Faculty Information

It is the responsibility of the instructor:

1. To grade students in accordance with the following grading system:
   •      The record of student performance in courses of undergraduate level in Ball State University is indicated by the following system of letters: A, B, C, D, F, FN, and FS. A plus or minus may be appended with the exception of A+, F+, F-, FN+, FN-, FS+, and FS-.
   •      "A" represents work of excellent quality and is recorded for students who do outstanding work.
   •      "B" represents work of good quality and is recorded for those who do work which is clearly above the average.
   •      "C" represents work of average quality and is recorded for students who do average work.
   •      "D" represents work which is below average, but above failure.
   •      "F" represents work that is not of an acceptable quality.
   •      "FN (Non-attendance)" represents a failing grade awarded to a student who did not attend a course (no completed assignments, no exams, no instructor interaction or other  documented engagement in an academically-related activity in the course.)
   •      "FS (Stopped Attendance)" represents a failing grade awarded to a student who did not officially withdraw but failed to complete a course (i.e., did not take a final exam, stopped attending, ect.) and failed to achieve the course objectives.
   •      A failing grade (F, FN, or FS) is recorded when a student withdraws from a course after the published withdrawal deadline for the semester or term unless, in the judgement of the instructor or college dean, the reasons for withdrawing from the course are such that the student should have a W.

• Instructors will be required to enter the last date of academic engagement for a student receiving a grade of FS.

     2. To keep a record of grades for a minimum of one calendar year.

     3. To inform the class, very early in the course, the basis on which grades are to be determined.

     4. To have information available to a student concerning academic progress throughout the course,      insofar as possible.

     5. To provide a student with the opportunity to examine and discuss all of the student's work which has      been evaluated by the instructor — tests, papers, reports, special projects, etc.

Final Grades

After grades have been submitted electronically, the registrar’s office will process them. Students can view grades on the web. They are used to determine the student's eligibility to attend the next semester or term, to continue in a sequential course, to recommend for graduation or teaching certificate, for a transcript, or other purposes.

Grades for Course Withdrawals

Students who withdraw from courses during the web withdrawal period for that course will receive a W final grade assignment. Students who withdraw from courses during the extended withdrawal period for that course may receive a W, F, or NC final grade assignment depending on the grade mode of the course.

Grade Submissions Deadlines

It is essential that faculty submit all grades within the period they are due. Failure to submit the final grade to the registrar’s office by the specified due date and time will result in the instructor submitting grades on the Supplemental Change of Grade Form for each student to the registrar’s office.

Incomplete (I) Grades

Students are graded in accordance with the system described in the catalog. The student's work in a course is to be regarded as finished by the close of the semester or term. If the work is not completed by the close of the semester or term, the student can be given an “I” grade.

Students whose work at the end of the semester or term is incomplete because of illness or some circumstances beyond their control receive an I, as well as the opportunity to complete the work at a later time. The department chairperson must approve the granting of an I at the end of the semester by using a Memorandum of Incomplete form.

The department head or chairperson retains one copy and sends a copy to the student. Removal of an I should be limited to as short a period as possible. If an I grade is not removed within the time agreed upon, it becomes an F.

‘FS’ and ‘FN’ Grades

Ball State added two letter grades in spring 2015: FS and FN. The FS grade indicates that the student received a failing grade because they stopped attending the course before the course end date. The FN grade indicates that the student received a failing grade because they never attended the course.

Midterm Grades

Midterm deficiencies can be submitted for all undergraduate students registered in 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-level full-term courses (January-May for spring semester or August-December for fall semester).

For instructions on how to submit midterm deficiency grades, please review this instruction sheet from the Technology HelpDesk. Once the midterm grade submission has ended, midterm deficiencies will be processed through the registrar’s office. Students who receive a midterm deficiency will be sent an email instructing them to check their midterm grades through Self-Service Banner

Changing Grades

Faculty members give grades, and a change of grade should be given only by the faculty member who gave the original grade (if this is not possible, contact the department).

Students who feel they have earned a grade different from the one given are referred to the course instructor. If that instructor concludes that the officially recorded final grade should be changed, the instructor will make corrections on the Change of Grade Form, which is available in the departmental office.

After the instructor signs the form, the department chairperson signs and forwards the form to the dean of the college. The dean signs it and forwards the original and all copies to the Office of the Registrar. Once the change has been made on the student’s academic transcript, the student will be notified and all copies of the form are sent to the appropriate individuals.

Memorandum of I Grade

An instructor must provide justification to extend an I grade.  As such, they are responsible for submission of the I Extension Form for a student.

Request Extension for an Incomplete "I" Grade

Students are graded in accordance with the system described in the catalog. The student's work in a course is to be regarded as finished by the close of the semester or term.

A student whose work at the close of the semester or term is incomplete because of illness or some circumstances beyond the control of the student may be given an I and privileges of completing the work at a later time. Students who withdraw from a course under the terms specified for the mark of W may be given W.

The granting of an I must be approved at the end of the semester by the department head or chairperson, who retains one copy and sends a copy to the student.

It is most important that the conditions for removing the I be as specific as possible. Removal of an I should be limited to as short a period as possible. If an I grade is not removed within the time agreed upon, it automatically becomes a failing grade.

Undergraduate Courses

Unless an earlier completion date is specified by the instructor, an I grade awarded for an undergraduate course will expire as follows:

• for fall enrollment – by May 1
• for spring and/or summer enrollment – by Dec. 1

An exception is made when an extension on the timeline has been recommended by a department chairperson and approved by the appropriate dean.

The registrar‘s office will send an email reminder to the student and to the instructor of an I grade on the student record on or about the 15th of every month.

Graduate Courses

The maximum time permitted for the completion of an I grade for a graduate course is 12 calendar months. An exception is made when an extension on the timeline has been recommended by a department chairperson and approved by the appropriate dean.

The registrar‘s office will send an email reminder on or about the 15th of every month.

Incomplete capstone projects in Creative Project (CRPR 698), Research Paper (RES 697), Thesis (THES 698) or Doctor’s Dissertation (DISS 799) may be handled in one of three ways:

• Credit may be given on an ongoing basis if the student is making progress with the understanding that the student cannot graduate until the project is submitted to and approved by the Graduate School.
• Instructors may assign a grade of NC and may change the grade to CR when the project is complete.
• Instructors may request an extension of the I grade.