Grading System Policy
SSM grading policies outline letter grades, GPA calculation, incomplete grades, pass/no pass rules, and doctoral grading standards in line with the official catalog.
1. Letter Grade Structure
| Designation | Interpretation | Percentage Range | Grade Point Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 94.5% - 100% | 4 |
| A- | 89.5% - 94.4% | 3.67 | |
| B+ | 86.5% - 89.4% | 3.33 | |
| B | Good | 82.5% - 86.4% | 3 |
| B- | 79.5% - 82.4% | 2.67 | |
| C+ | 76.5% - 79.4% | 2.33 | |
| C | Satisfactory | 72.5% - 76.4% | 2 |
| C- | 69.5% - 72.4% | 1.67 | |
| D+ | 64.5% - 69.4% | 1.33 | |
| D | Poor but passing | 59.5% - 64.4% | 1 |
| F | Failing | 0% - 59.4% | 0 |
Additional Grading Symbols
P = Pass with Credit
NP = No Pass No Credit
TC = Transfer Credits
I = Incomplete
W = Official Withdrawal
Grade F means failing work. A failed module must be repeated in order for the student to receive credit.
2. Incomplete Grades
The grade of I (Incomplete) will be assigned in cases where illness, hospitalization, death in the family, or other situations of similar gravity temporarily prevent completion of the required module work.
A statement of the reasons for the non-completion, the work remaining to be completed, and the expected date of completion, signed by the professor and, when possible, by the student, must be submitted to the Registrar before the grade I will be recorded.
Incomplete work must be completed by the end of the module immediately following that in which it was assigned. Otherwise, the grade will be administratively converted to an F.
3. Pass / Not Pass Basis
Some modules may be offered by SSM on a pass/not pass basis. In such cases a grade of P (Passing) will be assigned for work corresponding in quality to a grade of C or above, and a grade of NP (Not Passing) will be awarded for a grade of C- or below.
4. GPA Calculation
To determine a student’s grade point average, the quality points for each module are calculated by multiplying the numerical value of the grade by the number of credit hours of the module.
The total of the quality points earned is divided by the total number of credit hours earned. Thus, a student who has taken 30 hours of work and has earned 90 quality points would have a grade point average of 3.00.
In the case of repeated modules, the number of quality points and hours includes only the most recent time the module was taken.
Modules in which grades of I, P, NP or W are assigned are not included in the quality point computation.
5. Doctoral Grading Policy
Pass (80-89)
Meets requirements as derived from module objectives.
High Pass (90-100)
Above-average graduate-level performance.
Low Pass (70-79)
A marginal performance demonstrating a minimal passing level of attainment.
Fail (Less than 70)
Does not meet requirements as derived from module objectives. No credit is given for the module.
Grading System: HP = High Pass; P = Pass; LP = Low Pass; F = Fail.