Credit/No Credit Awards

Undergraduate Programs

The full amount of credit established for an undergraduate course will be awarded to each student who successfully completes the course requirements. No partial credit is awarded for courses. Students who do not satisfy course requirements and who have not officially withdrawn from a course will receive a grade of No Credit (NC) or may apply for an Incomplete (I) [See Incomplete Policy for criteria]. Students who withdraw, or are administratively withdrawn from a course after the student-initiated withdraw deadline, will receive No Credit. Receiving no credit in a course lowers the number of credits earned in a given enrollment period, but the number of credits attempted remains the same. This may adversely affect a student’s academic standing. [See Satisfactory Progress.]

Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs

The following grade requirements apply to graduate students:
 

  • Grades will be assigned as the default for all theory (online and campus) and mentored courses.
  • Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.
  • Depending on the program and course, graduate students may incur a grade below "B" in no more than two courses. If a graduate student receives a third grade below a "B” in their program they will be placed on academic suspension. The minimum grade would be a C or better in order to count toward the requirements to graduate. 
  • Students matriculating in the MS Counseling program and any of the Master of Education (certification) programs must earn a minimum of a “B” in all core (required) courses. 
  • Receiving a grade or a Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) for a field experience or culminating final project varies by program:

 

Program

Grades issued Capstone and Dissertation

Grades issued Practicum and Internship

M.A. (SJCO, CPHS, OEL) 

M.B.A (Sustainable Leadership)

M.S. (SFS, RSC, ES)

Yes

Yes

M.S. (Counseling)

Ed.S.

N/A

Yes

M.A. (AE, ES, IS, ED)

M.Ed. (Education)

Ph.D. (Sustainability Education)

No

No

 

If a student does not receive a passing grade or credit as determined by the respective graduate program, the instructor of record for the specific course will choose a grade commensurate with the student's level of work, or the student will receive a No Credit (NC). 

 

No Credit and No Grade

Receiving a No Credit or a non-passing grade for any courses will require any student to take additional course(s) to complete the minimum number of credits required for graduation. Also see Withdrawal from Course policy.

A No Grade or "NG" grade will be assigned if a faculty member does not file their course grades by the deadline. NG grades will be considered an unsatisfactory grade and will negatively impact both a student's course completion rate and their grade point average. It is also used in calculating Academic and Financial Aid Satisfactory progress. Students will need to appeal their Satisfactory progress after grades are submitted by the faculty if their status should be in good standing. 

Incomplete Policy

When a student is unable to complete the coursework specified by the end of the published course date, the student may initiate an Incomplete request subject to approval by the course instructor. The guidelines for Incompletes are as follows:

  1. Incompletes will not be awarded for student teaching, thesis and dissertation credits. Unfinished work in such courses will necessitate re-enrollment or enrollment in additional completion credits.
  2. The student must have completed 75 percent of the coursework to be eligible for the temporary Incomplete grade.
  3. The instructor must approve a student’s request for an Incomplete by the end of the grading period of the given course.
  4. Approving the Incomplete binds the instructor of the course to the work of final evaluation.  If the responsible instructor is unable to fulfill their obligation to finish the Incomplete, the evaluation of student work falls to the Program Leader or their designee.
  5. The maximum time frame to complete a course graded Incomplete is 45 calendar days from the end of the course.  The instructor can set an earlier date, but cannot extend the Incomplete period beyond the 45-day period. If the instructor and student agree, the earlier date can be extended (within the 45-day maximum Incomplete period) by submitting an updated Incomplete Grade Contract to the Registrar with a new Completion Date within the 45-day period.
  6. On or before the end of the 45-day period, the responsible instructor has 30 calendar days to evaluate the student’s work, use the grade change form, and replace the Incomplete grade with a letter grade or Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC).
  7. Incomplete courses are not considered successfully passing a course, nor are NC, F (Fail) or W (Withdrawal) grades. 
  8. If no work is completed, according to the goals on the Incomplete contract, the grade will be changed to NC by the Registrar.  
  9. The Incomplete grades will be considered as attempted credits but not earned credits in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations. Incomplete grades do not affect the student's GPA.  A student with all non-passing grades in their last session course is considered a withdrawal from the term and may have their financial aid recalculated according to financial aid policy and federal regulations. 

Evaluation and Grading of Mentored Studies

For independent, mentored-study courses, the College supports the use of “mentors” who meet the policy on faculty qualifications and who are hired by Prescott College to supplement learning for students in structured, individualized courses reviewed, approved, and supervised by an approved Prescott College faculty evaluator.

Change of Evaluation/Grade Change

Students may request a course evaluation or grade change by petitioning the course instructor within one term from the end of the course. Students requesting for their transcript to be translated from CR/NC to letter grades, can submit a request to the appropriate Dean. The Dean will entertain a grade change request that is made less than two years from the end of the course or the conferral of a student's degree. If the Dean grants a request, a signed change of grade form will be submitted to the Office of the Registrar and the student's transcript will be updated.

Prior Learning Assessment / Life Experience Documentation

Prior Learning Assessment/Life Experience Documentation is only available to undergraduate students. To receive credit for college-level learning that occurs outside of the classroom, in professional work or in structured workshops, seminars, and training, qualified students may use the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process to complete a conversion portfolio. Credit received becomes a part of the student’s transcript. No more than 60 undergraduate credits awarded via Prior Learning Assessment may count towards undergraduate degree requirements.