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Scholastic and Administrative Standards

UMUC standards for academic rigor consider the degree to which students demonstrate content mastery, application of critical thinking skills, and adherence to UMUC's code of academic integrity.

Institutional Credit

A course that may not be applied toward graduation may be assigned a credit value for purposes of course load per session and tuition. This institutional credit is included in the grade point average (GPA) and in determining eligibility for financial aid and veterans educational benefits. However, students required to take these courses do so in addition to the 120 units of graduation credit required for the degree.

Grading Methods

There are four grading methods at UMUC. The most commonly used is the standard method. The pass/fail alternative is available only under limited conditions. The satisfactory/D/fail method is restricted to certain specified courses. Any course may be audited. Regulations for each are given in the following paragraphs.

Grade Interpretation Quality Points

A	Outstanding Performance excels far above established standards for university-level performance	4
B	Superior Performance is above established standards	3
C	Good Performance meets established standards	2
D	Substandard Performance is below established standards	1
F	Failure Performance does not meet minimum requirements	0
FN	Failure for nonattendance	0
G	Grade under review	0
P	Passing (D or higher)	0
S	Satisfactory (C or higher)	0
I	Incomplete	0
AU	Audit	0
W	Withdrawal	0

Standard

Unless students choose either the pass/fail or audit option at the time of registration, they will be given a letter grade according to the standard method. Under the standard grading method, students are given a grade of A, B, C, D, or F on the basis of their performance in meeting the requirements of each course. For only a very few courses, the standard grading method is replaced by the satisfactory/D/fail method.

Pass/Fail

Degree-seeking students who have earned 30 credits (including at least 15 credits at UMUC) and who have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 may take one course of up to 6 credits each standard term (fall, spring, or summer) on a pass/fail basis, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Students must elect pass/fail grading at the time of registration. this status may not be changed after the first week of classes.

This grading method is allowed only for electives. Required courses (e.g., general education courses and courses for the major and minor) may not be taken pass/fail, nor may pass/fail grading be used in retaking a course for which a letter grade was earned previously.

Students who register for pass/fail grading must still complete all the regular requirements of the course. The teacher evaluates the work under the normal procedure for letter grades and submits a regular grade. Grades of A, B, C, or D are then converted to the grade P, which is entered into the permanent record. A grade of F remains unchanged.

Although a grade of P earns credit toward graduation, it is not included in calculating a grade point average. A failing grade carries no credit, and the failing grade is included in the computation of grade point averages.

Satisfactory/D/Fail

This grading method is available only on a limited basis. Although a grade of satisfactory (S) earns credit toward graduation, it is not included in calculating grade point averages. The grade of D earns credit and is included in computing grade point averages. While a failing grade (F) earns no credit, it is included in computing grade point averages.

Audit

Students who do not wish to receive credit may register for courses as auditors after being admitted. Students must indicate this intention when they register. Students may request a change from credit to audit status anytime before the end of the first week of classes.
Auditing students do not have to complete course assignments, but may request to do so in order to receive faculty feedback on their work. Audited courses are listed on the permanent record, with the notation AU. No letter grade is given for audited courses, nor are credits earned.

Change of Grading Basis

Students may request a change of grading basis; the deadline for changing the grading basis is determined by the length of the session. For classes of length eight weeks or less, the grading basis can be changed up to one week after the start date, and for classes of length more than eight weeks, the grading basis can be changed up to two weeks after the start date.

Grades

Passing: The Grade of P

The grade of P is conferred after a teacher has evaluated coursework under the normal procedure for letter grades and has submitted a standard grade (A, B, C, or D). Then Student Affairs converts that standard grade into the grade of P. A passing grade is recorded on the permanent record and confers credit toward graduation. However, courses graded P are not included in calculating grade point averages.

Satisfactory: The Grade of S

The grade of S is equivalent to a grade of C or higher. This grade is used to denote satisfactory progress in an experiential setting or practicum, such as EXCL 301. Although the grade of S confers credit and appears on the permanent record, courses graded S are not used in determining grade point averages.

Failure: The Grade of F

The grade of F means a failure to satisfy the minimum requirements of a course. Although it carries no credit, it is included in calculating the grade point average. A student assigned the grade of F must register again for the course, pay the applicable fees, repeat the course, and earn a passing grade in order to receive credit for that course.

Failure for Nonattendance: The Grade of FN

The grade of FN means a failure in the course because the student has not attended or participated in course assignments and activities. It is assigned when the student ceases to attend class or fulfill requirements but has not officially withdrawn.

Grade Under Review: The Mark of G

The grade of G is an exceptional and temporary administrative grade given only when the final grade in the course is under review. It is not the same as a mark of Incomplete.

Incomplete: The Mark of I

The mark of I (incomplete) is an exceptional grade given only to students whose work in a course has been satisfactory but who for reasons beyond their control have been unable to complete all the requirements of a course. The following criteria must be met:

• The student must have completed at least 60 percent of the work in the course with a grade of C or better.
• The mark of I must be requested before the end of the course.

The procedure for awarding the mark of I is as follows:

• The student must ask the teacher for a mark of I. (Teachers cannot award a mark of I on their own initiative.)
• The teacher decides whether to grant the request.
• The teacher sets a date (no more than four months after submitting the original grade) for completion of the remaining requirements of the course.
• The teacher and the student together agree on the remaining requirements of the course and the deadline for submitting the work.
• The student is responsible for completing the work.
• After the work is completed, the teacher submits a grade change to replace the mark of I on the student’s record with a grade.

If the mark of I is not made up by the agreed-upon deadline (which is not to exceed the maximum time allowed after submission of the original grade), the I is changed to an F. Students should refer to UMUC policy 170.71 Policy on Grad of Incomplete and Withdrawal at www.umuc.edu/policies for details

The mark of I cannot be removed by means of credit by examination, nor can it be replaced by a mark of W (defined below). Students who elect to repeat an incomplete course must register again for the course, pay all applicable fees, and repeat the course. For purposes of academic retention, the course grade is counted as an F. The mark of I is not used in determining grade point averages.

Withdrawal: The Mark of W

Students may receive the mark of W by officially withdrawing from a course. Ceasing to attend class does not constitute an official withdrawal. If you have questions about procedures for withdrawing, ask your local UMUC Enrollment Specialist or Academic Advisor, or write to oregistrar@asia.umuc.edu.

For most courses, this grade appears on the permanent record unless withdrawal is completed before the end of the schedule adjustment period. For purposes of academic retention, the mark of W is counted as attempted hours. It is not used in determining grade point averages.

Students who officially withdraw from a course after the course start date receive a mark of W.

• Undergraduate students who register for classroom courses must officially withdraw no later than the day before the final class.
• Students who register for online and/or hybrid courses must officially withdraw no later than the Friday of the week before the course ends (9 days before the end-of-class date). Exact withdrawal deadline dates can be found on the Asia DE Web site, under Student Links > Session Calendar. The deadline table above applies to all CAT course students as well.

Changes in Grade

Faculty members may change a grade previously assigned through MyUMUC, the University’s online academic and administrative services portal. Any change must be made no later than four months after the original grade was awarded.

Grading Repeated Courses

When a course is repeated, only the higher grade earned in the two attempts is included in the calculation of the grade point average (GPA). For purposes of academic retention, both attempts are counted. Both grades are entered on the permanent record, with a notation indicating that the course was repeated. Students cannot increase the total hours earned toward a degree by repeating a course for which a passing grade was conferred previously. To establish credit in a course previously failed or withdrawn from, students must register, pay the full tuition and fees, and repeat the entire course successfully.

Repeated Registration for a Course

No student may register more than three times for the same course. Registering more than twice for the same course (including courses previously attempted at other institutions in the University System of Maryland) is generally forbidden. It may be allowed only under special circumstances, with prior approval of an Academic Advisor.

Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average is calculated using the quality points assigned to each grade (see list below). First, the quality-point value of each grade is multiplied by the number of credits; then the sum of these quality points is divided by the total number of credits attempted for which a grade of A, B, C, D, or F/FN was received.

Grade	Quality Points
A	4
B	3
C	2
D	1
F/FN	0

Academic Warning and Dismissal

At the end of every term (fall, spring, or summer), the cumulative grade point average of each student who has attempted at least 15 credits at UMUC is computed based on all UMUC graded coursework. Student Affairs then takes action, required by UMUC policy, according to the student’s level of progress as described below.

There are four levels of academic progress: satisfactory, warning, probation, and dismissal.

Levels of Progress

SATISFACTORY
A student whose cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher is considered to be making satisfactory progress.

WARNING
A student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 will be placed on academic warning. The student will remain on academic warning as long as the cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 and the GPA for the term is 2.0 or better.

A student who attempts 15 credits or more in a period of at least two sequential standard terms and earns no quality points will receive an academic warning regardless of the cumulative grade point average.

A student on academic warning whose GPA for the term is 2.0 or better, but whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, will continue on academic warning until he or she has completed courses at UMUC that raise the cumulative GPA to 2.0 or better.

A student on academic warning is limited to a maximum enrollment of 7 credits per standard term or to a maximum of 4 credits per eight-week session. Additional limitations may apply during the student's first term on academic warning.

PROBATION
A student on academic warning or admitted on provisional status whose GPA for the term is less than 2.0 will be put on probation.

A student on probation whose GPA for the session is 2.0 or better, but whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, will return to academic warning or provisional status.

A student on academic probation is limited to a maximum enrollment of 7 credits per standard term or to a maximum of 4 credits per eight-week session. Additional limitations may apply during the student's first term on academic warning.

DISMISSAL
A student on probation whose GPA for the term is less than 2.0 will be dismissed. Regardless of cumulative GPA, a student who has maintained an average of at least 2.0 during a particular term will not be dismissed at the end of that period. A student who is dismissed is ineligible to register again for UMUC courses until he or she is reinstated.

Reinstatement After Dismissal

A student seeking reinstatement is required to

• Have all official transcripts from previously attended colleges and universities sent to UMUC, preferably before meeting with an Academic Advisor.
• Meet with an Academic Advisor before petitioning for reinstatement.
• Wait at least one standard before petitioning for reinstatement. Such an appeal should be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar.

Deadlines for requesting reinstatement are as follows:

Fall enrollment	July 15
Spring enrollment	November 15
Summer enrollment	April 15

The petition must contain an explanation of how the student will be able to improve academic performance. The student may reenroll only after the request for reinstatement is approved and one term has elapsed since the dismissal.

The student may petition for reinstatement by writing to:

UMUC Asia
Office of the Registrar
Unit 5060 Box 0100
APO AP 96328-0100

After the student's record, the Academic Advisor's recommendation, and the student's petition have been reviewed, the student will receive a written response. Reinstated students will be placed on warning immediately or will retain provisional status, as appropriate.

Students who have been reinstated may be subject to additional term enrollment limitations during their first term after they return to study.

Further information is provided in UMUC policy 158.00 Academic Levels of Progress, available online.