Grading & Academic Policies
Academic Standards
A student with a GPA of 2.0 or higher who has completed 50% of credits attempted at Gateway is considered in Good Standing. For a complete description and explanation of the academic standards, please refer to the College Catalog.
Course Load
A full-time course load will normally consist of four to five (4-5) courses, depending upon the student's major and degree of academic preparedness. Students wishing to take more than the normal course load for their major during the second or subsequent semester may register for one additional course with the approval of the Dean of Learning, provided they have maintained an average of 3.0 or better during the preceding semester.
Course Substitution
The substitution of a course must receive permission from the appropriate department chairperson/program coordinator or the Dean of Learning. Students must complete a Course Substitution Form available in the records and counseling offices.
Grades & Quality Points
The following grades are used on the college transcript. All colleges will use the same system of values for grades awarded. Values to be used for all calculations of grades, averages, and related matters, are as follows:
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3
- D = 1.0
- D- = 0.7
- F = 0.0
- I = Incomplete: Temporary Grade
GPA
In order to determine a student's average, letter grades are assigned numerical values. The numerical weight is multiplied by the number of credits (semester hours) assigned each course (quality points). A student's overall average is determined by dividing the total number of quality points by the number of credits attempted.
I - Incomplete
If there are extenuating circumstances (such as extensive illness, hardship, or emergency) a student whose work in a course is not complete at the time of grading may request the grade of "I" (Incomplete) from the instructor. An incomplete makes the student ineligible for academic honors that semester.
Students will have six (6) weeks, following the semester in which the grade of "I" was given (excluding Winter Intersession and Summer Session), to complete the required work. Specific deadline dates appear in the Academic Calendar. The grading policy requires the instructor to issue a letter grade once the deadline for making up the work for a course has been reached. A grade of "F" will be assigned if no grade is received by the stated deadline and there has been no attempt to complete the work.