Each student has an academic adviser to assist in determining the most appropriate schedule and program. The student, however, is responsible for knowing the requirements for graduation and is responsible for meeting these requirements; selection of courses each semester is at the option of the student. The usual course load is four courses per term with three as the minimum for full-time status. See Degree Requirements for details.

CLASS STANDING

The minimum number of courses which must be satisfactorily completed for class standing are as follows: Sophomore - 7 courses, Junior - 15 courses, Senior - 24 courses. Class standing will be determined by the Registrar, based upon completed courses, at ühe beginning of the fall semester of each academic year. Entering students (other than transfer students) who by reason of approved Advanced Placement work or other credits have completed seven or more credits will be given sophomore class standing.

THE GRADING SYSTEMS

A. There are three grading systems:

1. A letter system using the marks and grade points: A = 4.000, A- = 3.667,

B + = 3.333, B = 3.000, B- = 2.667, C + = 2.333, C = 2.000, C- = 1.667,

D = 1.000, and F = 0.000.

2. A two-level system using the marks S and NC.

3. A four-level system using the marks H, G, S, and NC for the Independent Study Thesis-see the Handbook for Independent Study for details.

B. The significance of the grading notations is as follows:

A grade in the A range indicates an outstanding performance in which there has been distinguished achievement in all phases of the course.

A grade in the B range indicates a good performance in which there has been a high level of achievement in some phases of the course.

A grade in the C range indicates an adequate performance in which a basic understanding of the subject has been demonstrated.

A grade of D indicates a minimal performance in which despite recognizable deficiencies there is enough merit to warrant credit.

A grade of F or NC indicates unsatisfactory performance.

C. The grade point average includes all A-F grades, and the transcript will carry the notation that these grades are averaged in the cumulative GPA. The cumulative grade point average is calculated by totaling the number of points acquired for all courses that are letter graded (A-F) and dividing that total by the number of courses. The marks H, G, S, and NC are not calculated in the cumulative average. The F grade is calculated into the cumulative GPA. Only grades received in courses taught by Wooster faculty are included in the GPA. Grades received during off-campus study at another institution are recorded as received from the other institution but are not counted in the Wooster cumulative average. For transfer students, only academic work completed at Wooster is included in the cumulative average.

H Honors G Good S Satisfactory NC No Credit

D. In addition to Senior Thesis, which is graded H, G, S, or NC, students are permitted to elect the equivalent of 8 courses graded S/NC out of 32 courses required for graduation. First-Year Seminar will not be graded S/NC. Transfer students are permitted to have one-fourth of the courses remaining to be taken at Wooster graded S/NC. Courses taken S/NC are not permitted in either the major or minor unless specific exceptions to this regulation are stated by individual departments. Students must declare S/NC status no later than the end of the fourth week of classes in any semester.

E. Students should be aware that Satisfactory and No Credit entries on the transcript may negatively affect the acceptance of a student in a graduate school.

F. Courses for which credit is not received are designated F or NC, except in those cases for which the designation "W" (Withdrawn) is approved on written petition to the Dean of the Faculty. Such withdrawals are approved only in exceptional circumstances, such as medical ones.

G. Normally requests for medical withdrawal from a course must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Faculty no later than the last day of classes of the semester in which the course was taken. In unusual circumstances, such requests may be submitted by the last day of classes of the semester following that for which the medical withdrawal is requested. Withdrawal for medical reasons is granted by the Dean of the Faculty after consultation with counseling and medical staff and with the instructor(s) of the course.

H. Each faculty member has the obligation to inform students at the beginning of each course of the means of evaluation for the course and the factors to be considered in the evaluation process. Such factors as mastery of course material, use of evidence, ability to generalize, writing ability, verbal ability, mathematical ability, logical ability, ability to meet deadlines, and class presence would be listed if they are to play a role in the process. Likewise, each faculty member has the obligation to inform students throughout the term as to how they are performing with regard to the specified factors. No more than one-half of the final grade may come from a single assignment including the final examination. Grades are not to be distributed on the basis of a curve or a percentage. Each student must receive a grade for one major course assignment in each course prior to the end of the sixth week of classes.

I. The Handbook for Independent Study contains the details on the criteria for evaluating Independent Study.

J. The student must attain a grade of S or C- or higher in the minimum number of required courses in the major. Courses that are repeated cannot be counted twice when computing the 32 courses required for graduation. For transfer students, at least seven of the courses in the major, including the Independent Study Thesis, must be taken at Wooster.

K. The mark I (incomplete) indicates that a small portion of the work of a course is unavoidably unfinished. This work must be completed before the end of the first week of the following semester, including work for Semester ll which must be completed before the end of the first week of the Summer Session. Other arrangements are authorized in writing by the Dean of the Faculty. If the work is not completed by the time specified, the I automatically becomes F or NC. Credit for a course completed at The College of Wooster will not normally be awarded after the deadline for changing incomplete grades, as indicated above.

Note: A change of grade in a course taken at The College of Wooster will not normally be permitted more than one semester after the date of completion of the course.

L. Grade reports are released at the end of each term to students, advisers, and the parent or guardian of any student who is legally defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as being dependent. In distributing student grade reports, the Registrar will assume that The College of Wooster students are dependent as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 unless the Registrar is notified to the contrary by both student and parent.

M. Each faculty member is obligated to use some form of written student evaluation of his/her course(s) at least once each academic year. In courses in which faculty members choose not to seek such student comments, students who wish to complete an evaluation may acquire an appropriate form from the Vice President for Academic Affairs and return the completed evaluation to the faculty member being evaluated. Completed student evaluations are not to be read by the faculty member until course grades have been submitted. Each faculty member then sends the evaluations, along with a summary statement, to the departmental chairperson who is requested to add his/her comments and forward the information to the Vice President for Academic affairs to share with the Committee on Teaching Staff and Tenure.

N. Should it be deemed appropriate, the College reserves the right to modify the grading systems outlined above for all students for the next academic year.