Grading/Course Repeat Policy

Grading: A record of attendance and scholarship is kept for each student. A report of the student’s class standing is given at the close of the semester.

The alphabetical system of grading, with +/- added at the discretion of the instructor, is used [i.e., “A” for superior; “B” for above average; “C” for average; “D” for below average, but passing; “F” for failure; “H” for audit; “S” for satisfactory work (credit toward graduation); “U” for unsatisfactory work (no credit toward graduation); “X” for deferred work; “W” for withdrawn before quality of work can be determined; “WP” for withdrawn passing; “WF” for withdrawn failing; and “I” for incomplete]. A student may be marked “incomplete” only in case of serious illness or other unavoidable causes of delay. All incompletes must be removed within one month after the grade period ends or the record will be marked “failure.”

Honor Points: In order to graduate, the student must have earned twice as many honor or grade points as he or she has semester hours of work attempted. Honor points are based on quality of work performed, and are determined as follows: “A” = 4.0 points per credit hour, “A-” = 3.7, “B+” = 3.3, “B” = 3.0, “B-” = 2.7, “C+” = 2.3, “C” = 2.0, “C-” = 1.7, “D+” = 1.3, “D” = 1.0, “D-” = .70, “F” = 0. The grades of “H,” “S,” “U,” “X,” “W,” “WP,” and “WF” are neutral. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) is required for graduation.

Course Repeating Policy:

1. In case a course is retaken subsequent to the student’s receiving a course grade of “F,” only the last grade is counted in determining his or her cumulative grade point average.
2. With the consent of the chair of the department in which the course is offered, a student is permitted to retake once a course in which he or she has earned a grade of “C-,” “D+,” “D,” or “D-,” with the higher of the two grades to count in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average.

These privileges apply only to courses repeated at Olivet.

Pass-Fail (“S” or “U”): is used for student teaching, field experiences, and certain other courses. In these courses, the alphabetical system of grading is never used. In addition, students classified as juniors may be permitted, upon their request, to enroll in one elective course per semester in the last four semesters on the basis of pass-fail grading. Specifically excluded from this provision are courses in the major field, minor field, required supporting courses, and courses offered to fulfill general education requirements. A passing grade means “C” quality or better.

The intention to take a course on the basis of pass-fail grading must be indicated at the Office of the Registrar on or before the final day to drop a course. If this request is approved, a student may change to the alphabetical system of grading only by filing a written request to do so at the Office of the Registrar prior to the final day to drop a course.

Auditing a Course: To audit a course means to take it for neither grade nor credit. An audit, satisfactorily completed, is recorded as such on the transcript. No record is made if the audit is not satisfactorily completed.

Normally, the only requirements in an audited course are attendance requirements, which are set by the instructor.

Audit should be indicated at the time of registration, or a course may be changed from credit to audit any time prior to the deadline for dropping a course. A course may be changed from audit to credit prior to this deadline only with the approval of the instructor, and payment of appropriate tuition adjustments.

A full-time student, paying the normal tuition fee, is not charged a tuition fee for an audited course, provided his or her total load, including the audited course, does not exceed 18 hours. If the total load exceeds 18 hours, a tuition fee of $50 per hour is charged for the excess hours which are audited. Part-time students are charged a tuition fee of $50 per hour for an audited course. Any additional fees (such as laboratory fee) in an audited course are charged to the student.

Arrangements to audit a course may be completed only if there is space available in the class.

Music: Auditors of applied music private lessons will receive one half-hour lesson per week. Audit lessons will be made up on the same basis as lessons being taken for credit. Audit students will be placed only after Music majors, Music minors, and others who are registered for credit have been placed. All audit students will pay the normal additional applied music tuition for private lessons and class instruction as listed in the Catalog chapter on finances.