Grading

The grading system is based on achievement in comparison with other members of your class.

A grade report is available for each registered student on WebAdvisor at https://wa-sdsu.state.sd.us/webadvisor/ or by requesting an unofficial transcript from the Registrar’s Office.

Types of Grades

Undergraduate Grades will be assigned to the undergraduate academic level and to all courses and sections with course numbers ranging from 001 to 499. Plus and minus grades are not used.

An Incomplete (I) grade may be granted at the undergraduate level only when all of the following conditions apply:

1. A student has encountered extenuating circumstances that do not permit him/her to complete the course.
2. The student must be earning a passing grade at the time the Incomplete is necessitated. Anticipated course failure is not a justification for an incomplete.
3. The student does not have to repeat the course to meet the requirements.
4. The instructor must agree to grant an incomplete grade.
5. The instructor and student must agree on a plan to complete the coursework.
6. The coursework must be completed within one semester; extensions may be granted by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
7. If the student completes the course within the specified time, the grades that may be assigned are A, B, C, D, F, S, RS, RU, or U.
8. If the student does not complete the course within the specified time, the grade assigned will be F (Failure) or U (Unsatisfactory) or RU (Remedial Unsatisfactory) if the student had requested S/U within the time specified in BOR policy 2:6.9.

An In Progress (IP) grade may be granted only when all of the following conditions apply:

1. The requirements for the course (for every student enrolled in the course) extend beyond the current term.
2. The extension beyond the current term must be defined before the class begins.
3. The instructor must request permission to award IP grades for a course from his/her Department Head and Dean, and then approval must be obtained from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
4. A definite date for completion of the course must be established in the course syllabus.

Graduate Grades will be assigned to the Graduate Academic Level and to all courses and sections with course numbers of 500 or greater. Plus and minus grades are not used.

An Incomplete (I) grade may be granted at the graduate level only when all of the following conditions apply:

1. A student has encountered extenuating circumstances that do not permit him/her to complete the course.
2. The student must be earning a passing grade at the time the Incomplete is necessitated. Anticipated course failure is not a justification for an incomplete.
3. The student does not have to repeat the course to meet the requirements.
4. The instructor must agree to grant an incomplete grade.
5. The instructor and student must agree on a plan to complete the coursework.
6. The coursework must be completed within one calendar year; extensions may be granted by the Graduate Dean.
7. If the student completes the course within the specified time, the grades that may be assigned are A, B, C, D, F, S, or U.
8. If the student does not complete the course within the specified time, the Incomplete grade remains on the transcript.

An In Progress (IP) grade may be granted only when all of the following conditions apply:

1. The requirements for the course (for every student enrolled in the course) extend beyond the current term.
2. The extension beyond the current term must be defined before the class begins.
3. The instructor must request permission to award IP grades for a course from his/her Department Head and Dean, and then approval must be obtained from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
4. A definite date for completion of the course must be established in the course syllabus.

A Normal Progress (NP) grade may be granted by an instructor when the instructor determines that a graduate student is making normal progress in a graduate Thesis/Dissertation course. If a graduate student does not enroll for a period of one calendar year, the NP grade may change to I (Incomplete) upon approval by the Graduate Dean. The NP grade calculates into attempted credits but does not calculate into completed credits or grade point averages.

With the exception of an “I” that has not been completed within the specified time, any grade reported to the Registrar may be changed by recommendation of the instructor and college dean with approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Any graduating senior or graduating graduate student who receives an incomplete or in progress grade in the final semester in a course required for graduation, or who has not removed an outstanding incomplete or in progress from a previous semester in a course required for graduation by the date grades are due for the semester, will not be permitted to graduate that semester. He or she will be required to apply for graduation for a subsequent semester. Emergency situations require the filing of a petition by the student to his/her Academic Dean for approval prior to the final grading deadline for the final semester.

When the student has graduated and the degree has been recorded, the record is considered officially closed, and an instructor can no longer change a grade, including the “I” and “IP” grades.

Grade Points and GPA. Grade points are related to grades as illustrated in this example:

GPA – 38 divided by 17 = 2.23

The cumulative grade point average is obtained by dividing grade points by the number of hours attempted. In computing grade point averages all hours attempted (graded A, B, C, D, F) are included.

Repeating a Course to Raise the Grade. All courses taken appear on the student’s academic record, but when a course is repeated, only the most recent grade is calculated into the cumulative GPA.

You should notify the Registrar’s Office, SAD 310, when a course, whether failed or passed, is repeated.

Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory System. The primary objective of the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory System is to encourage students to attempt courses in areas they would normally avoid because of lack of background.

1. You may enroll in up to 20 credits.
2. These credits must be outside your major and may not serve to satisfy university, college or departmental specific requirements, unless program exceptions exist.
3. Colleges may further restrict the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory credit option.
4. A “D” letter grade or better is considered to be a passing grade in a satisfactory/unsatisfactory elective.
5. Registration for satisfactory/unsatisfactory electives will be accomplished only after registration day by Audit/Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory Form to the Registrar’s Office. The satisfactory/ unsatisfactory option should be known only to the academic adviser, instructor, the student and the registrar.
6. You may change from satisfactory/unsatisfactory elective to credit or vice versa only during the two week add period.
7. The grade (S or U) will be recorded on your permanent record. A grade of S or U will not count in the computation of the semester or the cumulative grade point average. If the course is passed (grade of “D” or better), the credits will be counted towards graduation.

NOTE: Some courses are taught only on a Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory basis. Consult the department if you have a question.