Grading, GPA, and Academic Honors

Course Grades

The quality of performance in any academic course is reported by a letter grade. Each instructor will establish and publish in the course syllabus the grading policy for arriving at the grades below. ESCC does not have a standard numerical grading scale or method of calculating the final course grade. The final course grade denotes the character of study and are assigned quality points as noted below.

A - Excellent

4 grade points per credit

B - Good

3 grade points per credit

C - Average

2 grade points per credit

D - Poor

1 grade point per credit

F - Failure

0 grade points per credit

I - Incomplete

No grade point credit. The “I” grade is to be used only for verifiable unavoidable reasons that a student is unable to complete a course within the normal course time. To be eligible to receive an “I” grade, the student must (1) have satisfactorily completed more than 60% of the course requirements and attendance and (2) must request the faculty member to assign the “I” grade and indicate why it is warranted. The faculty member has the discretion to decide whether the “I” grade will be awarded. Since the “incomplete” extends enrollment in the course, requirements for satisfactory completion shall be established through consultation between the faculty member and the student. In assigning the “I” grade, the faculty member must complete documentation that (1) states the reason for assigning the grade; (2) specifies the work to be completed and indicates its percentage in relation to the total work of the course; (3) specifies the date by which the work must be completed; and (4) identifies the default (B, C, D, F, P, R, or U) based upon course work already completed. Completion dates may not be set beyond the last day of the subsequent semester (to include summer term) without written approval of the chief academic officer of the campus. The student will be provided a copy of the documentation. Colleges will establish procedures to ensure that all “I” grades that have not been changed by the faculty member through the normal grade change processes are subsequently changed to the default grade assigned by the faculty member. An “I” grade will be changed to a “W” only under documented mitigating circumstances which must be approved by the Chief Academic Officer of the campus.

P - Pass

No grade point credit. 

R - Re-Enroll

No grade point credit. The “R” grade may be used only in developmental studies and ESL courses to indicate satisfactory progress toward meeting course objectives. In order to complete course objectives, students receiving an “R” grade must re-enroll in the course and pay the specified tuition.

S - Satisfactory

No grade point credit. The “S” grade is used only for satisfactory completion of developmental studies and ESL courses.

U - Unsatisfactory

No grade point credit. The grade of “U” is assigned when the student has not made satisfactory progress in a developmental course.

W - Withdrawal

No grade point credit. A grade of “W” is awarded to students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a course after the add/drop period but prior to the completion of 60% of the session. After that time, the students shall receive a grade of “F” except under mitigating circumstances which must be documented and a copy of the documentation must be placed in the students’ academic files.

For purposes of enrollment reporting, the following procedures shall apply:

• If a student withdraws from a class prior to the termination of the add/drop period for the session, the student is removed from the class roster and no grade is awarded.
• After the add/drop period, but prior to completion of 60% of a session, a student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a course shall be assigned a grade of “W”.
• After that time, if a student withdraws or is withdrawn from a course, a grade of “F” shall be assigned. Exceptions to this policy may be made under mitigating circumstances; such circumstances must be documented and a copy of the documentation placed in the student’s academic file. Only the chief academic officer of the campus can approve an exception to this policy under mitigating circumstances.

X - Audit

Students desiring to attend a course without taking the examination or receiving credit for the course may do so by registering to audit through the usual registration process and paying the normal tuition. Permission of the chief academic officer is required to audit a course. Audited courses carry no credit and do not count as a part of the student’s course load. Students desiring to change status in a course from audit to credit or from credit to audit must do so within the add/drop period for the course.

Students who desire to earn credit for a previously audited course must re-enroll in the course for credit and pay normal tuition to earn a grade other than “X.” Advanced standing credit will not be awarded for a previously audited course.

Grade Reports

Students can view their final course grades in the Student Information System (SIS) accessed through MyESCC.

Computing the Grade Point Average (GPA)

To determine the GPA, multiply the number of credits for each class by the number of points awarded for the grade received and divide the total number of grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. Credits that do not generate grade points, such as credits for developmental courses, are not included in the calculation of credits attempted. Grades of P (pass), R (reenroll), S (satisfactory), U (unsatisfactory), and W (withdrawal), I (incomplete), or X (audit) do not receive grade points.

Semester GPA

To determine a semester GPA, divide the total number of grade points earned in all courses taken in each semester by the total number of credits attempted for the semester. The following serves as an example.

Curriculum GPA

To determine a curriculum GPA, divide the total number of grade points earned in all courses applicable to the student’s curriculum by the total number of credits attempted in courses applicable to that curriculum.

Cumulative GPA

To determine a cumulative grade point average, divide the total number of grade points earned in all courses by the total number of credits attempted. When students repeat a course , in which the first attempt was completed in the Fall 2021 semester or later, only the highest grade earned is counted in the computation of the cumulative GPA and for satisfying curricular requirements unless the course is designated repeatable for credit in the Master Course File or is a General Usage course. (For any course completed prior to Fall 2021, the most recent grade, not the highest grade, will be used. Students may appeal that policy to the chief academic officer.) In instances of courses designated as repeatable for credit or General Usage courses, all grades/credits are counted in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. Grades of “S,” “P,” “U,”  “W,” “X,” and “I” shall not count as first or subsequent attempts when calculating cumulative GPA. Courses that do not generate grade points are not included in credits attempted.

Academic Honors 

Semester Honors

ESCC recognizes student achievement each semester for curricular students enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours. Recognition for semester honors is notated on the student’s permanent record, and is based on the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) as follows:

Students who do not wish to be publicly recognized for honors must contact the Chief Student Affairs Officer by the last day of classes each semester.

Graduation Honors

Students who have fulfilled the requirements for associate degrees and one-year certificate programs are eligible for graduation honors, based on the minimum cumulative grade point averages listed below. Honors are not awarded for career studies certificates.

Students who do not wish to be publicly recognized for honors must contact the Chief Student Affairs Officer by the last day of classes each semester.