Grading System and Quality Points

Effective May 21, 2012

The grade of Incomplete (I) indicates there is still a possibility of credit, after further work. It is used when the instructor is not prepared to give a definite mark for the term in view either of student illness or some justifiable delay in the completion of certain work. It is not used when failure to meet course requirements is due to delinquency on the part of the student.

The preferred method for a student to request a grade of Incomplete from an instructor is for the student to complete the online “Request for Grade of Incomplete” form located at MyNU which is electronically sent to the instructor. The online request requires the student to state why he/she is requesting the Incomplete, provide documentation to support his/her request, and outline the reasons and terms of the extension. The granting of incomplete grades is at the discretion of the instructor and not subject to appeal. Should the instructor agree to a grade of Incomplete, he or she will approve the requirements and deadline for completing the coursework. The recommended deadline for completing the coursework is 30 days after the beginning of the next regular semester.

It is the responsibility of the student to initiate removal of the incomplete grade. If the student fails to complete the required coursework by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade will automatically become an F. If an incomplete grade is still not reconciled one semester after the Incomplete was assigned, the grade will convert to an “F” (manual process). The F may be changed at the faculty member’s discretion.

Repeat Course Policy

This policy allows students to repeat a course to improve their understanding and potentially their grade.  While both the original and repeated grades will appear on the transcript, only the most recent grade will be factored into the GPA.  Attempted credits from the first attempt will count toward the student's academic record, but only the most recent completion will count toward total completed credits.

For more information:

• Course Repeat

Quality Point Average (QPA)

To determine a student’s quality point average, consider each course taken at Niagara University for which the student has received A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- or F. Convert this letter grade to the corresponding quality points given in the preceding chart. For each course, multiply the number of quality points by the number of semester hours assigned to that course. (Number of semester hours are indicated at the end of the course descriptions in this catalog.) Compute the quality point average by adding these products and dividing by the total number of semester hours for which a student received grades of A+ to F.

Courses for which a student received I, W, N, S, U or R are not computed in the QPA.

Good Standing

Students are considered to be in good academic standing as long as they are permitted by their dean to remain in school matriculated toward a degree.