OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
The following information, excerpted from the 1997-99 College Bulletin,
provides guidance to faculty on the assignment of grades and other administrative
issues:
Grading System
Grade Explanation Quality Points
A Excellent (90-100) 4.00
B Good (80-89) 3.00
C Satisfactory (70-79) 2.00
D Passing (60-69) 1.00
F Failure (below 60) 0.00
P Pass -
W Withdrew without penalty (student initiated) -
WA Administrative withdrawal (college initiated) -
FIN F due to incomplete 0.00
WU Withdrew without approval 0.00
R* Course must be repeated until minimum
level of proficiency is attained (restricted
to remedial and developmental courses)
INC Incomplete
ABS Absent from Final
PEN Grade pending
Y Year or longer course of study must continue
to completion (restricted to clinical/practicum
courses in certain Health/Science programs and
independent Honors courses)
*Although an R grade does not adversely affect the GPA while
attending City College, other colleges and schools may interpret the R grade
as a failure.
Student Class Codes
Class codes consist of four-digit designations that identify a student
by:
College Division (First Digit)
Class Designation (Second Digit)
Matriculation Status (Third Digit)
Degree Sought (Fourth Digit)
Resignation from Courses
After the resignation period a student may drop a course only by following
a formal procedure that begins with the student obtaining a drop card at
the Registrar's Office. SEEK students, new transfer students and new freshmen
must get approval from their counselor before resigning from a course. Non-matriculated
and Visiting Permit Students are not assigned advisors and must obtain the
instructor's signature when withdrawing from a course.
During the Change of Program period of each semester, students
may drop classes without penalty and the course will not appear on the transcript.
The drop card must be signed by the instructor and returned to the Registrar.
After the Change of Program period through the tenth week, students
may withdraw officially if they have the approval of the instructor and
their advisor. A grade of "W" (withdrawal without penalty) may
be assigned, but it is not automatic. The actual grade assigned will depend
on the student's performance in class at the time of withdrawal.
After the tenth week, students who withdraw will be awarded a grade
of "F" or "WU". A grade of "W" will be awarded
only for documented, compelling reasons, such as a serious illness. Such
exceptions will be considered by the Dean of the school or division offering
the course.
Students who are withdrawn by their instructors will receive a grade of
WU unless the student completes the normal drop procedure; instructors
cannot assign a grade of "W".
ABS, INC and PEN
The grades of ABS and INC are given only when the student has been doing
passing work and the instructor believes that the student has given an acceptable
reason for not finishing the course on time. The instructor may insist that
the student obtain permission of the Committee on Course and Standing (of
the school offering the course) to complete the course.
The Registrar will ordinarily change the temporary grades of INC, ABS, and
PEN to failures by the midterm of the following semester unless the instructor
has submitted a passing grade. Extensions may be granted only by the Committee
on Course and Standing of the school offering the course. Students must
pay the make-up exam fee to the Bursar before taking the make-up exam.
The grade of PEN is given when the student has completed all the work in
the course, including the final exam, but the instructor wishes to give
the student an opportunity to take another final exam to earn a D rather
than an F. Thus, the grade of PEN can be resolved only to a D or
F. The make-up fee is not required for this exam.
Pass/Fail Option
Students in the professional schools, except for the School of Education,
may take only Physical Education courses on a pass/fail basis, even if the
courses are being taken as free electives. Students in the College of Liberal
Arts and Science and in the School of Education may take, in addition to
Physical Education courses, other courses on a pass/fail basis, subject
to the following restrictions:
1. The student must have completed at least 28 credits.
2. A student may take only one course per semester on a pass/fail basis
(in addition to Physical Education or courses graded only pass/fail).
3. No core courses may be taken pass/fail.
4. No courses required for the major may be taken pass/fail.
5. Student must choose this option during registration (students are not
permitted to change to or from pass/fail after the end of late registration).
Grade Point Average
A student's overall academic performance is measured by calculating the
grade point average (GPA). This average is found by using grades from each
course on the student's record except those with no credit, or that have
one of the following grades assigned: P, R, INC, W, PEN.
Each grade received is assigned a numerical value called Quality Points:
A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0. The number of Quality Points multiplied
by the number of credits the course carries is the total for the course.
The GPA is found by adding these totals and dividing this amount by the
total number of credits attempted.
Policy on Lateness and Absence
Students are expected to attend and be on time to every class of each course
in which they are enroll. An instructor has the right to drop a student
from a course for excessive absence. Students are advised to determine at
the first class session the instructor's policy. They should note that an
instructor may treat lateness as equivalent to absence. No distinction is
made between excused and unexcused absences. Each instructor retains the
right to establish their own policy, but students and instructors should
be guided by the following general College policy:
In remedial/developmental courses, the number of absences may
not exceed the number of hours the course meets per week. In courses designated
as clinical, performance, laboratory or field work courses, the limit on
the number of absences is established by the individual instructor. For
all other courses, the number of hours absent may not exceed twice the number
of contact hours that the course meets per week.
When a student is dropped for excessive absence, the Registrar will enter
the grade of WU. A student may appeal this action to the Committee on Course
and Standing in the school in which the course is offered.
Academic Appeals
The faculty of each of the schools defines the degree requirements, academic
standards, and rules for students enrolled in the school and has jurisdiction
over the courses offered by the school. Each of the schools has a Committee
on Course and Standing charged with overseeing enforcement of these matters
and dealing with special cases and appeals. Students have the right to appeal
to the appropriate Committee on Course and Standing any decision made by
individual faculty members or administrators about these academic matters.
The Committee on Course and Standing is the final authority on enforcement
of curriculum, degree requirements, academic standards, grades and academic
rules.
It should be noted that most academic rules are enforced without exception.
Generally, the Committee will consider requests for deviations from the
rules only when the deviation is within the spirit, if not the letter, of
the rule. Thus, the Committee may, for compelling reasons, permit a student
to satisfy a core requirement with a non-core course, but will not simply
waive the core requirement.
Grievances
Students with grievances concerning classroom matters other than grades
should first attempt to resolve the grievance at the department level through
discussion with the faculty member(s) or department Chair. If the matter
is not resolved, the student or department may refer the problem to the
appropriate academic Dean, the Ombudsman, or to the Vice President for Student
Affairs, who shall, if necessary, refer to the Deputy Provost for further
consideration and possible action.