Grades and Quality Points. The standard 4-point grade scale for Point University appears on the table below. All Point instructors use this scale unless the unique demands of their subject matter require a different approach. In such cases, the alternative grade scale appears in the course syllabus. Professors then convert final grades to the letter grade and quality point system found on this table. Grades and quality points are recorded as follows:

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading. Some courses are designated as graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. In such a course, instructors award a grade of “S” (Satisfactory) in lieu of “A” through “D” grades. The grade appears as an “S” on the student’s transcript and does not affect the  grade point average (GPA). Instructors award a grade of “U” (Unsatisfactory) in lieu of an “F” grade. It appears as a “U” on the student’s transcript and does not affect the GPA. Adding or withdrawing from a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory course is conducted on the same basis as other courses.

Credit hours for satisfactory/unsatisfactory courses carry full academic credit. They apply, for example, toward the satisfaction of degree requirements, the calculation of the student’s academic load, and the required hours for graduation as otherwise appropriate. (NOTE: This policy replaces the previous pass/fail policy)

Incomplete (“I”) Grade. All assignments not completed by the end of the term automatically receive the grade of “F” unless students successfully petition the instructor for the privilege of taking an Incomplete (“I”) grade. The “I” grade is a temporary grade indicating that work for the course is not yet complete but is expected to be complete within a short period of time. This arrangement must be made before the end of the term.

Instructors should award an “I” when students are confronted with unavoidable life situations, such as a well-documented serious illness or a death in the family, that make it impossible for the student to complete their assignments before the end of the term. Instructors should not award an “I” merely to allow students to improve on a bad grade due to poor performance to that point. Nor should Incompletes serve as a remedy to laziness or poor planning on the part of the student. The instructor decides if the student’s request for an Incomplete falls within these guidelines. Normally, the instructor will not approve an Incomplete unless the student has finished at least 75% of the coursework prior to the end date for the course.

The request must include a plan and timeline for completing the remaining course requirements. If the student submits missing assignments, the instructor adjusts the final grade accordingly. Students receive zero (0) points for any assignments not submitted.

Normally, instructors will grant an “I” for no more than 1-2 weeks. Ideally, students should plan to complete missing assignments by the end of the first week of the next session, so as not to be overly burdened for that session. An Incomplete may extend no more than 30 days beyond the last day of the course. The instructor and Registrar are not responsible for notifying or reminding the student regarding an Incomplete.

“I” grades are awarded within the framework of the Point’s Attendance Policy (see below). This means that students who exceed the total allowed absences for a course may not file an Incomplete Grade Form but must withdraw from the course and retake it at a later time.

Change of Grade. Point may change an academic letter grade after the grade is submitted only if the case involves an instructor’s error. Grades may also be amended following a successful academic appeal by the student (see below).

Academic Appeals Process. Students who believe an error has been made in grading or other academic rulings (e.g. academic dishonesty, unfair treatment by professor) have a right to appeal the decision. The academic appeals process will proceed as follows:

Informal. Students should informally seek a resolution with their instructor. If no resolution can be agreed upon, students may begin the formal process.

Formal. To initiate a formal appeal, students must complete in full the online Academic Appeal Form found on the Point website under “Consumer Information” (https://point.edu/consumerinformation). They must submit the form within 10 business days of the posting of the grade or other academic ruling. At the same time, students must submit to the Registrar (Point.Registrar@Point.edu) any supporting materials they wish considered in the appeal, such as assignments, instructor feedback, and correspondence with the instructor. In order to expedite the appeals process, additional supporting materials will not be accepted after submission of the formal appeal.

1. Demonstrate that the appeal meets one of the following criteria:

   1. Clear error in grading

   2. Non-responsive or non-communicative instructor

   3. Inconsistent application of policy

   4. Instructor not abiding by terms laid out in syllabus

   5. Account/access issues

   6. Clear bias against student
      

2. Registrar

   1. After the Registrar receives the completed appeal packet, the Registrar checks with instructor to make sure there were no errors of entry. If there were not, the appeal is forwarded to the department chair and dean.

   2. The Registrar's Office staff does not make rulings. They fact-check and facilitate the formal process.

   3. If either the department chair or dean is the instructor in question, the appeal goes to their supervisor to avoid conflict of interest.
      

3. Department Chair and Dean

   1. Review appeal packet and provide a decision to the student within 10 business days of the receipt of packet from the Registrar. Instructor, Registrar and CAO copied on decision to student.

   2. If the student considers the decision unjust, a second appeal may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee within 10 business days of receiving the decision (AcademicAppealsCommittee@Point.edu). In such a case, the Registrar will pass the appeal and decision of the department chair and dean to the Academic Appeals Committee.
      

4. Academic Appeals Committee

   1. Composition: Three faculty members from three different colleges and one member of Point Academic Support Services; the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) serves on the Committee ex officio (5 members total)

   2. Meet, review, and decide on academic appeals within 10 business days of receipt.

   3. The decision of AAC is final and cannot be appealed.

   4. CAO notifies student of decision in writing, copies dean of college and Registrar.

   5. Final decision and correspondence are added to academic appeals repository

How to Compute a Grade Point Average (GPA). The student’s grade point average (GPA) is an important index to academic achievement. Students must maintain a minimum GPA to remain enrolled in the University or a given academic program (see below under “Academic Standing”). This average also determines the student's eligibility for academic honors and financial aid. In the example given below,

• The quality point value of the letter grade for each course (see above under “Grades and Quality Points”) is multiplied by the number of credit hours in the course to determine the grade points for each course. Grades of “P,” “R,” “W,” “WP,” “WX” and the associated credit hours are not considered in calculating a student’s institutional GPA.

• The total grade points for all courses divided by the total credit hours yields the grade point average or “GPA” (42.0 ÷ 15 = 2.80).

• The grade point average students earn in a single term is called the “term GPA,” while the GPA earned over the course of students’ entire career at Point is called the “cumulative GPA.”

Only credits and grades earned at Point University contribute to the student’s cumulative GPA; transfer credits and grades are not used in calculating the Point GPA. However, credits and grades for transfer courses used to satisfy degree requirements are considered in determining graduation honors (described below under “Undergraduate Academic Honors”).

Grade Information. Students may view their grades and transcripts at any time in the student portal in Colleague Self-Service, the online student information system used by Point University.