Graduate Course Grading Policies

  • Policy Number: KC-ACA-3733
  • Date Revised: Spring 2019
  • Last Modified: Feb 5, 2024
  • Effective Date: AY 19-20
  • Approved By: Graduate Council, SGS Dean, Provost
  • Sponsor(s): Provost
  • Responsible Office(s): Registrar

Policy Statement

The following is the +/- grading scale and grade-point system used at UMKC. This +/- grading scale and grade point system is used by all faculty, in all undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

Letter grade: A
Description: The highest grade
Points per semester hour: 4.0

Letter grade: A-
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 3.7

Letter grade: B+
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 3.3

Letter grade: B
Description: Work of distinction
Points per semester hour: 3.0

Letter grade: B-
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 2.7

Letter grade: C+
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 2.3

Letter grade: C
Description: Average work
Points per semester hour: 2.0

Letter grade: C-
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 1.7

Letter grade: D+
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 1.3

Letter grade: D
Description: Passing, but unsatisfactory
Points per semester hour: 1.0

Letter grade: D-
Description: 
Points per semester hour: 0.7

Letter grade: F
Description: Failure without credit
Points per semester hour: 0.0

Letter grade: NR
Description: Not Reported
Points per semester hour: 0.0

Letter grade: WF
Description: Withdrew failing
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: W
Description: Withdrew; no-academic assessment
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: I
Description: Incomplete
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: AT
Description: Audit
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: CR
Description: Credit only
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: NC
Description: No Credit
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: P
Description: Passing
Points per semester hour: -

Letter grade: S
Description: Satisfactory
Points per semester hour: -

In terms prior to and including 1985, any of the above grades may have been preceded by an R indicating a repeated course. These grades were not included in either total hours or the grade-point average. (Examples: RC, RD, RF.) Since 1985, all grades, including those in repeated courses, are included in the GPA calculation. Starting the 1993 Fall semester, UMKC began using the plus/minus grading system for grades A, B, C and D. The grade of A+ is valid only for students in the School of Law.

Incomplete grades

An instructor may give a grade of incomplete (I) to students who have been unable to complete the work of the course because of illness or other valid reasons beyond their control. Students who receive an incomplete must complete the required work within one calendar year to avoid an F (failure without credit). The instructor may specify a shorter completion period. A grade of incomplete is only appropriate when enough work in the course has been completed that the student can finish the remaining work without re- enrolling in the course in question, or by attending additional classes. In other instances, students should withdraw. Students cannot re-enroll in a course for which an incomplete remains on the record. Furthermore, graduate students cannot graduate with an incomplete on their record.

This policy is exclusive of those courses which are considered directed individual studies, internships, special topics, practica, research and thesis, and research and dissertation courses. Because completion of such courses will quite often span several terms, incomplete grades assigned in such courses will not automatically lapse to an “F” grade after one calendar year, but will adhere to the completion period specified by the instructor.

Repeated graduate-credit courses

Whenever students repeat a graduate-credit course, they must submit a course repeat form to the Office of the Registrar no later than the fourth week of the term. Students seeking graduate degrees are limited to repeating no more than 20% of the credits applicable toward a graduate degree. If approved by the school or department or Interdisciplinary Ph.D. supervisory committee, students may repeat a course once to improve the grade-point average or satisfy the program requirements. The second grade received will be used to calculate the grade-point average that will be used in satisfying degree requirements.

Contacts

UMKC Registrar’s Office

Registrar's website

Physical location:
115 Administrative Center
5115 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64110

Mailing address:
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

Phone: 816-235-1125

Fax: 816-235-5513

Email: registrar@umkc.edu

UMKC Office of the Provost

Provost website

Exclusions

None

History and Updates

None

Appendices

None