Grading

Grading System

Definitions:

Attempted Hours - Attempted hours are those hours for which a student registers and does not drop during the drop/add period when registered courses that are dropped do not become part of the academic record. After the drop/add period, all courses become part of the academic record whether the course is withdrawn with a grade of “W” or graded at the end of the semester/term. In addition, all transfer credit articulated will be included in attempted hours and also in earned hours and/or GPA hours based on the grade received. Attempted hours are used in determining financial aid eligibility and is determined by the Financial Aid Office personnel.

Passed/Earned Hours - Earned hours are those hours on the academic record that have a grade of A, B, C, D, S, P, or CR. Earned hours determines a student’s classification as a freshman or sophomore. Earned hours are used to determine eligibility to receive a degree or award. Academic areas determine which courses can be used to satisfy requirements toward a specific degree or award.

Quality Points - Quality points are awarded based on the letter grade that you earn in a class. These points are then directly used to calculate your GPA which is used to determine academic standing for future enrollment.

The breakdown of points earned for each letter grade is as follows:

A = 4 points per credit hour
B = 3 points per credit hour
C = 2 points per credit hour
D = 1 point per credit hour
F  = 0 points per credit hour

GPA Hours - GPA hours are those credit hours for which a student registers and receives a grade of A - F or I. Credit courses for which a student receives a grade of “P,” “CR,” and “S” are included in earned hours, but not GPA hours. Semester hours for which a student registers, but later withdraws with a grade of “W” are included in attempted hours, but not GPA hours.

GPA - The GPA whether it be the semester GPA or the cumulative GPA are indicators of a student’s success in a specific course, in a term or for the overall record for completion of an award or certificate. GPA is calculated for a specific course, term or cumulative in the same manner. To calculate GPA, divide the quality points by the GPA hours. For instance if you have pursued 12 semester GPA hours and earned 24 quality points for a specific semester/term, your GPA for that term would be a 2.0. (24 QP/12 GPA HRS = 2.0 GPA)

Cumulative GPA Hours - Cumulative GPA hours are all hours for which a student has registered and received a final grade of A - F or I at the college as well as all courses articulated in transfer credit.

Adjusted GPA Hours - Adjusted GPA hours are those credit hours for which a student registers and receives a grade of A - F or I at the home institution, excluding those credit hours removed from the calculation of the student’s grade point average through a repeat/delete policy and/or those credit hours removed through Academic Amnesty.

Adjusted Cumulative Grade Point Average - This GPA is adjusted to exclude those quality hours and grades which have been removed from the calculation of a student’s grade point average through a repeat/delete policy and/or Academic Amnesty. This adjusted cumulative grade point average is used to determine a student’s academic status.

Grade Reports

Grade reports reflecting the result of a student’s course work will be generated by the Registrar Office within five (5) business days following the end of each semester/ session. Grade reports are available on LoLA Self-Service. Questions about the information on the grade report should be directed to Enrollment Services.

Incomplete Grades

A student enrolled in a course in which they are in good academic standing (“C” or higher) and are making satisfactory progress, but because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, cannot complete the course may request an “I” grade. The student must have been attending classes on a regular basis. The student must initiate the request and both the instructor and student must sign the Incomplete Grade Contract Form. These forms are available from on the College website. The contract will contain the reason for requesting the “I” grade, an outline of the work that is to be completed and the deadline by which the work is to be completed. Unless otherwise stated, work must be completed and the “I” grade converted to a letter grade no later than the last day to withdrawfrom a class with the grade of “W” (as stated on the Academic Calendar) the semester following the semester the “I” grade was earned. If the “I” grade is not removed, it automatically becomes an “F”. Exceptions to this deadline must be approved by the appropriate Division Chair/Program Director.

Final Grade Appeal

Louisiana Delta Community College affords all students the right to appeal final grades received in credit-bearing courses. All academic appeals related to final grades received in courses must be initiated within seven (7) calendar days from the end of term date for the course within the semester. Failure to appeal within the seven (7) calendar day period will result in the waiver of the student’s rights to appeal the grade.

Conditions for Appealing a Final Grade

Only final grades in a course may be appealed. Final grades may only be appealed if at least one (1) of the following conditions exist:

• The instructor departed substantially from their previously articulated written standards, without notifying students, in determining the grade.
• The instructor has imposed criteria different from those used to evaluate the academic work of other students in the class as outlined in the course syllabus.
• The instructor has demanded as a condition of passing a course a requirement not germane to the subject matter of the course.
• The instructor has made a calculation error and the student has tangible evidence to support the claim that an error was made.

Burden of Proof

The grade assigned by the instructor is assumed to be correct and the student appealing the grade must justify the need for a change of the grade assigned.

Procedures for Appealing a Final Grade

1. The grade appeal begins with the student submitting, in writing, an appeal to the faculty member. If the faculty member agrees that a course grade change is warranted, the faculty member will complete a “Grade Change Form”, obtain the written signature of his/her Division Chair/Program Director, and forward the form to the Registrar with a copy to the Division Chair/Program Director. If the faculty member does not agree to the grade change, his/her written response to the student must explain why the appeal is being denied. Email will suffice as written correspondence.
2. If the faculty member denies the appeal or does not respond to the appeal within five (5) calendar days, the student may appeal to the Division Chair/Program Director. Appeals to the Division Chair/Program Director must be made using the “Grade Appeal to the Division Chair/Program Director Form” and must be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days of the final grade assignment. Division Chairs/Program Directors may meet with the student and/or faculty member. Division Chairs/Program Directors must respond, in writing, to student grade appeals within ten (10) calendar days of receipt. If the Division Chair/Program Director grants the appeal, the Division Chair/ Program Director must complete a “Grade Change Form” and forward the form to the Registrar, with a copy to the faculty member. If the Division Chair/Program Director denies the appeal, their written response to the student must explain why the appeal is being denied. Email will suffice as written correspondence.
3. If the grade has not been resolved through meetings with the faculty member and Division Chair/Program Director, the student may appeal to the Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services (VCESS). Appeals to the VCESS must be made using the “Grade Appeal to the Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services Form” and must be submitted within five (5) calendar days of notification from the Division Chair/Program Director that a grade appeal has been denied. The Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services and/or Divisional Dean may meet with the student, Division Chair/Program Director, and/or faculty member. The Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services must respond, in writing, to student grade appeals within ten (10) calendar days of receipt, notifying the student, faculty member, and Division Chair/Program Director on the correspondence. If the Vice Chancellor grants the appeal, he/she must complete a “Grade Change Form” and forward the form to the Registrar, with a copy to the Division Chair/Program Director and the faculty member. If the Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Services denies the appeal, his/ her written response to the student must explain why the appeal is being denied. Email will suffice as written correspondence. The Vice Chancellor’s decision will be final and binding.

Standard GPA Calculation

Multiply the grade value of the course by the semester hours for that course. The product of the multiplication will be the grade points.

1. Divide the total grade points by total attempted hours.
2. Divide 32 (Grade Points Column) by 16 (Credit Hours Attempted Column) and the GPA = 2.0