Mythical Policies That Have Taken on the Aura of Truth but That Are Merely the Figment

ALLEGED GRADE & DROP POLICIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ON THE AURA OF TRUTH BUT THAT ARE MERELY THE FIGMENT OF SOMEONE’S IMAGINATION, AND WHAT THE TRUTH REALLY IS

1. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: If a student doesn’t attend classes, he/she is given a grade of “W.” (Sometimes quoted by students who simply “walk away” from their classes…until they see they’ve gotten an “F” for not attending classes!!!)

THE REAL TRUTH: It is university policy that a student receives an “F” if he/she does not attend classes, and who did not drop the class by the drop deadline, and who does not have an approved administrative drop from the course. The only possible exception is that the Dean may drop a student who (a) does not meet course prerequisites, or (b) who did not attend a course prior to the Census Date. (NOTE: Administrative drops must be approved by the instructor and by the Dean.)

2. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: Students must be given an examination or other graded project prior to the deadline for dropping individual courses with an automatic “W.” (This is often used as a rationale for students to gage if they should drop a course to protect their GPA.)

THE REAL TRUTH: While students may want to have an early idea about what grade they might earn in a course, faculty members have no obligation to administer any graded assignments prior to the drop date. It is true, however, that before the end of the add/drop period (beginning the first class day and ending on the Census Date), students must be informed in writing as to the methods of evaluation to be used in class. This information is usually included in the syllabus.

3. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: The final examination must last as long as the time shown in the Schedule of Classes. (This is a good way to try and get 2 hours and 45 minutes to take an exam that requires only an hour!)

THE REAL TRUTH: A final exam must be given on the day, at the starting time, and in the room that's listed in the Schedule of Classes, but there is no requirement that it must last the entire allotted period.

4. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: A student who attempts to drop a class via ASAP by the Automatic “W” date, and later finds out that “the drop did not take” or that he/she has been given an “F,” may have the grade changed to “W” after the drop date. (Usually, students simply do not appropriately complete the ASAP drop process or they attempt to do it after the drop deadline.)

THE REAL TRUTH: The student must verify whether or not the course drop “takes,” and take responsibility for ensuring he/she is no longer registered in the course. Unless a student’s assertion can be verified or otherwise collaborated by the Registrar's Office, no drop occurred. Forms of verification might include a copy of the ASAP screen that shows the course and the date of the attempted drop or, depending on when the attempted drop occurred, any evidence that the student attempted to obtain a tuition refund for the dropped course. NOTE: A student may not use the computer to drop the last course for which he/she is registered.

5. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: When a student is given an administrative drop after the automatic “W” date, or when the student withdraws from all his/her classes (withdraws from the university), the student must be given a grade of “W.”

THE REAL TRUTH: If the student was “passing” the course at the time of withdrawal, a “W” is given for the course. If the student was “not passing” the course at the time of withdrawal, an “F” is given for the course.

6. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: If a student is doing poorly in a course, he/she may be given an "incomplete."

THE REAL TRUTH: Earning a poor grade is not a basis for giving a student an "incomplete." Students who have completed a course sufficiently to be given a grade may not be given an "incomplete." The grading of an "incomplete" is the prerogative of the professor and may be given if the student (a) fails to complete a part of the course for good reason, (b) the rest of the student's work has been satisfactorily completed, and (c) the student has been in attendance at class for at least three-fourths of the course.

7. FIGMENT OF IMAGINATION: To make up an "incomplete" a student may retake the course by not registering for it and, upon completion of the course, use that grade to replace the "incomplete."

THE REAL TRUTH: Students may not attend any course without being registered for it and paying the appropriate fees. Having students attend classes without being registered subjects the university to potentially severe liability. To clear an "incomplete" students must complete the specific items left unfinished and that formed the basis for the "incomplete," e.g., take the final, turn in a project, complete a paper, etc. If a student retakes the course by registering and paying appropriate fees, completing the course does not satisfy the "incomplete" earned previously. The student's "incomplete" will convert to an "F" after a year and the student will have two grades for same course that was taken twice—an "F" and the grade for the second taking of the course.

Prepared by Dr. Bennie Wilson REV 7/1/02