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SKIDMORE PHONE
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Academic Standards and Review (continued)
Grades
Grades are assigned on the following basis:
A+, A
Distinguished work
A-, B+, B
Superior work
B-, C+, C
Satisfactory work
C-, D+, D
Passing, poor-quality
work
F
Failure, no credit earned
S/U, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory: S/U
grades do not affect the student's grade-point average, but
a student receiving an Unsatisfactory will not receive credit
for the course. The college criterion for Satisfactory is the
equivalent of a C or better. A student may take no more than
one course in a semester for an S/U grade. A student may take
a maximum of sixteen semester hours for an S/U grade, excluding
internships. The S/U option is offered at the discretion of
the department. The semester schedule will indicate which courses
may be taken for an S/U grade. Students must indicate their
choice of the S/U grade option at the time of registration.
No change may be made after the end of the first week of classes.
AU, Audit: Students may officially audit
a course with the approval of the instructor. An AU grade does
not affect the student's grade-point average; it reflects approved
participation for no credit. Students may enroll for a maximum
of two audits per semester and must make the audit selection
by the end of the drop/add period. Students who do not attend
will be awarded an AW (Audit Withdrawal). An audit fee will be charged per course to any student not already enrolled full-time and paying the full tuition rate.
W, Withdrawal: Prior to the last three
weeks of classes (exclusive of final exams) in the fall or spring
semesters, students may request withdrawal without penalty from
a course with the permission of the instructor and approval
from the Committee on Academic Standing. Withdrawal, W, is not
figured in the grade-point average. No credit is earned. Beginning
with students who entered in fall 1999, a student is limited
to a maximum of two withdrawals (W) while completing the baccalaureate
degree.
WF, Withdrawal Failing: A student who
departs from a course at any time during a semester without
permission to withdraw or who departs from a course during the
last three weeks of classes may be given a WF grade. Students
may also petition for a WF grade, which must be approved by
the instructor and the Committee on Academic Standing. WF is
figured in the grade-point average as an F. No credit is earned.
I, Temporary Incomplete: A grade of I
may be given a student who has diligently completed a substantial
amount of the course work but who, because of unforeseen academic,
medical, or personal difficulties, has been unable to complete
the work for the course.
In such cases, an I may be submitted by the instructor if both
the instructor and the student agree that exceptional circumstances
warrant an extension of time beyond the normal deadlines of
the term. (An incomplete grade will make the student ineligible
for Dean's List Honors for the term if the student completes
fewer than fourteen semester hours by the regular grading deadline.)
The student is responsible for making arrangements for completing
the course with the instructor and the Office of the Registrar.
The extension period may not be longer than six weeks after
the end of the fall or spring semesters, or more than six weeks
after either of the summer terms. At the end of the extension
period, the instructor may submit a grade based on the work
completed.
A student may not graduate with an incomplete grade still outstanding
on the transcript. In such a situation, the student will be moved to
the next graduation period, with the expectation that any required
work will be submitted in a timely fashion. This policy pertains even
if the student has completed all other degree requirements.
IF, Incomplete Failing: If the instructor
does not submit a grade by the end of the extension period,
the I becomes a permanent grade of IF, figured in the grade-point
average as F.
All grades are considered final once they are submitted to the
Office of the Registrar. An instructor may request a change
in the student's grade only if the instructor has made a computational
or clerical error (or if an academic integrity infraction requires
a change in the course grade). No grade may be changed on the
basis of reexamination, reevaluation, or supplementary work.
Petitions to change grades must originate with the faculty members
concerned and be brought before the Committee on Academic Standing
for consideration.
The function of the Committee on Academic Freedom and Rights
(CAFR) is to receive inquiries and complaints concerning academic
freedom and rights and to consider formal charges of violations
of academic freedom and rights from any faculty member or student.
No points are assigned for S, U, AU,
AW, W, or I. The GPA is calculated by multiplying the points
assigned to each grade received by the number of semester hours
the course carries, then totaling these products and dividing
by the total number of semester hours considered.
The GPA for the semester is computed at the end of each semester.
The cumulative GPA for all courses taken at the college is also
computed at the end of each semester.
As a general principle, courses for which a grade of D or higher
has been earned may not be repeated for academic credit; the
exceptions to this regulation are noted in individual course
descriptions. If a course for which the student received a grade
of F is repeated at the college, both grades remain on the record
and both are included in the GPA. With the exception of designated
programs and cross registrations, credit granted by Skidmore
College for work taken at another institution or by examination
is not included in the GPA.
At the end of each semester, the Committee on Academic Standing
reviews the status of all students to determine academic standing.
It determines, upon the basis of achievement, who will be given
Honors or Highest Honors on the Dean's List, who will be placed
on probation, who is eligible for continuation, and who will
be disqualified.
