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Grading/Academic Standards
1. |
What is the grading policy at Cal State East Bay?
It is an integral part of the teaching responsibility of the faculty to provide careful evaluation and timely assignment of an appropriate grade to each enrolled student. There is a presumption that grades assigned are correct. It is the responsibility of anyone appealing an assigned grade to demonstrate otherwise. In the absence of compelling reasons, such as instructor or clerical error, prejudice, or capriciousness, the grade determined by the instructor of record is to be considered final. Final course grades must be submitted by the faculty to Enrollment Management by the established deadline. Also see "What are the policies which affect my registration, grades, and academic status" in the Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Studies chapter.
If you believe that an appropriate grade has not been assigned, and you cannot resolve the matter informally with the instructor, department chair, and/or college dean/associate dean, you should present your case to the Interim Presidential Appointee to the Fairness Committee, Gale Young (510-885-4637), no later than one quarter after you received the grade. The Fairness Committee may authorize a change of grade under certain circumstances (see "What recourse do I have if I believe I have received a grade that is inappropriate?" in this chapter.). If the instructor of record does not assign a grade to an individual student, the appropriate failing grade for nonattendance ("WU" or "NC") is automatically recorded by Enrollment Management. You have one quarter to petition the Fairness Committee if you believe the instructor should have assigned an academic grade. If the instructor of record is unable to assign course grades, the Fairness Committee is authorized to ensure that other qualified faculty assign grades.
For purposes of correcting an error, an instructor may change a grade with approval of his/her department chair and college dean. No grade may be changed once graduation has been recorded. The administrative symbol for withdrawal cannot be assigned by a faculty member. See the Registration chapter for the description of withdrawal policies and procedures.
2. |
What are the academic grading symbols for undergraduates, and what do they signify?
| Academic Symbols | Definitions | Grading (Quality) Points Earned |
| A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F CR NC | Excellent Excellent Good Good Good Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Poor Poor Failing Credit No Credit | 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 |
"A-F" Grading Pattern
Courses required for your major in your major department are taken in this pattern. Specific department exemptions are noted in the course description. Faculty use of "+" or "-" is optional.
Credit/No Credit and A/B/C/No Credit Grading Patterns (CR/NC and A/B/C/NC)
You may enroll in up to 60 units in credit/no credit patterns as an undergraduate. There are two credit/no credit patterns: (1) "CR/NC," and (2) "A/B/C/NC." Some courses are only offered in the "CR/NC" or "A/B/C/NC" patterns. You can select the "CR/NC" pattern for most other courses subject to certain restrictions. You can choose the "CR/NC" pattern during Registration and Add/Drop. No changes to, or from, the credit/no credit pattern are permitted after the Add/Drop period. There are no exceptions to this rule. No course in your major department may be taken "CR/NC," unless that is the only grading pattern in the course. Courses in your major which are offered by other departments may be taken "CR/NC" with the permission of your major department. Be certain to check with your advisor before taking any course in your major on a "CR/NC" basis.
Units that you earn in courses taken under these grading patterns will apply to your degree requirements as long as they are not remedial courses (courses numbered 0800 - 0999). "CR" signifies you mastered the material at the level of "C-" or higher. "NC" signifies a work level of "D+" or lower. Faculty use of "+" or "-" is optional.
3. |
What are the administrative grading symbols, and what do they signify?
| Administrative Grading Symbols | Definitions | Grade (Quality) Points Earned |
| RP | Report in Progress | 0.0 |
| I | Incomplete (Authorized) | 0.0 |
| IC | Incomplete Charged | 0.0 |
| RD | Report Delayed | 0.0 |
| W | Withdrawal | 0.0 |
| WU | Withdrawal Unauthorized | 0.0 |
| AU | Audit | 0.0 |
Report in Progress (RP)
The symbol "RP," Report in Progress, is used in connection with courses that extend beyond an academic term. It indicates that work is in progress, but that a final grade cannot be assigned until additional work is completed. The work is to be completed within one year, except in the case of graduate theses. A graduate thesis must be completed and approved within five years of the student's initial enrollment in a thesis course. If the work is not completed within the established time limit (one year, and for graduate theses, five years), the "RP" grade will be changed to an "F" or "NC," depending on the grading pattern of the course.
Incomplete (I)
The symbol "I", Incomplete (Authorized), indicates that a portion of required coursework has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen, but fully justified, reasons and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. It is your responsibility to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements that must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated. Your instructor will specify the work needed for completion and will communicate the requirements to you in writing with a copy to the department or program chair.
An "I" must normally be made up within one calendar year immediately following the end of the term during which it was assigned. This limitation prevails whether or not you maintain continuous enrollment.
When you complete the required work and it has been evaluated, your instructor will submit a change of grade form and the academic grade will be recorded. If you do not complete your work within the allowed time limit, the grade will be recorded as an "IC" (Incomplete Charged).
Incomplete Charged (IC)
The symbol "IC," Incomplete Charged, is used if you received an authorized incomplete ("I"), but did not complete the required coursework within the allowed time limit, and the original grading pattern of the course was "A-F." The "IC" replaces the "I" and is counted as a failing grade for computing your grade point average. You may be able to receive up to two one-quarter extensions from the instructor. These extensions are for cause and must be approved by both your instructor and department chair. (Examples of cause include military service, serious health or personal problems, or instructor's leave of absence.) If you want credit for a course after an "I" has been converted to an "IC," you must reregister and pass the course. Do not reregister while the grade is still recorded as "I," for you would then be responsible for completing both enrollments.
You can graduate with an "I" grade on your record if the course is not necessary for you to graduate. Remember that no grade may be changed once graduation has been posted.
Report Delayed (RD)
You will be assigned this administrative grade for a course if the instructor notifies Enrollment Management that grade reports have been delayed by circumstances beyond his or her control. An example is the illness of the instructor at the end of the quarter. Your instructor will replace the "RD" grade with an academic grade as soon as possible. If the instructor fails to replace it with an academic grade by the end of the following term, the grade "RD" will be converted to a "WU" or an "NC" depending on your grading pattern.
Withdrawal (W)
This administrative grade indicates you were permitted to withdraw from a course after the end of the Add/Drop period with the approval of the instructor and appropriate campus officials. This grade does not reflect the quality of your performance and is not used in calculating your grade point average. Your instructor is urged to provide you with a mechanism to evaluate your progress in the course during the first two weeks so that you can make an informed decision regarding your continued enrollment before the beginning of the withdrawal period.
Withdrawal after the seventh week is normally not permitted. If you have attended the class, done the work, and have a valid reason for failing to complete the course, your instructor should normally assign the "I," Incomplete (Authorized) grade.
Withdrawal from a class after the seventh week requires verification of the reason by an impartial third party, written on letterhead stationery, and approval by the instructor, the department chair and university registrar. The requirements for withdrawal from the university from the third through the seventh weeks must also be fulfilled.
You may not withdraw if you have taken the final examination.
If you do not attend class and do not have an approved withdrawal petition, you will receive a failing grade of "WU" or "NC," depending on the grading pattern you selected for the course.
Details on the withdrawal process are documented in the Registration chapter.
Withdrawal Unauthorized (WU)
This administrative grade indicates that you enrolled in a course, but did not withdraw from the course and also failed to complete course requirements. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities, or both, were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible. The "WU" is counted in your grade point average as an "F" grade.
Audit (AU)
You may take courses for instruction only (Audit), attending class but not receiving credit. You will pay the same fees and enjoy the same instructional privileges as students enrolled for credit. You may participate in class, take examinations or complete other assignments, but you are not required to do so.
You may not petition to change your enrollment status from, or to, "Audit" after the Add/Drop period has expired.
Details on the audit process are covered in the Registration chapter.
4. |
How is my grade point average (GPA) computed?
Grade Point Averages and Their Significance
You earn grade (quality) points on the following basis:
| 4 quality points per unit of "A," 3.7 quality points per unit of "A-," 3.3 quality points per unit of "B+," 3 quality points per unit of "B," 2.7 quality points per unit of "B-," 2.3 quality points per unit of "C+," 2 quality points per unit of "C," 1.7 quality points per unit of "C-," 1.3 quality points per unit of "D+," and 1 quality point per unit of "D." A grade of "F" or "WU" earns no quality points. | |||||
"CR" and "NC" grades and units are not included in your GPA calculation.
"RP" and "I" grades and units are not included in your GPA calculation. An "RP" or "I" grade becomes an "F" if you do not complete the coursework in the specified time frame. The "F" will be included in your GPA calculation in the quarter in which the "RP" or "I" changes.
"WU" grades are regarded the same as "F's" in your GPA calculation.
"RD" grades and units are not included in your GPA.
"W" grades and units are not included in your GPA.
5. |
When are final examinations scheduled?
Your instructor will fully inform you of the manner of his/her evaluation as well as requirements and assignments. Typically, there will be periodic examinations, graded assignments, and a final examination. Final examinations are administered only during final exam week and only at the times scheduled by the university in the quarterly Class Schedule. Exceptions for compelling reasons are authorized in writing by the department chair with a copy to the college dean. The day and start time of the first lecture in the week determine the final examination time. Some courses contain a separate laboratory, activity, or discussion segment. If your instructor desires, s(he) may give a final examination on that segment during the last class meeting of that segment. You will find the final examination policy and schedule in the Class Schedule.
6. |
When will I receive my grades?
At the end of each quarter you will be notified of your academic standing and grades achieved. Grades for the current quarter are available online after the faculty submit their official grade rosters. To check your grades log-on to: https://my.csueastbay.edu.
7. |
How can I qualify for the Dean's and Honors Lists?
Your name can be placed on these annual lists if you have an outstanding academic record. You must complete at least 24 units with letter grades in a four-quarter period (spring through winter). These recognitions will be posted to your academic record at the end of each winter quarter, and students on the Dean's List are recognized at the annual Honors Convocation in the spring quarter. (Honors and Dean's Lists do not apply to graduate students.)
| Dean's List: | 3.80 to 4.00 GPA |
| Honors List: | 3.60 to 3.79 GPA |
If you are on the Dean's List for the year or are graduating with Honors (on the basis of your entire academic record), you will be invited to the Student Honors Convocation in May. This is a popular event, with families, friends, faculty, and staff attending.
Honors at Graduation is covered in detail in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter.
8. |
What constitutes probation and disqualification?
The following policies govern undergraduate academic probation and disqualification:
Academic Probation
According to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, you must achieve at least a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) in all university work, all work at Cal State East Bay, and all work in your major to receive a baccalaureate degree. Academic probation warns you that your academic performance is below the state minimum required for graduation, and that you must improve your GPA before a degree can be granted.
There are various services to assist you in improving your academic standing. If you are an EXCEL or Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) student, you must contact your counselor. All other undergraduate students should contact the University Advisement Center at 510-885-4682 and make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor.
When both your cumulative higher education GPA and your Cal State East Bay GPA reach 2.00, you are removed from academic probation.
Administrative Academic Probation
As authorized by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, you may be placed on administrative academic probation for:
| • | withdrawal or administrative disenrollment from all or a substantial portion of a program of studies in two successive quarters or in any three quarters. (Note: A student whose withdrawal is directly associated with a chronic or recurring medical condition or its treatment is not subject to administrative academic probation for such withdrawal); | ||||
| • | repeated failure to progress toward the stated degree objective or other program objective, including that resulting from the assignment of 23 units of "NC," when such failure appears to be due to circumstances within your control; | ||||
| • | failure to comply, after due notice, with an academic requirement or regulation, as defined by campus policy, which is routine for all students or a defined group of students, such as failure to complete the writing skills test, failure to complete a required practicum, failure to comply with professional standards appropriate to the field of study, or failure to complete a specified number of units as a condition for receiving student financial aid or making satisfactory progress in the academic program; | ||||
| • | earning only grades of "F," "NC," and/or "WU" for two consecutive quarters or any three quarters. | ||||
As authorized by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, as an undergraduate student on academic probation you will be subject to academic disqualification when:
| • | as a freshman (fewer than 45 quarter hours of college work completed) you fall below a grade point average of 1.50 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Cal State East Bay; | ||||
| • | as a sophomore (45 through 89 quarter hours of college work completed) you fall below a grade point average of 1.70 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Cal State East Bay; | ||||
| • | as a junior (90 through 134 quarter hours of college work completed) you fall below a grade point average of 1.85 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Cal State East Bay; | ||||
| • | as a senior (135 or more quarter hours of college work completed) you fall below a grade point average of 1.95 in all units attempted or in all units attempted at Cal State East Bay. | ||||
As authorized by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, if you have been placed on administrative academic probation, you may be disqualified from further attendance if:
| • | the conditions for removal of administrative academic probation are not met within the period specified; | ||||
| • | you become subject to academic probation while on administrative academic probation; | ||||
| • | you become subject to administrative academic probation for the same or similar reason for which you have been placed on administrative academic probation previously, although not currently in such status. | ||||
| • | at the end of any term, you have a cumulative grade point average below 1.0; | ||||
| • | your cumulative grade point average is so low that in view of your overall educational record, it seems unlikely that the deficiency will be removed within a reasonable period. | ||||
9. |
How can I be readmitted after Academic Disqualification?
To be readmitted/reinstated following Academic Disqualification, you must demonstrate evidence of improved academic performance. This is usually demonstrated by earning good grades at another institution or through Open University. Typically, you will not be considered for readmission for one year, certainly not for at least a quarter. If you are not admitted within three quarters, you must reapply for admission.
If you are readmitted/reinstated following Academic Disqualification, you are placed on Academic Probation.
If you are readmitted/reinstated, you must maintain a 2.5 GPA each and every quarter until you are no longer subject to disqualification. You may be subject to application fees depending on how many quarters have elapsed since you last registered.
If you are academically disqualified a second time, you will not be readmitted/reinstated a second time.
10. |
Can I qualify for Academic Renewal?
Academic Renewal is the process that matriculated students seeking a bachelor's degree follow, under limited circumstances, to remove the punitive effect of past academic failures. (A matriculated student is regularly enrolled after being admitted to the university.)
There are two ways to achieve Academic Renewal, Repetition of a Course and Forgiveness of Previous Term(s).
Repetition of Courses
You may repeat a course, which means your earlier attempt is ignored in GPA calculations, but not removed from your record, subject to the following conditions:
General Education course equivalencies:
Certain General Education courses are considered equivalent for the purposes of academic renewal. Therefore, students will receive credit for only one course in each of the following groups (i.e., ART, BIOL).
ART 1010, 1011, 1014; BIOL 1000, 1001, 1003, 1005, 1007, 1008, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004; BIOL 1002, 1004, 2005; BIOL 2010, 2011; BIOL 2020, 2021; CHEM 1000, 2001, 2002; CHEM 1601, 1605; ES 1002, 2002; GEOL 1001, 1003, 1004, 1005; GEOL 2100, 2101; HIST 1014, 1017; HIST 1015, 2018; HIST 1016, 2019; HSC 1100, 2100; MUS 1000, 2020; MUS/ANTH 1004, MUS 1014; MUS 1006, 2130; PHIL 1605, 2605; PHYS 1500, 1700; PHYS 1600, 1800; PSYC 1000, 1001, 1005, 2004, 2009; SOC 1000, 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002, 2255; THEA 1010, 1011.
| You must file a "Petition for Academic Renewal" with the Office of Academic Programs and Graduate Studies (WA 859) if: | |||||
| 1. | the course prefix and/or number has changed, or the course is Independent Study. | ||||
| 2. | your first attempt was at another accredited post-secondary institution. See #5 below. | ||||
Note: The CSU system normally forbids retroactive Academic Renewal. File your petition before reregistering for the course to give yourself time to adjust your program if your petition is denied.
You can only renew up to 20 units of coursework. If you go over that limit, the quality hours and quality points of all subsequently repeated courses will be averaged, while the units earned for these subsequent attempts will not be counted. Students who have repeated more than 5 courses or 20 units may petition, through their advisor (EOP, EXCEL, GE, major, or UAC), to select which 5 courses or 20 units will be academically renewed.
Academic Renewal is not possible in the following circumstances:
| 1. | You cannot repeat any one course for academic renewal, more than once. If you do, the quality hours and quality points of all subsequent repeats will be averaged, while the units earned for these subsequent attempts will not be counted. | ||||
| 2. | You cannot renew a grade of "C-" or better. If you do repeat a class in which your original grade was a "C-" or higher, the quality hours and quality points of all attempts will be used to calculate your grade point average, while only the units earned for the first attempt will be counted. | ||||
| 3. | You cannot renew a "D," "D+," "F," "I," "IC," or "WU" grades with an "F," "NC," "I," "IC," or "WU." | ||||
| 4. | Academic Renewal cannot be approved for any grade assigned as a result of academic dishonesty. | ||||
| 5. | If the original grade(s) was assigned at Cal State East Bay, Academic Renewal by repeating a course at another institution is normally not possible. (Exceptions can be made for disqualified students who file an approved petition prior to repeating the course elsewhere, but only to the extent necessary for their readmission.) | ||||
You should not file a "Petition for Academic Renewal" if:
| 1. | your original grade was "NC." You may repeat the course but there is no Academic Renewal because the "NC" grade has no effect on your GPA. | ||||
| 2. | the original grade is still an "I." You can not get Academic Renewal because the "I" does not affect your GPA. If the grade has been changed to an "IC," Academic Renewal is possible. | ||||
Under the most extenuating circumstances, you can petition to exclude from degree requirements and GPA computations up to three quarters (or up to two semesters) of coursework taken at any institution. To have your petition approved, you must meet certain conditions and follow the process described below.
Approval of your petition requires satisfaction of all the following conditions:
| • | the coursework to be excluded does not represent your scholastic ability, and that this substandard performance was due to an extenuating circumstance; | ||||
| • | you would be compelled to complete additional courses or enroll in additional quarters to achieve your baccalaureate degree if your petition is not approved; | ||||
| • | five years have elapsed since the most recent coursework to be excluded was completed | ||||
| • | you completed at least 22 units at Cal State East Bay since the last term to be disregarded, with a 3.0 GPA, 45 units with a 2.5 GPA, or 67 units with a 2.0 GPA. | ||||
| You must complete the following steps: | |||||
| • | complete your portion of the "Academic Renewal, Forgiveness of Previous Term(s)" petition available in the Student Information Lobby | ||||
| • | obtain your major advisor's approval on the petition | ||||
| • | file the petition in the Student Information Lobby. If you are eligible, Enrollment Management certifies that you meet the above conditions, attaches a copy of your academic record, and forwards the package to the Academic Renewal committee in the Provost's Office. The committee acts upon all petitions by majority vote. | ||||
Cal State East Bay honors the exclusion policies of the originating institution. Each term excluded by another institution reduces by one the number of terms that Cal State East Bay will consider for exclusion.
11. |
What recourse do I have if I believe I have received a grade that is inappropriate?
If you question the grade you received in a course, attempt to resolve the problem with your instructor. If you are not satisfied, discuss the issue with the chair of the department in which the course is offered. If the issue is not resolved, see the dean or associate dean of the college in which the course is offered. If all previous actions fail, contact the Interim Presidential Appointee to the Fairness Committee, Gale Young, by calling (510) 885-4637 (the Academic Programs and Graduate Studies Office). If you are a candidate for a degree, notify your graduation evaluator that a question is pending resolution. Remember, once your degree has been posted, no grade changes will be recorded.
Fairness Committee
This is your recourse to resolve serious cases of alleged academic unfairness or discrimination. After every effort by all parties to resolve the dispute have been ineffective, you discuss your case with the President's appointee to the Fairness Committee. She will assist you in exhausting all normal channels and, if necessary, in filing a formal complaint. Submit your complaint and supporting documentation to the Academic Programs and Graduate Studies Office (Warren Hall 859). The Fairness Committee will review your documentation and the response(s) filed by the other parties involved in the dispute. If the committee finds possible grounds for a grievance, a Hearing Panel will be convened to hear the case. Under normal circumstances, you must file your case before the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the alleged incident took place.
The Fairness Committee is empowered to change a grade in accordance with the Fairness Document and to assign a grade in cases where the instructor may have assigned an unfair academic grade. In cases where your instructor is unable to assign course grades, the Fairness Committee is authorized to ensure the grades are assigned by other qualified faculty. The Fairness Committee is authorized to change a grade only after it has conducted a proper review of the case.
More information is available from the Academic Programs and Graduate Studies Office (Warren Hall 859; Tel. 510-885-4637).
12. |
How does Cal State East Bay define and handle academic dishonesty?
Faculty members are expected to instill in their students a respect for integrity and a desire to behave honestly. Deception for individual gain is an offense against the members of the university community. To this end, faculty will take measures to discourage dishonesty, adjust grades appropriately if dishonesty is discovered, and recommend that additional administrative sanctions be considered. Grading policies are the exclusive prerogative of faculty. Non-academic administrative sanctions are the province of the Student Disciplinary Officer within the university's Student Affairs division; Tel. (510) 885-3646.
| Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: | |||||
| • | cheating, which includes possessing unauthorized sources of information during examinations, copying the work of others, permitting others to copy your work, submitting work done by others, completing assignments for others, altering work after grading and subsequently submitting it for re-grading, submitting the same work for two or more classes without the permission of all instructors involved, or retaining materials that you have been instructed to return to your instructor; | ||||
| • | plagiarism, which includes taking the words or substance of another and either copying or paraphrasing the work without giving credit to the source through footnotes, quotation marks, or reference citations; | ||||
| • | providing materials to another with knowledge they will be improperly used; | ||||
| • | possessing another's work without permission; | ||||
| • | selling, purchasing, or trading materials for class assignments (includes purchasing term papers via the World Wide Web); | ||||
| • | altering the work of another; | ||||
| • | knowingly furnishing false or incomplete academic information; | ||||
| • | altering documents that make up part of the student record; | ||||
| • | forging signatures or falsifying information on any official academic document. | ||||
| If there is evidence of dishonesty: | |||||
| • | involving cheating, you should be privately informed, if possible; the materials should be confiscated; you should be allowed to finish the exam; and your instructor should note the names of adjacent individuals; | ||||
| • | involving plagiarism, your instructor should assemble documentation and notify you promptly in private. | ||||
Depending on the circumstances, you may: (a) be warned; (b) be required to resubmit work or retake an exam under specified conditions and with a possible grade penalty; (c) have your grade adjusted for the assignment; or (d) have your grade adjusted in the course, including assignment of an "F" at the discretion of the faculty. If the course grade is adjusted, it is not subject to Academic Renewal.
You may appeal an instructor's action to the Fairness Committee (see above). Your appeal of an instructor's academic sanction is governed by the "Fairness Document."
Depending upon the severity of the offense or the number of offenses, the instructor may directly refer the instance of academic dishonesty to the Student Disciplinary Officer to determine if further action is necessary. (In any instance of academic dishonesty, however, whereby an academic sanction is imposed, the instructor will file an "Academic Dishonesty Incident Report." See two paragraphs above.) At the discretion of the Student Disciplinary Officer, administrative sanctions such as warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion may be imposed. As prescribed in Executive Order #628, Article VI, Subsection 6, sanctions of "probation and suspension" shall be made part of the student's academic record during the term of the probation or suspension. Expulsion shall be made part of the student's permanent academic record." The Student Disciplinary Officer shall inform the instructor of the actions taken on any referral. (If an appeal to the Fairness Committee regarding an academic sanction imposed by the instructor is pending, action by the Student Disciplinary Officer will be postponed until after the adjudication of the appeal.)
Your appeal of administrative sanctions is governed by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 41301 through 41304 and Chancellor's Executive Order #628 (1994). The Student Disciplinary Officer can provide you with details. For additional information and the text of sections 41301-41304, see the "Student Disciplinary Action" section in the Appendix chapter of this catalog.
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© 2007 The California State University
Last Updated: July 11, 2007