Grading Criteria
Hood’s faculty uses the following general criteria in determining grades. Demonstration of the ability to write and speak standard English is included in the grade evaluation of every course. The criteria upon which students will be evaluated is included on every course syllabus.
A, A- (90–100) indicates general excellence; the student displays initiative, independence and often originality in the course.
B+, B, B- (80–89) indicates an unquestioned grasp of the subject’s fundamental facts and principles, an understanding of their significance and an ability to use them effectively; work is logically organized and technically correct; the student often shows initiative and independent work.
C+, C, C- (70–79) indicates the student has a fairly accurate knowledge of the subject’s fundamental facts and principles and is able to apply them reasonably well; work is fairly logical in organization and technique but it is incomplete; there is evidence of growth in handling the coursework.
D+, D, D- (60–69) indicates work is of inferior quality yet deserving of credit; there is some acquaintance with basic facts and principles, but work is poorly organized and technically faulty; the student frequently fails to complete assignments.
F (0–59) indicates work shows no grasp of basic facts and principles and is not deserving of credit; it is poorly organized and technically faulty; the student frequently fails to complete assignments.
S indicates satisfactory completion of work done on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis; performance is at a C- level or better.
U indicates unsatisfactory completion of work done on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis and not deserving of credit; performance is at a D+ level or lower.
INC indicates incomplete work in a course because of illness or serious emergency beyond the student’s control; students must arrange to finish assignments in accordance with the College’s incomplete grade policy.
Grade Appeal
If a student receives a final grade in a course that they believe is incorrect or unfair they may appeal that grade by following this procedure:
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Students must contact the instructor of the course in question, in writing, within 30 calendar days of the posting of the disputed grade. The grade appeal request must outline the specific grievances about the grading procedure, explain grounds for appeal, and attach relevant documentation (syllabus guidelines for papers or presentations, etc.).
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The instructor must provide a decision regarding the grade appeal review to the student in writing within 30 calendar days of receiving the request from the student. If the student does not receive a response from the instructor within that 30 days, the student may appeal to the academic department chair.
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If, after reviewing the instructor’s explanation and decision, the student still wishes to appeal the grade, they must present the grade appeal to the academic department chair within 15 calendar days of the notification from the instructor.
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If the student is still not satisfied with the department chair’s decision, they may make a final appeal to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies (AS&P). In such cases, the request and documentation must be submitted to AS&P within 15 days of the notification from the department chair.
Failure to follow this timeline provides sufficient grounds for dismissing an appeal.
For clarity and legal reasons, all formal complaints, appeals, and decisions must be written, not oral form.
The AS&P Committee will review all documentation submitted by the student, instructor and department chair, and will screen out frivolous or unsubstantiated appeals. Legitimate appeals that fall into the following categories will be considered:
All parties to the grade appeal are to maintain strict confidentiality until the matter is resolved.
Grade Changes
Instructors have the right to change a grade if they have made an error in computing or recording a student’s grade. Instructors must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing of the error and the new grade to be recorded. Grade changes for any other reasons, must be submitted by the instructor in writing to the Registrar's Office and copy the academic department chair, who must also approve the grade change request.
Final and Midterm Grades
Hood releases final and midterm grades electronically to the student and the student’s advisor through Self-Service.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grade Plan
Hood provides an alternate grade plan as a means of encouraging intellectual curiosity. Under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory option, students receive a grade of “S” and credit for work of “C-” caliber or better or a grade of “U” and no credit for work of “D+” or lower quality. Neither grade is computed in the cumulative grade point average.
Limits/Restrictions:
- Students may not choose the S/U option for any course used to satisfy the Core, in the major field, the minor field, or an independent study. If a course is only offered for S/U credit, this policy does not apply.
- Students may choose the S/U option for a maximum of 12 satisfactory/unsatisfactory credits within the total 124 credits Hood requires for graduation. Students spending three years at Hood may choose the S/U option for only 9 satisfactory/unsatisfactory credits to meet graduation requirements; two years, 6 credits; one year, 3 credits. Courses only offered for S/U credit are not counted in these totals.
- Change from one grading plan to another must have the advisor’s approval and must occur before the end of the drop/add period via written request to the registrar's office. No changes to or from the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading system may be made after the drop/add period.
- Students are cautioned that some graduate and professional schools and employers look negatively at satisfactory/unsatisfactory on transcripts because actual performance or mastery of the subject has not been demonstrated.