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- Definition of Semester Credit Hour
- Grade Designations
- Auditing of Courses
- Calculating the Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Repeating of Courses
- Transfer Credit
- Grade Changes
Definition of Semester Credit Hour
The typical academic load of full time students at Alfred University is 16-18 credit hours per semester.
- Most courses meet for 1 (50-minute) hour per week for each semester credit hour, or the equivalent.
- Courses with labs typically meet for 2 to 3 hours per week of class time plus 2 to 3 hours per week of lab time.
- Art studios meet 1.5 to 2 hours per week for each credit hour.
On a weekly basis, students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours outside of class studying and completing assignments for each hour spent in class (three hours per week outside of class for each hour in class for art studios); which is a minimum of 45 hours of total learning time per credit hour for the term. Students taking an online course should, likewise, expect to spend about 45 hours of total learning time per credit hour in a term; the same amount of time as in a traditional, on-campus course.
The Registrar and the Deans review the class schedule each semester and review at least annually courses and programs as published in our catalogs in order to ensure compliance with credit hour requirements.
Grade Designations
Grading in graduate courses (except for thesis/project credit and all courses offered by the School of Art and Design) is as follows:
| Grade | Grade Points per Semester Hour | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | Exemplary |
| B+ | 3.50 | Exceeds Expectation |
| B | 3.00 | Meets Expectations |
| C | 2.00 | Below Expectations |
| F | 0.00 | Failure |
| I | 0.00 | Incomplete |
| IP | 0.00 | In Progress |
Graduate courses offered by the School of Art and Design are graded only HP (High Pass), P (Pass), NC (No Credit), IP or I. When undergraduates enroll in 500 level courses they are graded on the graduate scale.
Graduate thesis credits are reported using the P or NC grades. Mid-term grades are not required for 500 or 600 level courses.
The grade of I indicates incomplete course work due to circumstances beyond the student's control.
The Registrar shall change the grade of I to F if the incomplete is not removed within the succeeding semester, unless the instructor recommends to the Dean of appropriate program that an extension of one additional semester be granted for completion of the unfinished work. If the work remains incomplete at the end of the additional semester, the Registrar shall change the grade of I to F. Extension can be granted for one additional semester. Any extensions beyond the one additional semester (1 year total) must be approved by the Registrar’s office by supplying documentation that the student has been in contact with the instructor and is making progress towards completion.
The grade of IP (In Progress) may be given for thesis, project, and seminar courses when the work extends by design over multiple terms. The IP indicates that work is in progress and a final grade will be given in the future.
Auditing of Courses
A student may elect to take a course on a non-credit or “audit” basis. The student may also change from credit to audit or vice-versa until the last day to withdraw from the course as designated in the Academic Calendar. An auditor receives a grade of “AU” in the course, and this is recorded on the transcript. Courses audited are charged at 50%of the normal tuition rate.
Any student registering as an auditor in a class must consult the instructor to determine the level of participation the instructor expects of an auditor. If any auditing student fails to meet the expected level of participation, the instructor will notify the Registrar at the end of the term, and the Registrar will withdraw the student from the class.
Calculating the Grade Point Average (GPA)
Only credits attempted at Alfred University which have received final grades of A through F shall be used to calculate GPA. The term GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points (or “quality points”) earned by the “GPA Hours” for that term. The cumulative GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total grade points earned at the University by the GPA hours.
Courses completed with grades of HP, P and A through C will be counted as credit earned. Courses with grades of W, I, NC, IP, F, and AU will not be counted as credit earned.
Repeating of Courses
When a course is repeated, the course value shall be used only once and the grade points corresponding to the last grade earned shall be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. While the original grade is no longer used in the GPA, it remains a part of the record and it appears on the student’s transcript.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit evaluations from other accredited institutions shall be made by the Dean or appointed representative of the college or school in which the student is enrolled or wishes to enroll. The evaluation is forwarded to the Registrar's Office to be placed on the student's permanent record. No more than six semester credit hours of graduate work, or 20% of coursework, whichever is greater, may be transferred into a master’s degree or certificate of advanced studies program. Doctoral programs permit up to 50%of coursework as transfer credits.
Grade Changes
All grade changes must be completed prior to the Registrar’s certification of graduation. Assigning course grades at Alfred University is the exclusive responsibility of course instructors. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to limit the ability of the Registrar to change grades of incomplete (I) to fail (F) in accordance with the policy on grades of “Incomplete.” Nothing in this policy shall be construed as substituting or supplanting rules, regulations, or procedures contained in the policy on Academic Dishonesty.
- A grade may be changed by the instructor of a course to convert an Incomplete or IP to a final grade.
- A grade may be changed by the instructor of a course to correct an error. The Division/Program Chair and appropriate Dean must be notified of all grade changes in writing (stating reason(s) for the change) except for completion of work in courses graded I or IP.
- Once assigned, only the course instructor can change a course grade, except in rare circumstances when the course instructor’s supervising Dean may change a grade. See Appendix A in the Graduate Academic Regulations for information on the circumstances under which a Dean may change a grade.
Students have one year from the date a final grade is issued to petition for a change of grade. A student who believes a final grade is not correct should first meet with the instructor who assigned the grade. If the matter is not resolved, the student should meet with the Division/Program Chairperson in the academic area offering the course in question. If there is no resolution, the student should arrange a meeting with the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, of the College or School offering the course.
- If there is still no resolution, the student may appeal the decision of the faculty member to the Ombuds Officer. Should a request for an appeal be made to the Ombuds Officer, an appeals committee will be assembled.
- The appeals committee should meet as soon as possible after members of the committee have been selected. The appeals committee will review the case and prepare a written recommendation to be forwarded to the Provost. The Provost will make the final decision within seven semester days and officially notify, in writing, the student, the instructor(s) and Dean involved in the case.
- The student may bring one other student or employee from Alfred University to the appeals committee hearing. Only members of the university community shall be permitted to attend the hearing.
- The invited other person shall not have the right to speak or otherwise participate in the hearing. No sound or video recording of the appeal committee hearing shall be permitted. All testimony given at the hearing shall be considered confidential except for communication to appropriate university faculty and administrators.