Grades are issued by instructors at the end of each semester for each class. All grades are final and will not be changed unless any of the following can be demonstrated:

Grade Changes/Challenges

• Once awarded, grades are final and cannot be changed except in extenuating circumstances (per Education Code 76224a), for example: 

1. mistake,
2. fraud,
3. bad faith, or
4. incompetency.

• Requests for grade changes must be made within two years of receiving the grade, and will not be permitted after that time period. 

Grade Changes
Board Policy 4231

The District Chancellor shall implement procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of all grades awarded by faculty. The procedures shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Assurance that in the absence of mistake, bad faith, fraud or incompetence, the grades awarded by faculty shall be final.
• Procedures for students to challenge the correctness of a grade.
• The installation of security measures to protect grade records and grade storage systems from unauthorized access.
• Limitations on access to grade records and grade storage systems.
• Discipline for students or staff who are found to have gained access to grade records without proper authorization or to have changed grades without proper authorization.
• Notice to students, faculty, transfer institutions, accreditation agencies, and law enforcement agencies if unauthorized access to grade records and grade storage systems is discovered to have occurred.

Also see BP 3310 titled Records Retention and Destruction, AP 4231 titled Grade Changes, and BP/AP 5040 titled Student Records.

Definition of Letter Grades and Symbols

Letter grades and symbols shall be assigned to students to indicate proficiency or grasp of course material according to the following criteria:

Grade “A” – Distinguished

1. The student has mastered the content of the course, is able to apply information learned to new situations, and is able to relate it to other knowledge.
2. The student consistently distinguishes self in examinations, reports, projects, and class participation.
3. The student shows independent thinking in assignments and class discussion.
4. Work is consistently in proper form, shows evidence of careful research, and is submitted punctually.
5. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates superior skills, ability, and performance.
6. The student complies with class attendance regulations.

Grade “B” – Above Average

1. The student consistently shows mastery of the course content, and usually is able to apply it to new situations or to relate it to other knowledge.
2. The student is consistently above average in examinations, reports, projects, and class participation.
3. Work is in proper form, shows evidence of research, and is submitted punctually.
4. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates above-average skills, ability, and performance.
5. The student complies with class attendance regulations.

Grade “C” – Average

1. The student shows evidence of a reasonable comprehension of the subject matter of the course and has an average mastery of the content. The student’s competence in the content is sufficient to indicate progression to the next course in the same field.
2. Assignments are completed in good form and on time.
3. If the subject carries transfer credit, the student has indicated sufficient competence in the content to continue in the subject field upon transfer.
4. The student consistently makes average scores on examinations, projects, and reports.
5. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates average skills, ability, and performance.
6. The student complies with class attendance regulations.

Grade “D” – Below Average / Minimum Passing

1. The student falls below the average in examinations, projects, and reports, and shows substandard competence in the assigned subject matters of the course, indicating probable difficulty in completing the next course in the same field.
2. Assignments are completed in imperfect form, are late, or are of inconsistent quality.
3. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates usable but below-average skills, ability, and performance.
4. The student complies with class attendance regulations.
5. Grade “D” may permit passing to the next course, depending upon course discipline prerequisites.
6. In Optional Pass/No Pass courses the grade of “D” converts to “NP”.

Grade “F” – Failing Grade/No Credit Earned

1. The student makes unsatisfactory grades in examinations, projects, and reports.
2. The student does not show evidence of competence in the subject matter.
3.  Assignments may be omitted or are incomplete.
4. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates unsatisfactory skills, ability, and performance.
5. The student does not comply with class attendance regulations.
6. The student is suspended from a course or the College.
7. The “F” grade is used in computing the standards of probation and dismissal.

Grade “P” – Passing Credit Earned

A “P” grade is equivalent to a “C” or better grade. “P” is offered for two purposes:

1. to provide an opportunity for students to pursue areas outside their fields of major interest and to encourage general education, and/or
2. to indicate a successful completion of course requirements.

Pass/No Pass Option Form

Some courses are designated as optional Pass/No Pass for grading purposes. These courses are readily identifiable in the course section of the catalog and have an “O” in the grade designation area. Students must declare their grading preference of P/NP by submitting the Pass/ No Pass Option form thirty days after the start of the fall or spring semester, or two weeks after the start of summer session. Once a decision to take a course as Pass/No Pass has been declared, the grading option is irrevocable. Student that do not declare the Pass/No Pass option prior to thirty days after the start of the fall or spring semester, or two weeks after the start of summer session will be assigned a letter grade by default.

(Mandatory) Grade “P” may be used to progress to the next higher level only in designated development courses.

The “P” grade is not used to calculate academic probation or dismissal.

Grade “NP” – Less Than Satisfactory/No Credit Earned

1. Grade “NP” is used in Pass/No pass classes only.
2. The student makes unsatisfactory grades in examinations, projects, and reports.
3. The student does not show evidence of competence in the subject matter.
4. Assignments may be omitted or are incomplete.
5. Where achievement in the course involves development of hand or body skills, the student consistently demonstrates unsatisfactory skills, ability and performance.
6. The student does not comply with class attendance regulations.
7. In optional (Category 1) Pass/No Pass classes a “D” or “F” grade will convert to and “NP” grade.
8. The “NP” grade is used in computing the standards of probation and dismissal.

Symbol “SP” – Satisfactory Progress

The “SP” symbol shall be used to denote Satisfactory Progress towards completion of the course (Used for noncredit courses only and is not replaced by any other symbol.)

Symbol “W” – Withdrawal

1. No notation (“W” or other) shall be made on the permanent record of the student who withdraws from a course or the College during the first four weeks, or 30% of a term, whichever is less.
2. Withdrawal between the end of the 4th week and the 14th week or 75% of the term of instruction shall be recorded as a “W” on the student’s permanent record.
3. The permanent record of a student who remains in class beyond the above time limit will show a letter grade other than a “W” grade, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances are defined as verifiable cases of accident, illness, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student.
4. “W” shall not be used in calculating grade point average, but excessive “W”s shall be used in calculation of “Progress Probation and Dismissal.”

Symbol “MW” – Military Withdrawal

1. Military withdrawal occurs when a student who is a member of the US military service receives orders necessitating a withdrawal from classes. Upon verification of such orders, the withdrawal symbol of MW shall be assigned.
2. In the case of a student who is an active or inactive member of the military services and who receives orders compelling a withdrawal from courses, the District shall upon petition of the affected student refund the entire enrollment fee for courses in which academic credit is not awarded.
3. Military Withdrawals shall not be counted in “satisfactory academic progress probation and dismissal calculations.

Symbol “FW” – Unofficial Withdrawal

It is the responsibility of each student to register and drop courses as necessary. Faculty can support students by notifying them of add and drop deadlines. If, however, a student stops coming to class after the last day to officially withdraw, Faculty may assign the “FW” academic grading symbol. The formal “FW” definition is noted below:

The “FW” grade is an indication that a student has ceased participating in a course after the last day to officially withdraw from the course without having achieved a final passing grade, AND that the student has not received authorization to withdraw from the course under extenuating circumstances (late withdrawal). The “FW” symbol may not be used if a student has qualified for and been granted military withdrawal “MW”. If an “FW” is used, its grade point value equals zero (0), and it will be calculated into the GPA in the same manner as an “F” grade. If applicable, the Financial Aid Office will apply the Return to Title IV funds formula.

Symbol “EW” – Excused Withdrawal

A community college student who withdraws from an academic course after the specified drop period consistent with district policy receives a notation of “W” on their academic record/transcript. In some instances, students must withdraw from a course under circumstances beyond their control, yet their transcripts would show a “W” for each withdrawal. The “W” notation is then used to calculate progress probation and dismissal; however, it is not included in the grade point average calculation. The Chancellor’s Office was asked to develop regulations allowing a non-evaluative symbol to reflect the fact that some students withdraw from a course compelled by circumstances beyond his or her control. The non-evaluative symbol permits the district/college to avoid penalizing students by excluding them from progress probation and dismissal calculations. The intent of the law is to allow students the ability to drop courses without penalty due to extenuating circumstances. For this reason, the Excused Withdrawal symbol “EW” has been adopted.

Symbol “I” – Incomplete

The “I” grade may be given only upon written agreement between the student and the instructor. Incomplete academic work for unforeseeable, emergency, and justifiable reasons at the end of the term may result in an “I” symbol being entered in the student’s record. In a written record on an “Incomplete” form, the instructor shall state the conditions for removal of the “I” and the grade to be assigned in lieu of its removal. A final grade shall be assigned when the work stipulated has been completed and evaluated, or when the time limit for completing the work has passed. Students requesting an Incomplete must have completed at least 75% of the term and be in good academic standing.

1. The “I” may be made up no later than one year following the end of the term in which it was assigned.
2. The student may not clear the Incomplete by re-enrolling in the course.
3. The symbol “I” is assigned no grade points in computing the grade point average.
4. The “I” is used in calculating “Progress Probation and Dismissal.”

Symbol “IP” – In Progress

The “IP” symbol shall be used to denote that the class extends beyond the normal end of the academic term. It indicates that work is “in progress.” The “IP” shall not be used in calculating grade point average. Only the Office of Admissions and Records can assign “IP”.

Symbol “RD” – Report Delayed

The “RD” symbol can be assigned only by the Office of Records and Admissions. It is used when there is a delay in reporting the grade. This symbol is not used in the calculation of Probation or Dismissal.

Grade Points and Grade Point Average (GPA)

Letter grades and symbols are assigned grade points according to the following system:

Grade Points and GPA

Grade	Point Value
A	4.0
B	3.0
C	2.0
D	1.0
F	0.0
EW	0.0
FW	0.0
MW	0.0
P	0.0
NP	0.0
SP	0.0
W	0.0
RD	0.0
IP	0.0

Grade point average is computed by the following formula:
Grade Point Average = Total Grade Points Earned
                                      Total Semester Units Attempted

Grade criteria for individual courses are found in the Grades section of the Course Syllabus provided by the instructor on the first day of class.