dartmouth grading

dartmouth_grading.txt

Abbreviated from: 
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~reg/regulations/undergrad/degree-req.html
(Scholarship Ratings Section)

Credits: all courses are in the form of course units. Each
course count unit may be considered the equivalent of a semester
course worth 3.3 semester hours (4.5 if a laboratory course) or 5
quarter hours (6.7 if a laboratory course.)

Grade Points: The following grade point values are assigned:
A, 4; A-,3 2/3; B+, 3 1/3; B, 3; B-, 2 2/3; C+, 2 1/3; C, 2;
C-, 1 2/3; D, 1;and E, 0.

GPA Calculation: At the end of each term every student’s term and
cumulative grade point average (GPA) are calculated. The GPA
calculation includes solely courses taken at Dartmouth on a regular A
through E grading scale (GPA courses). The calculation uses quality
points which are three times the usual grade values to prevent the
accumulation of errors: an A counts as 12 points, A- as 11, B+ as 10,
B as 9, B- as 8, C+ as 7, C as 6, C- as 5, D as 3, and E as 0. The GPA
is the sum of the quality points divided by three times the GPA
courses. This quotient is rounded to two decimal places.
Grade of E: A course assigned a grade of E does not add to the
student’s total (course count) counting toward the minimum of 35 for
graduation, nor does it serve in satisfying any other graduation
requirement. The E is, however, a permanent part of the student’s
record, is included in all calculations of his or her grade point
average, and is shown on transcripts.

Median Grade:  the median grade given in the class as well as the
class enrollment. Departments and Programs may recommend, with
approval of the Committee on Instruction, that certain courses (e.g.,
honors classes, independent study) be exempted from this provision.
Courses with enrollments of less than ten are also exempted. At the
bottom of the transcript there is a summary statement of the following
type: ‘Exceeded the median grade in 13 courses; equaled the median
grade in 7 courses; below the median grade in 13 courses; 33 courses
taken eligible for this comparison.’

Citations: The grade reports show alongside a course entry, when
appropriate, an asterisk to indicate the intention of the instructor
to award a citation. Citations are designed to procure an official
record of information about undergraduates who have made particularly
favorable impressions on members of the faculty because of their
unusual talents, dependability, initiative, resourcefulness, or other
meritorious characteristics that are not indicated adequately by
academic grades. The actual statement of citation is included with a
student’s transcript whenever such is issued unless the instructor has
failed to supply it at the time of issuance of the transcript or the
student does not wish it to be included.

Non-Recording Option: If a student has elected a course under the
Non-Recording Option, the grade assigned by the instructor is shown on
the grade report, then the limiting grade selected by the student, and
finally the officially recorded standing. If the assigned grade has at
least matched the grade limit, the assigned grade becomes the official
grade; if not, the standing ‘NR’ (Non-Recorded) is posted unless the
assigned grade is E.