The following is a summary regarding the University’s grading system. For more detailed information the student should consult the most recent edition of Academic Regulations published annually. The University’s official grading system is: A (4.0), A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C (2.0), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), F (0.0), IF (incomplete failure calculates as an F for students without graduate standing), INC (incomplete calculates as an F for students without graduate standing until final grade is received), P (Pass: No effect on cumulative average but is added to graduation credits). Courses marked F, INC, W, Y, NR, blank or AUD do not earn graduation credit. Courses below the 100-level earn semester credit but not degree credit. These courses are factored into the semester and cumulative grade point average. Students who are unable to complete course requirements within the allotted time because of severe medical or personal problems may request a grade of Incomplete from the Instructor. A grade of Incomplete will be converted to an F, if it is not resolved by the end of the following semester. Students are not permitted to re-register for a course in order to clear an Incomplete
REPEATED COURSES
No course for which a grade of C or higher was earned may be repeated. A course for which a grade of C-, D+, D or F (or CD before 2004) was earned may be repeated one time without permission. A course may be repeated a second time, for a total of three times, only with prior permission of the undergraduate dean of the school or college in which the student is enrolled. Under no circumstances may a student take a course more than three times. Successful registration for a course does not constitute permission. All enrollments and all grades will appear on the transcript, but the last grade will be calculated in the GPA unless the dean files an appeal with the Registrar. Repeating a UMass Amherst course at another of the Five Colleges, at another campus of the University of Massachusetts, or at any other institution will not result in grade substitution. NOTE: Repeating a course can have negative consequences. For example, if a passing grade of C- , D+ or D (or CD before 2004) was received in the first enrollment, but a failing grade is received when the course is repeated, no credit would be earned for either attempt. Repeating a previously passed course may also have an effect on financial aid eligibility. Students considering repeating previously passed courses should consult their academic advisors and Financial Aid staff
PASS/FAIL GRADING POLICY
The Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences concurs with the UMass Pass/Fail policy which states that any full-time undergraduate shall be eligible to use the pass/fail option in one course each semester except for courses taken to satisfy the General Education requirements. We emphasize the established purpose of the pass/fail policy is “to encourage full-time students to be usefully venturesome in the choice of their elective courses.” The Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences requires that all Departmental major requirements are taken on a graded basis. Because of the reluctance or refusal of some veterinary school and graduate school admission boards to evaluate transcripts with pass/fail courses, students who anticipate applying for admission to professional or graduate schools are encouraged to take all Departmental courses and all math and science courses on a graded basis. The University's writing requirements may not be elected Pass/Fail. .Students wishing to exercise the Pass/Fail option must do so by the W Drop date.
ACADEMIC STATUS
The Academic Status may be confusing because of the many categories in which a student may be placed. The following is a brief description of the common academic status categories; for more details consult the most recent edition of Academic Regulations published annually.
Good Standing – Students are in good academic standing when their cumulative grade point average is 2.00 or above. This requirement applies to full-time and part-time students, and applies equally to those who were admitted as first year and as transfer students. The number of credits per semester is not used to determine good academic status. However, the Registrar’s Office will issue a credit alert to students who have earned less than 12 credits per semester. If 48 degree credits have not been earned by the end of four semesters, the student must obtain approval of an academic plan for graduation.
Academic Warning – Students whose cumulative average is 2.000 or above, but whose semester average is less than 2.000, will be sent a warning indicating that they should consult with their academic dean.
Academic Probation – Students whose cumulative average falls below 2.000 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who have been placed on Academic Probation or who have received a second consecutive Academic Warning should contact their academic dean (NOTE: these are students with acceptable CUM GPA that repeatedly do not meet minimum term GPA requirements.)
Academic Suspension – Students on Probation who fail to achieve or maintain good standing in any subsequent semester will be placed on Academic Suspension unless an appeal is granted. Suspended students may not enroll in the succeeding Fall or Spring semester. Suspension is a one semester separation from the University including University Without Walls. Following one semester on Academic Suspension, students who file an Application for Re-enrollment with the Registrar’s Office are entitled to re-enroll. Upon re-enrollment, students returning from suspension shall confer with their academic deans prior to re-enrollment. 1. Probation Continued: Students who are subject to Academic Suspension, yet whose semester's work shows substantial improvement, may be placed on Probation Continued at the discretion of their Academic Dean. 2. Immediate Reinstatement. Students who are suspended may be granted an Immediate Reinstatement by an academic dean or the Committee on Admission and Records. Immediate reinstatement status grants the student an additional semester to achieve good standing. Students on Immediate Reinstatement status who fail to achieve good standing will be dismissed.
Credit Overload Petition
If you are a full-time student and want to take more than 19 credits, you must request a credit overload. Use the Credit Overload Petition form to request an increase in your credit limit. No overloads will be approved for first-semester students - both first year and transfer. If approved for a credit overload, students are not allowed to register for the extra courses via SPIRE until late July for fall semester and late November for spring semester. Credit overloads will not be approved for the current semester for work done previously. For example, if a student does an internship/independent study during the summer, credits must be arranged through University Without Walls (UWW/CPE). It is not possible for work done in the summer to be reflected as credits earned in the fall.