Grades

Grading is either according to the traditional letter-grade scheme or on a pass/no pass basis, at the student's option in each course, with approval by the instructor. Once recorded on the transcript, a grade cannot be altered regardless of subsequent work.

Students in all degree programs must maintain a 3.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to graduate. When a course is required in a program to earn a degree but a student does not earn at least a B- for the course, the course and/or the credit will need to be repeated. The original and repeat grades will both appear on the transcript, and will both figure into the CGPA.

Letter Grades

Grades that may be awarded are: A (excellent), B (good), C (fair), D (poor), F (failure). The grades B, C, and D may be modified by a plus (+), and grades A, B, C, and D may be modified by a minus (-).

Grade Point Averages

Grade points per unit are assigned as follows: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and F=0. When attached to the grades B, C, or D, plus (+) grades carry three-tenths (0.3) of a grade point more per unit than the un-suffixed grade (e.g., B+ = 3.3). When attached to the grades A, B, C, or D, minus (-) grades carry three-tenths (0.3) of a grade point less per unit than the un-suffixed grade (e.g., A- = 3.7). The maximum number of points for any course is a 4.0.

A student’s GPA is calculated upon the earned grade points in all courses where a letter grade is assigned. A grade of Pass carries no grade points and is excluded from all grade point computations. The GPA calculation will not include grades from courses that are transferred from another institution.

Pass/No Pass Grading Option

A Pass in any course is equivalent to "B" or better work. The petition to take a course pass/no pass is subject to the approval of the instructor and must be submitted to the Registrar before the last class meeting date.

Students in the MDiv. program may elect Pass/No Pass for up to six three-credit courses or 18 credits while in residence at JST; credits for the Integration seminars (FE 1152, FE 2152 and MDiv 4401) are not counted in the 18 credits.

Students in the MTS program may elect Pass/No Pass for up to five three-credit courses or 15 credits while in residence at JST; credits for the MTS 3000 Proseminar are not counted in the 15 credits.

Master of Theology (ThM), Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL), and Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD) students are expected to take all courses for a letter grade. However, students may petition the Associate Dean for permission to take a course pass/no pass on an individual basis.

NOTE: GTU MA students may not apply courses taken on a pass/no pass basis toward the MA degree.

Auditing a Course

Students may choose to audit a course or courses. Auditors are required to register and pay the regular tuition charge. While students receive no academic credit for audited courses, class attendance is required, and such courses are recorded on the student's transcript record with "Audit" written in the grade column.

Students auditing Jesuit School of Theology classes must formally register ("Audit") for those classes, and students' names should appear on class lists. Students must attend class in order to successfully receive an "Audit" on their transcript. The instructor decides whether or not auditors will be allowed in a course and what class requirements must be met.

Grade of Incomplete

An ‘I’ (Incomplete) grade is a temporary grade awarded when for academic or personal reasons the student will not be able to complete all coursework within the semester schedule. Students who have maintained adequate progress in a course may petition the course instructor for an incomplete grade by the last day of the term. The petition must indicate the unfinished coursework and a schedule for completing each outstanding item. Incomplete coursework must be completed no later than the end of the third week after the term ends.

The petition for an Incomplete must be submitted to the Associate Dean for approval, with all information and signatures completed. The decision to grant an incomplete is within the discretion of the instructor and the Associate Dean. Students who do not complete their course requirements and do not petition for an incomplete will be graded based on the work as submitted to the instructor as of the date on which grades are due.

The instructor will submit the earned grade to replace the grade of ‘I’ by the end of the sixth week after the term ends. If no grade is submitted to the Registrar by that time, the Incomplete grade becomes an ‘F’.

Petition forms to request an Incomplete are available online and in paper outside the Registrar’s Office. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the Incomplete Request Form and submit it to the Registrar no later than the last day of the term.

The GTU-wide policy on Incomplete grades is as follows: "Students are responsible for finishing a term's work within the term. In order to take an Incomplete the student must fill out a petition for an Incomplete before the last day of the term. Incomplete work is due to the teacher three weeks after the end of the term in which the course is taught. Instructors are required to remove the Incomplete by the sixth Friday after the end of the term."

NOTE: In courses taken by cross-registration from UCB, the student will, without exception, be required to follow the policy of UCB with respect to: 1) the possibility of removal of an Incomplete and 2) the time intervals within which the removal must be effected.

Student Appeals of Grades

The following policies and procedures regarding student appeal of grades are designed to protect the rights of faculty members as well as the rights of students:

I. Policy Guidelines

Grades are not negotiable. There should be no questioning of a faculty member's academic judgment on a grade. In registering for a class, students implicitly agree to allow the faculty member to make a qualitative judgment about the students’ command of the subject matter, which will be expressed as a letter grade. Any questioning or appeal of a grade should therefore be limited to procedural concerns, e.g., to grade calculations or failures to follow grading policies set forth in the syllabi. Any procedural complaint regarding a change of grade must be initiated within four weeks of the beginning of the next scheduled term, not including the summer session and winter intersession.

Any decision to initiate a change of grade should remain with the faculty member. Thus, the results of any system of grade appeals should not be binding upon the faculty member.

II. Procedure Guidelines

A student with a complaint must first discuss the matter with the faculty member. If the matter is not resolved at this level, the student may then take the matter to the Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will discuss the case with the faculty member and may recommend that the faculty member review the grade. If the student is not satisfied with the response at this level, he/she may raise the issue with the Dean and the Dean will proceed in similar fashion. Should the student request it, the Dean will pass the matter on to the University Provost.

This process of review gives the Associate Dean, Dean, and Provost the right to discuss the matter with the faculty member and, if they think it appropriate, request that the faculty member review the grade. Any recommendations made will not be binding upon the faculty member against whom the complaint is lodged. The decision to change a grade remains with the faculty member.