2013–2014 The Bulletin - USS at Tufts - Tufts University

Undergraduate Policies >
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An interim symbol used to denote the absence of a
grade because the work on which the final grade is
to be based extends beyond the time limits of the
semester.
Credit: Credit is received, but is not included in the
grade point average.
No grade: The instructor has no current knowledge
of the student listed on the grade sheet.
No record: There is no record of the student having
attended class. The course and grade will be
removed by the registrar.
In computing the average of a student’s grades,
each course grade of A is counted as 4.00; B, 3.00;
C, 2.00; D, 1.00. Appropriate value is given to
plus and minus grades and to half-credit courses.
Averages are computed to three decimal places;
semester and cumulative averages are rounded to
two decimal places. Since changes cannot be made
after graduation, seniors are urged to have rectified
any errors on their transcripts well in advance of
the graduation date.
Changes in Course Grades:
Statute of Limitations
Effective education requires timely and objective
evaluation of students’ academic work, using clear,
standard, fair, and public criteria. Such standards
should be listed in the course syllabus. While
criteria differ across disciplines and faculty, and
while the ultimate responsibility for setting
standards and evaluating performance rests with
departments and faculty, submitted grades are final
and not subject to negotiation. Exceptions should
be limited to correcting clerical and calculation
errors, and correcting deviations from stated
criteria. Of course, students do have the right to
know the basis for a grade and faculty should be
open to that post-semester conversation. Following
such a conversation, undergraduates who believe
that an error or deviation remains may appeal to
the department chair or program director and, if
necessary, subsequently to a dean of the faculty in
Ballou Hall.
Any request for a change in a course grade must
be made to the course instructor no later than six
weeks into the following regular semester.
Repeated Courses
Students who receive a failing grade for a course
may repeat the course and receive degree credit if a
passing grade is earned a second time. Both grades
remain on the transcript and both the F and the
passing grade are calculated into the cumulative
average. Students may choose to repeat a course
after receiving a D+, D, or D-. Both the repeated
course, if passed, and the original course receive
one-half their credit value in computing both
grades for the grade point average and both grades
remain on the transcript. Students who earn a grade
of C- or above for a course may choose to repeat
the course for a variety of reasons. Degree credit
and cumulative average will reflect only the first
passing grade earned in the course; record of the
repeat and subsequent grade will appear. Some
studio art classes and performance classes in dance
and music may be repeated for credit. See department
for details. Similarly, half-credit physical
education skills courses may be repeated for credit.
A total of four half credits can be earned for the
physical education courses; additional such courses
will appear on the transcript with no credit.
Creative writing classes at the introductory level
may be taken twice in each genre (fiction, poetry,
journalism). Creative writing classes in fiction and
poetry at the intermediate level may also be taken
twice for credit. ( Journalism and Nonfiction
Writing at the intermediate level may be taken only
once each.)
Extra Courses
Liberal arts students may register for a maximum of
5.5 credits each semester; engineering students may
register for a maximum of 6.5 credits each semester.
To add an additional credit, students must petition
their academic dean for permission at the start of
the semester, but not before. Such permission is
rarely granted to first-year students.
Missed Classes
Students should make themselves aware of each
professor’s attendance policy. Students who must
miss a class because of an illness should submit the
online short-term illness form, available through
iSIS. Students are encouraged to speak with the
professor directly and to consult their academic
dean in Undergraduate Education in Dowling. As
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