Academic Records

Metropolitan State University of Denver uses a 4.0 grading scale. Figure 2 lists the letter grade that instructors use to document their evaluation of student work and to document academic status in the class. Additionally, Figure 2 defines the meaning of each letter grade and specifies the number of quality points that correspond to each grade. Quality points are used to determine your grade point average (GPA). The procedure for calculating your GPA is described below in the How to Calculate Your Grade-Point Average (GPA) section.

How to Calculate Your Grade-Point Average (GPA)

The number of quality points awarded for a course is determined by multiplying the number of semester hours for that course by the quality point value of the grade received. The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the number of semester hours attempted.

To be eligible for a degree, a candidate must have a minimum number of quality points equal to twice the number of semester hours attempted in addition to meeting other prescribed requirements. The following notations have no effect on the GPA: AW, CC, I, IP, NR, W.

Departments/programs may, at their discretion use the plus/minus system but are not required to do so. Instructors are required to notify students of the grading system used for an individual course via the course syllabus. Special symbols are indications of registration or grade status and are not assigned by the instructor.

AW - Administrative Withdrawal

The Administrative Withdrawal (AW) notation is assigned when a student, or representative, requests to be withdrawn from a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. When the “AW” notation is assigned, no academic credit is awarded. The course remains on the student’s academic record with an “AW” notation and counts toward the student’s attempted hours. The course is not calculated in the student’s GPA or qualitypoints.

Students may request an administrative withdrawal from the Office of the Registrar after the withdrawal deadline posted in the Academic Calendar. Deadlines differ for courses offered during part of a semester, including late-start and weekend courses. Students should refer to the Student Detail Schedule via the Student Hub to review withdrawal deadlines for individual courses.

Although requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, examples include the death of an immediate family member, serious illness or medical emergency, or other life-altering event. The student must provide supporting documentation to substantiate the request.

CC - Continuing Correspondence Course

The Continuing Correspondence Course (CC) notation is assigned when a student does not complete a correspondence course within a given semester. No academic credit is awarded. The course counts toward the student’s attempted hours, does not count toward earned hours, and is not calculated in the GPA or quality points. If the course is not completed within the course’s designated timeframe, the “CC” notation will convert to a grade of “F.”

I - Incomplete

The Incomplete notation indicates that a student is achieving satisfactory progress in a course but is unable to complete all class assignments due to extenuating circumstances, such as documented illness, military leave, disability, internships that fall outside traditional semester timeframes, or circumstances beyond their control. The Incomplete notation is composed of an “I” (noted on the student’s transcript) and the student’s default grade (A, A-, B+, B, etc.), which is the grade the student has earned at the time course grades are first entered for the course.

An Incomplete notation may be assigned only if the student meets all these minimum requirements:

• The student has participated in an academically-related activity after the 60% mark of the course’s part of term. Academically-related activity involves active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study as defined by the last date of attendance.
• The student has completed more than 50% coursework and/or course contact hours, as determined by the faculty member or department chair if the faculty member is not available.

Incomplete grade notations are offered at the faculty member’s discretion, or at the discretion of the department chair if the faculty member is not available. Satisfying the minimum university requirements for an Incomplete notation does not guarantee that one will be awarded. Departments and programs may establish higher minimum standards for awarding Incomplete notations. Incomplete notations based upon accommodations related to a student’s documented disability should be determined in consultation with the Director of the Access Center or their designee.

When an Incomplete notation is awarded, the following process applies:

• When entering final course grades, the faculty member registers the Incomplete notation, the student’s default grade, and the student’s last date of attendance.
• The faculty member and student submit the Incomplete Agreement Form to the Office of the Registrar. This form establishes the outstanding work that the student may/should submit within a designated timeframe.
• The faculty member and student finalize additional Incomplete notation requirements established by their department or program, if any exist.
•  The maximum timeframe for a student to submit remaining coursework is the end of the subsequent full term (i.e., the end of the next Fall or Spring semester). However, faculty members may require a shorter timeframe for submission of incomplete coursework, which will be documented on the Incomplete Agreement Form.
• When all remaining course work has been submitted and evaluated, when the student indicates that they have submitted all work they will be able to within the timeframe the faculty member will enter a change of grade form.
• If the work designated on the Incomplete Agreement Form is not completed within the established timeframe, the “I” notation will convert to the default grade submitted by the faculty member.

Deadlines vary according to course’s formal schedule, also known as “part of term.” Students should refer to the Part of Term dates published by the Office of the Registrar to review part of term date ranges, withdrawal deadlines, and such.

Students may not graduate with an “I” on their MSU Denver academic record if:

• The course in which the “I” was assigned is required for graduation, or
• The default grade assigned for that course would result in an overall GPA less than 2.00.

The Incomplete notation may not be given for self-paced courses. If a student does not complete a self-paced course within the semester that they enrolled in the course, they must re-enroll in the course in order to complete it. Students pay tuition and fees for each semester they are enrolled in self-paced courses.

IP- In Progress

The In Progress (IP) notation is used for all graduate work (including thesis work) in progress. For thesis students, the IP notation is used until the final grade of either pass (P) or fail (F) is assigned by the master’s program. A grade of pass

is assigned to all 6995 courses if the final oral defense is passed and a grade of fail (F) is assigned to all 6995 courses if the students fails the final oral defense.

NR - Not Reported

The Not Reported (NR) notation indicates that no grade was reported by the faculty by the deadline to submit grades. Student must see the faculty for an explanation or assignment of grade. Students who receive an “NR” notation on their final grade report may be severely impacted. Financial aid, enrollment status, veterans’ status and probation/suspension depend on students receiving all of their grades. The course counts toward the student’s attempted hours, but does not count toward earned hours, and is not calculated in the GPA or quality points.

P - Pass

The Pass (P) notation is assigned when a student successfully completes a course for which the Pass/Fail Option has been requested. Course credit counts toward the student’s attempted and earned hours but is not calculated in the GPA or quality points. A student must earn the equivalent of a B- to receive the grade of P.

S/U - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

The Satisfactory (S) notation is equivalent to a grade of “A”. Course credit counts toward the student’s attempted and earned hours but is not calculated in the GPA or quality points. The Unsatisfactory (U) notation is equivalent to a grade of “D.” Course credit counts toward the student’s attempted hours, does not count toward earned hours, and is calculated in the GPA or quality points.

These notations are limited to internships, practica, field experience courses, and workshops.

SE/UE - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory - Education

The Satisfactory Education (SE) notation is equivalent to a grade of “B” or higher. Course credit counts toward the student’s attempted and earned hours but is not calculated in the GPA or quality points.

The Unsatisfactory Education (UE) notation is equivalent to a grade of “F.” Course credit counts toward the student’s attempted hours, does not count toward earned hours, and is calculated in the GPA and quality points.

W - Withdrawal

The Withdrawal (W) notation is assigned when a student officially withdraws from a course via the Student Hub after the drop deadline (census date) and before the withdrawal deadline posted in the Academic Calendar. Deadlines differ proportionally for courses offered during part of a semester, including late-start and weekend courses. Students should refer to the Student Detail Schedule via the Student Hub to review drop and withdrawal deadlines for individual courses. When a student withdraws from a course, no academic credit is awarded. The course remains on the student’s academic record with a “W” notation and counts toward the student’s attempted hours. The course is not calculated in the student’s GPA or quality points.

Page modified on July 18, 2024.