SGP 110 Grades, Honors, and Scholarship

1.  The Grading System

A. System of Grades

The following shall be the system of grades, subject to the exceptions noted in Subsections B, C, D, E, and F of this section.

1) Numeric Grades

Numeric grades shall be entered as numbers, the possible values being 4.0, 3.9, . . . and so on decreasing by 0.1 until 0.7 is reached. The numbers 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1 shall not be assigned as grades. The number 0.0 can be assigned as a grade.

Correspondence between numeric grades and letter grades is as follows:

• 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
• E (or F) — 0.6–0.0

2) Letter Grades

The following letter grades also may be used:

Letter Grade — Meaning
I — Incomplete
N — Satisfactory without grade
S/NS — Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory
CR/NC — Credit/No Credit
RD — Registrar Drop
Annotation — Meaning
X — Missing Grade Annotation (Not a Grade)

Complete descriptions of the above letter grades follow.

3) The Grade I

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. In no case shall an Incomplete on the record at the time a degree is granted be subsequently changed to any other grade.
4. The grade I shall count neither for registered hours nor in computation of grade-point averages.
5. Instructors, on behalf of the student, may request an extension for one additional quarter beyond the original grading quarter using the established extension request process.

4) The Grade N

The grade N may be given in thesis, research, and hyphenated courses in which the grade is dependent upon the work of a final quarter. When the grade of N is given in a course it may indicate that the work has been completed to the end of the quarter in which the N is given. It shall carry with it no credit or grade until a regular grade is assigned. The use of the N grade also in Subsection 1.B.3.

5) The Grade RD

The grade RD will be assigned to any course dropped after the 14th calendar day of the quarter.

1. The Registrar will assign a grade of RD to any course in which a student is enrolled when a University withdrawal is filed after the 14th calendar day of the quarter.
2. Proportional schedules will be published in the Time Schedule for Summer Quarter a and b terms.
3. The grade of RD is not computed in the grade-point average.
4. Students who fail to complete the withdrawal process and discontinue attending class may be assigned a grade of 0.0 by the instructor.
   
   For courses that do not follow the quarter schedule, the grade RD shall be assigned to any course dropped after the 14th calendar day after the start of the course and no later than two weeks before the end of the maximum term for completion of the course, as specified at the time of registration. The date of withdrawal shall be noted on the transcript.

6) S/NS

1. An undergraduate may earn up to 25 elective credits of the 180 minimum credits required for graduation on a satisfactory/non-satisfactory (S/NS) basis. Each instructor shall report numeric grades to the Registrar, who shall convert satisfactory grades (2.0 or greater) to S, and non-satisfactory grades (less than 2.0) to NS for the student’s transcript. S/NS shall not be considered in computation of the grade-point average.
2. An undergraduate student may register for up to a maximum of 20 credits under the satisfactory/non-satisfactory basis, with exceptions possible by approval of the Registrar.
3. Subject to the maximum credit limitation above, the student may elect, at the time of registration, to take a course on an S/NS basis. The student can change to and from an S/NS option through the last day of finals week each quarter. There is no limit to the number of S/NS credits that a student can register for in a given quarter. Withdrawal from an S/NS course is subject to the same regulations as for any other course.
4. An instructor may not submit an S or NS in a course. S/NS grades shall appear on the transcript only in the event that the student is registered on an S/NS basis.
5. Under campus-wide extraordinary circumstances, the campus Registrar, in consultation with the appropriate campus faculty body, may waive the restrictions in Sections a through c above so that undergraduate students may opt for S/NS grading for elective or required courses without a maximum credit limitation. S/NS grading for campus-wide extraordinary circumstances deemed quarters will meet graduation and degree requirements. Temporary modifications to the S/NS policies will be clearly communicated to the campus community by the campus Registrar.

7) Credit/No Credit

1. With appropriate departmental review and approval, faculty may offer a course or courses on a CR/NC basis. The standard for granting credit in CR/NC courses shall be the demonstration of competence in the material of the course. Grading should be consistent with the University’s policy for numerically graded courses, in which undergraduate 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.
2. Although CR and NC grades are entered on the transcript, they are not used in the computation of the grade-point average.
3. CR/NC courses must be so designated in the Time Schedule.

8) X Missing Grade Annotation

1. If after the grading deadline a student has not been assigned a grade, the system will insert an X missing grade annotation that appears on the student’s record.
2. As the X missing grade annotation is not a grade, it does not carry grade points and has no impact on the student’s grade point average (GPA).
3. In no case shall an X missing grade annotation on the record at the time a degree is granted be subsequently changed to any other grade.

B. Grading Practices for Graduate Students

To provide for consistency in reporting of grades for graduate students, the system of numeric and letter grades listed in Subsection 1.A shall be used subject to the following special provisions:

1) Minimum Grade Level

Grades below 1.7 will be recorded as 0.0 by the Registrar and will not count toward total credit count or grade and credit requirements. A minimum of 2.7 shall be required in each graded course which counts toward satisfying graduate degree requirements. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 is required for graduation.

2) The Grade I

1. An Incomplete may be given as indicated in Subsection 1.A.3.a with the exception that an incomplete received by the graduate student does not automatically convert to a grade of 0.0, but the “I” will remain as a permanent part of the student’s record.
2. In order to obtain credit for the course, a student must convert an Incomplete into a passing grade by the last day of the next quarter in residence. This rule may be waived by the dean of the college in which the course is offered.

3) The Grade N

The grade N is used only for hyphenated courses and courses numbered 600 (Independent Study and Research), 700 (Thesis), 800 (Dissertation), and 801 (Practice Doctorate Project/Capstone). An N grade indicates that satisfactory progress is being made, but evaluation depends on completion of the research, thesis, dissertation, or project/capstone, at which time the instructor or supervisory committee chair should change the N grade or grades to one more appropriate to the final evaluation (normally CR/NC).

4) The Grade RD

Grading for Withdrawals from the University and for Drops from Courses are specified in Scholastic Regulations, Chapter 113. The special provisions pertaining to graduate students are that:

1. Official withdrawal from a course during the first 10 class days of a quarter will not be entered on the permanent academic record. After the first two weeks and through the seventh week of the course, a graduate student may withdraw from a course. A grade of RD will be recorded. No official withdrawal will be permitted after the seventh week of the quarter except under the conditions described in Scholastic Regulations, Chapter 113, 3.A.4.

5) The Grade S/NS

A graduate student, with the approval of the graduate program advisor or supervisory committee chair, may elect to be graded S/NS in any numerically-graded courses for which the student is eligible. If a student does not so elect, then the student will be graded on a numerical basis. If approval is granted, the student must elect the S/NS option when registering or no later than the last day of finals week of the quarter. Numeric grades will not be converted subsequently to S/NS grades (or vice versa). The instructor shall submit a numeric grade to the Registrar, who shall convert grades of 2.7 and above to S and grades lower than 2.7 to NS for graduate students.

6) The Grade CR/NC

With the approval of the faculty in the academic unit, any course may be designated for grading on the CR/NC basis by notice in the appropriate Time Schedule. For such courses, the instructor shall submit a grade of CR or NC to be recorded by the Registrar for each student in the class at the end of the quarter.

7) Numerical Grade Requirement

Of the minimum credits required for a graduate degree, a graduate student must show numerical grades in at least 18 quarter hours of coursework taken at the University of Washington. These numerical grades may be earned in 400- and 500-level courses.

8) Grade-Point Average

A graduate student’s grade-point average shall be calculated entirely on the basis of numeric grades in 400- and 500-level courses. The grades of S, NS, CR, NC, and N shall be excluded, as shall all grades in courses numbered 600, 700, 800, and 801, and in 100-, 200-, and 300-level courses.

9) Petition for Modification of Grading Practice

The student may petition the Dean of the Graduate School to make an exception to the policies described above. The petition shall be accompanied by comments and recommendations from the graduate program adviser or supervisory committee chair.

C. Grading Practice for the School of Medicine

In the Foundations Phase, the grading system for required courses is Pass and Fail only. In the Patient Care and Explore & Focus Phases, the grading system is Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Fail. The Honors and High Pass designations are available in clinical clerkships greater than or equal to four weeks in length and in the three-week required Patient Care clerkships in the WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience (WRITE) program. Two-week clinical electives and international clinical electives are graded on Pass/Fail only.

An Incomplete shall be converted to a passing grade by the next quarter in residence except that this time limit may be extended up to one year with the approval of the dean’s office. Incompletes not so converted shall be replaced by a Fail grade.

Registrar Drops are unusual, as in illness situations, and are processed upon approval of the dean’s office.

D. Grading Practice for the School of Law

1) Law School Grading System

Grades to be assigned to all courses for credit toward the J.D. degree, except courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis, shall consist of the following: A, A–, B+, B, B–, C, D, and E.

1. The significance of each grade is as follows:
   • A — At least 5% and less than or equal to 15% of class. Numerical equivalent is 4.0.
   • A– — At least 20% minus (% given A) and less than or equal to 40% minus (% given A) of class. Numerical equivalent is 3.7.
   • B+ — At least 50% minus (% given A or A–) and less than or equal to 75% minus (% given A or A–) of class. Numerical equivalent is 3.4.
   • B — % Discretionary.* Numerical equivalent is 3.0.
   • B– — % Discretionary.* Numerical equivalent is 2.7.
   • C — % Discretionary. C or D grades are capped at a total of 5% of class for first-year courses.* Numerical equivalent is 2.0.
   • D — % Discretionary. This grade indicates that the level of performance is below that which on average is required for the award of the degree. C or D grades are capped at a total of 5% of class for first-year courses.* Numerical equivalent is 1.0.
   • E — % Discretionary. No Credit. This grade indicates unsatisfactory performance and no credit is given for the course.* Numerical equivalent is 0.0.
     
     *At least 25% (but not more than 50%) B and below, combined.
2. The significance of each grade is further subject to the following conditions:
   • These percentage ranges are mandatory for all J.D. courses, subject to the exceptions in (b) or (c) below. There is no discretion outside of these ranges. An instructor who submits grades for a course subject to the mandatory distribution that fails to comply with the mandatory distribution will have the grades returned by the dean, with instructions to resubmit the grades in accordance with the distribution. If the instructor fails to do so, the instructor will submit exam scores to the dean or the dean’s designee, and the latter will assign grades at the midpoint of each range (i.e., 10 percent A’s, 20 percent A-‘s, 32.5% B+’s, 37.5% B and lower).
   • The mandatory distribution is not applicable to specialized and individualized courses such as seminars, clinical, experiential, and “practice” offerings, independent study, and workshops, nor to summer quarter courses, courses heavily directed to non-law students, and courses in which most of the enrolled students are candidates for non-J.D. graduate degrees. They also would not have significance for classes of 15 students or fewer.
   • The mandatory distribution is not applicable to designated “mastery” courses. A faculty member may have a course designated as a mastery course by submitting the course syllabus and evaluative elements to the Curriculum Committee and ultimately the faculty for approval, subject to the following conditions: (a) the course must require significant, periodic written work and feedback during the course with stated performance standards for achieving specific grades; (b) first-year courses cannot be designated as mastery courses unless all sections of that course are offered on a mastery basis; and (c) mastery courses will be designated as such in the catalog and course description.
   • A numerical class rank, based on the numerical equivalencies shown above, shall be computed for the sole purpose of awarding academic honors, including graduation awards, prizes, or membership in scholarly societies, including Order of the Coif, legal journals, and reviews. Class rank shall not be disclosed on a student’s transcript or otherwise disclosed except for the purpose of computing eligibility for academic honors.
   • Effective Spring Quarter 2007, transcripts for law students who began in Autumn Quarter 2005 or later include a full calculated grade point average with the following numerical conversions: A(4.0), A–(3.7), B+(3.4), B(3.0), B–(2.7), C(2.0), D(1.0), E(0.0). Students who began earlier than Autumn 2005, have a transcript that shows only their grade point average in classes taken since Autumn 2005.

2) Anonymous Grading

Anonymous grading shall apply to all examinations and papers. If an instructor chooses to use class performance as a component of the overall grade, the instructor shall irrevocably report that component for all students to Student Services for factoring in the overall grade before release to the instructor of the examination grades. The anonymous grading rule is inapplicable to papers written in courses in which students are writing multiple drafts and/or meeting with the instructor to discuss individual paper topics.

3) Class Rank

Class rank shall be computed at the end of students’ 1L year and at the end of each academic year thereafter. Transfer students will receive a UW ranking after completing one academic year (a minimum of three academic quarters) at UW Law.

The ranking is only for the following purposes:

1. To award academic honors, including graduation awards, prizes, or membership in scholarly societies, including Order of the Coif, legal journals, and reviews; or
2. To define percentile bands of 5% and 10% at the conclusion of the first year; and
3. To define percentile bands of 5%, 10%, 20%, and 33 1/3% at the conclusion of the second and third years (after the submission and calculation of Spring quarter grades).

Only students who fall within a percentile band will be notified of the percentile band in which they placed. Students who are ranked first through fifth in their class will be notified of an individual rank. Students below the percentile cut-off will not be ranked. Neither students’ individual class ranks nor the grade point average (GPA) cut-offs for the percentile bands described above will appear on students’ transcripts.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), release of an individual student’s placement within the defined GPA percentile bands by the law school requires the written permission of the student. To further preserve student privacy, additional ranking information, including the GPA percentile bands, will not be disclosed by the law school.

4) Computation of Grade Point Average

Grades assigned in Law 600, Independent Research, shall not be included in the calculation of a student’s grade point average after this academic year.

5) Mastery Courses

Certain courses have been approved by the faculty as mastery courses. The mandatory distribution is not applicable to designated “mastery” courses. An instructor may have a course designated as a mastery course by submitting the course syllabus and evaluative elements to the Curriculum Committee and ultimately the faculty for approval, subject to the following conditions:

1. The course must require significant, periodic written work and feedback during the course, with stated performance standards for achieving specific grades;
2. First-year courses cannot be designated as mastery courses unless all sections of that course are offered on a mastery basis; and
3. Mastery courses will be designated as such in the catalog and course description.

Even though a course has been approved as a mastery course, an instructor has discretion to teach it in a non-mastery format.

6) Deadline for Instructors to Turn in Grades

The deadlines for instructors to turn in grades to Academic Services are as follows:

• Autumn Quarter: 7th calendar day from the start of Winter Quarter.
• Winter Quarter: 7th calendar day from the start of Spring Quarter.
• Spring Quarter (upper-level classes): 14th calendar day after the end of the upper-level exam period.
• Spring Quarter (1L classes): 14th calendar day after the end of the 1L exam period.
• Summer Quarter: 14th calendar day after the end of the exam period.

These deadlines are subject to the following exceptions:

1. Instructors who teach both a compressed course and a non-compressed course in Spring Quarter are not required to submit grades for either course until the 14th day after the non-compressed exam period.
2. The Registrar has the authority to waive the grade deadline in any quarter for good cause shown. instructors teaching two large classes in a single quarter should contact the Registrar. If such a waiver is granted, students will be notified of the fact that a waiver has been granted.

7) Information Instructors Must Provide to Students on Grading

Each instructor should announce during the first week of any course the nature of the grading practice to be followed, including any components of the course grade other than a final examination grade. Such components may include one or more papers, preliminary examinations, class participation. If a final or end-quarter examination is not “closed book,” the announcement should so state and should in such case include a statement of what materials may be consulted by students during an examination. If coursebooks are to be permitted, but student notes are not, students should be advised in the announcement that coursebooks should not be annotated with a student’s notes.

Precise allocation of course grade to components need not be announced in advance. However, such allocation to the extent possible should be indicated, and each student should have available on request the allocation among all components of any course grade after grading has been completed.

All final and end-quarter examinations should be graded anonymously, with papers identified by student numbers, which shall not be released to a instructor until grades on examinations have been turned into the Office of Student Services. If any exception is necessary in a instructor’s judgment, an examination number will be released, but the student whose number is released will be informed of the circumstances as soon as conveniently possible.

After the instructor has turned in final and end-quarter examination grades, the names of students and grades will be available to the instructor, but not the student numbers unless those numbers are not to be used again in any course by the same students in a subsequent quarter. Course grades should be calculated by the instructor after examination grades have been turned in. Course grades and final examination grades will be made available to students by the Office of Student Services. A student’s request to the instructor for components of the student’s grade should be necessary only if the instructor uses multiple components of course grades other than final or end-quarter examinations.

8) Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible for financial aid at the University of Washington students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. The requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress are that full-time J.D. students enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per quarter, and

1. Complete a minimum of 6 credits each quarter.
2. Complete 36 credits for full-time aid received in the autumn through spring quarters.
3. Finish the J.D. program no earlier than 24 months and no later than 72 months after commencing study at the law school or a law school from which the school has accepted transfer credit.
4. Must not be in Academic Difficulty or Disqualified for Low Scholarship.

J.D. students who do not meet these requirements must file an appeal with the Office of Student Financial Aid for reconsideration of continued financial aid.

9) Academic Difficulty and Disqualification Rules

A J.D. student will be in Academic Difficulty if the student receives, during any two consecutive quarters, a grade of E or two grades of D or three grades of C.

A J.D. student in Academic Difficulty must meet with the Dean for Students or the Director of Academic Support for counseling each quarter until the student regains good academic standing. Good academic standing requires two consecutive quarters with no grades of C or below.

A J.D. student will be Disqualified for Low Scholarship and will not be allowed to reenroll if the student receives:

1. During the first and second years, grades of E or No Credit for 12 credit hours or a combination of grades of C, D, E, or No Credit for 20 credit hours;
2. During any three academic years, grades of E or No Credit for 15 credit hours or grades of C, D, E, or No Credit for 24 credit hours.

10) Readmission After Disqualification for Academic Failure

A student who has been disqualified as a J.D. candidate for academic failure may seek readmission by petitioning the faculty. ABA Standard 505 permits readmission “upon an affirmative showing that the student possesses the requisite ability and that the prior disqualification does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the course of study at the admitting school.” Upon receipt of a petition, the dean will appoint a panel of faculty and administrators to evaluate the candidate’s ability to successfully complete the study of law if readmitted. Factors which may be considered include:

1. The existence, while the student was enrolled, of extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control (serious illness, unusual hardship, or qualitatively similar circumstances) that adversely affected the student’s performance or otherwise contributed to the student’s failure.
2. The extent of the student’s understanding of the reasons for the student’s failure.
3. The extent to which the reasons for failure have been alleviated.
4. The nature and extent of the student’s experiences since disqualification.
5. Any other factors that positively indicate a substantial likelihood that the student will successfully complete the prescribed study of law.

11) Repeating Courses

1. A student in the School of Law in good standing who has failed a required course must repeat the course or take, with the approval of the dean, a second examination without registration at the time a regular examination for the course is offered. If a passing grade is received upon reexamination, the student receives the same credit for the course that it carried at the time the student was first examined. The failing grade remains on the record, but only the passing grade is computed in the student’s grade point average.
2. A student may also be required to repeat a course or courses as a condition of readmission, at the discretion of the dean. (See Faculty Policy on Academic Probation and Readmission.)
3. In no other circumstances will a grade earned in a course which the student has previously audited or taken for credit be computed in the student’s grade point average.

12) Change of Grade

Except in case of error, no instructor may change a grade that the instructor has turned in to the Registrar. Grades cannot be changed after a degree has been granted.

E. Grading Practice for the School of Dentistry

1) Grading Information

1. Numeric Grades Student performance in a course shall normally be evaluated and awarded a grade that may range from 4.0 to 2.8 in 0.1 increments, or the grade 0.0. Grades in the range 2.7 to 0.1 may not be assigned. Numerical grades having significance are:
   • 4.0: Highest grade attainable, assigned for extraordinary high performance.
   • 2.8: Cumulative average necessary for good academic standing in the School of Dentistry and for graduation. Failure to achieve a 2.8 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year shall usually lead to dismissal.
   • 2.8: Lowest grade providing unconditional course credit toward graduation.
   • 0.0: Total failure of performance, other than official withdrawal.
2. Credit/No Credit Grades With the approval of the Curriculum Committee, individual courses may be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. All students registered in such courses are assigned “Credit” or “No Credit” grades. Credit/No Credit Grades do not enter into computation of cumulative grade-point-averages. However, No Credit (“NC”) grades shall be considered the equivalent of a failing (“0.0”) grade in Student Progress Committee decisions.
3. Incomplete A student earns an incomplete (I) when every one of the following circumstances is in evidence:
   • The student does not complete all course requirements by the final day of the course;
   • The student’s performance has been satisfactory to within two (2) weeks of the end of the quarter; or extenuating circumstances prevent the student from successfully completing or fully participating in the course; and
   • The student presents proof satisfactory to the course director that circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented completion of course requirements. Such proof must be received by the course director no later than the time grades are due at the Registrar’s Office according to the University calendar.

   If all of the above circumstances are not in evidence, the student must not be awarded an Incomplete (“I”).

4. N Grades “N” grades may only be awarded in hyphenated courses. They indicate the student has satisfactory progress at the end of a quarter other than the terminal quarter of a hyphenated series. If student performance is unsatisfactory, the student must not be awarded an “N” grade. If warranted, they must be awarded an “X” or “I” or a failing grade (“0.0” or “NC”). A failing grade may be submitted at the end of any quarter in a hyphenated sequence. At the end of the last quarter of a hyphenated series, either a numeric grade or an “X” or an “I” must be submitted. The numerical grade shall be the grade for each preceding quarter of the hyphenated sequence and shall replace “N” grades previously recorded on the University transcript. An “X” or “I” in the terminal quarter will not change the previous “N” grades from the previous quarters. The grades for those quarters must be submitted manually once the course requirements are complete and the final grade is submitted. It shall not replace any failing grades in the hyphenated sequence.
5. X Missing Grade Annotation “X” is not a grade. It represents a missing grade and only appears on a student’s transcript when the instructor has not yet assigned a grade for a particular course. This remains on a student’s record until a grade is submitted. The “X” option signifies that the instructor has not completed evaluation a student’s performance and is not yet prepared to assign a final grade. This could be because:
   • The instructor has not completed grading; or
   • The student has not completed relatively minor required course activities by the end of the quarter, they are otherwise in a position to pass the course, and the course director shall permit the student to submit these activities late; or
   • The instructor shall permit a student to resubmit a relatively minor piece of an unsatisfactory course assignment or examination and the student is otherwise in a position to pass the course; or
   • Other similar circumstances.

   The course director may only issue an “X” if in their opinion, the student has satisfactorily mastered all of the course’s learning objectives, the missing or deficient material is relatively minor, and the student is otherwise in a position to pass the course. If this is not the case, the student has failed the course. A course director may not submit an “X” in order to remediate a student who has failed the course. “X” does not affect the GPA, but it may affect student status and eligibility for some types of financial aid. As a result, instructors must make every effort to submit grades in a timely manner.

6. Withdrawal Grades Withdrawal (“W”) is unusual in UWSOD because of the prerequisites and sequence in the dental curriculum. Therefore, withdrawal from a course requires the approval of the course director and the Dean or the Dean’s delegate. Withdrawal without such approval shall result in a failing grade.
7. Proceeding to Clinical Care If the student has not successfully remediated or removed all failing grades (0.0, NC), or Incompletes (I) in preclinical courses by the deadlines approved by the Dean, the student may be prohibited from proceeding to clinical activity or continuing with further clinical activity.

F. Grading Practice for the School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy’s (SOP’s) graduate programs follow the Grading Practices for Graduate Students (Section 1.B).

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program follows the grading practices below.

1) Grading Information

1. Minimum Passing Grades All students must earn a minimum passing grade of 1.7 in each core course (or Credit for Credit/No Credit courses) in order for the course credits to apply toward progression and PharmD degree requirements. For elective courses with numeric grading (i.e., not Credit/No Credit), please refer to the course syllabi for the minimal passing grade. For all SOP courses, if a student is unable to meet the minimal passing grade, the numeric grade submitted will be 0.0 for numerically graded courses and No Credit for Credit/No Credit courses.
2. Numeric vs S/NS Grading All required core courses must be taken for a numeric grade if so offered. Courses offered only as Credit/No Credit (C/NC) are excluded from this requirement. Professional core courses are covered by the University’s grading policy for program graduation requirements and may not be taken for a Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory (S/NS) grade. Professional elective courses taken as S/NS may be used to satisfy general elective credits only. A student must earn a 2.0 or above in the course to earn the (S) grade.
3. Incomplete Grades An “I” (Incomplete) grade may be given only when a student has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work to within two weeks of the end of the quarter and has furnished proof satisfactory to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control. To obtain credit for the course, a student must successfully complete the work and the instructor must submit a grade. In no case may an Incomplete be converted into a passing grade after a lapse of two years or more. An incomplete received by the student does not automatically convert to a grade of 0.0 or No Credit, but the “I” will remain as a permanent part of the student’s record.
4. X Missing Grade Annotation An X appears when no grade is submitted by an instructor.
5. N Grades N grades: An N grade is given for hyphenated courses that a student will complete in a subsequent quarter. The N signifies the course is still in progress.
6. Retaken Courses All grades earned at the University of Washington, including retaken courses, will appear on the student’s permanent record and be included in the student’s cumulative UW grade point average (GPA). A student may retake a course only once. When retaken, the grade earned the second time will be used in place of the first grade earned (even if lower) in calculation of the Professional GPA (PGPA). Credits for repeated courses will be counted toward the degree only once.

2) Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirements (UW and PGPA)

1. Minimum UW GPA—University Cumulative GPA All students must earn a minimum passing grade of 1.7 in each core course (or Credit for Credit/No Credit courses) in order for the course credits to apply toward progression and PharmD degree requirements. For elective courses with numeric grading (i.e., not Credit/No Credit), please refer to the course syllabi for the minimal passing grade. For all SOP courses, if a student is unable to meet the minimal passing grade, the numeric grade submitted will be 0.0 for numerically graded courses and No Credit for Credit/No Credit courses.
2. Minimum PGPA—School of Pharmacy Cumulative Professional GPA (PGPA) For students in the School of Pharmacy, the overall cumulative PGPA is calculated on the basis of all numerically graded, core (required) courses in the PharmD program. These may include courses taught by School of Pharmacy faculty as well as courses taught by other faculty at the University. PharmD students are required to maintain a School of Pharmacy Cumulative Professional GPA of 2.00 or above. Professional electives are not considered in calculating the PGPA. A continuous record of a student’s cumulative PGPA is kept in the Office of Professional Pharmacy Education. Students may check their PGPA with an advisor.

S-B 54, June 1951; S-B 102, June 1967; S-B 103, March 1968; S-B 111, May 1970; S-B 117, June 1971; S-B 120, February 1972; S-B 124, March 1975: all with Presidential approval; AI, June 1976; CR, June 1976; GSM 19, October 1979; S-B 134, June 1980 with Presidential approval; AI, August 1980; S-B 137, June 1981; S-B 144, January 26, 1985; S-B 150, April 9, 1990: all with Presidential approval; CR, May 1990; S-B 154, December 2, 1991 with Presidential approval; CR, December 4, 1997; S-B 165, May 12, 1998; S-B 166, December 8, 1998; S-B 167, November 26, 2001; S-B 173, April 6, 2007: all with Presidential approval; RC, August 9, 2010; RC, December 3, 2013; S-B 180, February 27, 2014 with Presidential approval; AI, February 9, 2015; S-B 182, June 14, 2016; S-B 190, April 15, 2019; S-B 196, May 29, 2020; S-B 198, January 29, 2021; S-B 202, June 7, 2021; S-B 205, December 3, 2021; S-B 206, February 18, 2022; S-B 213, April 23, 2024: all with Presidential approval.

2.  Change of Grade

A. Grade Error

Except in cases of error no instructor may change a grade which the instructor has turned in to the Registrar.

B. Written Appeal of Grade Error

A student who believes that the instructor erred in the assignment of a grade, or who believes a grade recording error or omission has occurred, shall follow the following procedure to resolve the matter:

1. The student shall first discuss the matter with the instructor before the end of the following academic quarter (not including Summer Quarter.)
2. A student who is not satisfied with the instructor’s response may submit, no later than ten class days after the student’s discussion with the instructor,* a written appeal to the chair of the department (or the dean in a non-departmentalized school or college), with a copy of the appeal to the instructor. Within ten calendar days of receipt of the appeal, the chair shall consult with the instructor to determine whether the evaluation of the student’s performance was fair and reasonable or whether the instructor’s conduct in assigning the grade was arbitrary or capricious. Should the chair believe the instructor’s conduct to be arbitrary or capricious and should the instructor decline to revise the grade, the chair (or the dean in a non-departmentalized school or college), with the approval of the voting members of the chair’s faculty, shall appoint an appropriate member or members of the faculty of that department to evaluate the student’s or students’ performance and assign a grade. The dean and Provost shall be informed of this action.
   
   *This time may be extended by the chair in exceptional circumstances, such as the situation in which the student did not learn of the appeals process deadlines in time.
3. Once a student submits a written appeal, this document and all subsequent actions on this appeal shall be recorded in written form for deposit in a department (or college) file.

C. Instructor Unable to Assign Grades

In the event that an instructor is physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to assign course grades, or unable to address requests for grade changes as provided in Subsection 2.B, or in the event that the instructor is no longer in the employ of the University and is unavailable or refuses to address requests for grade changes as provided in Subsection 2.B, the chair (or the dean in a non-departmentalized school or college) with the approval of the voting members of the chair’s faculty, may designate another instructor or instructors to act in the stead of the original instructor to assign grades or address requests from students in accord with Subsection 2.B.

HB, 1946; S-B 79, May 1958; S-B 106, May 1969; S-B 145, May 23, 1985: all with Presidential approval; RC, December 3, 2013; S-B 198, January 29, 2021: with Presidential approval.

3.  Honors Awards

A. Annual Senior Awards

Four Medals shall be conferred at the annual commencement ceremonies.

1. At the Seattle commencement ceremony, a President’s Medal shall be conferred upon the graduating senior who has completed at least three-fourths of the student’s degree requirements at the University of Washington Seattle campus and who has the most distinguished academic record among such students. The President’s Medalist shall be selected from among graduating seniors eligible for University Honors.
2. A President’s Medal shall be conferred at the Seattle commencement ceremony upon the graduating senior who entered the University of Washington Seattle campus with at least 60 transfer credits from a Washington community college, and who has the most distinguished academic record among such students. The President’s Medalist shall be selected from among graduating seniors eligible for University Honors.
3. At each of the Bothell and Tacoma commencement ceremonies, a medal shall be conferred upon the graduating senior with the most distinguished academic record.

B. Annual Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Awards

The following awards shall be presented annually by the President in the name of the faculty:

1. The Junior Medal, which shall be awarded to the senior having the highest scholastic standing for the first three years of the student’s course. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 40 credits in residence at the University of Washington.
2. The Sophomore Medal, which shall be awarded to the junior having the highest scholastic standing for the first two years of the student’s course. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 40 credits in residence at the University of Washington.
3. The Freshman Medal, which shall be awarded to the sophomore having the highest scholastic standing for the first year of the student’s course. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 36 credits in residence at the University of Washington.

C. Quarterly Dean’s Lists

Quarterly dean’s lists shall include the names of registered undergraduate students who have attained a grade-point average, non-cumulative, of 3.50 in the final grades for at least 12 registered credits.

D. Annual Dean’s List

The yearly dean’s list shall include the names of all undergraduates who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better for at least 36 credits in resident instruction in three quarters or 46 credits of resident instruction in four quarters at the University of Washington during the preceding academic year.

Senate Action, May 1939; S-B 70, April 12, 1956; S-B 86, November 1961: both with Presidential approval; HB, 1966; S-B 138, December 1981; S-B 158, March 1995; S-B 170, June 20, 2003: all with Presidential approval; RC, December 3, 2013; S-B 180, February 27, 2014; S-B 198, January 29, 2021: both with Presidential approval.

4.  Degrees with University Honors

Degrees with University honors may be conferred by determination of the Registrar and deans of the colleges and schools, following guidelines provided by the Faculty Council on Academic Standards with the confirmation of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. Students are eligible for honors if they have earned at least 90 approved credits at the University of Washington of which at least 60 are numerically graded.

HB, 1966; S-B 177, April 14, 2010 with Presidential approval.

5.  Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award

Annually at Commencement, the University of Washington Alumni Association awards to a former student who is judged to be an outstanding living alumnus, distinguished for service over a period of years, the designation of Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus. The recipient of the award is chosen by a special committee composed of representatives of the Alumni Association and the University. The award is given for achievement not only during the preceding year, but also during an individual’s entire career. “Alumnus” is construed to mean a student who has been awarded any bachelor’s degree, or a graduate student who, after not less than two years of resident study, has been awarded a degree, or a former student who, in the opinion of the committee of selection, has qualified for this honor.

A1, March 1966; S-B 158, March 1995 with Presidential approval.

6.  Honorary Degrees

Upon the recommendation of the faculty, the Board of Regents may confer honorary degrees upon a person or persons of exceptional merit, other than graduates of this University. The Special Committee on Honorary Degrees will have jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the award of honorary degrees. Nominations for candidates may come from a variety of sources, including faculty councils, committees, departments, programs, schools, colleges, or campuses. The names of nominees approved by the special committee will be forwarded to the President of the University. After consultation with the President, the special committee will, on behalf of the faculty, recommend candidates for honorary degrees to the Regents. Honorary degrees will be presented at either a commencement ceremony or a formal academic convocation.

S-B 168, February 2002; S-B 176, January 13, 2010: both with Presidential approval.