The quality of performance in any academic course is reported by a letter grade, the assignment of which is the responsibility of the instructor. All official grades are posted online in the Student Information System at the end of the semester. Directions for viewing grades are posted on the RCC website. No grade reports are sent through the mail to the student.
Grades are assigned quality points as follows:

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 point per credit

I Incomplete no credit

The “I” grade is used for verifiable unavoidable reasons. Since the “incomplete” extends enrollment in the course, requirements for satisfactory completion will be established through student/faculty consultation. An “incomplete” must be academically removed during the next semester, to include the summer term following the issuance of the grade. In cases where a student fails to complete course assignments by the date agreed upon, the “I” will change to the grade reflecting the work completed.

“R” Re-enroll – No credit until the course objectives are completed; used primarily for developmental studies (courses numbered 01-09) to permit re-enrollment for the completion of course objectives.

“P” Pass – No grade point credit; may be applied to developmental studies, noncredit courses, and specialized courses at the discretion of the college.

“S” Satisfactory – No grade point credit. Used only for satisfactory completion of developmental studies courses numbered 01-09 and selected other courses.

“U” Unsatisfactory – No grade point credit; applies only to developmental studies and noncredit courses.

“W” Withdrawal – No 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 A grade of “W” is awarded to students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a course after the add/drop period but prior to the completion of 60 percent of the session. After that time the student not completing the course will receive a grade of “F” except under mitigating circumstances, which must be documented. A copy of the documentation must be placed in the student’s academic file.

“X” Audit – No credit. Permission from the course instructor and campus dean or another appropriate administrator is required to audit a course.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. Your grade point average may range from 0.0 to a 4.0.

For example:

A=4 grade points
B=3 grade points
C=2 grade points
D=1 grade point
WF/F=0 grade points

I (Incomplete) and W (Withdrawal) do not receive grade points and do not have an effect on the GPA

To get the example student’s GPA, the total grade points are divided by the total credit hours attempted.

Total Grade Points (21) ÷ Total Credit Hours Attempted (10) = 2.10 GPA

To calculate your cumulative G.P.A., total the credit hours and then the grade points from all semesters. Divide the total grade points by the total credit hours.

Academic Renewal

Students who return to the college after an absence of five years or more may petition for academic renewal by submitting an Aca­demic Renewal Petition Form to the college. If a student is eligible for academic renewal, “D” and “F” grades earned prior to re-enrollment will not be used in calculating the cumu­lative and curriculum grade point averages. These grades will not be removed or deleted from the student’s official college transcript. The notice “Aca­demic Renewal has been granted” and the ef­fective dates will appear on the transcript.

Conditions of Academic Renewal

• Before petitioning for academic renewal, the student must demonstrate a renewed academic interest and effort by earning at least a 2.5 grade point average in the first 12 semester hours completed after re-en­rollment. The qualifying 2.5 grade point average is defined as a grade point average calculation involving all courses and at­tempts taken in any semester or term up to the point that the twelfth semester hour has been completed. In other words, the 2.5 grade point average must be achieved based upon a calculation of all courses and attempts within the qualifying pe­riod of re-enrollment.
• All grades the student has earned at the college will remain part of the student’s official transcript.
• The student will receive degree credit only for courses in which a grade of “C” or better was earned prior to academic renewal, providing that such courses meet current plan/curriculum requirements.
• Total hours for graduation will be based on all course work taken at the college af­ter re-admission, former course work for which a grade of “C” or better was earned, and credits transferred from other col­leges or universities.
• The academic renewal policy may be used only once. Once approved, academic renewal can­not be revoked.

Students must apply for academic renewal using an Academic Re­newal Petition Form available in the Admissions and Records Office.

Final Grades

Final Grades are posted every semester according to the due dates listed in the semester calendar, and are available for students to view and print in the Student Information System (SIS). Students can access the SIS by using myRCC on the RCC website: www.rappahannock.edu. No grades will be mailed. Final grades are part of the student’s permanent academic record and are recorded on the student’s official transcript.

Appeal of Final Grade

Faculty members at RCC are responsible for assigning course grades and for advising students of the objective criteria used to determine the grades assigned. Most student disagreements regarding course grades are best resolved informally between the student and the faculty member. The college’s student grievance procedure provides a fair and orderly process for students who wish to pursue a formal appeal of the final course grade. A formal grievance must be filed within 10 calendar days of the time the grade is posted to the student’s record in the Student Information System.

The process for appealing a final course grade is outlined in the Student Handbook.

This page was last modified on June 2, 2011. If you are looking for previous catalog information, please reference the 2006-2007 Catalog, 2008-2010 Catalog, 2010-2012 Catalog.