Academic Information and Requirements – Student Grades

(Refer to Policy IN 1.01pr)

Grades

Edmonds Community College uses a numerical grading system. Based on the student’s academic performance and meeting the criteria listed below, the faculty will assign one of the following decimal grades in the range shown or the appropriate letter grade.

	4.0 - 3.5		Highest achievement
3.4 - 2.5		High achievement
2.4 - 1.5		Acceptable achievement
1.4 - 1.0		Minimum standard of acceptable achievement
0.0		Less than acceptable achievement

G		Please Note: As of July 1, 2011, this letter grade is no longer used.
I		The incomplete is given at the discretion of the instructor only when the student has done satisfactory work but could not, for some unavoidable reason, complete some part of the coursework or take the final examination. The student and instructor prepare and sign an “Incomplete Grade Contract” (located in division offices) specifying the work to be completed. The contract will include the date by which all work must be submitted and the grade that will be submitted if the work is not completed. Incompletes given prior to Fall Quarter of 1990 will be assigned letter grades.
L		Credits awarded for advanced placement courses. Credits are not included in the calculation of the grade-point average.
N		A grade for auditing a class without earning credit. Students must register as auditors or complete the change from credit to audit or audit to credit no later than the seventh week of the quarter (sixth week for summer quarter). To make a change, the student must return a program change form to the Enrollment Services Office. Forms are available from Enrollment Services. An auditor’s participation in class is at the discretion of the instructor. The cost of auditing a class or taking the class for credit is the same.
S		Satisfactory (performance level of at least 2.0). Students may choose the satisfactory or unsatisfactory grading mode at the beginning of each quarter for a Course Challenge, a Special Project Course, or other specified courses.
U		Unsatisfactory (performance level below a 2.00). The student must have chosen the Satisfactory‑Unsatisfactory option at the beginning of the course.
V		An instructor-initiated withdrawal of a student. The final grade issued if an instructor initiates a class withdrawal before the end of the quarter, often in consultation with the student, or if a student enrolls in a class but never attends or stops attending class. A faculty member is under no obligation to grant an instructor-initiated withdrawal.
W		Withdrawal. A student must formally request a withdrawal from class when dropping a class or classes after the quarter has started. Withdrawals after the 10th day of the quarter (8th day in summer quarter) result in a “W” grade on the transcript. You are officially withdrawn only after completing and processing the Add-drop form available from Enrollment Services.
X		Expunged from Record. The student has been approved for exclusion of these grades from their academic record according to the Academic Renewal regulation. Courses with a grade of ‘X’ are not counted in the student’s GPA.
*		Assigned when grades are not submitted by the instructor in time to be processed. When the grades are processed, the earned grade will be recorded.

Decimal/Letter Grade Equivalency

Numerical Grade		Letter Grade
4.0 - 3.9		A
3.8 - 3.5		A-
3.4 - 3.2		B+
3.1 - 2.9		B
2.8 - 2.5		B-
2.4 - 2.2		C+
2.1 - 1.9		C
1.8 - 1.5		C-
1.4 - 1.2		D+
1.1 - 1.0		D
0.0		E

General Grade Information:

Grade point values are the same as the grade (for example, a grade of 3.8 has a grade point value of 3.8). Grades less than 1.0 have a 0.0 grade point value. Grades of I, W, V, N, and U do not carry credit or grade point value. The grades of S, L, and * carry credit, but the credit is not included in the calculation of the grade point average.
Courses numbered below 100 are not included in college-level credit or grade point calculations.
Grades are not assigned in community education classes.
Letter grades from other colleges convert as follows:

	Other Colleges	Edmonds CC
	A+, 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

Any E, F, or any other grading symbol used by another college indicating that no credit was earned, will not be transferred. Any grade of D (1.0) or above may transfer.

Grade Changes

The instructor of the course may make a grade change within 1 (one) year after a grade has been given. In cases of extenuating circumstances, the Chief Academic Officer may make a grade change after consultation with the President.
Withdrawing from class is the process of a student formally dropping a class or classes after the quarter has started. Withdrawals after the 10th day of the quarter (8th day in summer quarter) result in a “W” grade on the transcript. Students may drop classes through the tenth day of the quarter (eighth day for summer), without a transcript entry. Generally, you may drop classes through the seventh week of the quarter (sixth week for summer).
You are officially withdrawn only after completing and processing the Add-drop form. Forms are available from Enrollment Services. If you leave the college without completing the process you may receive an unofficial withdrawal, or “V” grade, or a grade based solely on work accomplished prior to dropping the class.
If you are unable to complete the school term due to extreme or unusual circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for a hardship or medical withdrawal. Withdrawals of this nature will allow the removal, or prevent the entry, of failing grades on the transcript. A full refund of tuition and fees is also provided and a “W” grade will appear on your transcript. The procedures information and form may be obtained from Enrollment Services.
In instances where grades were not submitted by the instructor in time to be processed, an “*” will be assigned. The “*” will be changed to the grade earned when grades are received and processed.

Grading Practices

All courses and grades will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
Grades will not be assigned in community service classes.
Prior to Fall 1990, grade‑point values were assigned to grades for each quarter hour or credit as follows: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0. Beginning Fall 1990, the decimal grade equals the GPA value. Grades “I”, “W”, “V”, “N”, and “U” do not carry credit or grade‑point value. The grades of “S”, “L”, and “*” carry credit, but the credit is not included in the calculation of the grade-point average.
Courses numbered below 100 are not included in cumulative credit or grade-point calculations.
In order to stay in compliance with the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, degree and certificate students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and complete 75% of attempted credits each quarter.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average is a weighted average of the grades received by students, calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of credit hours attempted. For example:

Course	Credits	Grade	Grade Pts
Management 118	3	2.0	(3x2) = 6
History 105	5	3.0	(5x3) = 15
Psychology 100	5	4.0	(5x4) = 20
Total	13	9	41
GPA			3.15

GPA example: Divide 41 by 13 (total number of points by the total number of credits) for a grade point average of 3.15.

Honors Recognition for GPA

Honor Roll

If you have completed 12 or more credits in decimal-graded, college-level courses numbered 100 or above, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher will be placed on the Honor Roll, issued each quarter by the chief academic officer.

Phi Theta Kappa

If you have the required number of associate degree credits and a 3.5 cumulative college-level grade point average (GPA), you are eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society.

Commencement Honors

If you have earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 in college-level courses (numbered 100 or above) through winter quarter at Edmonds Community College, you are eligible to graduate with honors and wear an honor cord at commencement.

Academic Honors

If you have earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 in all college-level courses (numbered 100 or above), upon graduation, the achievement will be noted on your college transcript.

Honors Program

Edmonds CC has an Honors Program in which students can take Honors seminars and classes, work closely with a faculty mentor in guided research opportunities, and receive Honors recognition. Earn a 3.2 grade point average (GPA) in Honors classes and the achievement will be noted on your college transcript.

“S” Grade Credit Limits on the application toward a degree or certificate

Program		Maximum Credits
Asssociate in Arts Degree		Ten (10) credits maximum for electives only, plus an additional three (3) credits for Health and Physical Education requirements.
Associate in Science Degree		Three (3) credits maximum for electives for Health and Physical Education requirements only.
Associate in Applied Science-T Degree		Thirty (30) credits maximum, plus an additional three (3) credits for Health and Physical Education requirements.
Associate in General Studies Degree		Thirty (30) credits maximum, plus an additional three (3) credits for Health and Physical Education requirements.
Associate of Technical Arts Degree		One-half (1/2) of the required credits.
Certificate and Certificate of Completion		Credit limits to be determined by the division dean.
High School Diploma		Advisors must approve which courses qualify as Satisfactory.

Repeating a Class

Students may repeat courses but should be aware of some restrictions and limitations. To support student success and the completion of academic goals, please note the following:

Students who have received a grade of 2.0 or better may not repeat a course without permission from the instructor.
Students may repeat any course for which a grade of 1.9 or less has been earned. The last grade received will be used in computing a student’s cumulative grade point average at Edmonds Community College if the grade carries a GPA value.
Credit will be given only once, though previous courses and grades will remain on the transcript.
A grade which carries no GPA value may not be used to replace a grade with GPA value.
Instructors, individual programs, and the college may place restrictions or impose interventions on students who wish to register for a course they have previously completed. Restrictions and interventions may include:
1. Limits on the maximum number of times a student may repeat a given course;
2. A required meeting with the instructor outside of class;
3. Mandatory advising;
4. Required enrollment in a designated section of the course; and/or
5. Co-enrollment or prior completion of a college success course or other course supplement designated by the instructor or an academic advisor.
Because some of these interventions require action before the start of the quarter, students should contact the instructor as soon as possible before the quarter starts to ask about required interventions or restrictions.
Students who fail to meet the instructor’s intervention requirements by the third day of the quarter may be involuntarily withdrawn from the class.
Restrictions and/or interventions may be appealed by contacting the appropriate Division Dean.
Financial aid covers first repeats under some circumstances. Students planning on repeating any course should consult with the Financial Aid office before enrollment.

Course Repeat Forms

Once a student successfully repeats a course with an improved grade, the student may request that previous grades earned for that same course be removed from the GPA (grade point average) calculation by submitting a Course Repeat form. Forms are available from Enrollment Services.

Please note the following requirements for removing the original course grade from the GPA calculation with use of the Course Repeat form:

The most recent grade earned must be higher than any previous time the course was taken;
Courses with letter grades of W, V, I, N, U, X, or S, are excluded, because these grades do not affect the GPA (grade point average) calculation; and
Courses must have the exact name and course number as previously listed on the transcript (except courses designated with the “&” symbol, or other courses, which were changed to accommodate Washington state’s Common Course Numbering system).
There is no deadline for submitting Course Repeat forms if other conditions and requirements are met;
Instructor permission is not required on the Course Repeat form; and
Course Repeat forms are used to remove the original grade from the GPA calculation; they do not remove the original grade from the transcript.

Updated and Approved by President’s Cabinet 12/16/2015

Amended 7/3/12

Amended 3/30/09

Amended 10/06/08

Amended 8/13/07

Amended 3/26/07

Amended 1/09/06

Amended 10/08/93

Amended 5/03/93