Grading Systems and Student Classifications

The grades that are available to an instructor depend on the level of the course and the category of the student. This document defines the grading systems, defines the student categories, and then shows for each course level and student category what grading system should be employed. Each grade and its interpretation or consequences are defined.

Grades are Required
Every registered student must have a grade recorded--no blanks may be left in the grading form. A grade of AB or FA must be assigned if a student has not been attending or did not show up for the final exam.

If you have a question about a student's registration, so indicate in the Remarks column. Write "never attended" or "dropped" or "withdrew" for example. The Registrar's Office will check for late transactions--drops or withdrawals that occurred after the printing deadline for the grade rolls.

Even if you know that a student is taking your course with the PS/D/F option, you must assign a regular grade. Conversions to PS/D/F are performed automatically based on the grade you assign. (C- or better becomes PS.)

The Grading Systems

System U: grades A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F IN AB FA

This system is used for all students in courses numbered below 100 and for undergraduate students in courses numbered 100-299.

Note that grades A+ and D- do not exist at UNC-Chapel Hill. Official interpretations of each letter grade are given below. Grade PS is not permitted (see Note 3: Pass/Fail Grading). See also Note 4: Honor Court Cases.

 

System UR: system U plus the following:

In System UR there is an obligation to file a "Report for Assignment of Temporary Grade of AB or IN to Undergraduates" for each undergraduate student receiving an AB or IN grade.

 

System G: grades H P L F AB IN

This is the grading system used for graduate students taking courses numbered above 100. Plusses and minuses on H, P, or L grades are not recorded on the official transcript, but the department does record them, and they are important for evaluating overall course performance at the time of departmental exams. Enter the grade with plusses and minuses in the "REMARKS" column on the grade form.

Interpretations and consequences of each graduate grade are given below. See also Note 4: Honor Court Cases.

 

System GS: system G plus the grade S

This system is used for graduate research courses 393 and 394 only. It is also used for undergraduate Honors courses with an X suffix (we teach no such courses).

S grades may be reported for Comp 390 Research Team Meetings (sections above 100) (we no longer offer such sections).

Do not report S grades as a courtesy. If the student has not made the progress or performed the work agreed to, report IN.

 

Student Categories
The student category is specified in the Grade Report form column labeled "COLL/CLS". The entry begins with two letters for the student's college or school (AS for Arts and Sciences, MS for Medical School, CS for Continuing Studies, etc) and ends with two or three letters that classify the student.

Undergraduate Classifications
Classifications FR, SO, JR, SR, FYR (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, fifth-year) indicate undergraduate students. Additional codes are:

Graduate and Professional Classifications

If the entry is VS-II this is a visiting student enrolled via inter-institutional registration who should be treated as if the student were a UNC student at the same level (grad/undergrad).

Grading System to Use for Each Course Level and Student Category

Note 1:
By default, CS-SPG students receive System U grades. However, the student may request to receive a System G grade. The instructor is free to grant or refuse the request. The request to use System G grades should be made at the start of the semester. Since this is fairly obscure, you might remind CS-SPG students of this option.

Note 2:
This combination is not meaningful and is probably an error. Notify the student and consult the Associate Chairman for Academic Affairs.

Note 3: Pass/Fail Grading
If an undergraduate student is taking a course Pass/Fail, the Records Office will convert any grade in the range A through C- to PS. An instructor may directly assign the grade PS only in a course that has been designated Pass/Fail. We offer no such courses.

Note 4: Honor Court Cases
If you have a grade-related Honor Court case pending against a student, assign the grade NR (no report) and add the remark "Case pending" on the white copy only. Do also compute the student's grade normally since it will be required if the student is found "not guilty".

Definitions of Undergraduate Grades
The interpretation of regular undergraduate grades has been defined by faculty legislation as follows:

A - Mastery of course content at the highest level of attainment that can reasonably be expected of students at a given stage of development. The A grade states clearly that the student has shown such outstanding promise in the aspect of the discipline under study that he or she may be strongly encouraged to continue.

B - Strong performance demonstrating a high level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The B grade states that the student has shown solid promise in the aspect of the discipline under study.

C - A totally acceptable performance demonstrating an adequate level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The C grade states that, while not yet showing unusual promise, the student may continue to study in the discipline with reasonable hope of intellectual development.

D - A marginal performance in the required exercises demonstrating a minimal passing level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The D grade states that the student has given no evidence of prospective growth in the discipline; an accumulation of D grades should be take to mean that the student would be well advised not to continue in the academic field.

F - For whatever reason, an unacceptable performance. The F grade indicates that the student's performance in the required exercises has revealed almost no understanding of the course content. A grade of F should warrant an advisor's questioning whether the student may suitably register for further study in the discipline before remedial work in undertaken.

In addition, the following special grades may be used:

AB - Absent from Final Exam
FA - Failing and Absent
If the student is absent from a final exam for any reason, you must report grade AB, or, if a perfect score on the final exam would not result in a passing grade, report FA. The form "Report of Assignment of Temporary Grade AB or IN To Undergraduates" must be filed for each instance when the AB grade is assigned to an undergraduate student.

IN - Incomplete
In a course that has a final exam, the IN grade may be given only if the student passes the final exam. The form "Report of Assignment of Temporary Grade AB or IN To Undergraduates" must be filed for each instance when the IN grade is assigned to an undergraduate student. In any case, it is recommended that the instructor specify in writing to the student what must be completed and a time limit, and keep a copy.

Definitions of Graduate Grades
There are no elaborated definitions of regular graduate grades H, P, and L comparable to the definitions of undergraduate grades, and no direct correspondence between particular graduate and undergraduate grades. The Graduate School Handbook offers the interpretive phrases given below.

H - Clear excellence

 

P - Entirely satisfactory

For admission to the Ph.D. program, the department expects students to earn H- or above in about half or more of the credit hours taken excluding Comp 390 Research Team Meetings and thesis or dissertation research credits. (Note: graded Comp 390 courses are counted.)

 

L - Low passing

A student who accumulates 9 or more hours of L becomes ineligible for further graduate study and must petition for reinstatement.

 

F - Failing

The recording of a grade of F for a graduate student causes the student to be immediately ineligible for further graduate study, in which case the student must petition for reinstatement.

 

S - Satisfactory progress on research courses, theses, dissertations, and noncredit courses in foreign language.

Report S grades for Comp 390 Research Team Meetings. Do not report S grades as a courtesy. If the student has not made the progress agreed to, report IN. (No report required, but it will have to be changed to a permanent grade within 1 year or become an F.)

 

AB - Absent from final exam

If the student is absent from a final exam for any reason, the instructor must report grade AB.

 

IN - Incomplete

In a course that has a final exam, the IN grade may be given only if the student passes the final exam. It is recommended that whenever you report a grade of IN that you document to the student in writing what the student must do to remove the IN and the time limit you set, and keep a copy. The IN grade will be changed by the Graduate School to F* after one year (thereby making the student ineligible for further graduate study) if not changed by the instructor. A form can be filed to request an extension of time to resolve an IN grade.