Grading System

The grades assigned in courses are as follows: 

Grade	Description	Grade Point Value Per Credit Hour
A	Excellent	4
B	Good	3
C	Fair	2
D	Poor, but Passing	1
F	Failure	0
P	Pass	0
W/P	Withdraw/Passing	0
W/F	Withdraw/Failing	0
W/A	Withdraw/Student Attended One Class Session	0
W/N	Withdraw/Student Never Attended	0
I	Incomplete	0
X	No Grade Issued	0
I/F	Missed Incomplete Deadline	0
P1	Passed Level I of Math 099	0

Unit of Credit

The unit of credit is the semester hour.

Incomplete

A student may request a grade of Incomplete (I) in a non-Academic Skills course when extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances have prevented the student from completing all of the graded course work by the end of the regular semester. The student must have completed at least 50% of the graded course work with a passing grade (D or better), and must have attended classes to within three weeks of the last day of scheduled classes. A request for a grade of Incomplete must be initiated by the student and must be submitted to the instructor in writing — using the Incomplete Grade Request and Contract—by the last day of regular classes before the final exam period. The student must indicate the reason(s) why she/he was unable to complete the required course work. The student’s instructor must indicate the specific work that the student is expected to complete. The instructor must also indicate a default grade (B, C, D, or F) to which the Incomplete will revert if the student does not complete. By signing an Incomplete Grade Request and Contract, the student agrees to complete all unfinished course work on or before the last day of scheduled classes at the end of the next long semester (fall or spring) following the assignment of the Incomplete grade.

Grade Point Average

The number of grade points for a grade in a given course is found by multiplying the grade point value by the number of credit hours earned in the course. The term grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points which a student has earned in all courses taken during the term divided by the total number of credit hours awarded by those courses. The

cumulative grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points which a student has earned in all courses taken divided by the total number of credit hours awarded by those courses. Courses in which the student received a P, W, I, W/P, W/F, W/A, W/N, or which were taken at another institution, are not included in the calculation. Semester hours for courses in which the grades of F or I/F are earned are used in the calculation.

Repeated Courses

Students will be allowed to repeat a course and have the highest grade earned count towards the cumulative grade point average. A student may repeat the course a maximum of three times. Please note that certain financial aid programs may not cover tuition towards repeating a course. Students should contact a financial aid advisor when attempting to repeat a course to determine eligibility.

Departmental Honors

Scholarship is emphasized at the university by giving special recognition to those students who achieve excellence in their university work. At the end of each 18 week semester, students who complete 12 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.50 - 3.79 receive honors; those with 3.80 - 3.94 receive high honors; and those with 3.95 - 4.00 receive highest honors. Students who receive honors, high honors, or highest honors receive a letter of congratulations from the dean of the appropriate college, the Provost and Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs, and the President respectively. A variety of professional, departmental, and fraternal honorary organizations offer recognition and membership based upon distinctive achievement. An Honors Convocation is held annually at the university to give recognition to those students who have a high level of scholastic achievement in specific subject areas and to inspire others to similar high achievement.

University Honors

Students who meet all University graduation requirements and maintain a cumulative grade point average at Chicago State University of 3.5 or better for all courses taken at Chicago State University applied toward the bachelor’s degree are given special recognition on their diplomas and in their academic records, and are identified in the commencement program.

The honors categories are: 

3.50- 3.79	Honors
3.80- 3.94	High Honors
3.95- 4.00	Highest Honors

Academic Standing Student Responsibility and Academic Probation

Students are considered in good academic standing as long as they maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least C (2.00 or higher). It is the student’s responsibility to monitor academic progress in the course of any given term and to take steps to improve academic status whenever necessary. Students should keep in mind that a cumulative grade point average of at least C is required to complete all degree programs at Chicago State University. Some programs require a higher cumulative grade point average for graduation. Once the cumulative grade point average drops below C, it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve the minimum required for graduation. The Office of Academic Support Services is available to provide workshops on study skills, tutoring in a variety of academic disciplines, and other services for students. However, students are ultimately responsible for earning and maintaining the minimum cumulative grade point average required for academic success. Students should maintain close contact with their departmental academic advisors so that their current academic status is always clear. The purpose of academic probation is to provide students with a warning that their academic performance does not meet minimum university standards. Students who earn a cumulative grade point average of less than C (1.99 or lower) are placed on academic probation.

Students on academic probation are given opportunities for special help from the Office of Academic Support Services. Students who are placed on probation will be notified by letter. In addition, the Office of Academic Support Services will require periodic progress reports from the student’s instructors. During the probationary period, students are expected to meet periodically

with their advisors and the university retention facilitator to assess academic progress to develop a written plan to improve academic performance, and to undertake appropriate activities such as workshops or tutoring sessions to improve their academic performance.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who are on probation will be permitted to register for classes as long as their cumulative grade point average is 1.80 with less than 30 credit hours, 1.90 after enrollment in 30 credit hours, and 2.00 after enrollment in 60 credit hours. The credit hour status of transfer students will be determined by the combined total of transfer hours accepted and credit hours enrolled at Chicago State University. However, only courses taken at Chicago State University will be used to determine a student’s term and cumulative grade point average.

Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Students will be dismissed from the university for poor scholarship. The following constitutes poor scholarship:

1. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, as defined above.
2. Two consecutive terms of enrollment at Chicago State University with no completion of coursework. The academic progress of students on academic probation will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who are dismissed for poor scholarship will be notified by letter. Students who are dismissed for poor scholarship must spend one or more terms out of residence. During this period, students are encouraged to demonstrate their ability to succeed at university-level work by taking one or more courses at a community college or at another university.

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the university decision on dismissal before the onset of the next term after dismissal. Students must present their appeal in the form of a written petition addressed to the Academic Appeals Committee of the appropriate college. The petition must be delivered to the office of the appropriate dean. The petition will be considered and acted on by a faculty committee appointed by the appropriate college dean. The petition must describe succinctly and concisely what the problem is and what the student is requesting. Supporting documents (e.g., medical statements, a statement from the student’s academic advisor, etc.) must accompany the student’s petition. Students will be notified by letter of the disposition of their appeals.

Reinstatement of Students Dismissed for Poor Scholarship

Students who have been dismissed may petition for reinstatement to the university after one or more terms. The student must present the request for reinstatement in the form of a written petition addressed to the Committee on Readmission in the Office of Admissions. All petitions must be filed prior to the published deadline for accepting applications for admission for the term the student is seeking to enter. A petition for reinstatement must contain documented evidence and logical reasons to show that the student now has the ability and desire to complete successfully a program of study at the university. A transcript of all college work taken since leaving the university must accompany the petition. Students will be notified by letter of the disposition of their petition for readmission.

Classification of Students

An undergraduate student’s academic classification is determined by the total number of credit hours earned. Students are classified as follows:

Freshmen: 0-29 credit hours
Sophomores: 30-59 credit hours
Juniors: 60-89 credit hours
Seniors: 90 or more credit hours

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions in the course sections for which they are registered. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the class if she or he is not attending.  Failure on the part of a student to officially withdraw from a class prior to the official drop date will result in a failing grade (F). No tuition or fees charged for the course or courses will b e cancelled or reversed as a result of lack of attendance. To drop or withdraw from courses, the student must use the drop/withdrawal form, have an advisor sign it, and then submit the form to the Office of the Registrar.

The responsibility for maintaining class attendance records rests with each faculty member. Students are expected to make their own arrangements with faculty members about making up class work and all assignments when classes are missed.  The following is the university policy on class attendance:

• An instructor may drop students who do not attend the first day of class and make no attempt to contact the instructor or department chairperson prior to the absence.  During the fourth week of class, instructors will assign a W/N, which means that a student has never attended, or W/A, which means that a student attended at least one class period but subsequently stopped attending altogether. Students receiving W/N or W/A will be administratively withdrawn from the class or classes for which a W/N or W/A has been recorded.
• Instructors are required to monitor and keep records of the attendance of students at all class meetings. If after 4 1/2 weeks of instruction, a student’s total absences are equal to or exceed the equivalent of two weeks of instruction, the instructor may drop the student from the course with a grade of W. After the official drop date, the instructor may assign a nonattendance grade of W/P (withdraw passing) or W/ F (withdraw failing) with a formal request from the student. Instructors must post the grade of W/A for students who attended at least one session and stopped attending, and W/N for students who never attended any sessions.
• Students can request to drop or withdraw from a course after the submission of mid-term grades with the instructor’s signature. The form will have the instructor’s signature, student’s signature, and a space for a grade of W/P or W/F.  The form will be completed in the student’s presence and must be returned to the Office of the Registrar, ADM 128.  The grade of W/P or W/F will appear on the final grade sheet for each student whose name is submitted by the deadline published in the Class Schedule Bulletin for each semester. Forms submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Excused Absences

Student and Faculty Responsibilities

1. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the instructor with advanced notice of all absences for which advanced notice is possible and to make arrangements to fulfill his/her obligations to the university in advance of such absence to the degree that it is possible. For emergency absences, it is the responsibility of the student to provide notice as soon as possible and make arrangements to fulfill his/her obligations to the university.
2. It is the responsibility of each instructor to devise a system for addressing missed assignments and examinations that does not penalize the student when an excused absence is accepted.

Excused Absences with Prior Notice:

Excused absences for which prior notice is possible include:

• Participation in an official university activity such as an athletic competition, musical or theatrical performance, or for officially sanctioned representation of the university at meetings or conferences. It is the responsibility of the department or unit of the university sponsoring such activities to provide the student with timely written notification of the need for absence and for the student to share that notification with the instructor
• Observation of religious holidays, in accordance with Illinois Public Act 84-212, an act which prohibits public school districts and institutions of higher education from discriminating against students for observing religious holidays. Students and employees who believe they have been discriminated on grounds of religious observances, may seek redress through the Equal Employment Opportunity Office.  Chicago State University supports the concept of “reasonable accommodation of religious observances” in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and other academic work requirements.
• Fulfillment of military duty in accordance with Illinois Public Act 094-0857 which specifically references students called to active military service and states, “The University shall allow a currently enrolled student who is called to active military service to complete any unfinished courses at a later date at no additional charge, unless course credit has already been given or the student received a full refund upon withdrawing from the course (in which case the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service). The student must be given priority over other students in reenrolling in the course or courses.”
• Fulfillment of required court appearances and legal obligations, including jury duty, with appropriate documentation.

Excused Emergency Absences

A student shall also be excused from class for emergency absences. Emergency absences must be reported to the instructor as soon as possible. Excused emergency absences include:

Illness or injury on the part of the student or a close family member for which the student has responsibility or obligation when certified by a physician.

Death of a close family member which must be appropriately documented.

Students as university employees

If students are employees of the university, the same policies and obligations apply.

Withdrawal from Courses (Dropping Courses)

Students may drop courses until the Wednesday of the fifth (5th) week of instruction during an 18 week semester or until the Friday of the third week of instruction during a summer term. The dates of the last day to drop a course or courses are published in the university calendar section of the Class Schedule Bulletin for each semester or term. Students must file a Change of Program form in the Office of the Registrar before the transaction is official. Simply ceasing to attend class or notifying the instructor is not sufficient and will result in a final grade of F. Students will not be permitted to drop classes after the published deadline date for dropping classes, or after the midterm grades submission drop date, without penalty of W/P, W/F, or F.

F-1 international students are required to receive authorization from the Office of International Program’s Designated School Office before dropping a course which will reduce the F-1 student’s credit hour load below 12 semester hours.

Withdrawal From The University

An undergraduate student who wishes to withdraw from the university must file a withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar before the transaction is official. Students may withdraw from the university until the Wednesday of the fifth (5th) week of instruction during an 18 week semester or until the Friday of the third week of instruction during a summer term. The last date to withdraw from the university without penalty of W/P, W/F, or F is published in the Class Schedule Bulletin for each semester term. Simply ceasing to attend class or notifying the instructor is not sufficient.

Policy on Student Identification Card

All full-time and part-time students enrolled at Chicago State University are required to obtain an official CSU photo identification card. The card should be kept in the student’s possession while on campus attending classes, using the library and the computer center, and attending campus functions. The CSU ID card is required to obtain free or reduced admission to university events. In addition, the CSU ID card has the student University ID number (UID) which should be used in place of the Social Security number. The card must be presented on demand for the purpose of official university identification. The CSU ID card can be obtained from the ID Office (NAL 143). To get an ID, students must present a photo ID and a current, paid, registration receipt.