Understanding the UMN Grading System: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Minnesota (UMN) employs a standardized grading system to evaluate student performance and ensure consistent academic assessment. This article provides a detailed explanation of the UMN grading scales, associated policies, and relevant procedures. This information is primarily based on official University policies and aims to offer clarity for students, faculty, and anyone seeking to understand the UMN's approach to grading.

University Grading Scales

The University of Minnesota utilizes two primary grading scales: the A-F grading scale and the S-N grading scale. Colleges and campuses within the UMN system are required to adhere to these scales unless they have obtained specific approval from the Senate Committee on Educational Policy (SCEP) and the University Senate to use alternative grades or symbols.

A-F Grading Scale

The A-F grading scale is the most common system used for assigning grades at UMN. It provides a range of grades, each corresponding to a specific number of GPA points. Here's a breakdown:

A: 4.000 GPA Points - Represents achievement that significantly exceeds expectations in the course.
A-: 3.667 GPA Points
B+: 3.333 GPA Points
B: 3.000 GPA Points - Represents achievement that is above the minimum expectations in the course.
B-: 2.667 GPA Points
C+: 2.333 GPA Points
C: 2.000 GPA Points - Represents achievement that meets the minimum expectations in the course.
C-: 1.667 GPA Points
D+: 1.333 GPA Points
D: 1.000 GPA Points - Represents achievement that partially meets the minimum expectations in the course. Credit is earned but it may not fulfill major or program requirements.
F: 0.000 GPA Points - Represents failure in the course and no credit is earned.

The F grade does not earn grade points, and the student does not receive University credit for the course. However, the credit hours for the course are included in the grade point average calculation. An F is assigned when the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit, or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be given an I (Incomplete). Instructors are not required to use pluses and minuses when grading on the A-F scale. Grade points are the same regardless of the course number or level of enrollment (e.g., graduate or undergraduate level). Except for the Law School, the University does not award A+ grades, nor are D- grades permitted.

S-N Grading Scale

The S-N grading scale is an alternative grading system that offers a simplified assessment of student performance. It consists of two grades:

Read also: Decoding the 5.0 GPA Scale

S: 0.00 GPA Points - Satisfactory (equivalent to a C- or better)
N: 0.00 GPA Points - Not Satisfactory

The S grade does not carry grade points and is not part of the GPA calculation, but the credits will count toward the student's degree program if allowed by the college, campus, or program. The N grade does not carry grade points, and the credits for the course do not count toward any academic degree program. The credit hours for the course do not count in the grade point average. The N is assigned when the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit, or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I. No campus, college, or program is required to offer a course on the S-N grading scale. Any unit may choose to limit grades in a particular course to the A-F or the S-N scale. When both grading scales are available to a student, the student must declare the choice of scale at the time of registration. After the end of the second week of classes (the first week in summer sessions), students may not change their election of a grading scale. The S-N system is a self-contained alternative to the A-F system, and the two scales may not be combined for a particular student in a particular course. Students may receive grades or symbols only from the grading scale under which they have registered for a course.

Other Transcript Symbols

In addition to the standard A-F and S-N grades, the University utilizes several other symbols to represent specific academic situations:

I (Incomplete): An instructor may assign the registration symbol I for Incomplete if, at the time the incomplete is requested: the student has successfully completed a substantial portion of the work of the course; and due to extraordinary circumstances (as determined by the instructor), the student was prevented from completing the work of the course on time. The assignment of an I requires a written agreement with the student specifying the time and manner in which the student will complete the course requirements. The written agreement must require the student to complete the course requirements no later than the day grades are due for the subsequent regular (fall or spring) term, except as provided in section B.6 for students called to active military duty. The contract cannot require the student to re-register for the course or to sit in on an entire course in order to resolve an incomplete. Students may complete the work to resolve an incomplete during a term in which they are not otherwise registered. Students must submit the work to resolve an incomplete as specified in the written agreement. Except for graduate and professional students, incompletes that have not been changed to a letter grade by the day grades are due for the subsequent regular (fall or spring) term will be automatically changed to an F or N, consistent with the student’s grading scale for the course. For graduate and professional students, an I remains on the transcript until changed by the instructor or department. If an I becomes an F or N under this provision, the grade may be changed later by the instructor if appropriate. The instructor is expected to turn in the new grade within four weeks of the date the work was submitted by the student. When an I is changed to another symbol or grade, the I is removed from the record. If a student graduates with an I on the transcript, the I will remain an I. The degree GPA is frozen upon graduation. With college and instructor approval, a student may be allowed to resolve an incomplete up to one year after graduation. While the degree GPA will not change, the cumulative GPA will be updated. When students are called to active military duty, and reach agreement with their instructor(s) to take an incomplete, they will have up to one calendar year following their discharge from active duty to complete their incomplete(s).
V (Visitor): This symbol indicates registration as an auditor or visitor. No credit is awarded, and the auditing student does not receive a grade. Students auditing a course are required to pay full tuition but do not take exams and are not required to do homework. An auditor is entered on the class roster, is counted as filling a seat in a controlled entry course, and is counted in an instructor's student contact hours. Students may not sit in on a course without registering for it. A student may take a previously audited class for a grade.
W (Withdrawal): The symbol W is entered on a student's record when the student officially withdraws from a course. The W will be entered on the transcript irrespective of the student's academic standing in that course if the student withdraws from the course during the third through tenth week of class or during the second or third weeks of summer sessions. If a student officially withdraws from a course during the first two weeks of classes, there will be no record of that course registration entered on the student's transcript. Students may, once during their undergraduate enrollment, withdraw from a course without documentation of extenuating circumstances or college/campus approval, and receive the transcript symbol W, after the deadline for withdrawal and at any time up to and including the last day of instruction for that course. A student may not withdraw after completing the final examination or equivalent for a course. Except as provided in the preceding section, withdrawal after the deadline will require approval of the college and may not be granted solely because a student is failing the course; there must be extenuating non-academic circumstances justifying late withdrawal.
X (Continuation Course): If a course is approved as a sequenced or continuation course and the grade cannot be determined for all students in the course until the full sequence is completed, the symbol X may be used at the end of the term while the sequence is in progress. The instructor will submit a grade for each X when the student has completed the sequence.
K (Course in Progress): The symbol K may be used at the end of a session in courses where course activity (e.g., rotations) has been approved to extend beyond the established end date. The K symbol indicates that course activity is still in progress. The instructor will submit a grade that will replace the K for each student when course activities are complete.
NR (No Grade Reported): There will be a symbol NR, administratively assigned to indicate that a grade was not reported for the course. The NR does not carry any GPA points.
NG (No Grade): The No Grade (NG) grading scale is a limited scale used for certain research and thesis registrations.

GPA Calculation

Every student will have a grade point average calculated at both the end of each grading period (semester) and cumulatively, which will be the ratio of grade points earned divided by the number of credits attempted with grades of A-F (including pluses and minuses). Both the term and cumulative grade point average will appear on the transcript. Registration symbols, as described in this policy, do not count in the GPA and courses with symbols rather than grades do not earn credit. When a student graduates, no further changes to the student's transcript will be made (to that portion of the transcript related to the program from which the student graduated) except as expressly allowed under the provisions of this policy. Courses that carry zero credits do not count in either term or cumulative grade point averages. Such courses carry normal tuition and fee charges.

Scholastic Dishonesty

Scholastic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course will be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course, corresponding to the student’s registered grading scale (A-F or S-N). This provision allows instructors to award an F or an N to a student when scholastic dishonesty is discovered; it does not require an instructor to do so. If the instructor determines that a grade of F or N for the course should be awarded to a student because of scholastic dishonesty, the student cannot withdraw to avoid the F or N. If the student withdrew from the course before the scholastic dishonesty was discovered or before the instructor concluded that there was scholastic dishonesty, and the instructor (or the appropriate hearing body if the student requests a hearing) determines that the student should receive an F or N, the student will be re-registered for the course and the F and N grade will be entered.

Repeating Courses

An undergraduate student may repeat a course only once. The college offering the course may grant an exception to this provision. Students who receive a grade of S or C or higher may repeat a course only if space permits. When a student repeats a course before receiving the degree, (a) both grades for the course will appear on the official transcript, (b) the course credits may not be counted more than once toward degree and program requirements, and (c) only the last enrollment for the course will count in the student's grade point average. Provisions 4(a) and (b) of this policy will not apply to courses (1) using the same number but where students study different content each term of enrollment and (2) to courses designated as "repetition allowed." If an undergraduate student repeats a course after the degree has been awarded, the original course grade will not be excluded from the degree GPA nor will the new grade be included in the degree GPA.

Read also: Comprehensive Guide to LSU GPA

Bracketing

Bracketing is the practice of not including a course in the calculation of a student's GPA and not counting the course as satisfying any undergraduate degree requirements, including electives, because a student has repeated a course. When a student repeats a course, all prior attempts are bracketed and only the most recent attempt counts, except as provided in 4(c). No department or college or campus may bracket the courses of another department or college or campus for any reason other than course repetition. An F may not be bracketed with an N. A University course may not be bracketed with a course taken at another institution. When a student enrolled in a graduate program repeats a course, provisions 4(a) and (b) apply, but all grades for the course will be counted in the student's grade point average.

Additional Considerations

Assigning final grades: All grades for academic work are based on the quality of the work submitted, not on hours of effort. Instructors have the responsibility and authority to determine how final grades are assigned, including, in classes where they use numeric scores, the method that will be used to translate numeric scores into letter grades. In courses with graded group work, instructors are expected to make efforts to ensure that each student’s grade accurately reflects the degree to which they have met the stated goals of the assignment. When an instructor believes that a student’s final grade will be significantly adversely affected by the actions or inactions of group members, the instructor is encouraged to identify ways to alleviate this. Final grades must be submitted to the Registrar no later than three business days after the last day of the final examination period.
Accessing Grades: Your grades should be available 4 business days after the end of the term. If your grades are not available online by then, check with your instructor or academic advisor. You can view your grades on the Grades tab in MyU: Academics. You may also give access to a parent or guest to allow them to view your grades.
Course Syllabi: The University requires that course syllabi include copies of, references to, or statements about those policies marked with an asterisk (*) after the title. Students are responsible for all information disseminated in class and all course requirements, including deadlines and examinations.

UMNB Scales in PLS Studies

While the primary focus of this article is the general UMN grading system, it's relevant to note the use of Upper Motor Neuron Burden (UMNB) scales in studies related to Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS). These scales, such as the UK UMN scale, the MGH UMNB scale, and the UPENN UMNS, are used to assess the severity of upper motor neuron dysfunction based on clinical examination findings. Research has explored the application of these scales in tracking disease progression in PLS patients.

Read also: GPA Needed for West Chester

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