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admitted provisionally, has successfully demonstrated academic success for one semester at CIU with the minimum GPA
requirement.
Faculty-directed Study
A Faculty Directed Study (FDS) provides the student an opportunity to pursue topics of in-depth research beyond the stated
curriculum under the direction of a faculty member.
Undergraduate-level
: Juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to request an FDS. Students wishing to
register for an FDS must obtain an FDS request form from their academic dean’s office and discuss the proposed study with
their advisor and the faculty member who would direct the study. A maximum of 12 semester hours of an undergraduate
student’s program may be taken by FDS.
Graduate-level
: Students must discuss the proposed research with their academic dean before approaching a possible
instructor. Students may not elect to take a regularly scheduled course through FDS unless the course has been changed and
has created the need for program completion through this alternative.
Grading Policies
Appealing a Grade:
Any student who questions a final grade in any subject should contact the instructor of the course
immediately. Students may appeal a grade only within 90 days of issue with one exception: at the time of graduation grades
may no longer be appealed unless the student is willing to forego the desired graduation date for a future date to allow for the
grade to be changed before degree conferral.
Grade Point Average Computation
:
1.
Formula: The Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by the accepted formula of quality points earned divided by
credit hours attempted. CIU has adopted a 4.0 grading system for the computation of quality points.
2.
Inclusion in Cumulative GPA: The cumulative GPA is calculated only on the basis of courses taken at Columbia
International University (including courses taken through the Korntal, Kirkland, and Atlanta branch campuses) and
institutions with which the university has a joint course registration agreement.
3.
Transfer Credit Exclusion: Transfer credits may be applied toward the degree program when the grade is “C” or above,
but accepted credits are not computed into the GPA.
4.
Grade Replacements: Courses in which a grade lower than “C-” is earned may be retaken. Courses in which a grade of
“C” or above is earned may be retaken only by permission of the course instructor, the student’s faculty advisor, and
the dean of the respective college. In both cases, the new grade replaces the former grade in the calculation of the
cumulative GPA, regardless of whether it is better or worse than the grade earned in the first attempt; however, the
record of the previous grade remains on the student’s transcript. (Contact Student Financial Services for aid eligibility
for replacement courses.) A repeated course counts only once toward degree requirements; students may not receive
double credit for a course. A course may be repeated for credit only twice.
Grading Scale:
Grade
Quality Point
per Credit Hour
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
F
0.0
WF
0.0
The following grades are not calculated in the GPA:
AU
Audit
I
Incomplete
WIP
Work In Progress
P
Passed
S
Satisfactory
U
Unsatisfactory
W
Withdrawal
WA
Withdrawal Audit
WU
Withdrawal Unsatisfactory
Incompletes
: Under exceptional, unforeseen circumstances, a faculty member may permit additional time for the completion
of course requirements beyond the end of the semester. In such cases, a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be assigned
when submitted work is satisfactory but, due to unforeseen circumstances, one or more assignments is outstanding. An “I” will
not be given to enable a
student to do additional coursework that is not listed in the syllabus or to raise a deficient grade.
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