Grades

The grading system in use at St. Lawrence is described below:

Effective Fall 2005.

4.00 - Excellent
3.75  
3.50  
3.25  
3.00 - Good
2.75  
2.50  
2.25  
2.00 - Satisfactory
1.75  
1.50  
1.25  
1.00 - Lowest Passing Grade
0.00 - Failure
E - Incomplete
P - Pass in Pass/Fail Option
W - Withdrew
WM - Medical Withdrawal
X - Deferred
U/W - Writing Competency
NGS - No Grade Submitted by Instructor

X grade is assigned at the end of a semester for work in a designated course that will be completed in the following semester. Only those students specified by the mid-term of the initial semester are eligible to receive an X grade. This grade is not to be confused with the incomplete (E), which is given to a student who fails for a valid reason to complete the work of a course within the period prescribed for that course.

Incomplete (E) grade is assigned only when, as a result of unusual or extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness), some part of the required work for a course is left unfinished. In such a case, the instructor informs the department chair and agrees with the student on conditions, preferably in writing, for removal of the E. The student is expected to fulfill these conditions in good time, in the ensuing semester, for the instructor to evaluate his or her work and report a permanent grade to the registrar by the end of the sixth week. If no grade is reported, the E is replaced by 0.0 (Failure).

The department chair may request further delay from the registrar, but this delay may not be longer than the term. If the student is not in residence during that term, the delay may be extended for one additional semester. Further extension must be requested of the dean of academic affairs and is unusual since the passage of time often brings changes in instructor and course content.

It is the responsibility of the student to see that conditions for the removal of a grade of E are established and met.

Pass/Fail - During the four years in college, a student is permitted to elect up to four semester course units of work, including Sports Studies and Exercise Science (SSES) 100, to be graded Pass/Fail. The purpose of the option is to encourage students to explore new areas of study in which they are interested but have little or no background. The Pass/Fail option is not offered to allow for the removal of deficient mid- or late-term grades incurred, nor to justify reduced effort in a course. The Pass/Fail option may be chosen for semester course units taken to satisfy distribution requirements or any elective semester units outside the major or minor. The Pass/Fail option is subject to the following limitations:

  1.

 Semester course units in the student’s major and minor fields cannot be taken on a Pass/ Fail basis after the major and minor are declared.
  2. No more than one optional Pass/Fail course can be taken in any semester.
  3. The Pass/Fail option requires the written consent of the instructor within the first 15 days after classes begin in the fall and spring semesters. In summer session, students may avail themselves of the option within the first five days of classes.

A student must attain a minimum of a 1.0 grade to receive a Pass for the course.

Students should be aware that grades of 0.0 (F) are calculated in the grade point average. Although the P grade is not calculated in the grade point average, P grades may place students at a competitive disadvantage when they apply for admission to some graduate or professional schools.

Repeating Courses - Courses other than those required for graduation or required for the major may not be repeated except with the approval of the academic advisor and the director of academic advising. Students may repeat a course one time; the higher grade will be computed in the cumulative average. Grades from both attempts will remain on the transcript. A repeated course does not earn additional credit toward graduation unless the first attempt received a failing grade.

Distinction and Honors

Degrees with distinction (Latin honors) are awarded cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. The distinctions are based on the cumulative grade point average (cum laude 3.3-3.599; magna cum laude 3.6-3.849; summa cum laude 3.85-4.0). Transfer students who have completed at least two full years of course work at St. Lawrence are eligible for all Latin honors. The GPA used to determine eligibility of transfer students is based on St. Lawrence University courses only.

Departmental honors, including the multifield and combined major programs, are awarded according to the following policy:

  1.

 A minimum GPA of 3.5 in all courses in the major is required.
  2. The only designation recognizing departmental honors is “Honors.”
  3. Each student is required to complete a project that emphasizes independent work, the nature of which is determined by the discipline.
  a.

 Each department determines the course framework within which the project is completed.
  b. Each department establishes the minimum standards the project must meet to satisfy the requirements for departmental honors.
  c. An honors committee consisting of no fewer than three faculty members, at least two of whom are members of the department, is appointed for each honors project. For multi-field majors, at least one member of the committee is one of the major advisors.
  d. Each department will determine whether or not the honors project will count toward the major. Honors projects taken for academic credit will, however, count toward the maximum of 14 units permitted in one department.
  e. If the department determines that a completed project does not meet the appropriate standard to be awarded honors but that the project does constitute otherwise acceptable work, a project taken for academic credit receives credit toward graduation and the grade is computed as part of the major and cumulative GPA.
The Dean’s List comprises those students who in the preceding semester earned a GPA of 3.6 or higher in a minimum of four courses worth at least one unit each and for which a number grade was received. Students who receive an X grade in an independent study or project and who earn a 3.6 or higher average in a minimum of three or more courses may receive Dean’s List designation.