53-11 Grading System

Procedure Description

Grade Point System

Students are required to maintain a certain level of quality points while completing the required number of credit hours for an associate degree, diploma, or certificate. The standard is based on the quality point system. The grade received in a course indicates the number of quality points per semester hour. Grade points are computed by multiplying the number of semester hour credits per course by the grade earned. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester hours taken. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required for graduation. In the calculation of the grade point average, a repeated course will be counted only once in computing net semester hours taken. The highest grade earned on a repeated course will determine the number of quality points earned. Quality points earned per semester hour are as follows:

• A = 4 quality points

• B = 3 quality points

• C = 2 quality points

• D = 1 quality point

• I = 0 quality points until course is completed

• F = 0 quality points

(Grades of E, W, WF, TR, AU do not earn quality points.)

Standard Grading System

The following is the official grading system used at Florence-Darlington Technical College. A (Excellent) - Indicates outstanding achievement and carries 4 quality points per semester hour.

B (Above Average) - Indicates excellent achievement and carries 3 quality points per semester hour.

C (Average) - Indicates average achievement and carries 2 quality points per semester hour.

D (Below Average) - Indicates below average achievement and carries 1 quality point per semester hour.

F (Failure) - Indicates failure of a course and no quality points are earned. The grade “F” becomes a record and cannot be deleted from a student’s transcript. When the course is repeated with a higher grade, the higher grade will be used to compute the grade point average.

I (Incomplete) - Indicates incomplete work and is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is otherwise passing has not completed all the work required in a given term. A student with an “I” has until the beginning of exams for the subsequent semester to satisfactorily complete the course requirements. If after this date, the work has not been satisfactorily completed, the grade will be changed to an “F”.

E (Examination) - Indicates credit earned by examination. The credit is indicated on the transcript but the grade is neither assigned quality points nor computed in the grade point average.

W (Withdrew) - Indicates that a course was officially dropped BEFORE the last day for withdrawal without academic penalty (after filing the appropriate form). [Withdraw dates will be published each semester.] No quality points are earned and it is not included as semester hours taken in computing the grade point average.

WF (Withdrew Failing) - Assigned AFTER the last day for withdrawal without academic penalty. [Withdraw dates will be published each semester.] The semester hours attempted will be used in computing the grade point average.

AU (Audit) - Not computed. Indicates a course was audited and not taken for credit. A student cannot change from audit status to credit status after the drop/add period, or from credit status to audit status after the drop/add period. Credit for such courses cannot be established at a later date. Permission to audit a course must be obtained from the instructor. The semester hours audited are not computed in the grade point average.

TR (Transfer) - Indicates credit for a course was granted by FDTC from another accredited college. Semester hours for a transfer course are not computed in the grade point average.

For more information, see College Procedure for Attendance and Withdrawal from Course (s) and Change of Grade and Repeating Courses.