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Mt. Hood Community College Mt. Hood Community College Mt. Hood Community College

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  • Grading: AR-6200-E

  • Section 6000: Instruction
    Grading
    Administrative Regulation: AR-6200-E
         		President’s Cabinet (PC) Approval:12/17/91
    Readopted: 8/11/98
    1. Philosophy
      1. As a community college, MHCC recognizes that its students are individuals endowed with diverse talents and abilities and acknowledges its responsibility to provide full educational opportunity for all who enroll in its classes or programs.
      2. Grades (A-F and S, U) represent as true and as accurate an assessment of the student’s level of performance as the instructor can make.  Other designations (N, I, X and W) are explained under sections B and C.
      3. The responsibility for evaluating student performance and for assigning grades rests with the instructor.
      4. The responsibility for demonstrating competency within the framework of a course’s objectives and methods rests with the student.
      5. Students have the right to know how and on what basis their performance is being evaluated.
      6. An individual instructor’s grading practices should be consistent with sound educational values and with the grading practices of the institution.
    2. Symbols

      The symbols for instructor final grades, student grade, transcripts and any publications regarding grading will be:

      A - Excellent
      B - Above average
      C - Average
      D - Below average
      F - Failure
      S - Satisfactory+
      X – Audit++
      U - Unsatisfactory
      N - No basis for grade+++
      W – Withdrawal++
      I - Incomplete
      K – Continuing progress
      NR – Grade not received

        +Equals C
      ++Since withdrawal and audit are student options, “W” or “X” are not an option for instructor final grades but are indicated on student grade transcripts.
      +++The “N” grade is no longer issued but is indicated on student grade transcripts.  At the time it was assigned, it indicated “No Basis for Grade.” It was never assigned in lieu of an “I,” “W,” or “F.” Any opportunity for evaluation (tests, papers, group work, labs, etc.) disallowed issuing an “N” grade.

    3. Practices
      1. During the first week of instruction for each term, an instructor should announce and publish the grading practices for each class and distribute these to the students in each of those classes.
      2. An instructor’s assessment of a student’s achievement should be based on sound educational objectives, performance on required assignments and any or all of the following factors weighted as the instructor deems appropriate — attendance, class participation and performance on extra credit work.
      3. In assessing performance, letter grades, characterized as follows, are used except for a few courses that have been approved on an S-U basis or that allow an S-U option. An “A” indicates excellent or outstanding performance.  The concepts are fully grasped, the subject matter has been mastered, and the student has demonstrated ability to apply both concepts and subject matter with originality.

        A “B” indicates that the student has met all the objectives in the course and has shown an above average grasp not only of the subject matter but of the concepts as well.

        A “C” indicates that the student has met the requirements and objectives of the course satisfactorily and has grasped its subject matter and concepts at an acceptable level of competency.

        A “D” indicates that the student has met the minimum number of the objectives to satisfy requirements for the course, but the grasp of the subject matter and concepts was below average.

        An “F” or “U” indicates that the student has not met a sufficient number of the objectives to pass at a minimal level and should either repeat the course or be counseled into some other program or course.

        An “S” indicates that the student has met the requirements and objectives of the course satisfactorily and has grasped its subject matter and concepts at an acceptable level of competency.  For evaluation and transferability purposes, the “S” grade is equivalent to a grade of “C.”

      4. An “I” (Incomplete) indicates that insufficient work was done to justify a grade due to excusable reasons.  Though individual circumstances may warrant unique decisions, it is commonly expected that the student will have completed at least 75% of the course requirements in order to be given an “I” grade.  For every “I” assigned the instructor must complete an Incomplete form.  The Incomplete form is completed on the Web and submitted to Admissions, Registration and Records via Web grading.  Admissions, Registration and Records staff send a copy of it to the student.  It is the responsibility of the instructor to print a copy for their division dean and a copy for their own records.  Instructors do have the option of giving the student the Incomplete form themselves or submitting a paper version.  The paper version of the form is in triplicate NCR.  The top copy must be given to the division dean.  The yellow copy is to be submitted along with the grade sheet to Admissions, Registration and Records.  Admissions, Registration and Records will mail the yellow copy to the student.  The pink copy is to be retained by the Instructor.  Admissions, registration and records does not keep copies of incomplete forms.

        Incompletes are to be made up prior to the end of the following term unless the student is no longer enrolled.  Under these circumstances, the work must be made up in the term of return with a four-quarter maximum absence (including summer) permitted.  Incompletes not made up within these timelines do not automatically revert to an “F.”  They remain an “I,” unless changed by the instructor.  To change the grade within the timelines from an “I” to some other grade, the instructor must make the change as agreed on the incomplete form.

        Instructors may request additional time for the incomplete to be made up via a memo to the Admissions, Registration and Records Office.  An example of an acceptable request would be special needs of the course such as equipment or room availability.

      5. An “X” indicates that the student has opted to audit the class i.e., enroll in a credit class without receiving a grade or credit.  Audit students are identified by an “AU” posted on the instructor’s class list.

        Students may change their grading status through the seventh week (or equivalent) of the term.  This includes changing from letter grade to audit, audit to letter grade, letter grade to pass/fail, etc., whenever options are available.

      6. A “K” (continuing progress) indicates that the student was registered for the course, was in attendance, met some of the objectives but did not advance far enough to receive credit for completion.  A “K” grade is limited to developmental education courses and to open entry/open exit courses (where the student is permitted to proceed at one’s own pace).  A student who receives a “K” grade must reregister, repay and pass the class satisfactorily to receive credit.  The “K” grade remains on the transcript.  A student completing a developmental education course may receive a “K” grade up to two times for the same course and may only take the course a third time with the recommendation of the developmental education instructor via a signature add form.  Note: Students attempting a course for a third time who are receiving financial aid, veterans’ benefits or athletic eligibility must reregister for these credits above and beyond the hours necessary to maintain benefits.

      7. The student may drop any class through the seventh week of instruction or the equivalent for non-standard-length courses.

        After the last official day to drop a course, students may file a written appeal with the Admissions, Registration and Records Office for extenuating circumstances only.

      8. Faculty should communicate frequent evaluations to students so that students will have better knowledge on which to make decisions about the courses in which they are enrolled.

      9. Satisfactory academic progress for students enrolled in nine or more credit hours is defined as a quarterly grade point average of 2.00.

      10. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for correcting any errors in the transcript record within four academic terms.

      11. Grades are to be entered via Web by full and part-time instructors.  In the event an instructor misses the Web grading deadline, grades may be hand-carried or faxed to the Admissions, Registration and Records Office during normal business hours.

      12. Grades are assigned based on work completed at the end of the term.  Additional work or make-up after the term is not justified unless an Incomplete was assigned.