Grading System

A grade will be given in each course and that grade will reflect the student’s progress and achievement in knowledge of the subject, ability to apply this knowledge, and work habits and practices. Grades will be awarded on the four-point system and translate typically as follows:

In all cases, decisions concerning final grades for courses are the responsibility of the individual instructor.

The following grades are not included in grade point averages:

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Quality points are determined by multiplying the credit hours for a course by the grade points earned for each mark. A student’s grade point average is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points by the number of hours for courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F, and FN. Example:

Grade Point Average: 22 ÷ 7 = 3.14

Academic Warning

A student with an earned term Grade Point Average (GPA) that is less than 2.000 regardless of the student’s cumulative GPA will be placed on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning are still considered to be in good standing. A Success Coach or TRIO Advisor may reach out prior to any further registration activity. Students will be removed from Academic Warning if their term GPA is at least 2.000 the next semester or term.

Academic Probation

A student with a cumulative GPA that is less than 2.000, according to the table below, will be placed on academic probation. Students on Academic Probation shall meet an assigned Success Coach or TRIO Advisor who will determine the appropriate course load and number of mandatory meetings. A hold will be placed on the student’s account. Students will be removed from Academic Probation if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.000 at the of the next semester or term.

Academic Suspension

A student with a cumulative GPA within the range in the table below will be placed on Academic Suspension. All courses for the next semester or term will be dropped and a hold will be placed on the student’s account. Students will be given the opportunity to appeal Academic Suspension in order to remain enrolled.

Students will be removed from Academic Suspension if their cumulative GPA at the end of the next semester or term is above the cumulative GPAs listed above depending on attempted credit hours.

Academic Dismissal/Readmission

A student who has been on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension and has not made progress in improving the student’s cumulative GPA (no increase and/or a decreased GPA) for three consecutive semesters will be academically dismissed. Academically dismissed students are eligible to reapply after two academic semesters (summer term excluded).

Incomplete Grades

The grade of “I” (Incomplete) can be given by an instructor when, for some acceptable reason, a student fails to take the final examination or fails to meet some other definite requirement of a course. The grade of “I” may be replaced with another grade when the student meets the requirements to the satisfaction of the instructor. Unless an extension of time is granted by submitting an Incomplete Grade Agreement form to the Registrar, a grade of “I” must be removed within two weeks after the beginning of the succeeding semester. If the grade of “I” is not removed within the time limit, it becomes an “F” on the student’s permanent record.

Grade Report

Students may review semester grades by logging into My ZSC and selecting Students and then Grades.

Student Class Ranking

A student’s class rank is determined by the cumulative credit hours earned. Non-degree seeking students do not possess class rank.

Auditing Courses

Students auditing courses should understand that these are for information purposes only and that no college credit may be earned or later claimed for the course audited. Class attendance, completing assignments, and taking exams is the prerogative of the student in an audited course.

Students may register for a course on an audit basis during the first two weeks of a given semester or the first week of a term course on a space-available basis. Students auditing a class pay regular tuition and fees.

Failed Courses

Students must repeat and earn a passing grade any course for which the grades of “F,” “FN,” or “NP” (failing) are received must be repeated. Upon successfully repeating such a course, the failing grade is disregarded in grade point calculation and the student’s grade point average is adjusted. All grades continue to be shown on the transcript. In some specific programs, grades below “C” in program courses must be repeated to continue.

Fresh Start

Fresh Start is intended to assist students who previously had academic difficulties at Zane State College by providing them with the opportunity to have grades of “D,” “F,” or “FN” excluded from their grade point average (GPA). Students must meet eligibility requirements and agree to the Fresh Start policy in order to qualify for approval. An application for Fresh Start is available in the Registrar’s Office.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. A minimum of two consecutive years (six consecutive semesters) of non-attendance at the College.
2. Completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours at the College following the two years of non-attendance with a grade of “C” or better in each course. Courses taken as credit/no-credit are not eligible for consideration.

Policy:

• Only grades of “D” or “F” or “FN” may be excluded from the student’s GPA. The grades to be excluded must have been earned prior to the minimum two-year non-attendance.
• Courses must be retaken if needed to meet program requirements.
• A student may use Fresh Start one time only. Upon approval, the action taken is non-reversible.
• A student may not take a proficiency examination in a course that has been forgiven.
• The courses approved under Fresh Start will be disregarded in computing the student’s cumulative GPA; however, all courses and grades remain on the student’s transcript. Courses approved under Fresh Start will be noted as the original grade with the letter Z next to it (i.e., DZ or FZ).
• A student may not use a forgiven course as a substitution for another course.
• Once Fresh Start is in effect for a student and the updated GPA is calculated, a student may be eligible for any honors, awards, or other recognitions related to specific GPA standards.

Archiving of Final Exams

The final examination is often a significant part of a student’s final grade. At times, students feel the necessity of questioning a final grade. In such cases, it is convenient to use the final exam papers as a basis for discussion between the faculty member and the student, even though grades are also based on other work: tests, papers, quizzes, class response, etc. For this reason, each faculty member retains final exam papers for a minimum period of 30 days after the end of a given semester.

Repeating Courses

If a course is repeated, the grade received for the most recent course enrollment will be utilized in calculating the student’s grade point average. All other grades for the course will be disregarded and an appropriate notation will be made on the student’s official transcript. All grades will show on the official transcript. Specific programs may have restrictions reducing the number of times a course may be repeated. (See Minimum Grades for Specific Programs.)

Minimum Grades for Specific Programs

Business Management - Accounting Students
Students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in ACCT 1010, ACCT 2220, ACCT 2250, ACCT 2410, and ACCT 2420 to satisfy course credit requirements in the Business Management - Accounting program.

Business Management - Real Estate and Real Estate Certificate Students
Students must obtain a “C” or better in BUSM 2730, BUSM 2740, BUSM 2750, BUSM 2760 and BUSM 2770 to satisfy course credit requirements in the Business Management - Real Estate program and Real Estate certificate.

Culinary Arts Students
Culinary Arts students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in all CULA subject courses in order to graduate in the Culinary Arts program.

Cybersecurity Students
Students must obtain a “C” or better in all technical courses in order to graduate in the Cybersecurity programs and certificate.

Health and Public Services Students
The following policy on minimum grades applies to selected Health and Public Services programs and certificates:

1. A student may not enroll in a technical course unless his or her overall cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher.
2. All course prerequisites must be met before admission to a course.
3. A grade of “C” or better is required in each technical course in order to continue in the course sequence.
4. A student receiving a grade of “D” or below in any technical or specified foundational course required by the Criminal Justice, Education, Health Information Management - Coding and Reimbursement, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Social Work Assistant programs, or any heath certificates has these options:
   1. Assume a health/general studies core status,
   2. Withdraw from the respective program, or
   3. Remain in the technical program and take the technical course (on advice of advisor) for which the student has achieved a grade of “C” in the prerequisite course. General and basic courses may be taken at this time also. The student must then repeat any course in which he or she did not achieve at least a “C” grade.
5. Note that the College does not offer each course every semester. Students may repeat the course only once to raise the grade to the “C” level. Upon successful completion of the repeated course (grade of at least a “C”), the student must then be reevaluated for continuation in the program. Due to the arrangements of the curriculum sequence, this may require an extra year in the program.
6. A student who will likely earn an unsatisfactory grade in a course prior to the deadline to drop is ineligible to withdraw from that course.

Information Technology Students
Students must obtain a “C” or better in all technical courses in order to graduate in the Information Technology - Networking and Server Operations, Information Technology - Programming and Web Development, Information Technology - Digital Media Content programs, and any Information Technology certificates.

Wildlife Conservation Students
Wildlife Conservation students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in all WILD subject courses in order to graduate in the Wildlife Conservation program.