Grade Guidelines
Roles and Responsibilities
Students shall be responsible for reading about and selecting a grading system option for each course they take at TBCC as a condition of completing their registration for courses either on-line or in-person. Students shall be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their final grades on their academic transcripts.
Students shall be responsible for reading about and making any permitted changes to their grading system option selection subsequent to their registration.
Students receiving financial aid should consult a financial aid advisor prior to taking any steps described herein.
Faculty inform students regarding their standing in class, existing petition processes for extraordinary situations, and refer students to other appropriate advisors for issues outside the classroom related to tuition, financial aid, and graduation.
Faculty record earned grades for students according to each student’s choice as described herein.
Traditional Graded System
The traditional grade system uses “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F,” as defined under grade definitions. If available, students may select this grade system option at registration or change to this grade system option at any time during the first 80% of a course’s term by completing the approved registration process. Degree or certificate requirements may only allow specific grade system options.
Pass/No Pass System
This grade system uses “P” and “NP” as defined under grade definitions. Transfer students should be aware that four- year institutions limit the number of pass/no pass credits that may be applied to a degree and frequently recalculate the student’s grade point average by weighting each “P” as if it were a “C” or “D” and each “NP” as if it were an “F” from the traditional graded system. If available, students may select this grade system option by completing a Grade Option form at Student Services at any time during the first 80% of a course’s term. Degree or certificate requirements may only allow specific grade system options.
Grade Definitions
A: Superior – Honor grade indicating excellence. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following as outlined by the Instructor in the course handout: superior examination scores, consistently accurate and prompt completion of assignments, ability to deal resourcefully with abstract ideas, superior mastery of pertinent skills, and excellent attendance. Probable success in a field relating to the subject or probable continued success in sequential courses.
B: Above average – Honor grade indicating competence. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following as outlined by the Instructor in the course handout: high examination scores, accurate and prompt completion of assignments, ability to deal well with abstract ideas, commendable mastery of pertinent skills, and excellent attendance. Probable continued success in sequential courses.
C: Average – Standard college grade indicating successful performance. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following as outlined by the Instructor in the course handout: satisfactory examination scores, generally accurate and prompt completion of assignments, ability to deal with abstract ideas, fair mastery of pertinent skills, and regular attendance. Sufficient evidence of ability to warrant entering sequential courses.
D: Substandard but receiving credit – Substandard grade indicating the student has met only minimum requirements as outlined by the Instructor in the course handout. Earned as a result of a combination of some or all of the following: low examination scores; generally inaccurate, incomplete or late assignments; inadequate grasp of abstract ideas; barely acceptable mastery of pertinent skills; irregular attendance; insufficient evidence of ability to make advisable the enrollment in sequential courses. Does not satisfy requirements for entry into courses where prerequisites are specified.
F: Failure – Non-passing grade indicating failure to meet minimum requirements as defined by the Instructor in the course handout. Earned as a result of some or all of the following: non-passing examination scores; inaccurate, incomplete or late assignments; failure to cope with abstract ideas; inadequate mastery of pertinent skills; repeated absence from class. Does not satisfy requirements for entry into courses where prerequisites are specified. Faculty must record the last date attended for students that earn an “F.”
P: Pass – Acceptable performance. A grade of “P” represents satisfactory achievement which would have been graded “C” or better under the traditional grading system. The “P” grade is disregarded in the computation of the TBCC grade point average. This grade is available only when a student has selected the pass/no pass grade system option during the first 80% of a course’s term.
NP: No pass – Unacceptable performance. A grade of “NP” represents unsatisfactory achievement which would have been graded “D” or lower under the traditional grading system. The “NP” grade is disregarded in the computation of the grade point average. Faculty must record the last date attended for students that earn an “NP.” This grade is available only when a student has selected the pass/no pass grade system option during the first 80% of a course’s term.
Mark Definitions
SC: Satisfactory completion – Mark used when a student satisfactorily completes Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) or Basic Skills courses.
NSC: Not satisfactory completion – Mark used when a student does not satisfactorily complete Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) or Basic Skills courses.
I: Incomplete – At the time final course grades are recorded, the instructor may, with the consent of the student, record an “I” mark and grant additional time for the completion of a minor but essential requirement for the student who is otherwise making satisfactory progress. This shall only be done by signed written agreement with a requesting student, and a copy shall be left on file with the Registrar. Such written agreements shall describe the missing requirement, the basis for the requirement’s evaluation, the effect on the final grade computation and the completion date (within one year) for that requirement. If no replacement grade for an “I” mark has been provided by the course instructor within one calendar year, the “I” mark will change to “F.” This mark does not entitle the student to repeat a course without paying tuition. It may be impossible to receive this mark in some courses where, for example, equipment usage is required.
W: Withdrawal – This mark is to be used only by the Student Services Office when the student has completed the official withdrawal process after the published drop deadline and before the published withdraw deadline.
CIPR: Course In Progress Re-register – A mark used only for designated classes. To receive credit, a student must re-register because equipment usage is required. This may include courses in modular or self-paced programs. This mark may also be used in a skills based course to indicate that the student has not attained skills required to advance to the next level. If the course is not completed within a year, the “CIPR” changes to an “AUD” (Audit) on the transcript unless the course is repeated and a grade earned.
CIP: Course in Progress – A mark used only for designated classes in modular programs or in self- paced programs that do not conform to the normal academic calendar. If the course is not completed within a year, the “CIP” changes to an “F.” A student does not need to re-register for the course.
AUD: Audit – This mark may be used only by the Student Services Office. The “AUD” mark, when allowed, permits a student to attend a course without receiving a grade or credit for the course even though tuition and fees must be paid. To be assigned an “AUD” (Audit) mark, a student must obtain permission from their Instructor and notify Registration prior to the published drop deadlines. Subject area committees may specify whether this mark is available for each course in its control. Auditing a course does not satisfy requirements for entry into courses where prerequisites are specified.
NS: No Show – This mark is assigned by faculty before the published drop deadlines to indicate that a student has never attended class. These students will be dropped by Student Services. If faculty fail to assign an NS mark to students who never attend class and if those students fail to drop or withdraw before the published deadlines, then they will earn a grade of F or NP according to the grade system option for the course.
R: Repeated – This mark may be used only by Student Services. See “Repeated Courses.”
NG: No Grade Reported