Academic Policies
Grading System
Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments, and the grade of 0.0. Grades in the range of 0.6 to 0.1 are not assigned. Decimal grades are equivalent to letter grades as follows:
| 4.0 – 3.9 | A |
| 3.8 – 3.5 | A- |
| 3.4 – 3.2 | B+ |
| 3.1 – 2.9 | B |
| 2.8 – 2.5 | B- |
| 2.4 – 2.2 | C+ |
| 2.1 – 1.9 | C |
| 1.8 – 1.5 | C- |
| 1.4 – 1.2 | D+ |
| 1.1 – 0.9 | D |
| 0.8 – 0.7 | D- |
| 0.0 | F |
Under specific circumstances, non-decimal grades of “H,” “I,” “V,” “Z,” “P” and “NP” may be awarded. Please see AP2: 1.10.11 Letter Grade Designations.
Grade Designations
| Grade |
Policy |
Outcomes |
Process |
H |
Course in Progress - this grade is assigned when
instructors teach courses that extend beyond the end of the quarter or for
courses which are continuous.
|
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia, and no credit is awarded
for the course until the final grade is issued by the instructor.
|
- At the time when the grades are due, an H will be awarded.
- Upon the completion of the course, the instructor will award the final
grade, which will replace the H grade.
|
I |
Incomplete - this grade may be given when requested
by the student and approved by the instructor. A grade of I is
appropriate when the student (a) has already completed a majority of work
for the course, (b) is unable to finish the remaining course work, (c) is
able to complete the coursework with no additional instruction. NOTE:
Students must complete work in the quarter following the quarter in which
the I is given (not including the summer quarter); a one quarter
extension may be granted in certain unusual circumstances, at the
instructor's discretion. |
- Student receives grade based on previously completed coursework and
contracted work if that work is submitted by contract date.
- Student receives the grade designated on the contract if contracted
work is not completed by contract date.
- This grade may adversely affect student's ability to register in
subsequent quarters (see AP2: 1.10.01 Academic Standards).
|
- Student makes a written request for an I to the instructor of
record for the respective course.
- Student and instructor draft and sign an Incomplete Contract
which delineates work to be completed and indicates what grade will be
given if the contracted work is not completed in the allotted time.
- The instructor submits grade change form after contracted work is
submitted and graded.
- Extenuating circumstances that change the contract deadline will
require a revised Incomplete Contract to be signed.
|
N |
Audit - this grade may be given when requested by a
student and approved by the instructor (required after the second week of
the quarter) that an audit status is appropriate. The student participates
in coursework at the instructor's discretion, but no credit is earned. |
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia, and no credit is awarded
for the course.
|
- Up to the end of the second week of the quarter, student may initiate,
without instructor's permission, a change to or from audit status.
- From weeks three through six of the quarter, instructor permission is
required.
- After the sixth week, no change in status may be made.
NOTE: This timeline is adjusted for summer quarter. Please see the
Summer Schedule of Classes for dates. |
V |
Unofficial Withdrawal (Vanished) - this grade is
given to a student who attends briefly or rarely and does not withdraw with
a W grade. |
- This grade will be computed as 0.0 in GPA calculations, and no credit
is awarded for the course.
- This grade may adversely affect student's ability to register in
subsequent quarters (see AP2: 1.10.01 Academic Standards).
|
- Instructor indicates V grade and reports the student's last
date of attendance.
|
W |
Official Withdrawal - this grade is assigned when the
student withdraws from a class with instructor permission in weeks three
through six of the quarter. After the sixth week, no official withdraw may
be made. NOTE: This timeline is adjusted for summer quarter. Please see
the Summer Schedule of Classes for dates. |
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia, and no credit is awarded
for the course.
- This grade may adversely affect student's ability to register in
subsequent quarters (see AP2: 1.10.01 Academic Standards).
|
- Student brings withdrawal form to instructor for approval
and submits the signed form to Enrollment Services.
- Students may not
withdraw from a course to avoid penalty for violation of academic honesty.
|
Z |
Hardship Withdrawal - this grade may be given when
requested by the student and approved by the instructor. This grade reflects
a crisis and/or unusual, extreme circumstance which has interfered or
interrupted the student's ability to attend class and complete the remaining
coursework for the quarter. |
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia, and no credit is awarded
for the course.
- This grade may adversely affect student's ability to register in
subsequent quarters (see AP2:1.10.01 and AP2: 1.10.03 Academic Standards
and Progress Policy).
|
- Student makes a written request to the instructor of record for the
respective course.
- Request is considered by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
|
P Non-graded |
Passed the Course - non-graded classes use a “P” grade to designate a grade of 2.0 or higher OR for level completion. This grade is assigned when the student has met the learning outcomes for the class. Only designated courses are graded using a P.
Once a grade of P has been awarded, it cannot be changed to a numeric grade. |
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia
|
- Upon the completion of the course and having met the learning outcomes for the class, the instructor will award the final grade of the P grade.
- Up to the end of the second week of the quarter, student may initiate, without instructor’s permission, a change to or from P/NP status.
- From weeks three through six of the quarter, instructor permission is required.
- After the sixth week, no change in status may be made.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an Advisor prior to enrolling in a P/NP course. This timeline is adjusted for summer quarter. Please see the Summer Schedule of Classes for dates.
|
NP Non-graded |
Passed the Course - this grade is assigned when the student has not met the class outcomes and requirements to receive a grade of 2.0 or higher OR for level. Only designated courses are graded using a NP. |
- Grade is not calculated in GPA by Cascadia
|
- Upon the completion of the course and if the student did not pass with a grade of 2.0 or higher OR did not meet the learning outcomes for the class, the instructor will give a final grade of NP.
- Up to the end of the second week of the quarter, student may initiate, without instructor’s permission, a change to or from P/NP status.
- From weeks three through six of the quarter, instructor permission is required.
- After the sixth week, no change in status may be made.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an Advisor prior to enrolling in a P/NP course. This timeline is adjusted for summer quarter. Please see the Summer Schedule of Classes for dates.
|
Administrative Drop |
Students who do not attend class during the first two days
of the quarter (and do not contact the instructor) may be dropped from the
class roster at the instructor's discretion. NOTE: This drop is not
automatic. This procedure is also used to drop a student when a prerequisite
has not been met. |
- Student is dropped from the class.
|
- Faculty assesses class attendance and then drops students from the
class using a Group Drop Form.
- This action is not automatic; students should drop unattended classes
to avoid receiving a 0.0.
|
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Repeating a Course
Students may repeat any course a maximum of two times (enroll in the class up to three times). The student is to inform the Enrollment Services Office at the time of registration that a course is a repeat. The most recent grade will be used in computing grade point average. The transcript will show that a course has been repeated, except in certain designated courses where the student may, by re-registering, obtain additional credits and grade points. Students should be aware that other schools and universities may treat
repeated classes differently.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Student's quarterly grade point averages are calculated as follows:
- Multiply the number of credits for a course by the numerical grade awarded to obtain the grade points for that course.
- Add the grade points for all courses taken.
- Divide the sum of the grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted in courses awarding numerical grades. The result is the student GPA for a particular quarter. I, N, P/NC, W, and Z grades are not used in computing grade point average.
Grade Changes
Grade changes are submitted on the grade change form by the instructor to the Enrollment Services Office.
- Grade changes will not be made after one quarter, (not including summer quarter) unless documentation is provided by the instructor noting that the grade was awarded in error.
- Grade changes will be made at any time if due to an adminstrative error in grade reporting.
Students are advisted to contact the instructor immediately if a grade has been recorded incorrectly. Errors and omissions will be corrected as soon as identified without cost to the student.
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Grade Appeals Process
Cascadia Community College believes in the right of all students
to receive a fair and equitable review process when a complaint arises.
Therefore, the following procedures will govern all grade review requests. These
procedures will ensure that the grade awarded was not an arbitrary or capricious
evaluation of the student's master of the subject.
Students who believe they received an improper final grade shall
have until the end of the subsequent quarter to appeal. For example, if the
final grade was given in fall quarter, it must be appealed no later than the end
of winter quarter. However, if the grade was given in spring quarter the
complaint may be appealed through the last day of the next fall quarter.
Students are responsible for retaining all papers, tests, and projects from the
class in question.
Note: The Appeal Process is not available to a student in
a case where the grade has been given as a result of disciplinary action.
Informal Process - Resolution Between Student and Faculty
The student initiates the grade appeal process initially by
speaking to the appropriate instructor. This process should facilitate good
faith efforts on the part of both the student and faculty member (1) to resolve
the matter.
(1) In the event that the instructor is no longer employed by
the college, or is away from the campus for an extended period of time, the Dean
for Student Learning will appoint two faculty members to review the student's
work and the grade which is under appeal. The grade can only be changed upon the
recommendation of both faculty members. If there is no agreement, the grade
shall remain as awarded.
Formal Process with the Dean for Student Learning
If the informal resolution with the instructor is not reached,
the student can initiate a formal grade appeal process by contacting the Dean
for Student Learning in written form (e-mail acceptable). Once the Dean for
Student Learning has received the written appeal, he/she has ten (10) days in
which to discuss the situation with the instructor and the student. The student
must make him or herself reasonably available to meet with the Dean for Student
Learning. The Dean for Student Learning has another ten (10) days following
his/her discussion(s) with the instructor and student within which to make a
written recommendation to the student which may include:
1. To deny the request for a change of grade.
2. to move forward with grade appeal and convene the Hearing
Committee.
If the Dean for Student Learning convenes the Hearing Committee,
the decision of the Hearing Committee shall be final.
Appeal of the Dean for Student Learning's Decision to Deny
the Grade Change
If the student wishes to appeal the Dean for Student Learning's
decision to deny the grade change, it should be done within five (5) days of
receipt of the Dean for Student Learning's decision. The written appeal should
be submitted to the Executive Vice President for Student Learning and should stipulate the
reasons for the appeal. The Executive Vice President for Student Learning has ten (10)
days following his or her receipt of the appeal to review the documents and meet
with the student. The Executive Vice President for Student Learning has another ten (10)
days following his or her meeting with the student to make a written
recommendation to the student which may include:
1. To uphold the decision of the Dean for Student Learning and
deny the request for a change of grade which will end the appeal process.
2. To move forward with grade appeal and request the Dean for
Student Learning convene a Hearing Committee.
If the recommendation is to have the Grade Appeal Hearing
Committee convene, the Executive Vice President for Student Learning will review the
procedures of the Hearing Committee with the student.
Composition of the Grade Appeal Hearing Committee
The Grade Appeal Hearing Committee will be drawn from a pool of
twelve (12) volunteer faculty members (approved in advance, by the Vice
President for Student Learning) who serve on-call for a one year term.
From the pool of twelve (12) names, only six (6) will be chosen
randomly by the Dean for Student Learning (with the student and the instructor
of record present). The student will then remove two of the six (6) names. The
remaining four (4) faculty members will make up the Hearing Committee. Chosen
faculty may abstain from any Hearing Committee if they stipulate that serving
poses a conflict of interest. In that case another member would be selected
randomly from the pool by the Executive Vice President for Student Learning.
The Dean for Student Learning or designee will serve as
facilitator and an ex-officio member of the Grade Appeal Hearing Committee.
Grade Appeal Hearing Committee Process
The Dean for Student Learning will contact the Grade Appeal
Hearing Committee within ten (10) days of the request by the Executive Vice President for
Student Learning.
The Hearing Committee will set a date for the hearing, review
all documentation and may interview all parties, including other students who
may serve as student and/or faculty advocates.
The instructor and the student will have a maximum of 30-minutes
each in which to present their case. The Hearing Committee may vote to extend
the 30-minute limit to an additional amount of time and provide the same number
of minutes to both the student and instructor.
The Hearing Committee will renter their decision within ten (10)
business days of the hearing. The decision of the Committee is final and the
appeals process ends.
If there is tie vote by the Hearing Committee the Executive Vice President
for Student Learning shall review the record of the hearing committee and render
a decision. The decision of the Executive Vice President for Student Learning shall be
final.
Copies of the decision will go to the Executive Vice President for Student
Learning, the student, and the instructor; and a copy also will be placed in the
student's file.
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Page Last Updated: 8/10/2007
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