Grades

Undergraduate

Cumulative Grade Point Average

The grade point average is the index of academic performance used to determine whether the student will be permitted to continue at the University and/or graduate.

The alphabetical grades, including plus (+) and minus (-), have the following grade point values:

To determine cumulative grade point average, multiply the number of semester hours of each grade earned by the grade point value for that grade (this product equals the Quality Points for that grade). Then total the products (i.e., sum the Quality Points) and divide by the total number of semester hours for which an alphabetical grade was earned (total GPA Hours). Once calculated, the GPA is truncated to two decimal places. The GPA is not rounded in any manner.

To graduate, a student must complete the number of hours required for the particular degree with at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in work completed at Hofstra and required for the major as specified by the major department.

D+ and D and F grades assigned to students who have elected the Pass/D+/D/Fail option are included in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Grade Appeal Policy

Hofstra University’s course grade appeal policy, including appeal timelines, may be found under Faculty Policy Series #42.

Individual grade appeal policies for the following schools/colleges within Hofstra University may be found at:

• Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts of HCLAS
  • School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of HCLAS
  • Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs of HCLAS
  • School of Education of HCLAS
• The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• School of Education
• Frank G. Zarb School of Business
• Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Health Sciences

Grades

Hofstra uses an alphabetical system of grades to describe the quality of the student’s work. The University reserves the right to change this system at any time. The implementation of a new system, however, will not occur for approximately one year after the change has been made and the students have been officially notified. The revised system applies uniformly to all students regardless of their initial date of entry. Alphabetical grades are further divided into plus and minus levels.

These letter grades, which include plus and minus where applicable, are explained below. Final grades are reported only from the Office of Academic Records/Registrar.

A: Indicates that the student’s academic performance in achieving the objectives of the course was of honors level.

B: Indicates that the student’s academic performance in achieving the objectives of the course was distinctly above that required by the course.

C: Indicates that the student’s academic performance achieved the objectives of the course.

D: Indicates that the student’s academic performance relating to the objectives of the course was less than required for major or minor credit but was still sufficient to permit the student to receive full degree credit. This grade is not acceptable for major or minor course credit unless approved by the chairperson of the appropriate department. The course may be repeated in accordance with the repeated course policy.

P: Passing, not counted in determining cumulative grade point average. Courses passed with a P grade are counted, however, in the total number of credits accumulated for graduation. P is equivalent to C- or better. If in the opinion of the instructor the student’s work has not earned a C-, then a D or an F will be awarded. The P grade will be assigned for passing work in courses that are graded only on a Pass/D+/D/Fail or Pass/Fail basis and to courses taken under the Pass/D+/D/Fail option. (See Pass/D+/D/Fail Option below.)

Pr: Progress. Used normally to report the first semester’s satisfactory work in two-semester individually supervised courses, normally for seniors. This grade may be assigned only in courses previously approved for this purpose by the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee. Course credit toward graduation is granted.

F: Indicates that the student’s overall academic performance failed to satisfy the objectives of the course. No semester hour credit is received for courses with an F grade. Students will not be given credit for full-year courses unless both semesters of such courses are satisfactorily completed. Passing the first semester of a year course but failing the second, the student needs to repeat only the second semester.

I (Incomplete): At the instructor’s discretion, a grade of Incomplete (“I”) may be granted upon the request of a student if the student has completed a substantial portion of the course and unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from completing some of the course work on time. In unusual circumstances, an instructor may submit an “I” grade without prior discussion with the student. An “I” grade should be given only where there is a reasonable expectation that completion of the outstanding work will result in a passing grade. The instructor will decide the time frame in which the student will complete the required course work. However, the deadline may not exceed the last day of the next full semester following the granting of an “I” grade.* In cases where lab work is required or the student is working on an Independent Study, additional time may be granted. A student will not be allowed to attend the regular class meetings at the next offering of the course. The instructor will inform the student of the completion requirements and terms. As part of the normal final-grade process, the instructor must submit an “I” grade online to the Office of Academic Records with a default grade, the grade the student will receive if the missing work is not completed. The default final grade must be a letter grade other than UW.

The instructor is required to submit a grade for the student within 30 days after the student has submitted work to fulfill the terms specified. If the instructor cannot oversee the completion of the incomplete work with the student, the instructor will arrange for oversight within the department with the Dean’s permission. If the incomplete work is not completed by the deadline, the “I” grade will convert to the default grade previously submitted by the instructor.

*Students cannot graduate with any “I” grade (received fall 2008 or later) on their records. Candidates for graduation requesting an ‘I’ grade will graduate at the first graduation date available (January, May, August, or December) after completion of the work. If work is not completed and the “I” grade turns into an “F,” it may prevent graduation. A student may request, from the Office of Academic Records, the default grade to replace the “I” grade prior to the set deadline to ensure timely graduation.

NR: Student’s grade has not been submitted by the instructor.

W: The student has withdrawn from the course and so notified the Office of the Registrar in writing prior to the last day of the tenth week of the semester. For courses shorter than 15 weeks, the student must withdraw within the first 2/3 of the course. If a student withdraws from a course during the first three weeks of the semester; the first week of a summer session; the first three days of the January Session; the first two weeks of a 10-11 week trimester or the first week of a mini-course, there shall be no record of course(s) on the permanent record. However, the statement “Complete Withdrawal From the University” shall be entered on the permanent record of any student who completely withdraws from the University within the time-frame indicated above. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially from one or more courses after the first week of the semester, or equivalent for courses shorter than 15 weeks, will be liable for all or part of the tuition and fees associated with those courses. See Withdrawal From the University in this section.

UW: The UW may be assigned only if the student stopped attending prior to the official withdrawal deadline, and, in the judgment of the faculty member, on the last date of attendance, the student either had the potential to pass the course or there was insufficient graded work to allow for such an evaluation. Note: The UW is always the appropriate grade for the student who is registered for the course but has never attended.

Pass/D+/D/Fail Option (P or D+ or D or F): A student may elect courses on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis during the first five weeks of the semester under the following conditions: WSC 001 and WSC 002, Loading..., courses are taken in fulfillment of any language requirement and those courses required in the major or minor field and any other course specified by course title or number as required for the major or minor may not be taken Pass/D+/D/Fail. (This does not apply to courses given only on this basis.) All other courses may be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.

Courses taken on an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy distribution requirements. Note, however, that some distribution courses are given only on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis and may be used to fulfill distribution requirements. (Distribution courses can be found here: Loading...)

Departments and/or degrees that are restricted by professional accreditation may, as required, exempt additional courses from the Pass/D+/D/Fail option. In no case may the total number of Pass/D+/D/Fail credits exceed 30 semester hours, nor may any credit for Pass/D+/D/Fail courses be used toward an academic minor, except for those courses given only on this basis.

Zarb School of Business courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.

In HCLAS and in The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, the Pass/D+/D/Fail option is restricted to 15 credits.

Students on academic probation may not elect an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail grade.

Students should obtain necessary forms from the Office of Academic Records and seek faculty advisement on possible effects of Pass/D+/D/Fail grades.

A student transferring to Hofstra with more than 30 credits graded on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis must have the approval of the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee. For these students, courses graded on this basis shall not exceed fifty percent of the total credit hours required for the degree.

For courses shorter than 15 weeks, the student has the sole discretion to elect the Pass/D+/D/Fail option for the first 1/3 of the course.

D+ and D and F grades assigned to students who have elected the Pass/D+/D/Fail option are included in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Graduates

Hofstra uses an alphabetical system of grades, including plus (+) and minus (-), to describe the quality of the student's work. Final grades are reported to the Office of Academic Records and can be accessed online.