Grading

Programs of Study

Examinations

Midterm Examinations

These are generally scheduled by instructors in late October and the middle of March.

Final Examinations

These are given at the end of each term. The Master University Examination Schedule is available on-line at the Registar’s Web site. This provides a tentative guide to final examinations. The definitive schedule of final examinations is usually available by November 1 for the fall term and by April 1 for the spring term. This schedule is sent to all academic departments and is also available for viewing on ColumbiaNet, as well as ColumbiaWeb. Examinations will not be rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.

NOTE: If a student has three examinations scheduled during one calendar day, as certified by the Registrar, the student may request an arrangement be made with one of the student’s instructors to take that examination at another, mutually convenient time during the final examination period. This refers to a calendar day, not a twenty-four hour period. Students unable to make suitable arrangements on their own should contact their advising dean for assistance.

Grades

The grading system is as follows: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor but passing; F, failure (a final grade, not subject to reexamination). Plus and minus grades may also be used, except with D or F. P, pass, is used for students who elect this option.

The Committee on Instruction of Columbia College has instructed the Registrar to calculate a cumulative grade point average for external purposes such as official transcripts. The Registrar also calculates term and cumulative grade point averages for internal purposes such as determining eligibility for the Dean’s List.

Percentage of A Grades Calculation

College transcripts note the percentage of grades in the A range in all classes with at least twelve students, in accordance with the grading policies of the Faculty of Columbia College. (R grades are excluded from this calculation.)

When the Registrar computes a student’s Columbia College grade point average, only grades earned while enrolled in the College in the fall, spring, and summer terms are counted. Courses are weighted according to the number of credits.

The following scale is used:

The Pass/D/Fail Option: All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect one course each semester during the regular academic year on a Pass/D/Fail basis. This is in addition to any courses that are given only on a Pass/Fail basis. Students who do not utilize both Pass/D/Fail options during the academic year may elect, in the summer immediately following, to take one Summer Term course on a Pass/D/Fail basis. Courses used to meet the stated degree requirements (except those only given on a Pass/Fail basis) may not be taken Pass/D/Fail. All courses used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration, including related courses, are also excluded from this option, except the first such one-term course taken by the student in his or her eventual major.

The purposes of this option are to encourage students to take courses of interest to them outside of the field of specialization and to permit those who have not decided upon a major to test their talents in a particular field that may be of interest. Students who wish to exercise the Pass/D/Fail option must designate a coursefor the grade of Pass/D/Fail when registering for each term in the College. A Pass/D/Fail course may be changed to a regular course or a regular course to a Pass/D/Fail course until November 15 in the fall term and until March 27 in the spring term during the academic year 2007–2008 regardless of whether a student has received a midterm grade for the class before that date.

In order to encourage students to engage more fully in the courses they elect to take for a grade of Pass/D/Fail beginning with courses taken in the Fall 2007 semester students are allowed to uncover a grade of Pass within two weeks of the start of the semester immediately following that in which the grade of Pass was received. Students have until two weeks into the start of the spring semester to uncover the grade of a fall course and two weeks into the start of the fall semester to uncover the grade of a spring or summer term course.

The grade of Pass will not be used in calculating grade point average; the grades of D and Fail will be so used.

The Grade of D: No more than 6 points of D may be credited to the degree in any academic year and no more than a cumulative total of 12 points of D may be credited toward the degree. Degree credit for D work is awarded only for courses listed in this bulletin and for other courses taken while the student is enrolled in Columbia College. The decision as to whether or not a D may be used to satisfy the requirements for the major is made in each department.

The Grade of UW (unofficial withdrawal): Given to students who have not officially dropped a course and who have not completed any substantive work in the course. However, for students who have not officially dropped a course but who have completed substantive work, such as a paper or a midterm examination, the uncompleted work may be averaged into the final grade as a “zero’’ or an “F,’’ and the instructor may compute and award a final course grade. A UW is a permanent grade and will remain on the transcript even if the student repeats the course.

The Mark of AR (administrative referral): Given to students as a temporary grade in circumstances when a student’s irregular academic behavior in class merits something other than grades A through F. A grade of AR will alert the advising deans, who will follow up with the individual student and with the instructor to help determine what final grade (A through F or, if applicable, UW) is appropriate.

Ultimately, the decision as to what the final grade should be will rest with the individual instructor. AR is not a permanent grade but, rather, is designed to allow faculty a reasonable default grade for use until an appropriate permanent grade can be submitted.

The Mark of INC (incomplete): Granted by the Committee on Academic Standing, for students who cannot complete their course work or are unable to take a final examination. The only reasons for which an INC will be granted are incapacitating illness, as certified by Health Services at Columbia, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity. Students who wish to receive the mark of INC must petition the Committee in writing (petition forms are available in the class center offices) before the last day of classes, in the case of course work, or no later than the day before the final examination when requesting permission to miss the examination. To be granted an INC, it is expected that students will have completed all work in the class with the exception of the final project or exam. Students who are granted an INC are assigned a deadline for completion of the overdue work or a date by which a deferred examination must be taken. Those who fail to meet the assigned deadline or miss the deferred examination will then have the missing work graded as a “zero” and the grade for the course calculated accordingly.

The Mark of R (registration credit: Please note no point credit is given for R credit): Is authorized when the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree;

1. the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree;
2. the courses are taken in the last two terms of the student’s attendance in Columbia College;
3. the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree;
4. the student has the permission of the academic adviser and the instructor involved.

NOTE: Students who take a course for R credit may be required to complete certain work as specified by the instructor. The exact nature of the work should be determined by the instructor when the student registers for the course. An instructor may fail a student who has not completed assigned work.

The deadline for registering for R credit is November 16 in the fall term and March 22 in the spring term.

The Mark of YC (year course): A mark given at the end of the first term of a course in which the full year’s work must be completed before a qualitative grade is assigned. The grade given at the end of the second term is the grade for the entire course.

The Mark of CP (credit pending): With specific permission of the Columbia College Committee on Instruction, certain seminars may allow students to complete their research over the winter break and submit their final papers on a pre-arranged date after the start of the spring term. In such instances a grade of CP will appear on the students’ transcripts until the final grade is submitted. Please note that the grade of CP cannot be used for individual students but, rather, can only be granted on a course-wide basis.

Report of Grades

Grades are available via telephone (212-854-7373) and the Web (Student Services On-Line) on the first business day after they are received by the Registrar. Transcripts (no fee) may be ordered by currently enrolled students in 205 Kent or via SSOL. Students who find discrepancies in or have questions about their records should see or write the Academic Records and Grades Division, Office of the Registrar, 205 Kent, as soon as possible.