Grading Standards
The following letter grades are used at Richland to represent the student’s level of performance in courses numbered 080 or above in this Catalog:
| Grade |
Description |
| A |
Superior or excellent |
| B |
Very good or above average |
| C |
Good or average |
| D |
Barely passing or below average |
| F |
Failure or unsatisfactory |
| W |
Withdrawn |
| AU |
Audit |
| CR |
Completed course requirements. Grade only applicable for vocational skills and adult education courses |
| X |
Did not complete course requirements. Grade only applicable for vocational skills and adult education courses |
| I |
Incomplete |
| P |
Pass (not used for courses in a degree sequence or for transfer courses) |
| AC |
Credit by Advanced Course |
| AP |
Credit by Advanced Placement |
| CE |
Credit by Proficiency Exam |
| CL |
Credit by CLEP |
| DA |
Credit by DSST Prometrics Exam |
| IB |
International Baccalaureate designation |
| JO |
Credit by Journeyman Card |
| LI |
Credit by Licensure |
| PO |
Credit by Portfolio |
| PT |
Credit by Professional Training |
| TR |
Transfer Credit |
Appealing a Grade
Students who feel they have received an unfair or inaccurate grade may appeal through the Student Grievance Policy.
Grade Point Average Calculation
A grade point average (GPA) for each student who has received a grade of A, B, C, D, or F will be calculated by term and by cumulative total. Each grade listed above is assigned a quality point value (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0). The grades AU, I, W, CR, and X do not have point values and are not used to calculate a GPA.
The point value of the grade received is multiplied by the number of credit hours given for the course. The results for each course during a term are totaled, and that sum is divided by the number of semester hours attempted.
If, for example, a student received an A for a 3-hour course and a B for a second 3-hour course, the grade point average would be figured as follows:
A = 4 quality points and 4 x 3 hours = 12
B = 3 quality points and 3 x 3 hours = 9
9 + 12 = 21 total points
21 divided by 6 (attempted credit hours) = 3.5, the grade point average for that term.
* Developmental Courses (below 100) are not calculated in the cumulative grade point average.
Incomplete Grade
An incomplete grade may be assigned as a temporary final grade if a faculty member and student complete an Incomplete Grade Agreement form. The faculty member will provide a description of work to be completed and a completion deadline (All coursework must be finished by the end of each term, unless the instructor agrees in writing to a specified grace period no longer than 60 days after the end of the term). Failure to complete coursework within the 60-day grace period will result in the grade the student would earn without completing the coursework. A grade of “W” or “AU” is not allowed on an incomplete. Incomplete Grade Agreements are filed electronically, and a copy of the agreement is sent to the student’s Richland e-mail address.
Semester Academic Honors
The Semester Academic Honors List includes the names of students who have
- Completed 12 or more cumulative semester hours; and
- Completed 6 or more semester hours for the current term; and
- Attained 3.50 GPA or higher for the current term.