Grading System
Lindenwood operates under the 4.0 grading system. The grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. An A carries 4 quality points; thus, a course worth three semester hours in which a student earned an A would merit a total of 12 quality points. A grade of B carries 3 quality points; a grade of C carries 2 quality points; and a grade of D carries 1 quality point. A grade of F carries no quality points and no credit. A grade of AF (attendance failure) carries no quality points and no credit. Only grades earned at Lindenwood are used in computing the GPA.
Graduate students may receive grades of A, B, C, F, W, AF, NG, I and Audit (AU). A grade of A represents work of outstanding quality; it indicates that the student has shown initiative, skill, and thoroughness and has displayed originality in thinking. A grade of B is awarded for work of high quality, well above average. The grade of C indicates average work and satisfactory completion of course requirements. The grade of D is not awarded at the graduate level. A grade of F or AF indicates that one’s coursework is unsatisfactory, and no credit is given.
When a graduate student has received a C or an F in any part(s) of a cluster may repeat the entire cluster. The second grade does not replace the first grade; the two grades are averaged. For instance, if a student earns an F for a class and retakes the class, earning an A, the two grades would be the equivalent of two Cs and would affect the overall grade- point average as two Cs.A grade of I (incomplete) is given at the end of a trimester only for failure to complete the coursework because of exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control. An incomplete is not an alternative for the student who is failing the course or who has excessive absences. An incomplete is not an option for the student who has consistently missed or been tardy with assignments. A student should have attended all cluster meetings to date and should be relatively current with the online assignments in order to qualify for the extension afforded through an incomplete grade. Students must contact their faculty advisor for additional information about an incomplete grade in the trimester program. An incomplete grade if not made up by the end of the next term automatically becomes an F.
This grade is given when a student stops attending a particular class prior to the published deadline to receive a grade of W but does not withdraw from the course. The grade of AF is treated as a grade of F in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.
An administrative grade of N is assigned by the registrar when final course grades have not been submitted prior to making grades accessible to students. Under normal circumstances, the N grade will be cleared within two weeks after the end of the term. Faculty members are not authorized to submit a grade of N.