Grades

Grades are recorded on the student’s permanent record in the Registrar’s Office and are issued in the form of a transcript upon request. The cost of each printed transcript is $5.00. Term grades are available online through the College’s PASSPORT portal at no charge.

Final grades are based on any or all of the following: course assignments, presentations, special reports, quiz grades, research papers, course participation, laboratory assignments, field work, and examinations. Specific grading polices and course requirements are provided by the professor at the beginning of each course. A student who believes that the final posted grade is erroneous should contact the professor to discuss a possible grade change. Any complaint involving a grade appeal must be filed on or before 30 calendar days after the start of the next major term. Grades and grade-point values are listed below:

A - Superior	4 Grade Points
B - Above Average	3 Grade Points
C - Satisfactory	2 Grade Points
D - Below Average	1 Grade Point
F - Fail	0 Grade Points
I - Incomplete	0 Grade Points
S - Satisfactory	0 Grade Points
U - Unsatisfactory	0 Grade Points
W - Withdrawal	0 Grade Points
X - Audit	0 Grade Points
P - Passed	0 Grade Points

Incomplete Grades

If a student cannot complete the course requirements by the end of the term due to extenuating circumstances (as verified by the faculty member), the instructor may, at his or her discretion, assign a grade of I-Incomplete, provided that the extenuating circumstances occur after the Withdrawal Date. The Withdrawal Date is set at approximately 70 percent of the length of the term. If the extenuating circumstances occur prior to the Withdrawal Date, the student should withdraw from the course. A grade of I is calculated as an F with regard to Standards of Academic Progress . Once the final grade is submitted, the student’s Academic Progress is recalculated. A grade of I could impact eligibility for financial aid.

By assigning a grade of I, the professor indicates that the student has the potential to earn a passing grade by satisfactorily completing the unfinished course work within a reasonable amount of time. The time in which work must be completed is agreed upon by both the student and instructor, and this time frame must extend no later than the end of the next term. If the student fails to meet the objectives by the conclusion of the following term, the I grade converts to an F grade.

A student who has applied for graduation in a given term must complete all required course work before graduation is posted to the academic record. An Incomplete grade in a course needed for graduation prohibits the posting of graduation to the official student record.

Grade Forgiveness

Polk State College’s Grade Forgiveness Policy allows a student to repeat only those courses with an earned grade of D, F, or W. The student is allowed only three attempts in any one course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. The third attempt at a course is charged at a higher cost, which is roughly equal to the full cost of instruction. Although all course attempts appear on the transcript, only the grade earned in the most recent attempt is calculated in the cumulative GPA. A student is not allowed to withdraw from the third course attempt or receive a W grade. Before repeating a course, a student should consult the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating a course can have on his or her financial aid status.

Note: Another institution to which a student may eventually transfer may not have the same Grade Forgiveness Policy as Polk State College. The school may recalculate the student’s GPA and reassess eligibility for financial aid. For this reason, each student is advised to use course withdrawal and the Grade Forgiveness Policy rarely, and to make a committed attempt to pass each class with the best possible outcome on the first attempt.