Grades
Grading Standards
LWTech uses a numeric grading system for most courses. Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments and the grade of 0.0. Grades in the range of 0.6 to 0.1 are not assigned. A grade of 0.7 earns credits; however, a minimum grade of 2.0 is required for a number of purposes including technical courses, academic core requirements, progression in a sequence of classes, to satisfy a prerequisite, and graduation requirements. Numerical grades and performance may be considered as follows:
| Points | Performance |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | Excellent performance |
| 3.7-3.9 | |
| 3.3-3.6 | Above-average performance |
| 3.0-3.2 | |
| 2.7-2.9 | |
| 2.3-2.6 | Average performance |
| 2.0-2.2 | |
| 1.7-1.9 | Minimum performance |
| 1.3-1.6 | |
| 1.0-1.2 | |
| 0.7-0.9 | |
| 0.0-0.6 | Unsatisfactory performance |
An incomplete grade may be given if the student is doing passing work, is unable to complete the requirements of the course during the quarter, and can complete the requirements within a period of time agreed upon by the student and the instructor.
When an I (Incomplete) grade is given by an instructor, an Incomplete Grade Contract is filed with Enrollment Services stating: 1) the work necessary to remove the Incomplete grade, 2) the agreed upon date for completion of the material, and 3) the grade earned if not completed by the deadline. Incomplete coursework must be completed by the required date established in the contract (this date may be no later than the end of the subsequent quarter of enrollment, with the exception of courses taken in spring quarter, which must be completed before the end of fall quarter). The student may not register for the course in a later quarter to remove the incomplete grade. The Incomplete grade will be changed to a 0.0 or to the grade assigned on the contract the quarter following the contracted date.
Audit means the student is registered in the course on a space-available basis to attend the class and to listen, but not do graded work. The N grade does not earn credit and does not affect student's GPA. The audit grade option must be approved by the instructor and submitted to Enrollment Services by the eighth week of the quarter.
NG means the course is “not graded” for any student taking the course. This applies, for example, to some non-credit courses. It would not appear on graded, credit courses. NG does not affect the GPA and does not earn credits. It does not indicate whether a student attended, just that the student enrolled.
The qualifier R on a transcript means a course has been repeated and is excluded from credits and grade point average. A student may repeat any course regardless of the grade received; however, financial aid and other funding sources may not cover the repeat of a course in which a passing grade (2.0 or higher) was earned. It is the student's responsibility to determine funding for the repeat course. All grades will still appear on the transcript whether repeated or not. If the most recent grade is lower than the earlier grade, the higher grade will count in the overall GPA.
S/U grading is used for work experience, clinical, and skill development courses. The S indicates a satisfactory level of performance by the student. By assigning an S grade, the instructor certifies a performance level of at least a 2.0 or higher. Credit is earned but the S does not affect the GPA calculation. A U grade is assigned when the level of performance is below 2.0. A U grade does not earn credit and does not affect the GPA.
A student may officially withdraw from any course through the eighth week of the quarter (or the equivalent for a short course or courses with irregular start or end dates) by completing an Add/Drop Class Registration Form and submitting it to Enrollment Services. Official withdrawals occurring after the tenth instructional day of the quarter are posted with a W on the student's permanent transcript. Withdrawals do not count in the GPA calculations and cannot be assigned by faculty in the grading process.
A Y grade is given to students who are doing passing coursework in basic skill classes (ABE, ESL, etc.) but need additional instruction and time to complete course requirements. Students are required to re-register for the course and pay all tuition and any other charges. The Y remains on the transcript for the quarter assigned, while the final grade will be posted to the quarter in which the student re-enrolled in the course. The Y grade earns no credit and does not affect the GPA.
Students who attend briefly, rarely, or not at all, and who fail to withdraw from a course with a W grade, may be assigned a grade of Z, if appropriate, at the instructor's discretion. The Z grade does not earn credit and does not count in GPA calculations.
This symbol (asterisk) means the grade has not been assigned yet and the student should consult with their instructor. This grade does not affect the GPA and does not earn credits. However, a * grade could prevent a student from receiving honors, impede financial aid eligibility, block graduation, or result in a student being considered in academic difficulty. It is important that all enrolled courses be assigned valid grades.
Academic Grade Forgiveness Policy
In order to compensate for the effects of circumstances in a student's past that may have negatively affected his or her GPA, LWTech offers a grade forgiveness policy. This procedure can be accomplished through an appeal filed with the registrar. The following criteria must be met to be eligible for such an appeal:
- Grades must be three or more years old.
- Only quarters including credits graded below a 2.0 may be forgiven.
- Grade forgiveness can include one or several quarters from a prior census point back, as requested by the student.
- The student must demonstrate a 2.0 GPA in all decimal graded courses taken after the last date of the period for which a student is requesting forgiveness.
All courses in a given quarter are removed from the GPA but remain on the student's transcript. This appeal can be requested by turning in a letter of appeal to the registrar in Enrollment Services. A determination will be made whether grade forgiveness is appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: Grade forgiveness can only be granted once.
Grades previously forgiven will not be reinstated. Additionally, if a student transfers to another college, that college may not recognize the grade forgiveness previously granted at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
Grade Appeals
Students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic progress and following course procedures established by instructors. The purpose of allowing a grade appeal is to protect students from prejudiced, arbitrary, or capricious academic evaluation. Students are responsible for following the grade appeal process as described in the current LWTech Student Handbook available in any Student Services office.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The grade point average indicates the general achievement of the student. The quarterly GPA includes only classes for that specific quarter; the cumulative GPA includes all classes which comprise the student's academic history at LWTech. GPA is calculated by dividing the grade points by the number of credits of the courses for which the student was awarded a decimal grade. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits by the numeric value of the grade for each course. The calculation does not include courses for which the student was awarded Z, Y, N, W, I, S, U, or other non-decimal grades.
Example:
| Course | Credits | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 099 | 5 | 3.7 |
| ABED 040 | 5 | S |
| PSYC& 100 | 5 | 4.0 |
- 5 credits x 3.7 = 18.5 grade points.
- 5 credits x 4.0 = 20 grade points.
- Total grade points: 18.5 + 20 = 38.5.
- Total credits taken for a decimal grade: 5 + 5 = 10.
- GPA: 38.5 grade points divided by 10 credits = 3.85.
The GPA is calculated for each quarter and also for all quarters combined, which is referred to as a cumulative GPA. Contact Enrollment Services if you have questions about your GPA.
Grade Changes
Grades may be changed by instructors only in cases of clerical errors or subsequent completion of coursework. It is the student's responsibility to initiate a grade change with the instructor. A grade change form must be completed, signed by the instructor, and submitted to Enrollment Services before a grade change becomes official. Students have 60 days from the end of the quarter to request a grade change (deadlines for Incomplete grades differ).
Grade Reports
After the end of each quarter, grades can be accessed through the student's LionsLink (powered by ctcLink) account. Grades are not mailed out. Official transcripts are available through Enrollment Services and unofficial transcripts are available on the Web. It is important that students check grades at the end of each quarter and address questions promptly. See information regarding grade changes above.
Honor Roll
- President's List requires a 4.0 quarterly grade-point average with a minimum of 12 college-level credits earned cumulatively and 12 credits earned for the quarter.
- Dean's List requires a 3.7 quarterly grade-point average with a minimum of 12 college-level credits earned cumulatively and 12 credits earned for the quarter.
- Both lists require a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all coursework.
Honors are awarded at graduation for students who achieve the following cumulative grade point averages:
- 3.5 - 3.74 Cum Laude
- 3.75 - 3.89 Magna Cum Laude
- 3.9 - 4.0 Summa Cum Laude
Each candidate for graduation is assessed at the time graduation is finally approved. Please contact Enrollment Services for further information.