Grading Policies

Grade Due Dates

Regular quarter & Summer Session grades are due the Wednesday after the term ends. For grade submission information, see Canvas Grading.

Definition of Grades & Marks

The work of each student shall be reported in terms of the following grades: A (excellent), B (good), C (fair), D (poor), F (failure), I (incomplete), and IP (in progress). Grades of A, B, C, and D may be modified by plus (+) or minus (-) suffixes.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (A))

Grade Points

Grade points per unit shall be assigned by the Office of the University Registrar as follows: A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, F, I, or IP-none. “Minus” grades shall be assigned three-tenths grade point less per unit than unsuffixed grades, and “plus” grades (except A+) shall be assigned three-tenths grade point more per unit. The grade of A+ shall be assigned 4.0 grade points per unit, the same as for an unsuffixed A; but when A+ is reported it represents extraordinary achievement.

(source, Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (B))

Incomplete (I) Grade

The grade Incomplete shall be assigned only when the student’s completed work (judged by itself and not in relation to the work required to pass the course as a whole) is of passing quality and represents a significant portion of the requirements for a final grade, but is incomplete for good cause as determined by the instructor. "Good cause" may include illness, serious personal problems, an accident, a death in the immediate family, a large and necessary increase in working hours, or other situations deemed to be of equal gravity. The student is entitled to replace this grade by a passing grade and to receive appropriate grade points and unit credit provided he or she satisfactorily completes the work of the course in a way specified by the instructor before the end of the third succeeding term of the student’s academic residence as defined in Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate 610. If a degree is conferred upon the student before the expiration of the time limit for conversion, the time limit for conversion for the graduated student shall be the end of the third regular term succeeding the term in which the Incomplete grade was assigned. If the time limit for conversion expires before a degree is conferred upon the student and the Incomplete grade has not been replaced, the grade shall revert to an F, a Not Passed, or an Unsatisfactory, depending on the grading system in effect in the particular instance. If the time limit expires after a degree has been conferred and the Incomplete grade has not been replaced, the Incomplete grade shall remain on the student’s record. If the degree has not been conferred, and the work has not been completed before the end of the term three calendar years after the grade Incomplete has been assigned, and during which the student has not been in academic residence as defined in Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate 610, the grade Incomplete shall remain on the student’s record, unless the course is repeated. This time limit for the completion of courses assigned the grade Incomplete shall apply to all and only those courses in which the grade Incomplete is assigned on or after September 1, 2010.

In calculating an undergraduate student’s grade point average, grade points and units for courses graded Incomplete shall not be counted except that, in ascertaining compliance with the 2.000 minimum grade point average required for the receipt of a bachelor’s degree, all incomplete units attempted for a letter grade shall be counted and assigned a grade point value of zero. Any undergraduate student who accumulates more than 16 units of Incomplete for which final grades have not been assigned shall be subject to academic probation or disqualification.

In calculating a graduate student’s grade point average, grade points and units for courses graded Incomplete shall not be counted except that, in ascertaining compliance with the minimum grade point average required for receipt of a degree, all incomplete units attempted for a letter grade shall not be counted and assigned a grade point value of zero. Any graduate student who accumulates more than 8 units of Incomplete for which final grades have not been assigned shall be subject to academic probation.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (C))

To change an Incomplete into a letter grade:

  1. Instructors may submit petitions to change Incomplete grades, as well as submit final grades to replace NG notations, using the Online Grade Change Tool.
  2. In the event that an instructor is unable to change an Incomplete grade using the Online Grade Change Tool, the Petition for Incomplete Grade Change is available.
  3. In the event that an instructor is unable to update an NG notation using the Online Grade Change Tool, the instructor should contact the Grade Change Deputies at gradechanges@ucdavis.edu and request a paper Grade Change Petition.

If a student does not complete the work and file the petition by the end of the third term of enrollment succeeding the term in which the I grade was assigned, the I changes to an F, NP, or U.

Please submit a full and complete date of completion for all incompletes, e.g., June 9, 2019. If students completed their work within the allotted time, but the incomplete grade change is being sent in after the deadline for conversion from I to F in Banner, it is crucial that a date of completion be attached so that the change can be manually processed.

In-Progress Grading

There are two types of in-progress grading, Deferred and Multi-term.

For a course extending over more than one term, where the evaluation of the student’s performance is deferred until the end of the final term, provisional grades of In Progress shall be assigned in the intervening terms. Grade points and units for courses graded In Progress shall not be counted in calculating a student’s grade point average. Provisional grades shall be replaced by final grades if the student completes the full sequence. The student may receive final grades, grade points, and unit credit for completed terms when he or she has not completed the entire sequence if the instructor certifies that the course was not completed for good cause.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (D))

Deferred grading is used for a series of courses where the student should receive the total number of units for each course in the series at the end. When the grade is submitted after completion of the final course, that grade will roll back to the previous courses and the student will receive credit for the total number of units. For example, if a student completes a series of courses, 100A-100B-100C, where 100A and 100B have deferred grading, and each course is worth 4 units, the student will receive 12 units of credit after completing 100C.

Multi-term grading is typically used for a single course that spans multiple terms; the student earns credit only once upon completion of the course. The student must enroll in the course in each term to complete the course. For example, course 101 is taught over three terms and carries 3 units of credit. A student enrolls in course 101 in fall, winter, and then spring quarters. When the student completes the spring quarter, the instructor assigns a final grade. The student earns a total of 3 units of credit for the entire course series (all three terms). In Progress remains for the fall and winter course on the student's transcript.

If a department uses the multi-term grade mode for a single course, it is the department’s responsibility to notify the Office of the University Registrar prior to the term in which the department intends the grade to be issued.

Passed or Not Passed Grading

A regular undergraduate student in good standing may opt to take specific courses on a Passed (P) or Not Passed (NP) basis up to the limits specified in Davis Division Regulation A545(B).

Not more than one-third of the units taken in residence on the Davis campus and presented for graduation by an undergraduate student may be in courses taken on a Passed or Not Passed basis, including courses graded in accordance with Davis Division Regulations A545 (C) and A545 (D). The faculty of any college or school on the Davis campus may establish regulations that are more restrictive regarding use of the Passed or Not Passed option by its students.

With approval of the appropriate department or division and of the appropriate Committees on Courses of Instruction, the grades assigned by instructors in specific undergraduate courses may be, for undergraduate students, Passed or Not Passed only and, for graduate students, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only.

Each special study, directed group study, or other variable-unit undergraduate course shall be graded for undergraduate students on a Passed or Not Passed only basis and for graduate students on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only basis unless specific approval for the use of a letter grade is given by the appropriate committees on courses of instruction.

For courses being undertaken on a Passed or Not Passed basis, the grade of Passed shall be awarded only for work which otherwise would receive a grade of C- or better. Units thus earned shall be counted in satisfaction of degree requirements, but courses undertaken on a Passed or Not Passed basis shall be disregarded in determining a student’s grade point average.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A545)

Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory Grading

Under the rules determined by the Graduate Council and the appropriate program, a graduate student in good standing is authorized to undertake, in addition to courses graded on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only basis, one course each term on an optional Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) basis. After a graduate student has been advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student may undertake an unlimited number of courses on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory basis.

With the consent of the appropriate program and approval of the Graduate Council and of the Davis Division Committee on Courses of Instruction, the grades assigned in specific graduate courses may be, for graduate students, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only and, for undergraduate students, Passed or Not Passed only.

Students enrolled in individual research or individual study graduate courses (299 or 299D) shall be graded on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only basis.

In courses being undertaken on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory basis, the grade of Satisfactory shall be awarded only for work which otherwise would receive a grade of B- or better and shall be awarded in undergraduate courses only for work which otherwise would receive a grade of C- or better, with the exception of courses that are approved to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement, where the grade of Satisfactory shall be awarded only for work which otherwise would receive a grade of C or better (Davis Division Regulation 521C). Units thus earned shall be counted in satisfaction of degree requirements but disregarded in determining a student’s grade point average. No credit shall be allowed for work graded Unsatisfactory.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A546)

Grading Variance

Instructors may request a change in the mode of grading for a course through the Academic Senate’s Committee on Courses of Instruction. Requests for a grading variance must include the course number, section, and title; the term; the CRN; and an explanation of the request.

Grading variance requests submitted before the first class meeting must include a copy of the syllabus detailing the change of grade mode. Students should be advised that they can reinstate the original grade mode for P/NP courses by completing the Undergraduate Course Change form.

Requests submitted after the first day of instruction must include a list of student names and signatures. Every enrolled student must agree, in writing, to the change. Requests must be received by the Committee on Courses of Instruction by the fifteenth day of instruction to be considered for approval. Late or incomplete requests will not be approved. 

Online Grading

Final grades must be submitted using the Final Grades website by the Wednesday immediately following finals week.

Complete instructions are available at the Final Grades website. If you need more help using the online grading tool, contact the IT Express Computer Services Desk.

Be sure to check all of your grades before submitting. They are processed immediately following submission. Do not add students to grade reports. All students must have grades keyed at the same time—you cannot make a second update or change later after submission. If a student attends your class, but does not appear on the grade list, contact your department office for assistance. Per Academic Senate Regulations, credit toward a university degree may be earned only for work or examinations for which a student has registered.

Repetition of Courses

Repetition of courses not authorized by the Academic Senate Committee on Courses of Instruction to be taken more than once for credit is subject to the following conditions.

An undergraduate student may repeat only those courses in which the student received a grade of D+, a C- or below for any course that is approved to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (see Davis Division Regulation 521.C.2), or a grade of Not Passed,  as well as courses in which a grade of I has become permanent on the student's record because the work was not completed within three years. Departments may restrict repetition of a course if it is a prerequisite for a course already completed with a grade of C- or better. Courses in which a letter grade has been assigned may not be repeated on a Passed or Not Passed basis.

A graduate student, with the consent of the appropriate graduate advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies, may repeat any course in which the student received a letter grade of C+ or below, or a grade of Unsatisfactory, as well as courses in which a grade of I has become permanent on the student’s record because the work was not completed within three years, up to a maximum of three courses for all courses repeated. Courses in which a letter grade has been assigned may not be repeated on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory basis.

Repetition of a course more than once requires approval by the appropriate dean in all instances.

Degree credit for a course will be given only once, but the grade assigned at each enrollment shall be permanently recorded.

In computing the grade point average of an undergraduate who repeats courses in which the student received a grade of D or F, or in the case of a course that is approved to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement, a C- or below, only the most recently earned grade for each course and corresponding grade points shall be used for the first 16 units repeated. In the case of further repetitions, the grade point average shall be based on all grades assigned and total units attempted.

In computing the grade point average of a graduate student who repeats courses in which the student received a grade of C, D, or F, only the most recently earned grade for each course and corresponding grade points shall be used.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (F1-6))

Graduate Student Taking Undergraduate Course

Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the same undergraduate course shall be graded using identical performance standards. These grading standards must reflect the expectations for performance of undergraduate students.

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A541)

Enrolled—No Work Submitted (ENWS)

Effective fall 2012, the Enrolled-No Work Submitted (ENWS or NS) grade option is no longer available; therefore, students receive a failing grade (F) if they do not attend or do not submit any work for a class in which they are enrolled or have been added from a waitlist. Students are academically and financially responsible for all of the classes on their schedule, so students should be sure to check and adjust their schedule accordingly during the designated enrollment and schedule adjustment periods.

No Grade (NG)

The Office of the University Registrar shall enter the notation “NG” on the end-of-term course report and on the student’s record for a student whose instructor has not yet submitted an appropriate grade (letter grade or P, NP, S, U, I, or IP). The instructor must indicate in the “memorandum” column on the course report the reason for not submitting a grade. Conditions for removing the NG are:

  1. The notation NG shall be replaced by the appropriate grade upon written submission of that grade by the instructor.
  2. The NG and relevant course notation both shall be deleted from the student’s transcript if it is established that an administrative error resulted in improper assignment of the NG to the student.
  3. The Registrar shall change the NG notation to an F grade if the NG has not been removed under the provisions of (1) or (2), unless the instructor in charge indicates otherwise to the Registrar. To ensure that the student is aware that an NG must be removed, the Registrar shall provide the following written notification to all affected students: “NG must be removed within one term or the NG will be changed to a grade of F. If this course appeared on your midterm course checklist, see your instructor immediately; if it did not appear, see the Registrar.”

(source: Regulations of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, A540 (G))

The instructor must submit a valid grade within one academic term following the NG entry or the NG grade will lapse to an F grade (or NP or U).

Courses, where no grade has been entered, will eventually roll in Banner to become NG grades.

Instructors can use the Online Grade Change Tool to submit NG grade changes.