Wichita State grades include A (excellent), B (good), C (satisfactory), D (unsatisfactory), F (failure), W (withdrawal), Cr (credit), NCr (no credit), Bg (badge), NBg (no badge), S (satisfactory), U (unsatisfactory), I (incomplete), IP (in progress), NGS (no grade submitted), CrE (credit by examination), and Au (audit). Passing grades include A, B, C, D, Cr, CrE, Bg and S. The grades F, NCr, NBg and U indicate that the quality of work was such that, to obtain credit, the student must repeat regular coursework. A plus/minus grading system was adopted beginning fall 2009. It applies to grades of A, B, C and D.

Credit Points

For each hour of work the student takes, credit points are assigned, as follows, to permit averaging of grades:

Related Details

• B or better grade required: B- will fulfill this requirement unless otherwise indicated.
• C or better grade required: C- will fulfill this requirement in course prerequisites unless otherwise indicated, but C- will not fulfill degree requirements.
• I: Incomplete. An incomplete is a temporary grade assigned by a faculty member that grants a student an extension of time to complete the coursework. The extension of time may not exceed one calendar year from the end of the original semester. It is used in exceptional cases where a student is unable to complete coursework due to circumstances beyond his or her control. Credit is postponed and the course is not included in the student's grade point average until a permanent letter grade is assigned. 
  The following conditions govern incompletes:
  1. When an incomplete grade is assigned, the faculty member may assign a default grade other than an I. If the coursework is not satisfactorily completed by the extension date, the I will revert to the default grade; if the faculty member does not assign a default grade the I will revert to an F. When the student completes the work by the extension date, the faculty member must submit an online change of grade request to assign the appropriate grade.
  2. Subsequent enrollment in the course will be governed by the university repeat policy.
  3. Students are automatically informed of university policies and procedures when they receive an I grade. 
• IP: In Progress. An IP (in progress) grade is temporarily recorded when a course does not have to be completed by the end of the semester of enrollment. The grade submitted when the course has been completed replaces all IP grades for that course. This only applies to courses such as Special Topics, Special Projects, Research, Thesis and Dissertation, as specified by the departments. 
• Bg/NBg: Badge/No Badge. In order for graduate credit to be awarded for a badge course, the expectation is that the quality of work would be consistent with a letter grade of a B (80 percent).
• GPA: Grade Point Average. The graduate grade point average includes only those courses taken at WSU for which graduate credit is earned and for which a regular letter grade (A,B,C, D or F) is assigned. For repeated courses, only the last assigned grade is used to calculate the WSU graduate grade point average. WSU courses repeated at another institution may be used to fulfill program requirements; however, the repeated course transferred from another institution will not be counted in the WSU graduate grade point average, nor will it replace the grade received at WSU. Courses transferred from another institution and graduate credit courses graded S (satisfactory) or Bg (badge) do not affect the graduate grade point average. GPAs are calculated and applied to three decimal places (truncated), although only two decimal places print on the transcript.
  To remain in good standing in a graduate degree program, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.000 in all courses on the student's graduate plan of study (excluding all transfer work) and for all graduate work taken at WSU. Grades lower than C, (generating less than 2.000 grade points), cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements, but such grades earned, beginning fall 2001, may be repeated. 

Repeats

A graduate student may enroll in graduate courses (for credit) a second or subsequent time and have it counted as part of the semester’s load. If a course is repeated, the Graduate School will consider that the last grade earned replaces the original grade for purposes of admission and degree completion (in calculating initial and subsequent admission GPAs, in certifying the student’s eligibility for graduation, in certifying completion of certificate programs, and in computing the WSU grade point average). Although the last grade earned becomes the grade of record (replaces original grade), the original course grade remains on the graduate transcript.

Repeated courses are identified on the transcript by an extra letter after the grade:

• I included in GPA
• E Excluded from GPA

Within existing departmental and university guidelines, WSU courses repeated at another institution may be used to complete program requirements, but the repeat grade will not be counted in the WSU grade point average (as transfer courses are not counted in the WSU grade point average).

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Graded Courses

Certain approved courses that carry graduate credit are graded S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) for all students enrolled, and badge courses are graded Bg/NBg (badge/no badge). Such courses are identified in the online Schedule of Courses, or students enrolling in special offerings for graduate credit will be informed of the S/U grading by the instructor if this system is to be used. Students wishing to transfer graduate coursework graded S/U to a degree program at another institution should, before enrolling, inquire of that institution’s willingness to accept credit graded in this manner.

No more than 15 credit hours of work graded S, Cr or Bg (if approved through the plan of study) may be used toward the requirements of a graduate degree (excluding dissertation, thesis and other independent study activities that are terminal degree requirements). Refer to individual program areas as they may differ regarding this limit.

Audit Credit

Students are permitted to attend credit courses on a noncredit basis, with appropriate approval, under an auditor classification. To be enrolled as auditors, students must enroll in the same manner and pay the same fees as for-credit courses at the university. Auditors may participate fully in the class and expect instructor evaluation of their work. Auditors are expected to attend class regularly. The audited course will appear on the transcript with the grade notation of Au. Courses taken on an audit basis may be repeated for credit and, if repeated, may be used to fulfill degree requirements if the repeated grade is acceptable. Use of the audit basis for a course must be declared at the time of enrollment by coming to the registrar's office to change the enrollment from credit to noncredit audit. Audited courses are not eligible for financial aid.

Change of Grades Due to Error

Changes of grade due to errors in calculation or reporting may be initiated by an instructor at any time during one calendar year following the assignment of the original grade. A grade change may be initiated by the chairperson of the department that offered the course if, and only if, the instructor is not in residence. The approval of the graduate dean is needed to have the change of grade entered on the student’s transcript.

This change of grade policy may not be applied after graduation to courses taken prior to graduation.

Final Grade Reports

At the end of each semester, students may access their final grades through the myWSU portal¹ on the university website.

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