Course Grading - Undergraduate Students

Kutztown University Policy ACA-048

  1. Purpose

    The purpose of this policy is to define the course grading system for undergraduate students.

  2. Scope

    This policy applies to grades given for undergraduate courses. 

  3. Key words and phrases:

    GPA: grade point average.  

    F (earned failing grade): The grade awarded to students who generally completed the course but failed to achieve the course objectives. It is used when, in the informed opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were sufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible.* 

    FN (unearned failing grade): The grade awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from the course, but who failed to participate in course activities through the end of the term. It is used when, in the informed opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible.*  

    FA (failing grade): A grade awarded to students who select the pass/fail option. No credit hours are recorded and there is no effect on the GPA; see Policy ACA-013 Pass/Fail Grading – Undergraduate Students for requirements.  

    PA (passing grade): A grade awarded to students who select the pass/fail option. Credit hours are recorded but not used in GPA calculation; see Policy ACA-013 Pass/Fail Grading – Undergraduate Students for requirements.  

    S (satisfactory grade) 

    U (unsatisfactory grade) 

    NG (no grade reported): Beginning Fall 2012, an “NG” grade will no longer calculate as an “F” grade in the GPA.  

    NC (no credit): No credit hours are recorded and there is no effect on the GPA.  

    W (withdrawn): No effect on the GPA. 

    M (military withdrawal): No effect on the GPA.  

    I (incomplete grade): The grade awarded to students who have not satisfied all requirements of a given course. Beginning Fall 2012, an “I” grade will no longer count as an “F” grade in the GPA. For undergraduate students, all deficiencies must be removed by the end of the tenth week of the next semester. If this requirement is not met, the “I” grade automatically changes to an “F” grade. 

    *Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the awarding of Federal student aid is based on the assumption that students will attend school for the entire period for which financial aid is awarded. A university is required to determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid as of the date the student ceased attendance based on the amount of time the student spent in attendance. 

  4. Policy & Procedure(s)

  • The system of grading used at Kutztown University through Fall 2010 was:

    A - excellent; B - above average; C - average; D - below average; F - failure; I - incomplete.

  • The system of grading used at Kutztown University from Spring 2011 through Summer 2017 was:

    A (4.0); A- (3.67); B+ (3.33); B (3.0); B- (2.67); C+ (2.33); C (2.0); D (1.0); F (0.0)

  • The system of grading used at Kutztown University from Fall 2017 through Summer 2023 was: 

    A (4.0); A- (3.67); B+ (3.33); B (3.0); B- (2.67); C+ (2.33); C (2.0); D (1.0); F (0.0); FN (0.0); FA; PA; S; U; NG; NC; W; M; I

  • Beginning Fall 2023, the system of grading is as follows:
    A (4.0)
    A- (3.67)
    B+ (3.33)
    B (3.0)
    B- (2.67)
    C+ (2.33)
    C (2.0)
    D+ (1.33)
    D (1.0)
    F (0.0)
    FN (0.0)
    FA
    PA
    S
    U
    NG
    NC
    W
    M
    I

Please note: 

  • There is no A+, C-, or D-. 

  • Undergraduate students taking a course for graduate credit are graded according to ACA 091: Course Grading – Graduate Students 

  1. Effective Date

    1994 
    Fall 2017 
    Fall 2023 

  2. Approved By

    University Senate - 1994
    University President – 1994
    Endorsed by University Senate – May 4, 2017
    Approved by University President – June 27, 2017     
    University Senate – April 6, 2023 

  3. Last Reviewed

    March, 2009 
    August, 2009 
    August, 2010 
    June, 2011 
    August, 2012 
    August, 2013 
    August, 2014 
    August, 2015 
    August, 2016 
    August, 2017 
    August, 2018 
    August, 2019 
    August, 2020