Grades

Final Examinations

Final examinations are given at the end of each semester at the hours specified in the Semester Policies and Procedures. Final examination schedules are also available on the Mount’s Web site and in the Conlan Center.

Students may not be excused from examinations or make any change (time or day) in the schedule without the written approval on a Change in Examination Schedule form. Forms to request a change in the examination schedule are available in the Academic Departments. The Change in Examination Schedule form, with all required signatures affixed, must be presented to the instructor before a make-up examination is given. A change in the examination schedule may be made for serious reasons ONLY (e.g., serious illness of a student, serious illness or death in a student’s family, when more than two exams are scheduled on the same day, etc.).

Graduate Grading System

The following grading system is used in graduate-level courses:

Students who receive a grade of "F" or "FA" must repeat the course to obtain credit.

Refer to the appropriate graduate program description in this catalog for special academic policies relating to the individual programs.

Pass/Fail Grading

A grade of “P” is not counted in the grade point average and credit is given. A grade of “F” is counted in the grade point average and credit is not given.

Graduate Programs Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted for credit. All graduate programs require that students have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 throughout their program to be in good academic standing and to be eligible for graduation.

Incomplete Grades

A student must initiate a request for an “I” (incomplete) grade with an instructor, by the last week of classes for traditional semester courses or before the last scheduled date of accelerated classes. The completed form must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar prior to exam week or the final accelerated class meeting. An “I” (incomplete) grade is only assigned by an instructor for a student who has made significant academic progress in the course, but for a serious reason has not fulfilled all requirements. This petition may be approved or denied by the instructor.

If a student is unable to finish some required assignments or examinations, the student should petition the instructor for an “I” (incomplete) grade. The remaining specific assignments or examinations yet to be completed must be listed with an agreed upon completion date. The completion date must be chosen with regard to the “I” to “F” grade conversion schedule given below.

The specified student course work must be completed and submitted to the instructor no later than the completion date agreed upon by the student and instructor. If an “I” grade is not changed by the time specified in the grade conversion schedule, the “I” grade will automatically convert to an “F” (failing) grade.

Change of Grade

If for a serious reason an instructor must change a student’s grade, the instructor must submit a Change of Grade to the Registrar’s Office and give a rationale for the change. Only instructors are authorized to change grades.

Grades may be changed by an instructor after the end of a semester only if:

1. an error is discovered in the determination of the original grade assignment; or
2. the automatic "I" (incomplete) to "F" (failure) conversion needs to be corrected.

Grade changes cannot be made which exceed a time limit of one (1) calendar year after the original grade assignment. This includes the grade of "SP" (satisfactory progress) which must be changed to a letter grade within one (1) calendar year after the original grade assignment.

Grades cannot be changed in courses that are part of a student's earned degree once or after the degree is officially noted on the academic record. Grade changes become official when received and recorded by the Registrar's Office.

Repeated Courses

Course work with a final grade of “F,” “FA,” audits, or withdrawals may be repeated. However, a student earning a grade of “F” or “FA” in a required core course must repeat the course. A student may repeat a course only once. This applies to all transcripted courses that repeat an equivalent Mount course including audits, withdrawals or transfer credits.

A student who repeats a course will receive credit only once unless the nature of the course specifically provides otherwise. When a course is repeated, the credit and grade associated with the higher course grade will be the one counted in the student’s cumulative grade point average and toward graduation requirements. Both courses will be shown on the student’s academic record.

Grade Reports

"Early Warning Reports" and "Mid-Term Warning Reports" are electronically submitted by instructors to identify all students who are not doing satisfactory work. Advisors and students are electronically sent copies of the "Early Warning Report" and/or "Mid Term Warning Report."

Academic grade reports are issued from the Registrar’s Office to students at the end of each semester or term. Students have full access to their grades via the Web. Grade reports will be mailed to students only upon receipt of a written request to the Registrar’s Office.

Transcripts

Transcripts of a student’s complete academic record at the College are obtained only upon written request from the student. An official transcript, one bearing the College seal and the authorized signature of the Registrar, is sent directly from the Registrar's Office to the individual and/or institution specified by the student. An official transcript issued to the student is labeled "Student Copy." The College is not permitted by law to issue copies of documents from other institutions. A fee of $10 is required for each copy requested (and $1 for additional copies requested on the same order). Information for requesting an immediate transcript electronically can be found on the Mount’s Web site at http://www.msj.edu/view/academics/registrar/transcript-requests.aspx.

No transcript is issued for an applicant whose financial obligations to the College have not been fulfilled.

Academic Grade Appeal

A grade appeal may be initiated by any student who believes that he or she has been evaluated inaccurately or unfairly in the determination of the final course grade. This is a serious charge and the student must bear in mind that the faculty member has both the right and responsibility to render a fair and critical judgment regarding the quality of the academic work performed according to the grading criteria stated in the course syllabus. The student has the burden of proof to show otherwise, and must be able to provide some evidence of the lack of a fair evaluation in order to file an appeal. The following procedure must be followed in filing an appeal.