Letter Grades
Grade Explanation |
Numerical Percentage |
Value Equivalents |
A Excellent |
4.0 |
93.0–100.0 |
A– |
3.7 |
90.0–92.9 |
B+ |
3.3 |
87.1–89.9 |
B Good |
3.0 |
83.0–87.0 |
B– |
2.7 |
80.0–82.9 |
C+ |
2.3 |
77.1–79.9 |
C Satisfactory |
2.0 |
73.0–77.0 |
C– |
1.7 |
70.0–72.9 |
D+ |
1.3 |
67.1–69.9 |
D Passing |
1.0 |
63.0–67.0 |
D– |
0.7 |
60.0–62.9 |
F Failure/Unsuccessful |
0.0 |
Below 60.0 |
Please Note : An F is not erased when the course is taken again and passed.
Other Grades
AUD - Senior Citizen’s Audit
The grade of AUD is assigned when a senior citizen registers for a course. Enrolling in a course on an audit basis gives the student the right to attend and participate in all aspects of the course without receiving credit for the course. The course will not count toward any degree or certificate program offered by The City University of New York.
FIN - Incomplete Changed to F
The grade of FIN (Incomplete Changed to F) is given when an incomplete grade is turned into an F (FIN). Undergraduate students who receive an INC grade at the end of any semester must complete all outstanding work by the dates described in the section above. The Registrar’s Office will convert all INC grades to FIN if the INC is not resolved.
INC - Incomplete
An incomplete grade may be given only to those students who would pass the course if they were to satisfactorily complete course requirements. It is within the discretion of the faculty member as to whether or not to give the grade of Incomplete.
If the course takes place during the fall semester or winter session, then the incomplete work is due by the student no later than the end of the third week of the following spring semester. If the course takes place during the spring semester or summer session, then the incomplete work is due no later than the end of the third week of the following fall semester. It is within the discretion of the faculty member to extend this deadline under extraordinary circumstances.
When completing the online Incomplete Grade Form, the faculty member agrees to grade the student’s outstanding coursework as specified on the form and to submit the student’s grade for the course any time from the date the student submits the completed work until the end of that fall or spring semester. This policy should be included on undergraduate course syllabi. If the student does not successfully complete the missing work, the faculty member may change the grade to a letter grade. If the faculty member does not submit a change of grade, the incomplete grade automatically becomes the grade of FIN.
This policy does not apply to laboratory and studio courses, or to internship courses, for which neither the professor nor the department can reasonably accommodate a student’s missed lab or studio or internship work as described herein. The academic departments which offer such courses shall develop departmental policy for consideration by the College Council.
Degree candidates should be aware that an INC grade received during their last semester in courses required for graduation will result in the postponement of graduation.
Resolving the Grade of Incomplete through Make-up Examinations
The procedure outlined here is initiated when a student has received the grade of INC because of absence from a final examination. All makeup final examinations given after the completion of the semester are processed and administered by the faculty member who taught the course or by his or her academic department. Contact the instructor for details.
P - Pass
The P grade is not computed in the grade-point average. It is authorized only for remedial and developmental courses, non-remedial courses for which the P grade is designated in the course description in this Undergraduate Bulletin, and courses taken on a Pass/Fail Option.
PEN - Pending
The PEN grade is recorded when a faculty member suspects or determines that an academic integrity violation has taken place that warrants formal intervention. The faculty member submits a Faculty Report of Alleged Violation of Academic Integrity Policies to the Academic Integrity Officer of the College, who notifies the Registrar so that the Registrar can record a PEN grade to prevent withdrawal from the course by the student in question. A PEN grade is removed or changed when the applicable consultation, appeal, and/or adjudication processes are complete. In the event that the alleged violation is withdrawn in the student’s favor, the student will have the right to withdraw from the course based on the date that the violation form was filed.
R - Repeat
This grade is assigned to students who have attended class regularly and completed course requirements but have not demonstrated sufficient progress to justify a passing grade. The grade is awarded for remedial or developmental courses. This grade is not computed in the grade point average. Students who receive the grade of R must repeat the course in the very next semester of attendance.
W - Withdrawal
The grade of W indicates withdrawal without penalty. It is assigned by the Office of the Registrar upon approval of an Application for Resignation filed by the deadline as indicated in the academic calendar (usually in the tenth week of classes). A grade of W is not computed in the grade point average. W grades may affect student eligibility for financial aid.
WA - Administrative Withdrawal
The grade of WA is assigned by the Office of the Registrar when a student fails to comply with the Proof of Immunization Policy of the College. The grade of WA is not computed in the grade point average. WA grades may affect student eligibility for financial aid.
WN - Never Attended
The grade of WN is assigned by the instructor when a student is registered for a course but never attended. The grade is a non-penalty grade similar to a W but it will have an effect on the student’s financial aid for the semester.
WU - Withdrew Unofficially
The grade of WU is assigned by the instructor when a student has ceased attending class and has not submitted an Application for Resignation. The grade is computed as a failure (0.0) in the grade point average, which may result in the adjustment of financial aid funds. Students who want to withdraw from a class are therefore advised to submit an official Application for Resignation online via Jay Stop (http://jstop.jjay.cuny.edu) prior to the end of the tenth week of classes.
Pass/Fail Option
Upon completion of 60 credits, students with a grade point average of 2.0 and higher may take one course a semester under a Pass/Fail Option, for a total of four such courses. The Pass/Fail Option may be applied to all courses except courses satisfying the College’s general education requirements and courses in the student’s major.
Application for the Pass/Fail Option must be made at the Jay Express Services Center before the conclusion of the second week of classes during the fall and spring semester, at the end of the first week of classes for summer session, and by the third class for winter session. Once granted, this option is irrevocable. The grade of P received for a course taken under the Pass/Fail option are not computed in the grade point average.
Grades of F are computed as a zero in student grade point averages.
Remedial and Developmental Courses
The only grades authorized for the courses listed below are P, R, F, W, WU, and INC. However, at the discretion of certain academic departments, the grade of A may be given in place of the grade of P.
- COM 102
- EAP 121 and EAP 131
- ENGW 100
- MATH 103
Grade Appeal Process
Beginning in the fall 2013 semester, the following grade appeal policy is in effect.
Student Appeal
Students are strongly encouraged to first communicate with the professor of the course. If that conversation does not remedy the situation, or if students choose to not follow that route, then students who think that a final grade was issued erroneously may file a grade appeal to the departmental grade appeals committee by submitting the form to the Registrar’s Office. Appeals must be filed by the twenty-fifth calendar day of the subsequent long semester. (Courses taken in spring or summer must be appealed by the twenty-fifth day of the subsequent fall semester; courses taken in the fall or winter must be appealed by the twenty-fifth day of the subsequent spring semester.)
Department Grade Appeals Committee
The request shall be reviewed by the departmental grade appeals committee. The departmental committee has 30 calendar days to review the matter and make a recommendation to the faculty member. For interdisciplinary programs, grade appeals will go to the department grade appeals committee of the academic department who hired the faculty member.
Faculty Review
The faculty member, upon receipt of the committee’s recommendation, must render a judgment within 14 calendar days and communicate in writing to the Office of the Registrar his or her decision to either sustain the grade or submit a grade change.
College-Wide Grade Appeals Committee
If the departmental grade appeals committee fails to make a recommendation to the faculty member within 30 calendar days, the grade appeal will be sent to the college-wide grade appeals committee. The college-wide grade appeals committee shall have 30 calendar days to make a recommendation to the faculty member. The faculty member’s responsibilities and responses are the same as above. The college-wide grade appeals committee shall comprise five tenured members of the faculty, who shall be nominated by the Faculty Senate and elected by the College Council. No more than one faculty member from any department may concurrently serve on the committee. The committee shall elect a chair from its own membership.
Extraordinary Circumstances
In truly exceptional circumstances the grade change may be authorized by someone other than the faculty member who taught the course. If either committee determines that such is the case, the chair of the respective committee shall forward the information and related documents to the chair of the academic department that owns the course. The chair of the department, in consultation with the department grade appeals committee, shall review the case and if the grade appeals committee determines that a grade change is necessary and appropriate, it shall render its decision and change the student’s grade by the process and deadline established for the faculty member above.
Such grade changes are expected to be rare. No change in grade may be authorized except by the faculty member teaching the course or by the department chair in consultation with the department grade appeals committee. Each fall, a report will be furnished to the Academic Standards Subcommittee of UCASC as to the number of grade changes made through this process during the previous academic year.
If a faculty member changes a grade in response to a recommendation of either the departmental grade appeals committee or of the college-wide grade appeals committee or if a department chair changes the grade in consultation with the department grade appeals committee, that grade is final.
Students shall be limited to three (3) grade appeals during their educational experience at John Jay; however, any grade appeal that is successful shall not count toward that three-appeal limit.
Applicability to Undergraduate and Graduate Students
The processes described in this policy shall apply to only courses in the undergraduate program because only the undergraduate program has departmental grade appeals committees.
Extra Work During the Semester
Any extra credit coursework opportunities during the semester for a student to improve his or her grade must be made available to all students at the same time. Furthermore, there is no obligation on the part of any instructor to offer extra credit work in any course. The term “extra credit work” refers to optional work that may be assigned by the instructor to all students in addition to the required work for the course that all students must complete. It is distinguished from substitute assignments or substitute work that may be assigned by the instructor to individual students, such as make up assignments to accommodate emergencies or to accommodate the special circumstances of individual students.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The grade point average is computed by multiplying the numerical value of grades A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, C, C–, D+, D, D–, F, FIN, and WU with the number of credits of each course, which yields the number of quality points. The number of quality points is then divided by the total number of attempted credits to yield the grade point average. For example, the grade point average of a student who has attempted 30 credits with grades ranging from A to WU is calculated as follows:
Number of Credits |
Grade Quality Points |
6 x A (4.0) |
24.0 |
3 x A- (3.7) |
11.1 |
4 x B+ (3.3) |
13.2 |
3 x B (3.0) |
9.0 |
3 x C+ (2.3) |
6.9 |
8 x C (2.0) |
16.0 |
1 x D (1.0) |
1.0 |
1 x F (0.0) |
0.0 |
1 x WU (0.0) |
0.0 |
30 |
81.2 |
The total number of quality points (81.2) divided by the total number of attempted credits (30) yields a grade point average of 2.70.
Dean's List
The Dean's List recognizes full-time and part-time matriculated undergraduate students who have achieved distinguished academic records in a semester or year. The Dean's List is published on the college's web site and a notation is made on the student's transcript.
Dean's List for Full-Time Students
The full-time Dean's List is issued by the Office of the Registrar at the end of each fall and spring semester, one month after the last day of finals. It recognizes students who have met the following requirements at the time the list is generated:
- Enrolled as a matriculated student in a baccalaureate degree-granting program
- Passed or been exempted from all three assessment exams (reading, writing and mathematics)
- Completed a full-time program of at least 12 credits, in addition to any courses taken as P/F, which must be successfully completed (P).
- Earned a semester GPA of 3.5 or better
- All grades are C (2.0) or better (grades of C- or below will disqualify the student)
- No grades of INC, NGR, PEN, R, W, WA, WN, or WU
Once the dean's list is published, it is final. Students who later attain a qualifying average through a grade change or removal of an Incomplete will not be included on the dean's list for that semester.
Dean's List for Part-Time Students
The part time dean’s list is issued by the Office of the Registrar at the end of each spring semester. It recognizes students who have met the following requirements at the time the list is generated:
- The dean’s list for part-time students is calculated once a year at the end of each spring semester.
- The calculations are based on fall term, winter session, and spring term in the same academic year.
- The student must be a matriculated student in a baccalaureate degree–granting program for all terms and sessions in which he or she has enrolled in that academic year.
- Over the span of the academic year, the student must have completed at least 12 credits, in addition to any courses taken as P/F, which must be successfully completed (P).
- The student must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or better for the academic year.
- The student must earn grades of C (2.0) or better in all courses taken (grades of C- or below will disqualify the student).
- Any marks of Incomplete, NGR, PEN, R, W, WA, WN, or WU , if any are present when the dean’s list is run for the academic year, will disqualify the student.
No student is eligible for both full- and part-time dean’s lists. Any student enrolling in 12 or more graded credits (not counting pass/fail courses) in any single term during the academic year will be ineligible for part-time dean’s list in that year. Instead, such students will be considered for full-time dean’s list in the term(s) in which they have full-time enrollment.
Once the dean’s list is published, it is final. Students who later attain a qualifying average through a grade change or removal of an Incomplete will not be included on the dean’s list for that semester.
Students who have requested “Restricted Release of Directory Information” (a FERPA block) will not appear on the Dean’s List. A notation will still appear on their transcripts.