Grading
Grades are recorded using a four-point system. Grade point average (GPA) is a calculation of a student’s average grade either by semester or overall. The semester GPA is determined by dividing the total quality points earned in the semester by the sum of credits completed. The cumulative GPA is the total quality points acquired divided by the total credits attempted. For example, 26 quality points divided by 13 credits equals a 2.0 GPA.
The number of quality points earned is determined by multiplying the grade point value earned by the credits granted for that course. For example, a student receiving a grade of C in a three-credit course would receive six quality points (i.e., grade point value of 2.0 times the three credits successfully completed).
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grades are reported using a four-point system. The following are included in the Grade Point Average GPA:
| Letter Grade | GPA | Status |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A- | 3.7 | |
| B+ | 3.3 | |
| B | 3.0 | |
| B- | 2.7 | |
| C+ | 2.3 | |
| C | 2.0 | Satisfactory |
| C- | 1.7 | |
| D+ | 1.3 | Less than Satisfactory |
| D | 1.0 | |
| D- | 0.7 | |
| F | 0.0 | Unsatisfactory |
The following grades are not included in the GPA:
- AU – Audit: Students may audit a course for no academic credit. They will receive a grade of “AU” for the class, which will have no effect on their GPA.Students who audit a course are not required to complete work assignments, take tests, or fulfill laboratory requirements. However, the auditing students are allowed to participate in such activities should they wish to do so. Auditing students must adhere to all class safety procedures.
- Students must still meet the required prerequisites for the course in order to register
as an audit. To request audit status, students must register for the course in person
in Student Central on the Brockton or Canton campus, by email request from their Massasoit
email account to studentcentral@massasoit.mass.edu. Any request to audit a course or any changes from “credit” to “audit” or “audit”
to “credit” must be requested by the add/drop date of the term of the course.Courses
in selective admissions programs are not allowed to be audited.
Full tuition and fees apply to audited courses. Financial aid cannot be used to pay for audited courses as they do not fulfill degree or certificate requirements.
- I – Incomplete: Instructors have sole discretion in assigning a temporary grade of Incomplete (I)
to a student when at least the majority of the work for the class has been completed.
Incomplete grades are not computed in determining the semester and cumulative GPA,
and semesterly honors statuses like Dean’s List are not awarded until after the Incomplete
grade has been changed and an official semester GPA determined.The instructor of the
course has the right to establish the appropriate amount of time for the student to
make up the missing work to determine a final grade. However, the instructor must
change the grade by the end of the following semester (specific semester information
below) or the grade will change automatically to a Failure (F). Grade changes must
be submitted on the official grade change form, located in the MyMassasoit portal.
The Incomplete grade cannot be changed to a Withdrawal (W).The student is expected
to take the initiative in seeking to complete coursework necessary to change the Incomplete
to a letter grade.Timelines for Incomplete (I) to Failure (F) processing:
- If a student receives an Incomplete (I) in the winter, spring, or summer semesters and the student has not completed the work for the instructor to change it to a letter grade, it will be converted to a Failure (F) at the end of the fall semester.
- If a student receives an Incomplete (I) in the fall semester and the student has not completed the work for the instructor to change it to a letter grade, it will be converted to a Failure (F) at the end of the spring semester.
Individual programs may have different grading requirements based on accreditation rules. Contact the program director for information on individual grading policies.
- NG – No Grade: Indicates that the faculty member did not submit a grade at the time that grades were rolled to a student’s academic history.
- P – Pass: Given for successful completion of certain internships, practicums, community service courses, and other courses. This grade has no impact on the GPA but the course may be counted toward graduation.
- W – Withdrawn: Indicates withdrawal from a course. Withdrawals do not count toward a student’s GPA.
- Students may attempt a course or its equivalent up to two times without prior permission.
- Students seeking to attempt a course or its equivalent three or more times must discuss success strategies with an academic counselor prior to registering for the course.
- Under no circumstances may a student take a course more than five times.
- Attempts include currently enrolled courses, transferred coursework, withdrawals, incompletes, audited courses, and courses with a final letter grade awarded.
- Classes dropped during the add/drop period are not counted as an attempt.
- When a student repeats a course, only the higher grade is computed in their Grade Point Average (GPA). All grades remain on the student’s academic transcript.
- Students receiving financial aid have additional restrictions on repeating courses. Please refer to the Financial Aid Course Repeat Policy at massasoit.edu/finaid for more information.
- Repeating a course may not be allowed in specific programs with outside accreditation. In those cases, the specific program’s policy will supersede this policy.
- Failing grades that were removed from a student’s GPA through an approved Academic Forgiveness appeal will not count toward the five-attempt maximum; students will still need to complete the Course Repeat Request Forms as detailed above.
- A change of grade must be made within one year after the conclusion of the class. The faculty of record for the course is the only person who can make the grade change, and this would also include a change of an F to a W. The faculty of record would be the only signature required.
- In the event that the faculty of record is unable to be located or reached after reasonable attempts, and after a reasonable amount of time, the student’s request for a grade change, with the signature of both the appropriate department chair and dean, would go to the Appeals Committee, and the Appeals Committee could make a recommendation to the Senate. If the Appeals Committee denies the request, the issue would end. If the Appeals Committee is on extended recess (June through August), the appeal would go directly to the current Senate President. The Senate President would poll the Senate body by email to get their sense of the appeal and then act accordingly.
- In the case of changing an F to a W, the college must provide the faculty member of record all information necessary in order for the faculty member to approve this change, and the college must have, in writing, approval from the faculty of record in order to make this change. If the faculty member is not available, then the request for change of an F to a W would go through the steps outlined in #2.