Grading Policy

Final grades, reflected in student transcripts, are given when earned based on the following system:

TRANSCRIPT CODE	GRADE MEANING		GRADE NUMBER		GRADE POINTS
A	Excellent		90-100		4
B	Above Average		80-89		3
C	Average		70-79		2
D	Below Average		60-69		1
F	Failure		Below 60		0
NF	Non-Completion Failure				0
AU	Audit				N/A
SR	Senior Audit				N/A
AP	Advanced Placement				N/A
AR	Articulated Credit				N/A
I	Incomplete				N/A
IE	Incomplete - Emergency (COVID-19 issues)				N/A
MT	Credit for Military Training				N/A
P	Pass (Developmental Courses Only)				N/A
T	Transfer				N/A
S	Satisfactory (Work-Based Learning Only)				N/A
U	Unsatisfactory (Work-based Learning Only)				N/A
W	Withdrawal				N/A
WE	Withdrawal Emergency (COVID-19 issues)				0
X	Proficiency				N/A

A student who receives a grade of “AU” was registered for and took the course but did not earn credit for the course. An audited class is not included in the enrollment hours for purposes of awarding financial aid funds. The audited hours will not count as attempted or earned hours.

 

A student who receives a grade of “SR” was registered for and took the course under the special provision for senior citizens but did not earn credit for the course. An audited class under the special provision for senior citizens is not included in the enrollment hours for purposes of awarding financial aid funds. The audited hours will not count as attempted or earned hours.

 

A student who receives a grade of “AP” has earned credit by taking an AP high school course and passing the state test for that AP class with at least the minimum score set by the college for the college course equivalent.

 

A student who receives a grade of “AR” has earned articulated credit. Articulated credit may be given for credit for prior learning including, but not limited to, certifications and licensures, high school career and technical education, life experience, public safety training, and continuing education course. Credit hours will be assigned for such credit; however, no quality points will be assigned.

 

The grade of “I” is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is passing has not completed all work in the course due to circumstances beyond his/her control. The “I” must be removed by making up the work during the first six weeks of the next semester (including summer semester) at which time a grade will be assigned by the instructor. Failure to do so will result in the “I” grade being changed to a grade of “F”.

 

The grade of “MT” is assigned to indicate credit earned for military educational experience. Credit hours will be assigned for such credit; however, no quality points will be assigned.

 

The grade of “IE” is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is passing has not completed all work in the course due to an emergency situation related to COVID-19. The student must complete the remaining course work by the expiration date determined by the instructor but no later than 16 weeks from the end of the semester. Failure to do so will result in the “IE” grade being changed to a grade of “F”.

 

When a student satisfactorily passes a developmental course, the student will earn a grade of “P” indicating the passing of this course. If the student does not pass the course, a grade of “F” will be given.

 

Work-based learning courses provide work-based learning experiences with a college-approved employer in an area related to the student’s program of study. Therefore, students either earn an “S” for satisfactory work or a “U” for unsatisfactory work in the course.

 

If the student withdraws or is withdrawn before the 90 percent date, as recorded on the academic calendar, the student will receive a grade of “W” for the class and will not receive credit for the course. The “W” grade will not be used to compute hours earned or to compute the student’s grade point average.

 

If the student withdraws or is withdrawn by the College before the 90 percent date as recorded on the academic calendar, due to an emergency situation related to COVID-19 the student will receive a grade of “WE” for the class and will not receive credit for the course. The “WE” grade will not be used to compute hours earned or to compute the student’s grade point average.

 

The grade of “NF” is assigned to a student who did not officially withdraw from a course but who failed to participate in course activities through the end of the course period.

 

A grade of “X” (Proficiency) will be recorded on the student’s transcript upon successful completion of the proficiency exam. Credits earned will be applied toward graduation requirements but will not affect the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). Proficiency Credit cannot be requested for a course which the student previously attempted.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average (GPA) is a way to give objective value to grades on courses that have different hours. In order to receive a degree, diploma or certificate from RichmondCC, a student must have a grade of “C” or better in all core courses for the program of study. Core courses are listed with each curriculum requirements section of the catalog.

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How to Figure GPA

List the courses taken, the credit hours for each course, the grades earned, and the quality point credit for each grade.

Grade points are as follows: A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point.

To calculate quality points, multiply the credit hours times the points for each course.

Course	Credit Hours	Grade	Points	Total Quality Points
ENG 111	3	C	2	6
MAT 140	3	C	2	6
ACA 111	1	A	4	4
BIO 111	4	B	3	12
HIS 112	3	D	1	3
	14			31

Divide the total number of quality points by the number of credit hours attempted. Ex. 31 ÷ 14 = 2.21 grade point average (GPA).

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Grade Appeal Process

A student at Richmond Community College has the right to appeal a grade assigned to him/her. The following procedure will be used by the student who desires to appeal a grade:

1. The student must schedule an appointment with the Instructor who has assigned the grade, discuss the matter with him/her and ask for a review of the basis for assigning the grade. If the disagreement about the grade is resolved at this time, the instructor will submit a “Request for Change of Grade” form.
2. If the disagreement is not resolved through discussion with the instructor, the student must, within ten days of notification of the instructor's decision, submit a written appeal to the appropriate department chair stating reasons for appealing the grade. (The student may consult with a counselor or his/her academic advisor for assistance in developing the written appeal.) If the disagreement about the grade is resolved at this time, the instructor will submit a “Request for Change of Grade” form.
3. If the disagreement is still not resolved, the student must schedule an appointment with the appropriate Academic Dean, discuss the matter with him/her and ask for a review of the basis for assigning the grade. If the disagreement about the grade is resolved at this time, the instructor will submit a “Request for Change of Grade” form.
4. If the disagreement is still not resolved, the student should schedule an appointment with the Vice President for Instruction/Chief Academic Officer to discuss the appeal. The decision of the Vice President for Instruction/Chief Academic Officer is final.
5. The right to appeal a grade expires at the end of the semester following the one in which the grade is assigned. When a student appeals a grade assigned by an instructor no longer employed by the College, the student should initiate the process by notifying the appropriate department chair/program coordinator.

Student Grade Forgiveness Policy

Any RichmondCC student who has experienced a lapse of enrollment at the College for a period of two consecutive academic years may, upon reenrollment, make a request with the Registrar to have prior course work forgiven from their cumulative grade point average calculation. The following criteria must be met:
• The student must first complete at least 6 semester hours of credit with a 2.0 grade point average before requesting academic forgiveness.
• The request must be made during the subsequent semester after the 6 semester hours have  been completed.
• Prior course work must be at least two years old.
• Only prior courses with grades below a “C” will be eligible for academic forgiveness.
• The student must complete an Academic Forgiveness Request Form, which is available in  the Student Services Registrar’s Office.
• Only one request will be accepted per student. If the request is approved, the record of the  earlier course work affected remains on the student’s transcript but is not calculated in the  cumulative grade point average for academic purposes only.
In instances in which academic forgiveness is granted for courses completed at RichmondCC and then transferred to another college or university, the receiving institution is not required to disregard those course grades. Other colleges or universities may elect to include the grades forgiven in computing the student’s grade point average, possibly disqualifying the student from consideration for admission.
Financial aid and/or veterans’ benefits are subject to federal regulations. These regulations require satisfactory academic progress based on all academic work attempted and are, therefore, not affected by any academic forgiveness.