Academic Policies

Scholastic standards of Hartnell College are established to assist students in making appropriate educational plans. The College will advise students of their educational progress in order that students may make sound self-appraisal of their college work.

The regulations in this section are consistent with State Law and District Policy. They serve to inform students of standards that they are expected to maintain.

The determination of the grading system to be used in each course shall be made by the discipline offering the course.

The grading system used in each course is published in the Catalog and Schedule of Classes.

Grades from a grading scale shall be averaged on the basis of the point equivalencies to determine a student’s grade point average. The highest grade shall receive four points, and the lowest shall receive zero points, using only the following evaluative symbols:

GRADE DEFINITION GRADE POINTS

A - Excellent 4

B - Good 3

C - Satisfactory 2

D - Barely Passing 1

F - Failing 0

P - Pass (at least satisfactory- units awarded but not counted in GPA) 0 NP No Pass (less than satisfactory, or failing -not counted in GPA) SP Satisfactory Progress toward completion of the course (used for noncredit courses only)

Pass/No Pass

The college offers some courses:

1. solely on the P/NP (Pass/No Pass) grade basis.

2. solely on the standard letter grade basis.

3. in which the student may choose to complete the course on either a pass/no pass or letter grade basis.

In accordance with the California Education Code and California Code of Regulations Title 5, Hartnell College has established a grading policy which adds the “P” (pass) and “NP” (no pass) grades to the standard letter grades (“A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “F”) used in college and universities. A course in which a “P” grade is earned indicates completion with “C" or better work and will apply towards the 60 units required for graduation but will not affect the student’s grade point average. However, units attempted for which “NP” is recorded shall be considered in probation and dismissal procedures. A maximum of 12 units of “P” may be applied towards the Associate in Arts/Science Degree. Courses in which a student has no such option (such as Work Experience) will not apply towards the 12 units maximum. Courses in which a “NP” grade is earned will not apply towards graduation and will not affect the student’s grade point average.

Offering courses for pass/no pass grades provides the student with the opportunity to explore areas outside his/her current interest without undue concern for his/her grade point average. This policy also recognizes that a standard letter grade may not always measure the value of a course to an individual student.

On or before the last day of the of the instructional term, the student shall inform the Admissions & Records Office, by petition, of his/her intention to complete a course for a grade or on Pass/No Pass basis, and the instructor shall report to the Dean of Student Affairs a final grade of “P” or “NP” for students who so petition. Students may repeat a course in which a grade of “NP” is earned.

Grade Point Average

Grade Point Average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total units attempted into total grade points from “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F” grades. (“P,” “I,” “W,” “IP,” and “NP” are not included in the total course units attempted.) For example, a student who earns a “B” in a class worth four units, an “A” in a class worth three units, a “C” in a class worth two units, an “F” in a class worth three units, and a “B” in a class worth one unit would have a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.38, calculated as follows:

4 units of B x 3 points = 12 grade points

3 units of A x 4 points = 12 grade points

2 units of C x 2 points = 4 grade points

3 units of F x 0 points = 0 grade points

1 unit of B x 3 points = 3 grade points

13 total units attempted = 31 total grade points

31 Grade Points = 2.38 Average

13 Total Units Attempted = (or a 2.38 GPA)

President’s Honor Roll and Dean's List

Full-time students earning a grade point average of 3.5 to 4.0 in a semester are included on the President's Honor Roll each semester. Those full-time students who earn a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.49 in a semester are placed on the Dean's List. This applies only to students completing 12 or more units of letter grade work per semester.