Grade Policies

Credits, Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA)

The following grade designations are used at the undergraduate level:

Incomplete Grade

The grade of I indicates incomplete course work due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. The Registrar shall change the grade of I to F if the incomplete is not removed within the succeeding semester, unless the instructor grants an extension of the time period for completing the unfinished work. Extension can be granted for one additional semester. Any extensions beyond the one additional semester (1 year total) must be approved by the Registrar’s office by supplying documentation that the student has been in contact with the instructor and is making progress towards completion. 

Calculating the Grade Point Average (GPA)

Only credits attempted at Alfred University which have received final grades of A through F shall be used to calculate GPA. (The grades I, IP, P, W, and AU are not used in calculation of GPA.) The Term GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points (or “quality points”) earned by the “GPA Hours” for a given term. The Overall (or “Cumulative”) grade point average is calculated by dividing total grade points earned to date by total GPA hours to date. The credit hours for courses passed (those with grades of P or letter grades of D or above) will be counted as credit earned. Grades of I, IP, W, F and AU (audit) do not earn credit. To calculate a projected GPA if certain grades are earned, see the GPA Calculator on the Registrar web page.

Pass/Fail Grading

1. Undergraduate students may designate up to four semester hours each semester to be taken for a grade of P or F provided they have not been previously enrolled in the course and the course is not a required course in their major program. Grades of D or better will be recorded as P. Advisor approval is required. The periods for selecting and canceling the Pass/Fail option are designated in the Academic Calendar. These additional limitations apply:
   • Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may not take courses that fulfill major, minor, or General Education requirements on a Pass/Fail basis
   • Students in the College of Business may not take courses that fulfill major requirements, or liberal arts credits for the BS degree, or requirements for the minor, on a Pass/Fail basis
   • Students in the Inamori School of Engineering may not use the Pass-Fail grading system for any course presented for graduation credits, except in the following instances: Co-op, off-campus study, and ENGR 160/360 Seminar
2. Certain courses may be designated by the college curriculum committees to be graded only Pass or Fail.

Auditing of Courses

A student may elect to take a course on a non-credit or “audit” basis. The student may also change from credit to audit or vice-versa until the last day to withdraw from the course as designated in the Academic Calendar. An auditor receives a grade of “AU” in the course, and this is recorded on the transcript. Courses audited are charged at 50%of the normal tuition rate.

Any student registering as an auditor in a class must consult the instructor to determine the level of participation the instructor expects of an auditor. If an auditing student fails to meet the expected level of participation, the instructor will notify the Registrar when final grades are submitted, and the Registrar will cancel the student’s audit registration in that class. 

Grade of "In Progress" (IP)

The grade of IP (In Progress) may be given for thesis and seminar or project courses when the course extends by design over multiple terms. The IP indicates that the course remains in progress and that a grade will be given in the future. IP grades will remain for no longer than 2 years, at which time the grade will change to an “F” or “NC”, unless an additional semester extension is approved by approved by the Registrar’s office by supplying documentation that the student has been in contact with the instructor and is making progress towards completion.

Repeating of Courses

When a course is repeated, the course credits shall be used only once and the grade points and credits corresponding to the most recent grade earned shall be used in calculating the cumulative GPA. While the original grade is no longer used in the GPA, it remains a part of the record and it appears on the student’s transcript. If a course cannot be repeated because it is no longer offered, a course with similar content may, with permission of the Dean, be taken in place of the original and recorded as a repeat. 

Grade Changes

All grade changes must be completed prior to the Registrar’s certification of graduation. Assigning course grades at Alfred University is the exclusive responsibility of course instructors. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to limit the ability of the Registrar to change grades of incomplete (I) to fail (F) in accordance with the policy on grades of “Incomplete.” Nothing in this policy shall be construed as substituting or supplanting rules, regulations, or procedures contained in the policy on Academic Dishonesty.

• A grade may be changed by the instructor of a course to convert an Incomplete or IP to a final grade.
• A grade may be changed by the instructor of a course to correct an error. The Division/Program Chair and appropriate Dean must be notified of all grade changes in writing (stating reason(s) for the change) except for completion of work in courses graded I or IP.
• Once assigned, only the course instructor can change a course grade, except in rare circumstances when the course instructor’s supervising Dean may change a grade. (See Appendix B in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations on for specific information on the circumstances under which a Dean may change a grade.)

Petition for Change of Grade

Students have one year from the date a final grade is issued to petition for a change of grade. A student who believes a final grade is not correct should first meet with the instructor who assigned the grade. If the matter is not resolved, the student should meet with the Division/Program Chairperson in the academic area offering the course in question. If there is no resolution, the student should arrange a meeting with the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, of the College or School offering the course.

If there is still no resolution, the student may appeal the decision of the faculty member to the Ombuds Officer. Should a request for an appeal be made to the Ombuds Officer, an appeals committee will be assembled. The appeals committee will be constituted by the Ombuds Officer, within 14 semester days. Membership of the appeals committee shall include one student, to come from the University Student Grievance Committee, and two full-time tenured faculty. If the Student Senate has not appointed members of the Student Grievance Committee, or if those members stand in a conflict of interest with the petitioning student, the Ombuds Officer may select any full-time senior for this purpose.

The appeals committee should meet as soon as possible after members of the committee have been selected. The appeals committee will review the case and prepare a written recommendation to be forwarded to the Provost. The Provost will make the final decision within seven semester days and officially notify, in writing, the student, the instructor(s) and Dean involved in the case.

The student may bring one other student or employee from Alfred University to the appeals committee hearing. Only members of the university community shall be permitted to attend the hearing. The invited other person shall not have the right to speak or otherwise participate in the hearing. No sound or video recording of the appeal committee hearing shall be permitted. All testimony given at the hearing shall be considered confidential except for communication to appropriate university faculty and administrators.