Office of Origin: Academic Affairs & Student Affairs
Responsibility: Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; Vice President of Student Affairs
Original Date Adopted: Dates Reviewed: 09-22-09; 05-15-18; 06-26-18, 9-18-24
Last Date Approved: 04-13-21, 6-22-21, 12-10-24

The following applies to all academic credit course offerings at Lake Michigan College (the College):

I. Final Grades

Students who have completed all course requirements as defined in the syllabus will be issued a final grade based upon the scale listed below. Final grades are posted to students’ official transcript of record as submitted by the instructor.

II. Incomplete ("I") Grades

An Incomplete (“I” grade) is computed in the grade point average (GPA) as a failing grade (“E”) and may affect financial aid, housing, or athletic eligibility. The student and instructor must agree on a timeline for completion of the coursework for an incomplete, up to one additional semester. The instructor must submit a grade change to the grade earned at completion of the outstanding requirements. Any "I" grades not updated by the end of the following semester will be automatically changed to an "E"/failing grade.

An incomplete can be extended by agreement between the instructor and the student; the Registrar's Office must be notified of the extension.

III.  Withdraw ("W") Grades

See the Registration Policy for information regarding Withdrawals (“W” grade). A “W” grade is not calculated in the GPA but may affect completion rate for financial aid. See financial aid policies for more information.

IV. Mid-Term Grades

Mid-term grades do not affect the GPA and are not posted to the student’s official transcript of record. Mid-term grades are used to help faculty, staff, and students track student progress and success in each class, as well as allow efficiency in Financial Aid processing decisions. Student accounts will be reviewed upon mid-term grade submission and the Financial Aid Office and Academic Advising staff will be notified of failing grades, withdrawals, or otherwise insufficient grades.

V. Reporting and Availability of Grades

Mid-term grades are submitted at the mid-point of each part of term. Final grades are submitted following the end of the full term. Specific dates for both are listed in the Academic Calendar.

All grades are submitted online via the employee portal by the instructor of record for the class. Exceptions are made only in extreme situations such as the hospitalization or death of the instructor, in which case the Registrar may collect and enter the grades and document the exception.

Mid-term grades are available to students online via the student account upon submission by the instructor. Final grades are available to students online via the student account after they are processed by the Registrar’s Office. Specific dates are listed in the Academic Calendar.

VI. Grade Point Average

GPA is used to determine a student’s academic standing, athletics eligibility, financial aid eligibility (including grants, loans, and scholarships), eligibility for graduation, dean’s list and other academic awards, second-admit program entrance, and often for transfer to a four-year institution for further study.

Grades for courses below 100-level (transitional courses) are included in the GPA but cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements.

Grade Scale and GPA Calculation

Letter grades are assigned a point value as indicated below. Cumulative GPA is calculated by multiplying the point value of each grade by the credit value of the course, adding the total number of points earned, and then dividing by the total number of credits. For information regarding how repeated courses affect the calculation of the cumulative GPA refer to the Course Repeat Policy.

References:
Course Repeat Policy
Registration Policy
SAP for Financial Aid Policy
Academic Recognition Policy
Credential Completion and Graduation Policy