DECIPHERING GRADES

Listed in the College's Organizations, Regulations andCourses handbook under "Scholarship Ratings," these are the grade descriptions to be used by faculty:

The following guidelines offer general criteria for evaluation and grading, with "plus" or "minus" designations indicating that, in the opinion of the instructor, the student has performed at a level slightly higher or lower than the norm for that category.

A

1. Excellent mastery of course material

2. Student performance indicates a very high degree of originality, creativity or both

3. Excellent performance in analysis, synthesis, and critical expression, oral or written

4. Student works independently with unusual effectiveness

B

1. Good mastery of course material

2. Student performance demonstrates a high degree of originality, creativity or both

3. Good performance in analysis, synthesis, and critical expression, oral or written

4. Student works well independently

C

1. Acceptable mastery of course material

2. Student demonstrates some degree of originality, creativity or both

3. Acceptable performance in analysis, synthesis, and critical expression, oral or written

4. Student works independently at an acceptable level

D

1. Deficient in mastery of course material

2. Originality, creativity or both apparently absent from performance

3. Deficient performance in analysis, synthesis, and critical expression, oral or written

4. Ability to work independently deficient

E

1. Serious deficiency in mastery of course material

2. Originality, creativity or both clearly lacking

3. Seriously deficient performance in analysis, synthesis and critical expression, oral or written

4. Cannot work independently

The following grade point values are assigned: A, 4; A-, 3 2/3; B+, 3 1/3; B, 3; B-, 2 2/3; C+, 2 1/3; C, 2; C-, 1 2/3; D, 1; and E, 0.

In view of the many grades assignable and differences in faculty policies, every faculty member will explicitly declare criteria for grading to students in his or her courses and provide as much information possible with respect to an individual student's progress and the evaluation of the final grade assigned.