Student Planner 2007-2008
The UM-St. Louis Grading System
The grading system in all schools, colleges, and other parallel
units at UM-St. Louis is based on a four-point scale. The
grade value for each letter grade is as follows:
| |
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 |
D- = 0.7 |
| |
F = 0.0 |
|
| DL = Delayed |
| EX = Excused |
| S/U = Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option |
| Y = No basis for a grade |
Faculty have full discretion in using full-letter grades,
plus/minus grades, or any combination of full-letter and plus/minus
grades.
Graduate Study: The Graduate School does
not recognize a D grade for a graduate student enrolled in
a course carrying graduate credit. According to the regulations
of the Graduate School, grades lower than C- are recorded
as F.
Grade point average is computed by dividing the total number
of quality points (number of credit hours for a course, multiplied
by the grade value received) by the number of hours completed
(excluding grade modification hours).
For example:
| 3 credit hours x A (4.0) |
= 12.0 quality points |
| 3 credit hours x B+ (3.3) |
= 09.9 quality points |
| 5 credit hours x B- (2.7) |
= 13.5 quality points |
| 3 credit hours x C (2.0) |
= 06.0 quality points |
| 14 credit hours |
= 41.4 quality points |
41.4 total quality points /
14 hours completed |
= 2.957 or 2.96 |
Graduate Study: All courses taken at UM-St. Louis for
graduate credit figure into the calculation of the transcript
GPA; however, only those courses included in the degree or
certificate program figure into the calculation of the program
GPA. The program GPA must be at least 3.0 to receive a graduate
degree or certificate.
Instructors may use their discretion in giving students a
delayed "DL" grade, which indicates that a portion
of the required course work is incomplete. Undergraduate students
have one semester (excluding the summer session) to complete
course requirements or the "DL" automatically converts
to an "F"; graduate students have two semesters
(excluding the summer session) to complete the necessary work.
Excused grades are given only in exceptional instances where
the instructor's approval and dean's approval are given. From
the fifth through the twelfth weeks of the Fall or Spring
terms (the third through the sixth week of the 8-week Summer
term) students may withdraw from a course with an excused
grade, providing they are passing the course and receive the
approval of their instructor. Otherwise, a failing grade is
given.
Undergraduate students may elect to take up to 18 credit
hours on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading basis during
their academic careers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
This includes courses taken as electives or those which satisfy
the general education requirements. Most courses required
for a specific degree may not be taken on a satisfactory/
unsatisfactory basis.
In addition, Academic departments may designate other courses
within their jurisdiction, which may not be taken under this
option. To find out which courses may be placed on a "S/U"
grading option, contact your College’s dean's office.
Students register for courses in the normal manner and may
exercise the satisfac-tory/unsatisfactory grading option before
the end of the first four weeks of the semester or the first
two weeks of the summer term. Requests for this option are
made through the dean's office. Instructors are not informed
of students taking courses on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory
basis. Grades will be recorded on transcripts as "S"
or "U". Graduate students and students on academic
probation may NOT take courses on satisfactory/unsatisfactory
basis.
SATISFACTORY GRADES
A satisfactory grade ("S") is recorded when an
instructor assigns the grade of "A", "A-",
"B+", "B", "B-", "C+",
"C", or "C-". A grade of "S"
will not be computed in the student's grade point average;
however, it does count toward the number of hours required
to graduate.
UNSATISFACTORY GRADES
An unsatisfactory grade ("U") is recorded when
an instructor assigns the grade of "D+", "D",
"D-", or "F". A grade of "U"
will not be computed in the student's grade point average
nor does it count toward the number of hours required to graduate.
Instructors may use their discretion in giving students a
"Y" grade which indicates that there is no basis
upon which to give a grade. This may occur if a student stops
attending class without either officially dropping the course
or withdrawing from the University.
"Y" grades may be changed to an excused "EX" if the student
demonstrates sufficient reason for not having completed the
requirements of the course. The change to "EX" will
require the approval of the instructor, chairperson, and the
dean of the College or School. The chairperson may be consulted
if the instructor is no longer at the University. It is the
student's responsibility to initiate this process.
When the grade received in an initial attempt in a course
at UM-St. Louis is a "D+", "D", "D-",
or "F", the grade may be replaced in the calculation
of the GPA by the grade received in a second or subsequent
attempt of the same course at UM-St. Louis. All grades received
in second or subsequent attempts will be included in GPA calculations.
A maximum of 15 credit hours may be dropped from the calculation
of the student's GPA. All attempts of a given course will
appear on the official transcript with the grade(s) earned.
The transcript will have an explanation which states that
the GPA is calculated using all grades earned in a course
except the initial attempt when a course has been repeated
and the grade modified.
Note: Grade modification is not automatic. After completing
the second or subsequent attempt of the course to be modified,
students must process the necessary paperwork with an academic
advisor in the academic unit in which the student is currently
enrolled.
Students may not repeat courses for grade point average or
credit hour purposes in which grades "A", "A-",
"B+", "B", "B-", "C+",
"C", or "C-" have been earned.
If a student earns a "D+", "D", "D-",
or "F", the course may be repeated. All grades earned
will affect the calculation of one's cumulative grade point
average; the course hours, however, will only be counted once
in calculating the number of credit hours completed toward
one's degree.
On each campus of the University of Missouri, it is the Chancellor
who is ultimately responsible to the President and the Board
of Curators for all campus programs, policies, and activities.
On the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, the Chancellor
has delegated responsibility for overseeing the grade appeal
process to the Provost. The Provost is therefore responsible for assuring that grade
appeals are handled in a fair and timely manner. More specifically,
that officer is responsible for seeing that the procedures
outlined below are appropriately followed.
Informal Procedures:
At any time after the awarding of a grade, for a course or
an assignment in a course, a student may discuss the grade
with her or his instructor and request that the instructor
review the grade. If the instructor does review the grade
he or she is, of course, free to change the grade or not as
is appropriate.
Formal Procedures:
The following procedures apply if the above informal procedure
does not resolve a dispute concerning a grade to the student's
satisfaction and if the process is initiated within 30 working
days of the start of the first regular semester (fall or winter)
following the semester for which the grade was given, or 30
days after the assignment of the grade (whichever is later).
- If the student has not already done so, he or she discusses
the contended grade fully with the course instructor.
The student should prepare for this meeting by taking all
relevant written work (test, reports, etc.) with him/her.
If the issue is not resolved, and the student wishes to
pursue the appeal, he or she should consult the administrative
officer of the department or discipline housing the course
in question. (This officer will normally be someone below
the level of the Dean.) The administrative officer will
discuss the appeal with the course instructor, and will
inform the student of this discussion's result. (That
result may be the instructor's agreement to change the grade,
refusal to change the grade, or agreement
to discuss the case further with the student.) The administrative
officer may require that the student put the appeal in written
form before the administrative officer discusses it with
the instructor.
- If the matter remains unresolved, the student may, within
10 working days of being notified of the result of the discussion
between the administrative officer and the instructor, or
within 10 working days of her or his last discussion with
the instructor, submit a detailed written statement of the
complaint to the administrative officer. The administrative
officer will refer it to a faculty committee composed of
at least three faculty members in the department or unit
offering the course, or if such are not available, in closely
allied fields. This committee will investigate the matter,
meeting, as it may deem necessary, with the student, the
instructor, and possibly others. Following its inquiries
and deliberations, but prior to making its final recommendations,
the faculty committee will submit a copy of its findings
to the course instructor. If the course instructor elects
to comment on the findings to the committee, this must be
done within seven working days. After further
consideration, but within 30 working days after receiving
the student's statement, the faculty committee will submit
its findings with recommendations and reasons for those
recommendations directly to the course instructor, with
a copy to the administrative officer.
- If the faculty committee recommends that the grade be
changed, the administrative officer will ask the instructor
to implement the recommendation. If the instructor declines,
the administrative officer will change the grade, notifying
the instructor and the student of this action. Only the
administrative officer, upon the written recommendation
of the faculty committee, will effect a change in grade
over the objection of the instructor who assigned the original
grade.
- If the faculty committee recommends that the grade not
be changed, the administrative officer will notify the student
of this action. The student may then appeal to the Dean
of the School or College within which the course in question
is housed, who will determine whether the above procedures
have been properly observed. If the Dean determines that
the procedures have not been appropriately followed, and
that their not being followed may have substantively affected
the outcome, the case will be returned to the faculty
unit for review by the same or, if the Dean so determines,
by a different committee.
- If the Dean denies the procedural appeal, the student
may ask the Provost, acting
as the Chancellor's designee, to conduct a procedural review.
The Provost is not obligated to conduct such a review
and will normally do so only where there is compelling evidence
of procedural irregularities. If the Provost finds
the procedures have not been appropriately followed, and
that their not being followed may have substantively affected
the outcome, the case will be returned to a lower level
for re-review. As the Provost is acting as the designee
of the Chancellor, there is no appeal beyond this level.
If the instructor is deceased,
cannot be located, or is otherwise unable or unwilling to
reconsider the grade, the student should consult directly
with the administrative officer of the department or discipline
housing the course in question. The remaining procedures
here specified will be followed except that the administrative
officer and the faculty committee will not consult with
the instructor if he or she is unavailable.
Under current campus policy, transcript notation
of "DL" automatically becomes an "F"
after one regular semester. These changes, which the
Registrar is mandated to make, are not considered grade
changes, and are consistent with this Grade Appeal Policy.
Students may appeal these changes provided the appeal is
initiated within 30 working days of the notification of
the change.
DEAN'S LIST
At the end of each semester, the Barnes College of Nursing
& Health Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences, the
College of Business Administration, the College of Education,
the College of Fine Arts & Communication, and the Evening
College send letters of commendation to undergraduates completing
at least nine hours of graded courses with grade point averages
of 3.2 or above for the semester. To qualify for the Pierre
Laclede Honors College Dean's List each semester, a student
must be classified as an Honors College student, complete
one or more Honors course(s), complete twelve or more hours
of graded courses, and earn a semester grade point average
of 3.5 or above.
In addition, each College, on an annual basis, sends letters
of commendation to part-time undergraduate students who have
earned a 3.2 grade point average or above in at least nine
but not more than 17 graded hours during the Fall and Winter
semesters combined.
LATIN HONORS
To graduate with Latin honors, students must have attended
UM-St. Louis for at least 56 graded hours and must meet the
following qualifications: Cum Laude 3.2 - 3.49 grade point
average; Magna Cum Laude 3.5 - 3.79 grade point average; Summa
Cum Laude 3.8 - 4.0 grade point average. If a student
has the necessary GPA at UM-St. Louis to qualify for Latin
Honors but has fewer than 56 graded hours at UM-St. Louis,
all credit hours and the associated grades earned within the
UM System will be included when the total credit hours earned
in the UM System are at least 80 graded hours. In determining
one's eligibility for Latin honors, all graded hours will
be considered, including the original grade in each grade-modified
course. No Latin honor higher than that which is consistent
with the UM-St. Louis grade point average will be awarded.
All honors must be recommended by the student's major department.
(Effective April, 2000.)
HONOR SOCIETIES
The following is a list of honorary societies at the University
of Missouri-St. Louis:
- Alpha Epsilon Rho (Communication)
- Alpha Mu Alpha (College of Business Administration - Marketing)
- Alpha Mu Gamma (Foreign Languages and Literatures)
- Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminology and Criminal Justice)
- Alpha Sigma Lambda (Evening College)
- Beta Alpha Psi (College of Business Administration - Accounting
Majors)
- Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
- Beta Gamma Sigma (College of Business Administration)
- Beta Sigma Kappa (School of Optometry)
- Chi Sigma Iota (Counseling and Family Therapy)
- Financial Management Association (College of Business
Administration)
- Golden Key Society (Campus-Wide)
- Kappa Delta Pi (College of Education)
- Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
- Phi Alpha (Social Work)
- Phi Alpha Theta (History)
- Phi Epsilon Kappa (Physical Education)
- Phi Kappa Phi (Interdisciplinary)
- Pi Alpha Alpha (Public Policy Administration)
- Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
- Psi Chi (Psychology)
- Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish)
- Sigma lota Rho (International Studies)
- Sigma Tau Delta (English)
- Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing)
WHO'S WHO AMONG STUDENTS IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
Eligible students may be nominated to Who's Who Among Students
in American Universities and Colleges by students (whether
for themselves or others), faculty members, or administrators.
Nominees are selected on the basis of scholastic ability (a
cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher), participation
and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities,
service to the University, and a promise for future usefulness.
Nomination forms and further information may be obtained at
366 Millennium Student Center.
Undergraduate students may be placed on academic probation
any time their cumulative grade point average falls below
2.0; for graduate students the level is 3.0.
Students concerned about their academic status should contact
their College's dean's office to learn how the grade point
average is calculated and whether their academic status is
in jeopardy. The dean may retain students on probation
rather than suspend them if circumstances justify such action.
Students who have been suspended will be dismissed if they
again become subject to suspension.
For additional information, please refer to the Bulletin
or Academic Affairs website at http://www.umsl.edu/services/academic.
Academic misconduct for which students are subject to sanctions
includes academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism
or sabotage. Each of these terms is specifically defined in
the Student Code of Conduct. In all cases of academic dishonesty,
the instructor shall make an academic judgment about the student's
grade on that work and in that course. The campus rocess regarding
academic dishonesty is described in the "Policies"
section of the Academic Affairs web site.
As
a student, you're expected to attend class regularly. Faculty
members may establish penalties for excessive absences. They
will usually inform students of their own policies on attendance;
if you are uncertain, consult your course syllabus or ask
your instructor for clarification.
University Bylaws state that students absent for more than
three successive classes may be reported to the dean. You
should tell your College's dean's office of an extended absence.
An absence known in advance should be reported to the instructor.
Make-up examinations or work missed is allowed at the instructor's
discretion. If you are excused from class for valid reasons
by your dean, you will be permitted, if possible, to make
up work you missed; the dean must have notified the instructor
in writing.