Student Grades/Grading Policy

Responsible Unit: Enrollment Services | Executive lead: Provost 
Created: 5/2008 | Reviewed/Revised: 3/7/2018, 9/11/2020, 4/4/2023 | Effective: 5/9/2023 
Compliance: 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99 COCA 9.2, NWCCU 2.G.2, CAPTE 3G, 4L, and 5B, CODA 2-1 and 4-7, ACOTE A.4.4 and A.4.8 
Approving Body: PAC | Classification: Institution-wide 


Policy:     
Grades are determined by well-designed assessment items that provide evidence of student learning. Course syllabi will include explanation of the components which make up the course grade and how those component grades are determined and compiled to compute the final course grade. The academic program faculty adopts, evaluates and upholds grading procedures compatible with University policies and procedures.  

PNWU adheres to the grade posting practices recommended under the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). Grades are not posted in a public manner either by student name, social security number, or student identification number. Mid-term or mid-course grades are not recorded on the student’s transcript.

Students may appeal a grade following the grade appeal process in the academic program student handbook. Incomplete grades will automatically be converted to a grade of “F” on the transcript one year from the date assigned, if not completed. 

All courses attempted will appear on the transcript and be included in GPA calculation.  

The following grades do not bear grade points and are not used in computing the grade point average (GPA).

GradeDescription
PPass
Hpass with Honors (P* used from 2008 to Spring 2021 to represent Honors)
CRCredit
NCNo Credit
IIncomplete
IPIn Progress
AUAudit
WWithdrawn

For courses that are repeated, only the highest grade will be used in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. Grade point averages (GPA) are computed, using this formula GPA = Sum (Unit contribution to GPA * Unit credit points)/Total credit points .   

GradeDescriptionGrade Points
AExcellent4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
BAbove Average3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
CAverage2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
DBelow Average1.0
D- 0.7
FFail0.0

Definitions 
N/A 

Procedures
N/A

Related Documents: 
Student Credit by Examination Policy 
Student Credit for Experience Policy 
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)