Grades and Grading

University Policy

College of Communication Policy

Final grades, grade changes, transfer credits, or any other academic material necessary for a student’s graduation in May must be received by COM within five (5) days of official University Commencement in order to be included within the final audit of a student’s record. For January and September graduation, those deadlines are January 15 and September 15 of each year, respectively.

Students cannot retake coursework for credit. Courses taken more than once can only count once toward graduation, though grades for any courses that are retaken are still calculated into the student’s GPA. The grade received for a repeated course cannot replace the original grade.

Questions about a grade should be addressed first to the instructor of the course. If this does not solve the issue, further grievances can be addressed through the Grade Grievance Policy offered through COM Undergraduate Affairs (undergraduate students) or Graduate Affairs (graduate students).

Academic, classroom-based classes are not meant to be taken Pass/Fail. Instructors must note that they should not assign Pass/Fail grades in classes unless they are doing so for all students registered. Instructors should arrange with their department and the COM Registrar to assign Pass/Fail grades. This does not include internships, Directed Study courses, or other practicum coursework that is typically graded Pass/Fail. No courses taken Pass/Fail can be accepted as transfer credit. No courses taken as an Audit can count toward graduation.

Grade changes are handled by the instructor by consulting with the COM Registrar through COM Undergraduate Affairs. At times, the instructor’s department and/or Graduate Affairs may be involved as well. Grade changes are processed only when an instructor has miscalculated a grade, there has been administrative error, or if an Incomplete has been finished. Incomplete grades must also be accompanied by an Incomplete Contract signed by both the student and the instructor, a copy of which will be maintained at COM Undergraduate/Graduate Affairs.