Grading System

The School of Public Health uses a letter grading system. Letter grades are assigned numerical values called Quality Points based on semester hour. These Quality Points are used to compute the grade point average. A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; F=0; I (Incomplete) = 0.

No letter grades are given for the Master of Public Health Practice Experience and Culminating Experience. For these courses, students receive Pass/Fail grades which are not included in the calculation of the Cumulative GPA (CGPA) . Letter grades are also not given for the thesis (MS) or dissertation (PhD) requirements, so they are not included in the calculation of the student’s CGPA.

Incomplete Grades

Work, which is of passing quality but which, because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, is not complete, may be marked “I” for incomplete. An “I” is given only upon approval by the instructor. If an explanation is not received, the faculty is to consider that the incomplete work is of failing quality and an “F” is to be given. It is the responsibility of the student to seek approval from the instructor. An “I” will be converted to an “F” unless it is removed prior to the deadline for adding courses for credit in the subsequent semester as published in the school calendar. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may authorize an extension of time for removing the “I”.

Withdrawal Grades

Students should refer to the Academic Calendar which lists the dates upon which they may withdraw from courses.

Grade Appeals

If a student receives a grade which he or she feels is unwarranted, the student may appeal this grade. It is the intention of the school administration and faculty that grade appeals are resolved quickly and fairly at the lowest level of the process.

1. The student must first meet with the course director and discuss the basis for appealing the grade within three working days of receiving the grade.
2. If dissatisfied with the results of this meeting, the student may submit a formal written appeal of the grade no later than five working days of the discussion with the course director. This written appeal is sent to the course director and academic program director.
3. Within five working days from receiving the student’s appeal, the course director and academic program director must examine the appeal, discuss it with the student and respond with a written decision regarding the appeal. If dissatisfied with these results, the student may submit a final formal written appeal of the grade to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within five working days of the course director and academic program director’s decision. The document must include the basis for appealing the grade.
4. Within ten working days of receiving the appeal, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will appoint an ad hoc committee of five including two students and three faculty members, none of which will be members of the academic program to evaluate the merits of the appeal. The committee must review the appeal and advise the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of their recommendation in writing within five working days of the appointment of the committee.
5. Within five working days, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will review the findings of the committee and render a decision. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will forward the decision to the Dean as the final step of due process in the School.