Grading Policy

GRADING SYSTEM

The final grade given for any course is a symbol of the degree of mastery of the course. It is based on the sum of evidence the student demonstrates concerning understanding and retention of material presented and does not always indicate native intelligence or potential. Formal examinations, written and oral quizzes, term papers, recitation and participation in class discussions are utilized in determining the grade.

Click here to download the grading chart (PDF)

GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURE

Faculty assign grades after thoughtful, careful consideration based on their professional judgment of the student’s mastery of the course’s body of knowledge and within the course policies specified in the syllabus.

However, on rare occasions a student might believe the grade assigned does not accurately reflect course mastery and/or the policies stated in the syllabus.

In such cases, a student may appeal the assigned grade by following a set procedure that begins by discussing grade determination with the course instructor and, failing agreement at this level, leads to involvement of academic administrators. The detailed Grade Appeal Procedure document is available on the Registrar page in BadgerWeb.

In order to assure that the issues surrounding the appeal are fresh in all parties’ minds, students must initiate the grade appeal by contacting the faculty member who assigned the grade no later than two class weeks after the start of the subsequent academic semester. In the case of an appeal of a grade assigned during the spring semester, mini-terms or summer school, the student may appeal the grade any time prior to the completion of two weeks of the fall semester. Appeals not initiated within the time-frame specified above will not be considered.

REMOVAL OF INCOMPLETE GRADES

For undergraduate students, an I is changed to an F if the missing work is not submitted within two weeks after the beginning of the next semester. The graduate policy is stated under Graduate Program Policies in the Graduate Studies section of the Bulletin.