content
Chapter 3 General Academic Regulations Chapter 3 General Academic Regulations

GRADES

Explanation of Credit, Grading System, and Symbols

Hours Attempted. The number of hours attempted is the total number of semester credit hours for which a student has enrolled and received grades of "A," "B," "C," "D," or "F," except as provided for repeated courses.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Hours Earned. The hours earned by a student are the number of semester credit hours in which grades of "A," "B," "C," "D," or "CR" have been received.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Grade Point Average. The UTSA grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the number of grade points earned at UTSA by the number of semester credit hours attempted at UTSA. Credits and grades for work completed at other institutions or credits earned by examination are not included in the UTSA grade point average.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

The following table explains UTSA grade symbols.

Grade Symbol

Grade Points

 Meaning of Grade Symbol

A

4 Outstanding

B

3

 Above Average

C

2

 Average

D

1

 Below Average (see Academic Probation)

F

0

Failure (see Academic Dismissal)

CR

0

Credit. Indicates successful credit by examination (see Credit by Examination) or through faculty evaluation of selected internships and practical.

NC

0

No Credit. Indicates unsatisfactory progress.

W

0

Withdrawal. Indicates that the student was passing at the time of withdrawal or drop.

IN

0

Incomplete. Assigned at the discretion of the instructor; see details below. The "EP" grade was replaced by "IN" beginning in fall 2002.

NR

 0 No Report. Assigned only by the Registrar when unusual Circumstances do not allow student's grade to be entered by the deadline for processing grades. It is replaced with a the official grade as soon as possible.
EX 0 Expelled
RP 0

Research in Progress. Used to denote research in progress only for ART 6843, MOT 6933, Directed Research Courses (5971-3), and Master's Thesis and Dissertation Courses. When the project, thesis, or dissertation is complete, the "RP" grades will be changed to letter grades up to the maximum number of credit hours approved for the specific degree.
Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Credit/No-Credit. Students may earn "CR" or "NC" grades only for specific courses listed in the catalog as graded on a credit/no-credit basis.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Incomplete. The grade "IN" is given by an instructor to indicate that some part of the work of a student in a course has, for good reason, not been completed, while the rest of the student’s work in the course was satisfactorily completed. The Incomplete allows a student to complete the course without repeating it. An Incomplete may not be assigned when a definite grade can be given for the work done. The student must have been in attendance at least three-fourths of the term to receive a grade of "IN."

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Whenever a grade of Incomplete is assigned, the instructor is required to file a Requirements for Removal of Incomplete report in the Office of the Dean. The Dean’s office will then submit the report to the Office of the Registrar.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Incomplete work must be made up no later than the end of the final examination period one year from the semester the Incomplete was received and before the student’s graduation. If the work is not completed within this time, the "IN" remains on the student’s record, and credit may be earned only when the student re-enrolls in the course and completes the entire course satisfactorily. The time limit does not apply to graduate-level thesis, internship, or dissertation courses, except that an "IN" cannot be removed after a degree is awarded. The time limit does apply to all other graduate courses, including special problems and independent study courses.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GRADES BE CHANGED AFTER ONE CALENDAR YEAR.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Repeating Courses

Courses designated "may be repeated for credit" in the catalog may be repeated with both semester credit hours and grade points earned being counted. Otherwise, students at the graduate level may not elect to repeat courses for the purpose of raising a grade. However, when a course was taken more than six years ago, or upon the recommendation of the appropriate graduate program committee, the course may be repeated; in such cases, both grades in the course appear on the transcript and both are counted in the student’s grade point average. Only semester credit hours for the repeated course may be counted toward the degree.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Administrative Procedures

Reporting of Grades by Faculty

Grades are reported by course instructors every term and are due 48 hours after the final examination. Final grades cannot be withheld nor can reporting of them be deferred. Absence from a final examination should be reported as "IN."

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Grade Reports

The Office of the Registrar compiles final grades after the close of each semester and each summer term. Grades are available in ASAP via UTSA’s Web site, www.utsa.edu, or by calling the automated telephone system at (210) 458-8000. Students who are removed from, placed on, or continued on academic probation and students who are dismissed from UTSA receive written notification. This notification is sent to the permanent address on file in the Office of the Registrar.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Transcripts delineating a student’s grades may be withheld from any student who owes tuition and fees to the University.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Change of Grades

Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. The faculty member’s judgment is final unless compelling evidence shows discrimination, differential treatment, or factual mistake. Under unusual circumstances, however, grades may be assigned or changed by someone other than the faculty member.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Grades may be changed or assigned through administrative channels in the following procedure:

  1. Circumstances when an assigned grade of "A," "B", "C," "D," or "F" might be changed. In this case, the formal appeals process stated in the catalog must be initiated by the student. Because a grade change of this type is related directly to issues of academic freedom, a committee composed of qualified faculty should be appointed by the appropriate graduate program committee to assess the academic merits of the appeal. The committee report should weigh heavily in the subsequent administrative review by the Department Chair, Dean, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Grades may be changed only if compelling evidence demonstrates discrimination, differential treatment, or factual mistake.
  2. Circumstances when an assigned grade of "IN" or "NC’ might be changed. Under unusual circumstances, a faculty member of record may be unable to assign grades in a timely manner. Examples include death or incapacitation of a faculty member; a faculty member who permanently leaves the University and refuses or fails to respond; and a faculty member who is on leave and cannot be reached.
Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GRADES BE CHANGED AFTER ONE CALENDAR YEAR.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Class Participation Policy

Students are expected to regularly attend and participate in all meetings of courses for which they are registered. The instructor is responsible for communicating the participation requirements for each course to students. With the exception of UTSA policies on class absences related to observance of the religious holy days, the instructor determines classroom participation requirements and policies on making up work missed during an absence.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Students who expect to be absent from class for observance of a holy day must notify the instructor of the course(s) no later than the 15th day of classes. The notification must be in writing and must be delivered by the student either personally to the instructor of each class, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the instructor of each class. A religious holy day is a day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under ยง 11.20, Tax Code. Instructors shall allow a student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

If students have to miss class excessively due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, it is their responsibility to notify the instructor as soon as possible. Students who enroll in a course and do not attend are considered absent from class until they officially drop the course. A student who does not attend class and fails to drop the course by the specified deadline listed in the Schedule of Classes will receive a grade of "F."

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

Grade Grievance Procedure

In resolving any student grievance regarding grades or evaluations, the student must first make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the faculty member with whom the grievance originated. Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. The faculty member's judgment is final unless compelling evidence shows discrimination, differential treatment, factual mistake, or violation of a relevant University policy. If the matter is not resolved, the student may file a formal grade grievance with the Department Chair. The student must file the grievance with the Department Chair within 90 calendar days from the end of the term in which the grade was assigned.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

The Department Chair will communicate his or her decision to the student and forward a copy to the Dean of the College. The student may appeal the decision to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the college and then to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GRADES BE CHANGED AFTER ONE CALENDAR YEAR.

Chapter 3 Index | Catalog Home | Previous Page

text size– | + | R |