PANOLA COLLEGE
STUDENT GRADES AND
RECORDS
GRADING
SYSTEM: A student’s standing in his or her work
is expressed by grades obtained from class work and examinations. College grades are important because
they become a part of the student’s permanent record and may be used as the
basis for many decisions related to the student during his or her lifetime. The student’s grade point average (GPA)
is significant in determining eligibility for continued financial aid, for
continuance in school, for acceptance at a transfer institution, for graduation,
and eventually for employment after completion of a formal education. A system of point values exists to
convert alphabetical grades into a numerical system. The following grades have the indicated
number of points assigned for each semester hour of credit
earned:
A (excellent work)…………….4 grade points
B (above average)…………….3 grade points
C (average work)………………2 grade points
D (passing)………………………1 grade point
F (failure)………………………..0 grade points
I (incomplete)………………….0
grade points
The
grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of grade
points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted.
GRADE
REPORTS:
Grade reports are no longer mailed to students. Semester grades are available to students
through the college's online services. Mid-semester deficiency grades of
“D” or “F” are filed by instructor for semester length classes. These grades are assigned to the students
and are also available online,
but they do not become a part of the student’s permanent record. Students may obtain specific information about
mid-semester grades on an individual basis from their instructors.
REPEATING
A COURSE TO IMPROVE A GRADE:
Grades cannot be changed. The only way a course grade may be
raised is by the student’s repeating the course and making a higher grade. If a course is repeated, both grades
will remain on the transcript but the second grade becomes the grade of record
and is used in calculating credit and overall GPA. The student is cautioned, however,
that all colleges do not follow this practice. Taking the course at another college in
an attempt to improve a grade will neither change a grade nor figure into the
GPA at
INCOMPLETE COURSE WORK: Incomplete (“I” ) is a temporary grade indicating that a student has satisfactorily completed the requirements of a course with the exception of a final examination or other work delayed by illness, emergency, or authorized absence. In the meantime, the grade of “I” is non-punitive and is not used in computing the GPA. Before awarding an “I”, the instructor must secure the permission of the Vice of Instruction. The student must complete work within six weeks after the end of the semester in which the grade was issued or receive an "F" for the course.
COURSE
WITHDRAWAL: If it becomes necessary for a student to
withdraw from a course, the student must contact the Admissions/Records
Office. The grade of “W”
(withdrawn) is given during the first 12 weeks of the semester. The grade of “W” has no negative affect
on the student’s GPA. If the
student does not contact the Admissions/Records Office and exits a class
unofficially, a grade of “F” will be award by the
instructor.
CHALLENGING
A GRADE:
Challenging a grade must occur before
the end of the fall or spring semester immediately following awarding of the
grade. Students with questions
concerning grades should contact the Admissions/Records
Office.
SCHOLASTIC
PROBATION:
Probation occurs when the quality of a student’s work falls below the accepted
standard of satisfactory progress. Scholastic probation is a conditional
permission for a student to continue in college. A student must maintain a
cumulative “C” (2.0 GPA) on all course work completed and/or accepted in
transfer at Panola College. A student who fails to achieve a 2.0 GPA after
accumulating 12 semester hours will be notified of his/her probationary status.
The student should visit with a counselor concerning recommendations for
improvement. A student on probation may not register for more than four academic
courses and two one-hour courses without the approval of the Dean of
Instruction. Students will have their status reviewed after the completion of
each additional 12 semester hours. Should a student fail to achieve a cumulative
2.0 GPA at the end of the second
consecutive evaluation, the student will receive notification that he/she
must report for counseling before being allowed to register and continue
on a probationary status. If a student fails to achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA at
the end of the third consecutive
evaluation, he/she will be placed on academic suspension. Students on
probation who achieve a “C” (2.0 GPA) for any given semester will be allowed to
continue on probation for the next semester even though the cumulative average
is below 2.0. Students on probation for the third consecutive semester who do
not have a “C” average for the immediately preceding semester will not be
allowed to attend
SCHOLASTIC
SUSPENSION: A
student on Scholastic Suspension is denied the privilege of registering for one
spring or fall semester, as appropriate. Following the semester of suspension,
the student may reenroll on a probationary status. The student remains on
probation until a cumulative 2.0 or better GPA is earned. Students who have been on suspension from
DEAN’S LIST: Only
full-time students (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) with a grade point
average between 3.5 and 3.79 will be included on the Dean’s List. Only courses
which apply toward an associate degree or a certificate are included in this
computation.
PRESIDENT’S LIST: Only
full-time students (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) with a grade point
average between 3.8 and 4.0 will be included on the President’s List. Only
courses which apply toward an associate degree or a certificate are included in
this computation.