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194 │COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2017-2018 │ACADEMIC POLICY
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 online 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
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 the Financial Aid
office 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
Grade Appeal:
Grade determination is the prerogative of the instructor and students should be aware that grading is subject
to the professional judgment of each instructor. A student may only appeal his or her final grade in a course, not individual
assignment grades, and only for one or more of the following reasons:
1. The criteria for evaluating academic performance as stated in the course syllabus were not actually applied in
determining the grade,
2. The grade was influenced by criteria other than those stated in the course syllabus, or
3. The instructor applied the criteria in a grossly unfair manner.
A student who is considering a grade appeal must first discuss the course grade with the instructor. If the instructor decides
not to change the grade, the student may submit a written appeal to the appropriate dean, typically the dean of the school
in which the course was offered. The burden of proof rests on the student and the appeal must include a clear and coherent
statement of the reason for the appeal, including which of the three reasons stated above is the basis for it. The appeal
should also include any supporting documents. The initial written appeal must be submitted no later than 60 days after
official grades have been posted.