Overview
Coursework is evaluated on the following scale:
| Grade | Definition | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Exceptional | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | |
| B+ | 3.3 | |
| B | Good | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | |
| C+ | 2.3 | |
| C | Satisfactory | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 | |
| D+ | 1.3 | |
| D | Minimally Acceptable | 1.0 |
| F | Failing | 0.0 |
| AU | Audit | NA |
| CR | Credit | NA |
| I | Incomplete (courses with letter grades) | NA |
| IN | Incomplete (courses graded S/U) | NA |
| IP | In Process | NA |
| N | No Grading | NA |
| NR | Not Reported | NA |
| S | Satisfactory | NA |
| U | Unsatisfactory | NA |
| W | Withdrawal | NA |
| WZ | Audit Withdrawal | NA |
An instructor has the option of affixing a minus to the grade of A, a plus or a minus to the grades of B and C, and a plus to the grade of D. A plus increases the number of grade points awarded by 0.3, and a minus decreases the number of grade points awarded by 0.3.
All grades are considered final and are not subject to change except for errors in calculation, or as a result of a successful academic petition. Students should contact their student success advisor about submitting a petition, if desired. The grade of I or IN is resolved to a grade when work is completed or the incomplete extension deadline has been reached (see: Grade of I or IN).
GPA Calculations
The GPA is determined by dividing the number of grade points by the number of credits the student has attempted in A-F letter-graded courses at Bethel. When a course is repeated, only the last attempt is used in computing the GPA. The exception is when a course is designated as repeatable, in which case it can be taken for a grade for a prescribed number of times, with each occurrence factoring into the GPA.
Cumulative GPA
Coursework included in the cumulative GPA calculation meet all of the following criteria:
- Completed.
- Given a letter grade of A-F.
- Taken in the term being evaluated for academic standing.
- Taken at the level of the student's degree/credential of pursuit at that time (undergraduate, masters, doctoral).
Coursework not included in the cumulative GPA calculation are:
- Non-A-F letter graded courses. These courses are graded as: AU, CR, I (Incomplete for A-F letter graded courses), IN (Incomplete for S/U courses), IP, N, NR, P/F (pass/fail), S/U, W and WZ.
- Courses taken at a level other than the student's degree/credential of pursuit at that time (undergraduate, masters, doctoral).
The graduate school GPA is calculated only on the basis of credits earned at the Bethel University Graduate School.
Grade of AU
The grade AU is given when a student audits a course.
Auditing at Bethel is defined as observation in the classroom setting. Participation beyond attendance in class activities is the instructor’s prerogative. Not all courses are available to audit. Students wishing to audit a course must secure the consent of their student success advisor and the course instructor at the beginning of the term. A student may change to or from audit status with the instructor’s approval only during the first 60% of the course.
Auditors are required to meet the attendance requirements set by the instructor. Students who do not meet the attendance requirements will be graded WZ.
Grade of CR
The grade CR is used for coursework that is excluded from GPA calculations.
Grade of I or IN
The grade I or IN is given when a student is unable to complete the course requirements in the regular time due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. The incomplete must be negotiated with and approved by the instructor before a grade of I or IN may be allowed. Remaining work must be of the kind that can be done largely through independent effort. Unless the grade of I or IN is removed by the deadline designated by the instructor, the student will be graded for the course using the default grade designated by the instructor.
The maximum deadline the instructor can assign for resolution of the I or IN grade is six months from the end of the course. Assignment of the maximum deadline or an earlier deadline is at the discretion of the instructor. Students with multiple grades of I or IN may be required to resolve all grades of I or IN before continuing to progress in their program.
Incompletes in internships or practica may be handled differently [see Internships]. Incompletes for doctoral dissertation work, doctoral projects, master’s theses, and master’s capstone projects follow the Extensions for Thesis/Capstone/Dissertation Courses Policy.
Grades of IP, N, and NR
The grades of IP (In Progress), N (Not Graded) and NR (Not Reported) are generated for administrative use only. These grades are not counted in the GPA.
Grades of S and U
Courses graded with S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) rather than the default A-F letter grading, are identified in the catalog course description. Some courses allow for either an A–F or S/U grade. This option is also indicated in the catalog course description. In these courses, a student may change from A–F grading to S/U or from S/U to A-F grading, with instructor approval, through the date designated as the 60% point of the course. The grade of S always indicates achievement equivalent to at least a grade of B.
Grade of W
The grade W is given to a student who officially withdraws from a course by the withdrawal deadline, which is approximately 60% of the total course length. After the withdrawal deadline, students will receive the grade they have earned. Grades of W do not affect the Grade Point Average (GPA).