair and consistent treatment in academic matters. Issues of alleged discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and penalties for student misconduct have their own grievance or appeals procedure, detailed in Volume VII of the Policy Manual and in the Student Handbook.

Student grievances may concern: 1. Course content that veers significantly and substantively from the content and requirements as set forth in a course syllabus. 2. Demonstrably arbitrary and unfair evaluation of student produced course work.

Deviations from the Course Syllabus

Deviation from the syllabus will be considered a grievable situation only if the student can show that significant material, vital to future courses for which this course is a prerequisite, has been eliminated or the expectation of student performance has significantly changed.

In general, any student who has any form of grievance with a faculty member or administrator takes that grievance to the person involved. Accordingly, students who have a grievance about major deviations, additions or changes to a course’s syllabus are encouraged to first take up the issue with the course instructor. Significant reasons may have developed – such as a major discovery that necessitates changes in the course content or contextual developments which change the way the course may be delivered or evaluated – to warrant such changes in the curriculum.

If a faculty member is contacted and a resolution does not result, the grievance may then be taken to the Division Chairperson. (If the applicable Division chairperson is the instructor in question, the concern should be directed to the School Dean.) The purpose of these meetings is primarily informational, although if there is evidence that the course did not generally match with the basic description provided in the University catalog, remedies may be offered to the student, including, but not limited to, re-offering the course to the student, providing an opportunity for mentored independent study, or extending the option of course withdrawal.

If the grievance is still not resolved, it may be taken to the School Dean. no resolution is reached, the matter will be resolved by the President. Prompt and polite communication among concerned parties is a sound practice in matters of misunderstanding.

Grievances should be expressed and dealt with at the earliest point in time. Ordinarily students should begin the grievance process no later than two weeks after the initial unresolved experience. Grievances initiated after the end of the semester will be treated as grade appeals.

Demonstrably Arbitrary and Unfair Evaluation of Student Work

Students have a right to expect fair and consistent issuance of course grades. The grading policy employed in each class, including the comparative weight of each component used to determine the final grade, is outlined in each course syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to read and comply with the grading policy outlined in that syllabus. n general, any student who has any form of grievance with a faculty member or administrator takes that grievance to the person involved. Accordingly, students who have questions about grades on projects, tests or final grades for the semester are encouraged to meet with their instructor and review the grades.

In the case of a final grade only, if the student still does not understand the basis for the grade or believes that the composition of the semester grade conflicts with the grading policy stated in the syllabus, the student may request an additional meeting with the instructor and the applicable Division Chairperson (If the applicable Division Chairperson is the instructor in question, the concern should be directed to the School Dean). This meeting must be requested within two weeks of receipt of the final grade, and must take place within 30 days of the beginning of the next semester.

At this meeting, the student will be asked to provide evidence to substantiate the claim that the grade was either arbitrary or unfair. The role of the applicable Division Chairperson is to facilitate communication, and clarify understandings. At the instructor’s sole prerogative, the final grade may be modified, although no grade may be lowered as a result of these meetings, or the assigned grade may be sustained. If the dispute is regarding the accuracy of a grade assignment, this meeting is the final step of the review process.

If, in the opinion of the applicable Division Chairperson, significant discrepancies exist between the grading policy stated on the syllabus and the actual process used to assign a final grade, one last step may be utilized. The applicable Division Chairperson may recommend a review of the grading process by the School Dean. This person does not have the authority to change the final grade, but can extend to the student the opportunity to retroactively withdraw from the course, if sufficient evidence warrants such a recommendation.

The grade appeal process is not designed to address accusations of discrimination or harassment. If such concerns are the premise upon which the appeal is made, the student is directed to use the processes established by the University to resolve discrimination or harassment charges. See Volume II of the Thomas University Policy Manual.