Grading Policies
The level of student's performance in class work and examinations is indicated by letters. A (excellent), B (good), C (average), and D (poor) indicate that the work has been passed. The foregoing grades may be accompanied by a plus (+) or minus (-) to indicate a relative position within the grade category. P shows credit has been earned in a pass/fail course, and Z shows that a course was audited. S and U indicate satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance in nonacademic courses. W indicates that the student withdrew from a course. Marks indicating failure and included as such in the grade point average are F and V (failure because of excessive absences). The X indicates that the grade is not available from the instructor.
I and Y mean that coursework has not been completed by the end of the term. The I, which provisionally counts as a failing grade, is given when the reasons for incomplete work are deemed unjustifiable by the instructor. The work is to be made up by the date the instructor specifies, but no later than 45 calendar days from the last day of the term in which the I was given. In all cases, it is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for and progress toward the completion of an incomplete course. If the work is not made up during the grace period, the I will be converted to F. The Y, which does not count as a failing grade, is given when the reasons for incomplete work are deemed justifiable by the instructor, or at the end of the first term of a course that continues into a succeeding term. In the schools of Undergraduate Arts & Sciences, Business, and Leadership Studies, the deadline for completion of the work is two years from the last day of the term in which the Y was given unless the instructor or college dean specifies an earlier deadline. In the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, the Y grade is to be made up by the end of the succeeding term. In the School of Law, the Y grade is to be made up within 60 days of the end of the term in which it was given. In the case of an I, for the undergraduate School of Arts & Sciences, Business, and Leadership Studies, and the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, once the course is completed, the earned grade replaces the I. For the Law School, once the make-up grade is received, it appears to the right of the incomplete grade on the permanent record. For the graduate business program in the Robins School of Business, in the case of an I or Y, once the make-up grade is received, it appears to the right of the incomplete grade on the student's permanent record. In all cases, it is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for and progress toward the completion of an incomplete course.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during the spring 2020, students in the undergraduate Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Leadership Studies had the option to choose credit/no credit grading for each of their classes. In spring 2021, students in those undergraduate schools had the option to choose one class to be graded credit/no credit.
Classes in the School of Law were all graded credit/no credit in spring 2020 only.
These grades did not affect the grade point average. The transcript may reflect the following grades:
- CR Credit, earned grade of C- or better
- CRD Credit-D, earned grade of D+, D, or D-
- NC No Credit
During the spring 2021 semester, School of Professional and Continuing Studies students could elect to take one class credit/no credit. The transcript may reflect the following grades:
- CR Credit, earned grade of D- or better in undergraduate classes or B- or better in graduate classes
- NC No Credit
Credit and Grade Point Average
The University of Richmond undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Leadership Studies uses the unit credit value. A unit is determined by a combination of factors that include contact time with a faculty member in a formal setting and expectations of independent student work through a nominal 15-week semester. One unit is the equivalent of 3.5 semester hours.
The grade point average is based on two factors:
- GPA Units- The accumulation of academic units or credit hours that have grades to which grade point values are assigned; and
- Grade Points- Given for each unit/credit grade according to this scale:
|
A+ 4.0 |
B+ 3.3 |
C+ 2.3 |
D+ 1.3 |
|
A 4.0 |
B 3.0 |
C 2.0 |
D 1.0 |
|
A- 3.7 |
B- 2.7 |
C- 1.7 |
D- 0.7 |
|
F 0.0 |
I 0.0 |
V 0.0 |
|
- Calculation Points The grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of GPA units/hours. The grade point average is represented to two significant decimal figures and truncated, not rounded.
The accumulations and average are shown each term on the permanent academic record and on the transcript. Also shown on these reports is the accumulation of earned units/credits. Earned units/credits are the academic units in which the student has earned passing grades, plus unit credit, if any, for accepted transfer work.
Grade Appeals
Students may refer to their academic catalog for procedures on grade appeals:
Arts & Sciences, Undergraduate Business, and Leadership Studies