193 / 272
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
Changing a Grade:
A faculty member may submit a grade change under two circumstances: the discovery of a clerical error, or
a written decision resulting from the formal appeal process:
1.
A grade change resulting from the discovery of a clerical error must be approved by the dean of the college in which the
course resides and must be made within ninety (90) days of the original grade submission.
2.
A student who questions a final grade in a course should contact the instructor within thirty (30) days of when the grade
is posted. The student must submit a written appeal to the instructor of the course. Reasons to appeal a grade are:
•
The grade issued was not supported by sufficient evidence (i.e., expectations in the class syllabus).
•
The academic consequence is more severe than called for by the situation.
•
A stated university policy has been misapplied.
•
The student feels he or she is the object of discrimination.
If the instructor approves a grade change, the change must also be documented in writing and approved by the dean of the
college in which the course resides and the university provost. At the time of a student’s graduation, grades may no longer be
appealed unless the student is willing to forego the desired graduation date for a future date in order to allow the appeal
process to be completed. If the instructor denies the student’s appeal, the student may see the “Academic Grievance
Procedure” in this same catalog.
In both cases, written documentation of the reason for the grade change must be provided. In no case may a grade change be
based on the completion of coursework or extra credit work beyond the end of the semester.
Incompletes
: Under unforeseen circumstances beyond their control (e.g. medical emergency, bereavement, or military
deployment.), students may request that a professor assign a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) that allows a student a
maximum of thirty (30) calendar days beyond the end of a semester to complete the remaining work for the course.
•
A request for an incomplete may be made during the final thirty (30) days of a semester, but no later than the final week
of the semester.
•
A request for an incomplete will be considered only if a student has less than 50% of the course requirements
outstanding.
•
A request for an incomplete must be accompanied by written request from the student with accompanying
documentation (e.g. a medical note).
•
A request for an incomplete may not involve additional work beyond the assignments listed in the syllabus.
When faculty members assign an incomplete, they must document that action on the form provided by the Office of the
University Registrar, receive approval from the dean of the college in which the course resides, and submit the form by the
grading deadline. The default grade when requesting an Incomplete is “F.” An incomplete does not carry quality points and is
not calculated in the GPA. A student need not be enrolled in order to remove a grade of incomplete. No student may graduate
with an “I” on record.
Graduation
Because of the whole life training character of CIU and its basic objective, “To know Him and to make Him known,” earning a
degree at CIU involves more than merely meeting academic requirements. Students must reflect adequate achievement of CIU
objectives (including non-academic areas such as personal morality, positive interpersonal and family relationships, and local
church involvement). Although non-academic objectives cannot be measured with complete objectivity, we believe valid and
useful assessment is possible and necessary. All programs provide significant training for vocational Christian service. Criteria
for granting a degree are designed to reflect the student’s character and competency in both general and professional areas.
193 │Columbia International University
Academic Policy