Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) -- University of Michigan
This page will be updated during the summer of
2008.
For current information about U-M grading policies please visit this link:
http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/webgrades.html
Grades at U-M
Charles G. Morris
The University of Michigan
Grading and Grade Sheets
If you are responsible for course grades, you need to find out from your
department where and when you can obtain grade report sheets. The grade sheet
will include the names of all students actively enrolled in your course.
Do read the instructions that accompany the grade sheet(s). There are time
limits for submitting grades and places where they should (and should not)
be turned in. Note that a grade sheet is easily altered if it falls into the
wrong hands!
Acceptable letter grades for undergraduates are:
| Symbol | Significance |
| A+, A, A- | Excellent |
| B+, B, B- | Good |
| C+, C, C- | Acceptable |
| D+, D, D- | Deficient, but passed |
| E | Not passed |
In addition to the standard A-E grades, there are several special reports you may use:
| NR | (No Report) Used if a student on the grade sheet has attended class not at all or only sporadically, thus providing insufficient basis for a grade. |
| X | (Missed Final) If the student has completed all course requirements except the final exam, you should report "X". Reporting "X" does not oblige you to allow a make-up of the final. It only leaves you free to do so, if the student provides an excuse satisfactory to you. Find out your college's policy regarding the date when the student must complete the final exam. At that time you must submit a revised grade (see "Changing Grades" below). If the student does not complete the final, or if the excuse is unacceptable to you, the "X" will automatically be turned into an "E" on the transcript. |
| I | (Incomplete) Find out your college's policies regarding the assignment of incompletes. Note that submitting an "I" presumes that you have made arrangements for the student to complete the work at a later date. Once you submit the "I" you are obliged to accept and grade the student's missing work if it is submitted before the college deadline or before an earlier deadline specifically set by you. In cases where a student has not completed the course assignments yet has made no acceptable arrangements with you for late submission of the work, do not bind yourself by submitting an "I". Use "NR" instead, and if the student subsequently makes satisfactory arrangements with you, the "NR" can be changed to "I" (see "Changing Grades" below). |
While it is sometimes the case that full responsibility for assigning grades is delegated to graduate student instructors, often policy determines that the faculty member in charge of the course must sign each grade sheet and is responsible and accountable for the grades assigned. Find out the policies of your department.
Posting Grades and Returning Exams and Papers
Many faculty post grades outside their office or in some other public place. Note that using initials or Social Security numbers to identify students violates their privacy. If posting grades, use non-identifiable lists, such as a pre-established code name or number for each student.
In general, it is advisable to return papers and exams to students so that they can see their performance, correct their mistakes, and learn from your comments. If you have specific reasons for not returning a set of papers or exams, you are free to do so, but be sure you announce your policy to the class in advance.
When returning papers or exams, please don't leave graded material lying in the hallway or outside your office. Students value their privacy at least as much as you do, and they are often embarrassed and offended to find their graded work left in the hallway for all to see. Moreover, some of our best students complain that their materials are nowhere to be found when they arrive to pick them up. Apparently the better exams and papers find their way into fraternity and sorority files or are sold to commercial term papers companies. If at all possible, return papers and exams in class or during office hours; alternatively, ask students to give you a large self-addressed envelope with which you can return their materials. As a last resort, you might ask a secretary or colleague to return the materials to your students for you.
If you retain papers or exams, you should keep them for a year after the end of the course so that students will still have the opportunity to examine them and to learn from your comments. Saving unreturned papers and exams will also protect you in case a student charges you with improper grading.
The grade book showing the class grades throughout the term, as well as the final course grades given, should also be retained. If you leave the University, you should leave your grade books with the department for safe keeping along with an address at which you can be reached if students have questions about their grades. Even if you are only on leave, it is useful if the department has access to your grade book in order to be able to respond to questions that might arise during your absence.
Changing Grades
Most often grades are changed due to some kind of clerical error or to a decision that in retrospect a particular piece of work was graded too low (or too high). Be sure to check with your department to find out the situations in which it is acceptable to change a grade.
If you believe that a reported grade is incorrect, file a Supplementary Grade Report (SGR). Be sure to fill in the "Remarks" section of the form explaining the reason(s) for the change; if there is no explanation provided, the form may be returned to you.
Changes to "NR", "I", and "X" grades are also made by filing a SGR. If a student received a "NR" for much unfinished work, but you later decide that s/he should be given a chance to complete the course, first change the "NR" to "I" (be sure to explain on the form why you now think the student can complete the course) and then proceed as below for any "I" grade.
If the student's report is "I" (incomplete) or "X" (missed final exam), the work must be completed according to the deadline set by your college; however, you can set an earlier deadline if you think that is appropriate. Once the student has completed all necessary work and you are prepared to submit a grade, you fill out a SGR. The notation "I" or "X" will remain on the student's transcript as a sign that the course was completed after the end of the term. In general, but especially with graduating seniors, it is important for you to report the final grade as soon as possible after the student completes all necessary work. If you give an "I" or "X" to a graduating senior, please indicate on the SGR the date the student completed the work; this may affect the date of the student's graduation.
Adapted from:
Morris, C.G. (2000). Grading, cheating, and plagiarism. GSI guidebook (7th
ed.). Center for Research on Learning and Teaching: University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor.