Policy on Grading
Coursework is graded with a letter system (A, B, C, D, or E) except for special courses noted below. An instructor may add "+" or "-" to grades.
The minimum acceptable grade to successfully pass a course is a C-. The maximum term
and
cumulative GPA is 4.0.
Letter grades are converted into numbers, or points, as follows:
- A+ = 4.3
- A = 4.0
- 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- = 0.7
These numbers are used to calculate Michigan Honor Points (MHP) and the Grade Point Average (GPA). Michigan Honor Points (MHP) are calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours for which the course was elected by the number of points earned on the grading scale. For example, a grade of B for a 3 credit hour course produces 3 (credit hours) x 3.0 (points for a grade of B+), or 9 honor points. The grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing Michigan Honor Points earned for a term or more by the number of semester hours (or credit hours) for the courses. A total of 45 MHP for 12 course credit hours produces a GPA of 3.75.
Other transcript notations include
Visit (VI)
"VI" appears on the transcripts of students who successfully complete a course which they have elected to visit (audit). These courses do not count for degree credit requirements. Students who do not complete a course to the satisfaction of the instructor and who have not dropped the course may receive a notation of "E" or "ED" (unofficial drop, equivalent to failure) on their transcript. This grade is calculated as part of the student’s GPA.
Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U)
With permission from the advisor and the course instructor, a student may elect S/U grading in a course that would otherwise be letter graded. Instructors cannot assign letter grades to students electing courses designated as S/U. A grade of "S" indicates that the instructor considers the student to have performed satisfactorily at the graduate level, and is counted toward the credit hour requirements of the graduate program. A grade of "S" is considered to be a grade of "B" or better. A grade of "U" is assigned when a graduate student’s level of performance is not acceptable, and is not counted toward a student’s required credit hours. Grades of "S" and "U" are not converted into numbers, and are not factored into the Grade Point Average or Michigan Honors Points.
Drop (W) and Unofficial Drop (ED)
A course that is officially dropped after the first three weeks of a full term (or the first two weeks of a half term), will be recorded with the notation of "W," and will not earn credit hours toward the degree program or Michigan Honor Points.
A student who registers for a course and either never attends or stops attending—but does not officially drop the course—receives a notation of "ED" (unofficial drop). A notation of "ED" is equivalent to a grade of "E" (failure).