While awarding an individual grade is always the responsibility of the instructor of the course, there are some College-specific policies governing range of grading options available to faculty. Columbia College students should be awarded letter grades using the following system: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor but passing; F, failure. Plus and minus grades by also be used, except with D or F. In addition, the following grading options may also be applied to Columbia College students:

The Pass/D/Fail Option

All Columbia College students may elect no more than one course each semester to be taken on a Pass/D/Fail basis, by the established deadline. In the main, there is no need for instructor approval or knowledge that a student has elected this grading option. Students are not permitted to register fro a grade of Pass/D/Fail for language instruction classes, Core Curriculum classes, or classes required for a major or concentration (except if it is the first such course unless otherwise stated by the department). Instructors should submit the letter grade that the student has earned into the Web grading system and the grade will then be automatically converted to the appropriate Pass/D/Fail notation where indicated.

The Grade of UW (Unofficial Withdrawal)

Students who have completed no substantive work for a class may be given the grade of UW. While it is for an instructor to determine what counts as substantive work for any given class, a paper or certainly a midterm exam is usually considered to be substantive work. The grade of UW is not appropriate for students who have completed some substantive work but have not completed all the work for the class. In such instances, the missing work should be factored into the final grade as zero and the appropriate letter grade awarded.

The Mark of INC (Incomplete)

Students incapacitated through ill health or a serious family emergency - or other comparable circumstance, out of students' control - and consequently unable to complete coursework, may petition the Committee on Academic Standing, in the Division of Student Affairs, to be granted an INC. If granted, instructors will be notified and asked to submit a contingency grade - this is the final grade that the student would earn for the class if the outstanding work were not completed (factoring the missing work as a zero). Students are then assigned a deadline by which the missing work must be completed.

The mark of INC is not appropriate if a student has not been officially approved to receive an incomplete. In cases in which a student has not submitted all the necessary work, a final letter grade should be calculated on the basis of the work that has been submitted with the missing work factored as zero.

The Mark of AR (Administrative Referral)

The Columbia College faculty Committee on Instruction has approved this temporary grade for instances in which a student's participation and academic performance merits a grade other than A-F. When such a mark is given, the student's advising dean will be alerted. The adviser will follow-up with the student and then the instructor who will determine what permanent grade is appropriate. However, the University Web grading system has not yet been able to integrate this grading option. Faculty will be alerted when the option is available. At that time it will replace the UW and INC as grading options in the Web grading system.

The Mark of R (Registration Credit; no academic credits)

Seniors may register for a class for R credit with the approval of the instructor and the Committee on Academic Standing, in the Division of Student Affairs. The instructor may require work to be completed by the student and if this work is not completed the instructor may award the appropriate letter grade, including failure.. Students seeking permission to register for R credit should be first referred to their advising deans.

The Mark of YC (Year Course)

Some courses, typically research seminars, are taught over two semesters. In such courses final grades are not submitted until the end of the spring semester. The fall semester mark of YC is a temporary mark which automatically converts to a letter grade when the final grades are submitted at the end of the spring semester. The grade awarded at the end of the spring semester is the grade for the entire course.

The mark of YC is not appropriate in other classes if a student has not submitted all the required work. In such a circumstance, a final letter grade should be calculated on the basis of the work that the student has submitted with the missing work factored as zero.

The Mark of CP (Credit Pending)

This grade can only be granted with the explicit and prior permission of the Columbia College Committee on Instruction. With such approval, certain seminars may allow students to complete work over the winter break and submit the work during the spring semester. The mark of CP cannot be used for individual students.

The mark of CP is not appropriate if a student has not submitted all the required work for the class. In such a circumstance, a final letter grade should be calculated on the basis of the work that the student has submitted with the missing work factored as zero.

Changing Grades

Once submitted, grades can only be changed with the approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Instructors are asked to complete the Change of Grade form, available from departmental offices. Because the Columbia College Committee on Instruction had been concerned with the rising number of grade change requests, instructors are asked to provide a full rationale for any requests made. In particular, it is important to confirm that all grades for the class have been reviewed to ensure that no other changes are necessary. Having been processed by the academic department, the form will be sent to the Office of the Dean in 208 Hamilton Hall for approval.

Please see the Columbia College Bulletin for additional information on Grading.