Delaware County Community College

Grading System

Letter grades will be distributed at the end of each semester. Student achievement is measured by the student’s grade point average. The GPA is an indication of the quality of the work a student has done at the College in one semester.

The following letter grades are included in the computation of a student’s grade point average (GPA).

Letter Grades	Meaning	Grade Points Per Semester
A	Excellent	4
B	Above Average	3
C	Average	2
D	Below Average	1
F	Failing	0

Letter grades that do not count in computation of a student’s GPA:

• AU... Audit The only grade given when a course is audited and carries no credit.
• IN... Incomplete This grade is given when extenuating circumstances prevent the student from completing the course work during the regular session. The incomplete work must be completed before the end of the next College session. Do not re-register for the class. “Incomplete” changes to “F” if not completed by the next semester.
• HP... High Pass Student has demonstrated excellence in completing objectives.
• P... Pass Student has completed the course requirements to the prescribed level of competency (may be used only for designated courses).
• NP ...No Pass Student has not satisfactorily completed the course objectives within the time period of the session in which the grade is given.
• IP... In Progress This grade is for students who have partially met course requirements satisfactorily. Students must re-register for the course.
• W... Withdraw The grade given to a student who is authorized to withdraw from a course during the first nine weeks of a semester (eight weeks for off-campus courses). This grade is also given when an instructor withdraws a student for poor attendance.
• T... Transfer The grade is given for a course that is transferred into the College.
• CR... Credit Credit awarded for passing courses by exam or transfer.
• NR... No Record Grade not reported by instructor.

Developmental and basic courses will be awarded the following grades: HP, P, IP, NP, W, IN and CR.
These grades do not count in the computation of a student’s GPA.

Grade Point Average

A student’s grade point average is calculated as follows:

1. Determine the quality points earned in each course: multiply the number of points by the number of credits given for each course.
2. Divide the sum of the grade points by the total number of graded or GPA credit hours.

The result is the grade point average.

Auditing a Course

Persons eligible to enroll in a course for credit may also enroll in that course as auditors, if they receive the approval of the appropriate dean. Auditors pay the regular tuition and fee charge applicable to the credit students. They are expected to attend all lecture and laboratory classes but are not required to take examinations or submit term papers. Students auditing a course will receive only the grade of “AU” and no credit. The Petition to Audit must be submitted prior to the end of the first week of class.

Academic Bankruptcy

A student may declare academic bankruptcy for a period in his past that does not reflect his/her current capability for performance.

Any returning student who has not attended Delaware County Community College for two consecutive years may request that “F” and/or “D” grades of courses prior to readmission be excluded from the grade point average, although the courses and grades remain in the transcript. A written request to the vice president of collegiate instruction must specify that the student does not wish any of the excluded grades to be used in any way toward fulfilling degree requirements. The College, in return for this declaration of academic bankruptcy, will exclude grades and courses as requested. This request will be considered only after the returning student completes at least 24 credits of graded course work with a GPA of 2.7 or above.

Academic bankruptcy may be approved only once for any individual student and is irrevocable.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(The Buckley Amendment)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 grants to students certain rights, privileges, and protections relative to individually identifiable student educational records which are maintained by the College. Specifically:

1. Students' educational records (with the exception of directory information) will be released to third parties outside the College only with the written consent of the student.
2. Students have the right to inspect their own individually identifiable educational records. The right may be exercised by completing a request form in the Career and Counseling Center.
3. Students have the right to challenge information contained in individually identifiable educational records.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act permits the release of directory-type information to third parties outside the institution without written consent of the student, provided the student has been given the opportunity to withhold such disclosure. DCCC releases, upon inquiry by third parties outside the College, directory information that includes name, class, major, dates of attendance, and degrees conferred.

Students may withhold directory information by contacting the Registrar's Office. While the withholding request may be made at any time, students wishing to have directory information withheld should submit their requests no later than six weeks prior to the first day of the semester.