Grading Policy

Grading Policy

At the beginning of each term the instructor should carefully explain the course evaluation method to be used. The course evaluation methods will also be outlined in the course syllabus. All written assignments, classwork, or homework will be evaluated and included in the student evaluation process.

The following grade scale is the minimum default grade scale for all courses taught at Belmont College:

+/- GRADE SCALE POINT VALUE
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 60-66
D- 60-66
F 59-Below

Programs or departments may increase the requirements needed to earn grades in their core courses if such increases are approved by all program or department faculty.

Selected allied health courses in programs such as Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Emergency Medical require a letter grade of “C” or better to continue in the program. A letter grade of “C-” does not meet this requirement.

Developmental Courses

All students in developmental education courses must earn a letter grade of “C” or higher to progress to the next course in each sequence. A letter grade of “C-” does not meet this requirement.

Final Grades

The provost in conjunction with the appropriate faculty will ensure that appropriate exams are administered for the determination of final grades in order to ensure fair and equal evaluation of student progress.  The grades received at the end of each term are available for students to view on Canvas.  These grades become a permanent part of the student’s record. Faculty must submit final grades each term before the deadline.

Makeup Exams

Make-up exams are under the direction of the individual instructor.

Grade Point Scale

The following grade scale allows quality point values to be awarded to letter grades A through D:

LETTER GRADE POINT VALUE
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 60-66
D- 60-66
F 59-Below

Alternative Grades

Alternative grades are not applicable to the GPA because no quality point values are assigned. These include:

A temporary grade of incomplete is assigned when, in the opinion of the instructor, the student has not completed the course requirements due to just and legitimate reasons and has made arrangements for completion. A grade of incomplete has no impact on a student’s GPA but may affect financial aid. The student has until the end of the first week of the following term to complete course requirements to remove the grade of incomplete.

If the course requirements are not completed to the satisfaction of the instructor, the incomplete reverts to a letter grade of “F”.

Upon written notification to the dean, an instructor may grant additional time up to the end of the seventh week of the following term for the student to complete course requirements. However, if a student is receiving financial aid, the student may have only until the end of the first week of the following term to complete course requirements and replace the grade of incomplete. See the Financial Aid Office for further details.

Within the first seven calendar days of a term a student may drop an individual course without penalty using Form 04A (Change in Schedule).  No record of the course will be made in the student’s permanent file. Dropping a course after the seventh calendar day of the term constitutes “withdrawal” and the symbol “W” is recorded on the student’s permanent academic record. The “W” symbol has no impact on the student’s GPA. Form 04B (Student Withdrawal) is used for the purpose of withdrawing after the seventh calendar day. Withdrawal deadlines will be adjusted for classes running less than 16 weeks.

To officially withdraw from a course, a student must meet with an academic advisor to complete the appropriate forms. Students may not withdraw from classes online. Withdrawal from a course is not official until the grade of “W” appears on the student’s transcript.

The student should discuss any problems with the appropriate faculty member before withdrawing to see if issues can be resolved. If the student chooses not to meet with the faculty member, he/she may go directly to an academic advisor or to the Records Office for completion of the appropriate form. A student who withdraws from a developmental education studies course must obtain the developmental education studies instructor’s signature.

Failure to complete form 04A within the first seven semester days of the term or 04B after the seventh calendar day of the term will result in a letter grade of “F” for each course rather than a “W” in the student’s permanent academic record. In addition, no refunds are granted unless the appropriate form (04A or 04B) is completed and signed. A student who is receiving financial aid must formally withdraw if he/she decides not to attend.

A student cannot withdraw from a course during the last 14 calendar days of the term.

Selected courses may be taken on a pass/fail basis if the student is in good academic standing. Not more than one course per semester may be taken on this basis. Students must have the approval of the dean to take courses pass/fail. Students must register and pay for pass/fail course(s). The tuition and fees are the same as the fee for a credit course. In calculating the Grade Point Average, credit for the letter grade of “P” (pass) is awarded but does not impact GPA. Prior to the second calendar day of the term, the student must indicate on Form 55 (Student Course Registration) under “Notes” that he/she wants to take a course on a pass/fail basis.  Students may not revoke a decision to take a course pass/fail after the second calendar day of the term.

Students may audit a course at Belmont College. They may take the course and not receive credit or a grade for it. Students must register and pay for audited course(s). The tuition and fees are the same as for a credit course. Prior to the second calendar day of the term, the student must indicate on Form 55 (Student Course Registration) under “Notes” that he/she wants to audit a course. A student may not revoke a decision to audit a course after the second calendar day of the term. Audited courses are not applicable to the requirements of a degree, certificate, or diploma. Audit grades are not included for financial aid eligibility. A letter grade of “X” has no impact on a student’s GPA.

See forgiveness policy.

See forgiveness policy.

See forgiveness policy.

Grade Changes

Grade changes are to be reported by the instructor on Form 37 (Grade Change). The form must include the student’s name and identification number, reason for the change, term of attendance, the course number, and course title. Grade changes must be approved by the provost prior to being filed in the Records Office.

Dean’s List

Full-Time Students

  • Twelve (12) credit hours of coursework completed
  • Term grade point average of 3.75 or greater
  • Cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or greater
  • No student with a letter grade of “D” or “F” as part of the ending date of the term will be considered for Dean’s List. Students completing the term with an “I” must have the “I” converted to a grade within the first seven days of the next term to be eligible for the Dean’s List.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

At the discretion of the Dean of Academic Affairs, students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade point average is less than:
after the first 11 hours attempted

  • 25 after the first 21 hours attempted
  • 50 after the first 32 hours attempted
  • 75 after the first 43 hours attempted
  • 90 after the first 54 hours attempted
  • 00 after the first 60 hours attempted

In addition to the above, students whose grade point average in any given term is less than 1.00 for that semester will be placed on academic probation.

Students who are placed on academic probation for a second consecutive term will be excluded from enrollment for one term. At the end of the exclusionary period, a student may re-enroll for classes following a conference with an advisor.

If a student is placed on academic probation in the term immediately following an exclusionary period, he or she shall be excluded for one academic year.

The student who has been re-admitted after a one-term or one-year exclusionary period must maintain a 2.0 average in all courses taken during the current term of enrollment and all succeeding terms of enrollment until such time as the student achieves a grade point average that will not place him/her on probation.

Students may submit a letter of appeal for academic dismissal if extenuating circumstances contributed to poor academic performance. Letters of appeal should be sent to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Grade Appeal

Students who wish to make an appeal must initiate the appeals procedure no later than two weeks (14 calendar days) after the grade has been posted.  The process will be completed within seven weeks (49 calendar days).

The student shall schedule an appointment with the instructor to discuss and resolve the grade. The instructor will document the results of that meeting and forward the results to the student and the Dean of Academic Affairs.

If the question of the grade is not resolved or additional information is required:

  1. Within seven calendar days of the meeting with the instructor, the student shall submit Form 163 (Grade Appeal) to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
  1. Within one week of submitting the appeal form, the student will be contacted by the Dean of Academic Affairs to schedule an appointment. It should be noted that the Dean of Academic Affairs has the latitude to pursue resolution in a manner consistent with past practice and in keeping with established ethical standards. For example:
    • The Dean of Academic Affairs may discuss the problem with the instructor and review all pertinent records in order to resolve the dispute.
    • The Dean of Academic Affairs may also solicit counsel from appropriate others at his/her discretion.
  1. The Dean of Academic Affairs will submit a written summary of the findings to the instructor and student within seven calendar days of the meeting.
  1. Within seven calendar days of submission of the findings to the instructor and student:
    • The Dean of Academic Affairs will discuss the outcome with the student to ensure that the student is aware of the outcome.
    • The student will acknowledge the resolution of the appeal via his/her signature on the appeal form.

If a resolution is not reached in Step 2, the student will submit the appeal form to the provost. The matter will be referred to the Academic Appeals Committee within seven calendar days. This committee is a five-member group comprised of the following people:

  1. One of each from the following employee classifications will be appointed by the provost:
    • Faculty
    • Administration
    • Professional staff
  1. These three shall jointly appoint a chairperson.
  1. Two ad hoc members to be appointed as follows:
    • One selected by the student filing the appeal
    • One selected by the faculty in question
  1. Within seven calendar days of appointment the chairperson will provide a written request to the faculty member and the student to select their ad hoc appointees.
  1. Within seven calendar days of the written request the faculty member and student will inform the chairperson of their selections.
  1. If a member has a conflict of interest, a replacement from the appropriate employee classification will be named by the provost or designee. A conflict of interest may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
    • Student or faculty member is an immediate family member or relative of a committee member.
    • Student or faculty member has an extracurricular social relationship with a committee member.
    • A committee member feels that he/she is unable to participate in the committee decision in an objective or ethical manner.
  1. The chairperson will schedule and hold a hearing within seven calendar days of notification of the members of the ad hoc committee by the provost or designee and will notify all parties in writing.
  1. The committee will:
    • Examine all pertinent evidence
    • Discuss the case with the student and instructor
    • Request additional testimony if necessary
    • Record formal minutes
  1. The committee will reach a decision and forward it to the provost or designee for review.
  1. Following the review, the committee chairperson will notify both the student and instructor of the decision within seven calendar days.
  1. The decision will be implemented unless appealed.

If resolution is still not reached within Step 3, the following process begins:

  1. The student may sign and submit a request for the fourth step of the appeal along with a written statement of the problem to the provost or his/her designee no later than seven calendar days after receiving the outcome of Step 3.
  1. Upon receiving the appeal, the provost or designee shall schedule an appointment within seven calendar days with the following individuals:
    • The Dean of Academic Affairs
    • The instructor
    • The student
    • The student’s advocate (optional), who may be any member of the college community
    • Any other witness on behalf of either the College or student (optional)
  1. During this appointment:
    • Evidence may be presented
    • Testimony may be given
    • Formal minutes will be taken by the provost or his/her designee
  1. The student’s advocate must be a member of the College community (faculty, staff, professional staff and/or administrator) and will be chosen by the student. The advocate will:
    • Explain procedures
    • Assist the student
    • Represent the student as necessary
    • Be present during all further appeal hearings and any additional required appointments

    The provost or designee serves to arbitrate a settlement satisfactory to all parties. He/she takes the following actions:

    1. May independently investigate and/or gather information in order to recommend a settlement
    2. Must ensure due process for the student and the instructor and maintain institutional integrity
    3. Will place in writing any agreement reached, initialed by all parties, and appropriately filed within seven calendar days

If further appeal is necessary:

  1. The student must submit an appeal within seven calendar days after receiving the outcome of Step 4 to the provost or designee.
  1. The provost or designee will refer the matter to the President of the College for further action.
  1. The President of the College will decide within seven calendar days and forward the decision to the student and provost or designee.

Decisions of the President are final.