GRADING POLICY

General
The courses are designed to measure the students' progress by written and practical examinations. Specified objectives have been defined for each course to help the students and the faculties to evaluate the degree of progress.

Evaluation Methods
Overall student performance is evaluated differently in each class using one or a combination of the following methods:

Written examinations based on multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions.

Practical or laboratory examinations including: classroom observation of laboratory projects, independent hands-on design projects, and presentation/discussion of projects. Written reports or research papers on assigned topics.

Review of Examinations
Examinations are graded by the faculty and are usually returned to students within seven days. Examinations are kept on file for student review for one year.

Grade Reports
The Registrar mails final grade reports to the students' home addresses upon completion of each semester. In cases when final grades are not available at grade reporting time, a grade of "I" is submitted to the Registrar in lieu of the course grade. "I" grades entered on the grade reports must be converted to student-achieved grades by student completing the necessary requirements within two trimesters or it will be converted to an F. An up-to-date summary of student performance is maintained in the Program Office and is available to students for review. Final course grades are given based on the four-point letter system, as follows:

Final course grades are given based upon the four-point letter system, as follows:
Dean's Honors
Excellence in scholastic achievement is recognized each trimester by the compilation of a Dean's List. An undergraduate student successfully completing at least 12 credit hours with grade points, with a minimum term grade point average of 3.35 or better; a graduate student successfully completing at least 9 credit hours with grade points, with a minimum term grade point average of 3.85 or better, qualify for the Dean's Honor List. "Dean's Honor List" will also appear on the transcripts of students obtaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Incomplete
In circumstances where a student is unable to complete the coursework required prior to the end of the semester, the student may, with the instructor's approval, file a petition to receive a grade of Incomplete. Incomplete grades will be indicated by a mark of "I" on student's grade report and transcript until such time as the student either successfully completes the course requirements (at which time the "I" will be changed to a letter grade) or fails to complete the course requirements (at which time the "I" will be changed to an "F"). Students have two trimesters, following the trimester for which an incomplete is given, to successfully complete any deficient coursework. The trimester extends to the last day of scheduled final examinations. Failure to complete all work within this time period will result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course.

Challenging Courses
On occasion, students may, because of overlapping coursework or work experience, already possess the knowledge and competency intended to be achieved by the learning objectives of a particular course. In such circumstances, a student may attempt to earn credit for a course through satisfying the procedure required for passing a course through challenge. The procedure for earning course credit through challenge is as follows:

1. Student enrolls in the course to be challenged and pays the applicable tuition (the course to be challenged must be regularly scheduled for that trimester);
2. Student files a petition to challenge concurrent with registration and pays the challenge fee (note that the instructor's approval is required; granting such approval is entirely within the discretion of the instructor);
3. Student successfully passes a comprehensive examination administered during the first week of classes.

Students successfully completing course requirements through challenge will receive a final grade of "CR" on their transcript. Students unsuccessfully challenging a course will receive a final grade of "NC". At the student's option, he or she may remain enrolled in the class and convert a grade of either "CR" or "NC" to a letter grade upon successful completion of scheduled course requirements.

A student can attempt to challenge any particular course only once. Students can attempt to challenge a maximum of three courses. Only courses required by the student's degree program can be challenged. No refunds of challenge fees will be given for courses that the student attempts to challenge but fails, or for challenged courses in which student chooses to enroll and subsequently withdraws.

Auditing Courses
Students who wish to take courses without formally enrolling in a degree program may do so on an audit basis. Students who wish to audit courses must:

1. File an Application for Admission and pay the admission fee (if not currently enrolled);
2. Demonstrate proficiency in English;
3. Pay applicable tuition; and
4. Meet attendance and other requirements as specified by the instructor.

A course which is audited will be indicated by an "AU" on the student's transcript.