Understanding the University of Washington GPA System and Calculation

Navigating the grading system and GPA calculation can be a crucial aspect of a student's academic journey at the University of Washington (UW). This article provides a comprehensive overview of the UW's grading system, how GPAs are calculated, and important policies related to grading.

The University of Washington's Numerical Grading System

The UW employs a numerical grading system, with some exceptions in the schools of Dentistry, Law, and Medicine. Instructors have the option to assign grades ranging from 4.0 to 0.7, in increments of 0.1, as well as the grade 0.0. A grade of 0.0 is given for failing work or if a student does not officially withdraw from the course. It is important to note that grades between 0.6 and 0.1 are not assigned; if reported, they are converted to 0.0 by the Office of the University Registrar, signifying academic failure.

Special Grades and Their Implications

Besides numerical grades, the UW system also incorporates special grades to represent various academic situations:

N (In Progress): This indicates satisfactory progress in courses like thesis, research, hyphenated courses (those not completed in one quarter), and courses numbered 600, 601, 700, 750, and 800. A final grade will be awarded upon completion of the work.
I (Incomplete): An instructor may grant an incomplete grade if a student has completed satisfactory work up to three weeks before the end of the quarter but is unable to finish the remaining coursework due to extenuating circumstances. Granting an incomplete is at the instructor's discretion. To receive credit for the course, the instructor must submit a grade by the grading deadline of the subsequent quarter (Fall Quarter for Spring quarter incompletes). The submitted grade replaces the "I" on the transcript. If no grade is submitted, the "I" converts to a 0.0, and the "I" is removed from the official transcript. An Incomplete on the record at the time a degree is granted cannot be changed to any other grade.
S (Satisfactory): This grade is assigned for courses taken on a satisfactory/not-satisfactory basis. An S grade is automatically converted from a numerical grade of 2.0 or above for undergraduates by the Office of the University Registrar. Instructors do not directly assign the S grade. Courses graded as S can only be used as free electives and cannot fulfill any University, college, or department course requirements.
NS (Not-Satisfactory): A grade below 2.0 for undergraduates in a satisfactory/not-satisfactory course is converted to NS. The NS grade is not factored into GPA calculations.
W (Official Withdrawal): This indicates an official withdrawal or drop from a course after the fourteenth calendar day of the quarter through the seventh week, followed by a number indicating the week of withdrawal. Official withdrawals do not affect GPA calculations. Students who do not officially drop a course will receive a grade of 0.0. For DL-suffix courses that do not follow the quarter schedule, the grade W is assigned to any course dropped after the fourteenth calendar day after the start of the course and more than two weeks before the end of the maximum term for completion of the course, as specified at the time of registration. A Withdrawal annotation and the date of withdrawal will be noted on the transcript for a complete withdrawal.
HW (Hardship Withdrawal): Assigned when a student is allowed a hardship withdrawal from a course after the fourteenth calendar day of the quarter. HW grades do not impact GPA calculations.
RD (Registrar Drop): Assigned when a student drops a course through the Current Quarter Drop process between the third week of the quarter through the end of the quarter and/or through the Former Quarter Drop process when a student completes the process to have a grade changed to RD for a quarter that has passed. RD grades are not included in GPA calculations.
CR/NC (Credit/No Credit): With departmental approval, a course may be offered on a credit/no credit-only basis. Credit (CR) is granted upon demonstration of competence in the course material to the instructor's satisfaction, consistent with the University's policy for numerically graded courses where students receive credit for grades of 0.7 or greater. Students who do not demonstrate such competence receive a grade of NC.

Electing the Satisfactory/Not-Satisfactory (S/NS) Grading Option

Students have the option to choose the S/NS grading option for certain courses. To do so, they must navigate to Register.UW, select the S/NS grading option for the desired course, and click Update Schedule. This election must be made by the deadline specified in the academic calendar for the current quarter, with absolutely no exceptions. Students can register for up to 20 credits of S/NS courses through Register.UW. As an undergraduate, a course in which an S is earned may not be used to satisfy any department, college, or University requirement, except that the credits may be applied to the minimum of 180 credits required for graduation. Each instructor will report numerical grades to the Registrar, who will convert satisfactory grades (2.0 or greater) to S, and unsatisfactory grades (less than 2.0) to NS for the student's transcript. In cases of withdrawal, the W is recorded.

Calculating Your GPA at UW

The University's cumulative GPA is calculated solely based on courses taken in residence at the UW, including some courses taken through UW Extension. The UW transcript also displays grades for UW Extension coursework that is not considered residence credit, as well as grades for credit by examination.

The GPA for graduation is determined by dividing the total cumulative grade points by the total graded credits attempted for courses taken in residence at the University. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits for each course by the numeric value of the grade received. The sum of these grade points is then divided by the total number of graded credits attempted.

Courses taken on an S/NS basis are treated as follows: Satisfactory grades (S) are noted on the permanent record but do not affect the quarterly or cumulative GPA. However, they do count as credits earned towards graduation.

For instance, if a student attempts 18 credits but only 13 are graded due to an Incomplete (I), the GPA is calculated based on the 13 graded credits. The Incomplete is not included in the GPA calculation.

Repeating Courses

With the approval of the academic department offering the course, an undergraduate student may repeat a course once. Both the original grade and the second grade are included in the GPA calculation, but credit is only awarded once. Graduate students are allowed to repeat any course, and again, both the original and the second grade are computed in the GPA. Subsequent grades after the second attempt are not included in the GPA but will appear on the permanent record. The number of credits earned in the course will apply toward degree requirements only once.

Grade Changes and Appeals

Instructors are generally not permitted to change a grade once it has been submitted to the Registrar, except in cases of error. If a student is dissatisfied with the instructor's explanation of a grade, they may appeal to the chair of the department (or the dean in a nondepartmental college) within ten days of their discussion with the instructor. A copy of the appeal should also be sent to the instructor. The chair will then consult with the instructor to assess the fairness and reasonableness of the evaluation or whether the instructor's conduct in assigning the grade was arbitrary or capricious. If the chair believes the instructor's conduct was arbitrary or capricious and the instructor refuses to revise the grade, the chair (or the dean) may, with the approval of the voting members of their faculty, appoint a faculty member to evaluate the student's performance and assign a grade.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

The Significance of GPA

A University of Washington-Seattle Campus (UW) GPA will impact your short-term career prospects. Many employers use GPA as a screening criterion, often requiring a minimum GPA for consideration.

Grade Point Conversion Chart and Example

The following demonstrates how each letter grade corresponds to a certain grade point:

Credit hours vary from class to class. For example, a normal class at University of Washington-Seattle Campus (UW) may be worth 4 credits, while a part-time class is worth 2 credits.

External GPA Calculators

Looking for a general calculator? Are you a high school student?

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

tags: #university #of #washington #gpa #calculator