Undergraduate Grading System
UW Bothell uses a numerical grading system. Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments and the grade 0.0. The number 0.0 is assigned for failing work or unofficial withdrawal. Grades in the range 0.6 to 0.1 may not be assigned. Grades reported in this range are converted by the Office of the Registrar to 0.0. Numerical grades may be considered equivalent to letter grades as follows:
Undergraduate Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Number Grade |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 – 3.9 |
| A- | 3.8 – 3.5 |
| B+ | 3.4 – 3.2 |
| B | 3.1 – 2.9 |
| B- | 2.8 – 2.5 |
| C+ | 2.4 – 2.2 |
| C | 2.1 – 1.9 |
| C- | 1.8 – 1.5 |
| D+ | 1.4 – 1.2 |
| D | 1.1 – 0.9 |
| D- | 0.8 – 0.7 (lowest passing grade) |
Additional Letter Grades
N – Indicates that the student is making satisfactory progress and a final grade will be given at the end of the quarter the work is completed. Used only for hyphenated courses (courses not completed in one quarter) and courses numbered 600, 601, 700, 750, and 800.
I – Instructors may grant an incomplete grade if the student has done satisfactory work to within three weeks of the last day of the quarter and if circumstances prevent the student from completing the remaining work for the course by the end of the quarter. Instructors are never obligated to grant a student’s request for an Incomplete. Instructors will use the designated process for students to request and for instructors to approve the awarding of an Incomplete grade.
To obtain credit for a course a grade must be submitted by the instructor of the course by the grading deadline per the Academic Calendar for the next subsequent quarter. For Spring quarter, the subsequent quarter is considered to be the Fall Quarter. This submission is done through the established late grade submission process. The submitted grade will replace the “I” on the transcript. If no grade is submitted the Incomplete will convert to a grade of 0.0 and the “I” will be removed from the official transcript. If a default grade was submitted by the instructor this grade will replace the “I” on the transcript. Courses taken CR/NC will change to a NC.
In no case shall an Incomplete on the record at the time a degree is granted be subsequently changed to any other grade. The grade I shall count neither for registered hours nor in computation of grade-point averages.
Instructors, on behalf of the student, may request an extension for one additional quarter beyond the original grading quarter utilizing the established extension request process.
In no case shall an Incomplete on the record at the time a degree is granted be subsequently changed to any other grade.
An Incomplete grade does not count for registered hours nor in computation of grade-point averages.
S – Satisfactory grade for courses taken on a satisfactory/not-satisfactory basis. An S grade is automatically converted from a numerical grade of 2.0 or above for undergraduates. The grade S may not be assigned directly by the instructor, but is a grade conversion by the Office of the Registrar. Courses so graded can only be used for electives and cannot be used to satisfy a core course requirement. A maximum of 25 credits of S/NS grades may be applied to an undergraduate degree. S is not computed in GPA calculations.
NS – Not-satisfactory grade for courses taken on a satisfactory/not-satisfactory basis. A grade less than 2.0 for undergraduates is converted to NS by the Office of the Registrar. NS is not included in GPA calculations. No credit is awarded for courses in which an NS grade is received.
CR – Credit awarded in a course offered on a credit/no credit basis only, or in courses numbered 600, 601, 700, 750, and 800. The minimum performance level required for a CR grade is determined, and the grade is awarded directly, by the instructor. CR is not computed in GPA calculations.
NC – No credit awardedin a course offered on a credit/no-credit basis only, or in courses numbered 600, 601, 700, 750, and 800. The grade is awarded directly by the instructor and is not included in GPA calculations.
W – Official withdrawal or drop from a course from the third through the seventh week of the quarter for undergraduates. A number designating the week of the quarter is recorded with the W, when a course is dropped. It is not computed in GPA calculations. Effective through Summer 2020.
RD – Grade is assigned when a student is allowed to withdraw from a course(s) after the 14th calendar day of the quarter (see Current and Former Drop/Withdraw Policy). It is not computed in GPA calculations. Effective Spring 2020.
HW – Hardship Withdrawal (through Winter 2020). Grade assigned when an undergraduate is allowed a hardship withdrawal from a course after the fourteenth calendar day of the quarter. It is not computed in GPA calculations. Effective through Winter 2020.
X – A faculty member should only assign a grade of “X” when a student is undergoing student conduct proceedings for the course at the time grades are due. The GPA is not affected and no credit is granted. The “X” will remain on the transcript and the student does not receive credit for the course until a passing grade is turned in.
Nontraditional Grading Options
Credit/No Credit-Only as a Course Option
With appropriate departmental review and approval, a course may be offered on a credit/no credit-only basis. The standard for granting credit in credit/no credit-only courses under this option is the demonstration of competence in the material of the course to the instructor’s satisfaction. Grading should be consistent with the University’s policy for numerically graded courses, in which students receive credit for grades of 0.7 or greater. Students demonstrating such competence shall have CR entered on the transcript; those who do not shall have NC entered on the transcript. Although CR and NC grades are entered on the transcript, they are not used in the computation of the grade-point average.
Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory Grading Option
Students may elect to take certain courses on a satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS) basis.
When registering through Personal Services on MyUW, select the Grade Option box to select S/NS grading option. The S/NS grade option can be elected through the day shown on the academic calendar for the current quarter. NO EXCEPTIONS. A $20 fee is charged beginning the eighth calendar day of the quarter.
Students may only register for up to 20 credits of S/NS through Personal Services on MyUW. Exceptions may be granted by sending a request to uwbreg@uw.edu.
As an undergraduate, a course in which an S is earned may not be used to satisfy any core requirement, except that the credits may be applied to the minimum of 180 credits required for graduation. Each instructor will report numerical grades to the Registrar, who will convert satisfactory grades (2.0 or greater) to S, and unsatisfactory grades (less than 2.0) to NS for the student’s transcript. No more than 25 S/NS credits may apply toward an undergraduate degree.
Graduate students who earn grades of 2.7 or above will receive a grade of S while 2.6 or below are recorded as NS.
In cases of withdrawal, the RD (Registrar Drop) is recorded. Neither S nor NS is included in the grade-point average.
Computation of Grade-Point Average (GPA)
The grade-point average for graduation is computed by dividing the total cumulative grade points by the total credits attempted for courses taken in residence at the University. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits by the numeric value of the grade for each course. The sum of the grade points is then divided by the total credits attempted. Courses elected on an S/NS basis are counted as follows: Satisfactory grades are printed on the permanent record as an S and do not count in the quarterly or cumulative grade-point average, but they do count as credits earned toward graduation. Not-satisfactory grades, NS, do not count in the quarterly and cumulative grade-point averages and do not count as credits earned toward graduation.
Example 1:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIS 498 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 30.5 |
| BIS 300 | 5 | 2.9 | 14.5 | |
| BIS 343 | 5 | 3.2 | 16.0 |
Total credits earned toward graduation is 10
Total graded credits attempted is 13
Grade-point average: 30.5/13 = 2.35
The total graded credits attempted, not the credits earned toward graduation, are used in computing the grade-point average.
Example 2:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIS 325 | 5 | 2.3 | 11.5 | 26.0 |
| BIS 463 | 5 | 2.9 | 14.5 | |
| BIS 313 | 5 | I | 0.0 |
Total credits earned toward graduation is 10
Total graded credits attempted is 15
Grade-point average: 26.0 /10 = 2.60
The student attempted 15 credits, but only 10 are graded, because the I is not computed in the grade-point average. If the work in BLS 313 is not made up by the end of the quarter, the “I” will convert to a numeric grade of 0.0, and the grade-point average will be recomputed. When the grade of 0.0 is received, it is computed in the grade-point average, but no credit is awarded toward graduation.
Repeating Courses
Undergraduates
With the approval of the academic department offering the course, a undergraduate may repeat a course once. Both the original grade and the second grade will be computed in the GPA, but credit will be allowed only once. Veterans receiving benefits must receive approval from the Office of Veterans & Military Educational Benefits before a course is repeated.
Graduates
Graduate students may repeat any course. Both the original grade and the second grade are computed in the GPA. Subsequent grades will not be included, but will appear on the permanent record. The number of credits earned in the course will apply toward degree requirements only once. Veterans receiving benefits must receive approval from the Office of Veterans & Military Educational Benefits before a course is repeated.
Departments may restrict undergraduates from repeat registration into courses.
A second repeat (taking a class for a third time [or more]) cannot be done using MyUW. A second repeat requires the department to register you into the course. Grades in the third or subsequent takings will not be included in the grade-point average (GPA).
Grading Procedures
Change of Grade
Except in case of error, no instructor may change a grade that he or she has turned in to the Registrar. Grades cannot be changed after the degree has been granted.
Grade Appeal Procedure
A student who believes he or she has been improperly graded first discusses the matter with the instructor. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s explanation, the student may submit a written appeal to the dean or director of the student’s academic unit (or their designee) with a copy of the appeal also to the instructor. The dean or director consults with the instructor to ensure that the evaluation of the student’s performance has not been arbitrary or capricious. Should the dean or director believe the instructor’s conduct to be arbitrary or capricious, and the instructor declines to revise the grade, the dean or director, with the approval of the voting members of his or her faculty, shall appoint an appropriate member, or members, of the faculty of that department, to evaluate the performance of the student and assign a grade. The Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs should be informed of this action.
Once a student submits a written appeal, this document, and all subsequent actions on this appeal, are recorded in written form and saved in department files.
Grade Reports
Grades are available through MyUW at the end of each quarter.
University Policy on Student Education Records
A copy of the University’s policy on a student’s right to inspect his or her education records and the University’s responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of such records is summarized in the Time Schedule each quarter.