Grades are awarded to indicate the quality of a student’s work and are assigned as follows (point values per credit hour appear in parentheses): Consistent with the Faculty Senate action of February 14, 2008, the plus/minus grades will be implemented beginning with the Fall 2009 semester. The following are current grade definitions:

A  (4.00): Outstanding work.  Outstanding achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was of the highest level. Excellence while meeting course objectives was sustained throughout the course. Not only was the student’s performance clearly and significantly above satisfactory, it was also of an independent and creative nature.

A- (3.70): Excellent work.  Excellent achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory, and was creative and independent.

B+ (3.30): Near excellent work.  Achievement was significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory, and was creative and independent.

B  (3.00): Very good work.  Achievement significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was very good, although not of the highest level. Performance was clearly and significantly above satisfactory fulfillment of course requirements (For undergraduates:  B = meritorious:  For graduates B = adequate).

B- (2.70): Good work.  Achievement at a level just above that necessary to meet course requirements. Performance was notable.

C+ (2.30): Slightly above satisfactory work.  Achievement that meets the course requirements. Performance was slightly more than adequate.

C  (2.00): Satisfactory work.  Achievement that meets the course requirements. Performance was adequate, although marginal in quality (For undergraduates: C = adequate: For graduates: C = inadequate).

C-  (1.70): Slightly below satisfactory work.  Achievement that barely meets the course requirements. Performance has been slightly below satisfactory and was marginal in quality.

D+  (1.30): Passing work.  Achievement below satisfactory in meeting course requirements. Student demonstrated below satisfactory achievement in meeting course objectives, yet fulfilled a sufficient enough portion of the course objectives that repeating the course is not necessary unless required by the academic unit.

D  (1.00): Minimum passing work.  Achievement barely worthy of credit. Student demonstrated unsatisfactory achievement in meeting course objectives, yet fulfilled a sufficient enough portion of the course objectives that repeating the course is not necessary unless required by the academic unit.

F  (0.00): Failed – no credit.  A failure to meet course requirements. The work of course objectives were either: 1) completed but not at a level of achievement that is worthy of credit, or 2) have not been completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an “I” (incomplete).

I (0.00): Incomplete. Grade assigned when due to unusual circumstances a small portion of a course, such as a term paper or final examination, has not been completed. (See “Incomplete Grade.”)

EX (0.00): Dual High School Course-Extended Grading Period. No hours or points assigned. 

IP (0.00): In-Progress course.

NP (0.00): Not Pass. Student did not pass the course under the pass/not pass system. 

NR (0.00): Academic Renewal Elected. Grades removed from GPA calculation. 

P (0.00): Pass. Student passed the course under the pass/not pass system or received MSU Credit by Examination.

V (0.00): Visitor. Student enrolled in and attended the course as an auditor. 

W (0.00): Withdrew. Student withdrew from course without academic penalty. 

XF (0.00): Failure due to academic dishonesty 

Z (0.00): Deferred grade. Assigned only to students enrolled in 600-level or higher courses, restricted to graduate theses, graduate problem courses, or graduate seminars which might not be completed within a semester. If a Z grade is not removed within two calendar years, it will become a “W”.