Grading System and Glossary

Students are graded in courses according to the system described below. The grade point average is computed on a scale in which:

Incomplete (INC) Grades

The grade of INC is given by the instructor in consultation with the student, with the following guidelines:

1. when the student has been doing passing work and the instructor believes the student can successfully complete the requirements of the course no later than the last day of the eighth week of the following semester, or its equivalent in calendar time, exclusive of Summer Session. The student must provide an acceptable and documented reason for not completing the course on time.
2. when a student has been absent from the final exam and a make-up exam is scheduled no later than the last day of the eighth week of the following semester, or its equivalent in calendar time, exclusive of Summer Session. Students must pay the make-up exam fee to the Bursar before taking the make-up exam. Extensions may be granted only by the Committee on Course and Standing of the School offering the course.
3. temporary grade awarded when the disposition of the final grade requires further evaluation for reasons other than the Procedures for Imposition of Sanctions related to the Board’s Academic Integrity Policy.

When applying for an INC grade, an Incomplete Agreement Form must be completed and returned to the instructor. The instructor may insist that the student obtain the permission of the Committee on Course and Standing (of the School offering the course) to complete the course.

The Registrar’s Office will change the temporary grade of INC to failure (FIN) by the tenth week of the following semester unless the instructor has submitted a passing grade.

Pass/Fail Option

Students in the professional schools, except for the School of Education, may not take courses on a pass/fail basis, even if the courses are being taken as free electives. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Science and in the School of Education may take certain courses on a pass/fail basis, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The student must have completed at least 28 credits.
2. A student may take only one course per semester on a pass/fail basis.
3. No general education courses may be taken pass/fail.
4. No courses required for the major may be taken pass/fail.
5. Students must choose this option during registration. (Students are not ÔÇ¿permitted to change to or from pass/fail after the deadline published in ÔÇ¿the academic calendar.)
6. No more than 18 credits may be taken pass/fail.

Auditing

Students wishing to audit a course must select audit status at the time of registration. Auditors must register in the normal manner and pay required tuition and fees. No credit or grade will be given for audited classes. Auditor status cannot be changed to credit status after the closing date for change of program. Likewise, credit status cannot be changed to auditor status after the change of program period.

Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)

A student’s overall academic performance is measured by calculating the grade point average (G.P.A.). This average is found by using grades from each course on the student’s record except those that have one of the following grades assigned: P, INC, W, WA, WN, PEN, AUD.

Each grade received is assigned a numerical value called Quality Points, as described in the Grading System chart. The number of Quality Points multiplied by the number of credits the course carries is the total for the course. The G.P.A. is found by adding these totals and dividing this amount by the total number of credits attempted.

Resignation from Courses

A student must complete a Change of Program (Add/Drop) Form in order to withdraw from a course during the program adjustment or refund period. Forms are available at the "I" desk in the NAC lobby, in an Academic Advisor’s office or at the Registrar’s Office in A-102.

During the Change of Program period, students may make program changes during the first week of classes. A student may drop a course without penalty (the course will not appear on the transcript) until approximately the end of the third week of classes. Refer to the academic calendar posted on the College’s website (www.ccny.cuny.edu) for pertinent dates. The Add/Drop form must be signed by an academic advisor and returned to the Registrar’s Office.

After the Change of Program period, and prior to the tenth week of classes, students may officially drop courses using a withdrawal form that must be signed by the instructor and the divisional dean. The grade of "W" is assigned only when it is clear that the student has good and sufficient reasons for withdrawing from the course. A grade of "WN" is assigned to students who never attended and did not officially withdraw.

After the tenth week of the term, students who withdraw will be assigned a grade of "WU." A grade of "WU" is also to be assigned to students who attended a minimum of one class, stopped attending, but did not officially withdraw.

Note: A student who withdraws from 12 credits or more within two academic years will be placed on academic warning; a student who drops 18 or more credits will be subject to dismissal. Dropping courses may cause a student to become ineligible for financial aid.

The Major

Undergraduate majors are offered throughout the College in approximately fifty fields. They prepare students for a variety of careers as well as for professional and graduate schools. Advisors assist students in making their initial choice of major and, on occasion, in reconsidering chosen fields of study. Every student must complete an approved major. Each department or program sets specific course requirements for its majors, which are outlined in the departmental listings in the Bulletin. Students should consult their advisor periodically for updates on major requirements. While some courses in the major may be completed at other accredited colleges, at least 60% of the major must be taken at City College. Every student must complete the requirements of an approved major in order to obtain a degree. Students must declare a major prior to completing 61 credits or risk losing eligibility to receive financial aid. Forms may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar or the "i" desk.

Dual Majors

Students who wish to major in two fields should file a Declaration of Plan, Subplan and Concentration form, which must be signed by the appropriate department advisors and by the divisional dean(s). The requirements of both declared academic plans must be completed. Students wishing to complete two academic plans should discuss it at an early stage of their college career with an advisor in each of the two departments. No more than three courses may be credited to both academic plans

The Minor

A number of departments offer a minor, a program of study of approximately 15 credits which can be taken in conjunction with the major. It should be noted that all degree candidates must have a major. The minor however is optional.

DegreeWorks (Degree Progress Online Advisement)

DegreeWorks is an easy-to-use software application that gives students access to their degree progress via the web. It allows a student to view the courses required to complete the general education requirements, major and degree. Courses required for minors and concentrations also appear in DegreeWorks. A student can also conduct "What-If" audits to see the courses required to change the major.

Dean’s List

Students are eligible for the Dean’s List four times during their career at City College: the semester in which they become sophomores, the semester in which they become juniors, the semester in which they become seniors, and the semester in which they have completed twenty-four or more credits as seniors. Students are placed on the Dean’s List for a particular year if for that year they have:

1. A 3.2 grade point average.
2. Completed at least 24 credits at City College.
3. No grades other than A, B, C, D, W or P.

Undergraduate Graduation Latin Honors

For students admitted to the College prior to Fall 2014 the graduation honors policy is as follows:

At graduation, there are three categories of honors for baccalaureate candidates:

• A degree summa cum laude is granted to students whose average in all ÔÇ¿subjects is at least 3.8.
• A degree magna cum laude is granted to students whose average in all ÔÇ¿subjects is at least 3.5.
• A degree cum laude is granted to students whose average in all subjects ÔÇ¿is at least 3.2. ÔÇ¿

For students admitted to the College in Fall 2014 and after the graduation honors policy is as follows:

• A degree summa cum laude is granted to students whose average in all subjects is at least 3.8.
• A degree magna cum laude is granted to students whose average in all subjects is at least 3.5.
• A degree cum laude is granted to students whose average in all subjects is at least 3.2.

Students must complete a minimum of 50 credits at City College to be eligible for Latin honors. Only coursework completed at City College is taken into account in the computation of graduation honors. Second degree students are not eligible for graduation honors.

In the computation of graduation honors, all college work taken by students at institutions other than the City College is taken into account even if some of the work is not transferred. ÔÇ¿A student must be eligible for honors based exclusively on their City College work, as well as the combined average of City College work and all work completed at other institutions. ÔÇ¿A student may not obtain a higher honor (i.e. magna cum laude instead of cum laude) than their City College index indicates. Thus, if a student achieves a 3.3 index at the City College and has a combined index of 3.5, the honor of cum laude is awarded. ÔÇ¿Second degree Students are not eligible for graduation honors. ÔÇ¿

Application for Graduation

Degrees are conferred three times each year: February, May/June and September. Candidates for graduation must file an Application for a Degree Form online by the specified date in November for February graduation, in March for June graduation and July for September graduation. Candidates who do not comply with deadlines will not graduate on time. Please consult the College calendar published online each semester for the application deadline.

Residency Requirement

To be eligible for a degree, a student must complete a minimum of 80 credits or the last 30 credits at City College. In addition, at least 60% of the major must be completed at City College. All transfer students and second-degree students (including those who are graduates of City College) are subject to the residency requirement. Graduates of City College who return for a second degree may not use coursework completed under the first degree to meet the residency requirement for a second degree from City College.

Requirements for Graduation

Students who entered City College as first-time freshmen after September 1996 will be required to complete a total of 120 credits, to include major and general education/core requirements. Exceptions are the degree programs in Architecture, Engineering and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, which require more than 120 credits.

Students are expected to be familiar with the requirements of their degree programs. All requirements for the degree must be met before the date of graduation. The temporary grade of INC (including those assigned in the final semester of attendance) must be resolved prior to the date of graduation.

In addition, all "stops" must be cleared by the date of graduation. Failure to clear "stops" will result in the delay of the distribution of diplomas and the processing of requests for transcripts.

Upper-division students should have a preliminary graduation check con-ducted two semesters before the anticipated date of graduation by an advisor in their department or division. The final graduation check and certification is conducted in the appropriate Dean’s Office.

Policy on Lateness and Absence

Students are expected to attend every class session of each course in which they are enrolled and to be on time. An instructor has the right to drop a student from a course for excessive absence. Students are advised to determine the instructor’s policy at the first class session. They should note that an instructor may treat lateness as equivalent to absence. No distinction is made between excused and unexcused absences. Each instructor retains the right to establish his or her own policy, but students should be guided by the following general College policy:

In courses designated as clinical, performance, laboratory or fieldwork courses, the limit on absences is established by the individual instructor. For all other courses, the number of hours absent may not exceed twice the number of contact hours the course meets per week.

When a student is dropped for excessive absence, the Registrar will enter the grade of "WU".

Academic Appeals

The faculty of each of the Schools defines the degree requirements, academic standards, and rules, and in general has jurisdiction over all of the courses offered by that School. Each of the Schools has a Committee on Course and Standing charged with oversight and enforcement of these matters and dealing with special cases and appeals. Students have the right to appeal to the appropriate Committee on Course and Standing any decision made by individual faculty members or administrators about these academic matters. Students must consult with their academic advisor for the appropriate appeals procedure. The Committee on Course and Standing is the final authority on enforcement of curriculum, degree requirements, academic standards, grades and academic rules.

Grievances

Students with grievances concerning classroom matters other than grades should first attempt to resolve the grievance at the department level through discussion with the faculty member(s) or department chair. If the matter is not resolved, the student or department may refer the problem to the appropriate academic dean, the Ombudsman, or the Vice President for Student Affairs, who shall, if necessary, refer it to the Office of the Provost for further consideration and possible action.

Course Loads for Full-Time Students

An average student program consists of twelve to fifteen credits. Students who are not on academic probation may take as many as eighteen credits. Students who wish to take more than eighteen credits must request permission from the dean of the school or division. Permission is granted only to students with outstanding records who have compelling reasons for making the request. A student who is granted permission for more than eighteen credits is expected to complete all courses on time and is generally not permitted to drop any courses.

Students on probation must limit their programs to approximately twelve credits. Students in the Grove School of Engineering who are on academic probation may not take more than twelve credits per semester.

Many forms of financial aid are contingent on full-time student attendance. Ordinarily, a student must register for at least twelve credits to be full-time. Students receiving financial aid should verify their full-time status with the Financial Aid Office, particularly when changing majors.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Students are expected to maintain minimum G.P.A. requirements both overall and in major courses; not to withdraw from twelve credits during any two consecutive academic years; and pass all required courses in sequence. All new students-whether or not they are Math-proficient-are required to take the CUNY Assessment Test in Mathematics (Math 3). Test results will be used to place student in the appropriate Mathematics course. ESL and SEEK students should consult with their advisors regarding compliance with these requirements.

Repeating Courses

Students may not repeat a course they have already passed unless that course has been designated as repeatable in the Bulletin. In instances in which a course is repeated, the repeated course does not confer additional credit. This limitation applies to courses taken at City College, courses taken at other colleges, and to courses for which credit is granted by exemption examination or advanced placement examination. Courses designated as repeatable may confer additional credit, up to the maximum number of allowable credits, as stated in this Bulletin. Students are ultimately responsible for determining if the coursework they select is a repeat of prior coursework. Students who have failed a course may register to retake that course a maximum of two times. If the course is required for their major and If they do not pass after three tries, they must change majors or leave the College.

"F" Repeat Policy

The "F" repeat policy only applies to courses taken after 1990. The number of failing credits that can be deleted from the G.P.A. shall be limited to sixteen for the duration of the student's undergraduate enrollment in institutions of the University. If the second grade is C or higher (C- does not qualify) the original grade of "F" will not be used in the calculation of the G.P.A. (although the course and grade remain on the record). The revised G.P.A. will be used for academic progress and graduation minimum standards. The F grades will, however, apply to graduation honors and can affect other requirements for progress in the major. The implementation of the F policy varies in some of the Professional Schools. The F policy does not apply to Graduate students. Consult with the Office of the Registrar for specific applications of this policy.