Academic Grading System
The College operates on a semester system. After each semester students may retrieve their grades from the CLC E-SERVICES web site.
The following grades are used at Central Lakes College:
| Grade | GPA | Description |
| A | 4.00 | Excellent |
| A- | 3.67 | |
| B+ | 3.33 | Above Average |
| B | 3.00 | |
| B- | 2.67 | |
| C+ | 2.33 | |
| C | 2.00 | Average |
| C- | 1.67 | |
| D+ | 1.33 | |
| D | 1.00 | |
| D- | 0.67 | Minimum Passing |
| F | 0.00 | Failing (Courses #1000 level or above) |
| FN | —– | * Never Attended |
| AU | —– | * Audit (Student must select audit as their grading method within the first 5 days of the term) |
| I | —– | * Incomplete |
| NC | —– | * No Credit (Courses below #1000 level) |
| P | —– | * Pass |
| S | —– | * Satisfactory |
| U | —– | * Unsatisfactory |
| W | —– | * Withdraw (Student generated) |
| —– | * Indicates no impact on grade point average | |
| FW | —– | * Unofficial withdrawal |
Definitions
The “I” grade is an agreement between the faculty member and a student. Students who are doing satisfactory work in a course, but cannot complete all requirements, may receive an incomplete (I) grade. An incomplete grade is given for significant personal circumstances such as serious illness or family emergency or call to active military duty. Documentation may be required. Incomplete grades are assigned at the discretion of the course instructor only after the midpoint of the course as indicated by the grading submission deadline for the semester. The student and the instructor must complete an “Application for an Incomplete Grade” for an “I” grade to be assigned. A completed copy of this contract will be kept on file by the Records and Registration Department and by the instructor. Students must complete all course requirements by the end of the following semester. Unfinished spring semester coursework must be completed by the end of the following fall semester. Incomplete grades that go unchanged by the end of the following semester will automatically be changed to “F” for failure. Students should be aware that college instructors are not obligated to give a grade of “I” nor is there an obligation on the part of the instructor to allow a full semester for completion of required work except for military active duty. If it is determined by the instructor that the student needs more than one semester to complete the work, a letter of support from a campus dean is required to be attached to the application. If the required work is not completed within the allotted time, the instructor may change the grade from an “I” to an “F” the day following the deadline established by the instructor. When the student has completed the necessary work to earn a grade, the instructor may submit a grade change form to the Records and Registration Department.
The “AU” grade means the student has audited the class. At the time of registration the student must indicate that he/she chooses to audit a class. The audit permits attendance and participation in course activities. No credit is earned for an audited course, and financial aid does not cover the course. However, tuition and fees remain the same. Regular attendance without registration is not permitted.
“S” & “U” grades are to be used for internships and internship-like experiences. “S” grades indicate the student met the standards for and completed the internship or “internship-like experience. “S” grades do not affect grade point average calculations. “U” grades indicate that the student did not meet the standards for and/or complete the internship or internship-like experience. Unlike the “F” grade, “U” grades do not affect grade point average calculations, but do affect completion percentage. “U” grades indicate the student did not complete the internship or internship-like experience.
Credit: The unit by which academic work is measured.Registered Credits: The total number of credits for which a student is officially enrolled at the end of the registration drop/add period of each semester.
Earned Credits: Successfully completed credits.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
The grade point average (GPA) is determined by adding all grade points earned and dividing by the sum of all credits attempted in courses where letter grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” were received.Courses with grades of AU, I, NC, P, S, U, W, and all transfer grades do not apply toward GPA calculations.
A semester example is shown below.
| Grade Points | Credits | Total Grade Points |
| A = 4.00 | x 3 = | 12.00 |
| B = 3.00 | x 4 = | 12.00 |
| C = 2.00 | x 4 = | 8.00 |
| D = 1.00 | x 3 = | 3.00 |
| F = 0.00 | x 1 = | 0.00 |
| Total | 15 = | 35.00 |
| GPA = | 35/15 = | 2.33 |
Both the term GPA and the cumulative GPA show on a grade report and a transcript. Students who do not maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA will be put on Academic Warning or Suspension status. A cumulative 2.0 GPA is required for graduation.