Grading Guidelines
Assessment Methods
Evaluation of student work may be based upon a variety of methods, including essays, multiple choice testing, presentations, etc. The book below is a good reference for ways to assess a college level class in a variety of field. You can also check out the section in the handbook on SLOS, assessment and rubrics.
Angleo, Thomas A., and Cross, K. Patricia. Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teacher, 2 edition. Jossey-Bass. 1993.
Attendance and Grading
Please be aware that attendance is to be encouraged but should not be used in grading. Actual, substantive, class participation can be used. Let students know at the beginning of the class what is to be expected of them throughout the semester. Handouts listing examination dates and assignments are helpful.
Legal opinion from the Chancellor's Office
Scantrons
Scantron machines are available to assist you in grading multiple-choice tests. Students may purchase scantrons in the Bookstore. Please let them know what size scantron they need. (50 or 100 questions)
Students who purchase a Student ID Card can obtain free scantrons in the Associated Students of Gavilan College (ASGC) office located in the Student Center.
The locations of the scantron scanners are:
Gilroy Campus
- Business Building (Room BU 130); Available Mon.-Fri. 8am-9pm.
Hollister Campus
- Available in the Staff Office Mon.-Fri. 8am-9pm and Saturdays 8:30am-5:00pm
Final Exams
Final examinations are held at fixed times and are designated in the academic calendar listed on the Admissions and Records website under Dates and Deadlines. Instructors are not to give examinations in advance of the regular exam week schedule. If you need to change the time or location of your final, you must get the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Please include the date, time, and place of your final on your syllabus and announce it to your class often as it may be different than your regularly scheduled class time.
Midterm and Final Grad Submission
Midterm Grades
Instructors should have enough evaluative information on each student's performance by the end of the eighth week of the term to make a judgment as to the grade the student has earned to that point. Frequent quizzes or other tests are recommended to allow the student to better understand what the instructor's expectations are in regard to performance levels. Students achieving less than a "C" grade should be informed of this fact by the end of the tenth week. This can be accomplished by personal interview or in writing. Public posting of grades is not advisable.
Final Grades
Instructors should enter final grades on the rosters in their MyGav portal accounts. All final grades and positive hours (if applicable) are submitted on Self-Service Banner by the instructor and are due no later than three business days after the end of the semester, term, or short term course.
To post final grades:
1. Log in to your MyGav portal
2. Click on Self-Service Banner under the Faculty Tab
3. Under the Faculty Tab, click Final Grades
4. Select the term you are grading and click submit
5. Select the CRN of the course you are looking for and click submit
6. Enter the grades for the course and click submit at the bottom of the page. Please note that there may be more than one page for each course.
Instructors should enter the midterm grades and final grades on the rosters in their MyGav portal accounts before the posted deadline dates listed on the Admissions and Records website under Dates and Deadlines.
You can access the Midterm and Final Grade Rosters in the Faculty Dashboard of the Employees Tab in the MyCOM Portal:
- Make sure to chose the correct semester in the drop-down menu.
- Click on the Midterm Grades or Final Grades links
- Select the CRN of the course you are looking for.
- Enter the grades for this course.
Academic Record Symbols and Grade Point Average (GPA)
The College’s grading system shall provide students with a realistic assessment of their academic performance consistent with state regulations which encourage exploration of different academic fields and reinforce serious commitment to educational goals.
SYMBOL |
DEFINITION |
A |
Excellent |
A- |
|
B |
Good |
B- |
|
C+ |
|
C |
Satisfactory |
D |
Passing, less than satisfactory |
F |
Failing |
P |
Pass (at least satisfactory; units awarded but not used to calculate GPA.) |
NP |
No Pass (less than satisfactory or failing; used to determine progress, probation and dismissal but not to calculate GPA.) |
I |
Incomplete (used to determine progress, probation, dismissal but not to calculate GPA.) The requirements to complete the course must be fulfilled during the next year. The final grade will become an "F" if the incomplete grades is not made up within the allotted time. A student may petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs for a time extension due to unusual circumstances. The "I" is not appropriate if additional class time is required. An "I" Grade Request Form must be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office. |
IP |
In Progress (not used to determine progress, probation, dismissal or to calculate GPA.) Used to denote that the class extends beyond the normal end of the academic term. |
RD |
Report Delayed (not used to determine progress, probation, dismissal or to calculate GPA.) May be assigned by the Director of Admissions only if there is a reporting delay due to circumstances beyond the student's control. |
W |
Withdrawal (used to determine progress, probation, dismissal but not to calculate GPA.) To determine the "W" deadline each semester visit the Admissions and Records website and click on Dates and Deadlines. |
MW |
Military Withdrawal (used when students are called to active duty.) Military withdrawals shall not be counted in progress probation and dismissal calculations. In no case would a military withdrawal result in a student being assigned an "F." Students should contact the Admissions and Records office and provide proof of their call to service when requesting military withdrawal. |
Grade Points:
Each letter grade has the following point assignment for each unit:
A= 4.0, A-= 3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7,C+=2.3, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0
Successfully Completed:
Successful completion of a course is defined as receiving a grade of P, C or better.
Grade Point Average:
Divide the total grade points earned by the number of units attempted. Do not include I, IP, W, P/NP, or MC.
Dean's List:
Special recognition is accorded to students who maintain a 3.0 (B) GPA during any semester in which they accumulated at least 12 graded units at Gavilan College. Dean's List achievement is noted on the student's transcript.
President's Honor Roll:
Special recognition is accorded to students who earn a 3.5 or higher GPA during gany semester in which they accumulate at least 15 graded units at Gavilan College. President's Honor Roll achievement is noted on the student's transcript and additional special recognition is given.
FAQS About Plus and Minus Grading
Gavilan College has adopted a system of grading that, pursuant to Title 5, Section 55023, allows the use of plus and minus symbols.
Does the use of a plus or minus affect GPA?
Yes. A= 4.0, A-= 3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7,C+=2.3, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0
I noticed there is no C-. Why is that?
The freedom for districts to adopt a +/- system has been approved by the chancellor’s office with the requirement that grades of C- will not be allowed. If C- were allowed it would create ambiguity as to what is a passing grade, especially when the grade of C or better is required for a course completion for prerequisites and transfer programs. Meaning, if C- were allowed, a student could get a passing grade at Gavilan (C-), but would have to take the class over upon transfer since it does not meet the prerequisites at the four year school he or she transferred to.
What procedure should I use for giving an "I" (for incomplete)?
All of the criteria and procedures are the same as those previously used. Simply mark an “I” when submitting your final grades. Then go to Admissions and Records and complete an Incomplete Grade Request Form. The requirements to complete the course must be fulfilled during the next year. The final grade will become an "F" if the incomplete grades is not made up within the allotted time. A student may petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs for a time extension due to unusual circumstances. The "I" is not appropriate if additional class time is required.
What about C/NC?
Credit/No Credit is now called Pass/No Pass. The same basic rules apply. However, now that we are using Banner, students MUST choose the P/NP option themselves in their MyGav account under Self-Service Banner. The student must choose this option during the first 30% of the semester for full term courses. If students choose P/NP and then change their minds BEFORE the deadline, they can simply switch back to the letter grade option. However, after the deadline, no further changes can be made by the student or the instructor.
Is an instructor for a course required to use plus and minus grades?
The new +/- system provides more grade options, but how those options are used is the decision of the instructor. In short, no, it is up to you whether you use +/- grades.
Is there a standard in terms of the 100-point scale where people draw (or where we should draw) the cut points for these new grades? That is, are we required to use 90, 80, 70, etc as cutoffs for grades? Is there any recommendation as to where the new cut-point should be?
There are no recommended guidelines for establishing cut points with the +/- system, just as there are no guidelines recommended within the previous system. Once again, the assignment of grades is strictly under the purview of the individual instructor. If more than one section of the same class is being taught by two different instructors, it may be a good idea to discuss this question among yourselves.
Can an instructor opt ot give +/- grades to those students who want them and standard A, B, etc grades to those who do not want a +/-? Or do instructors have to grade all students in any one class alike?
A basic principle of academic freedom is that the individual instructor is responsible for the assignment of grades. That being said, if an instructor chooses to establish an individual contract with each student regarding the grading scale, the instructor could encounter complaints after grades are awarded, as students who exhibit the same performance in the same class could receive different grades. We would highly recommend that each instructor use a consistent grading scheme for all the students in a class.
Do students have catalog rights with respect to grading symbols?
Students do not have catalogue rights, i.e. they cannot demand to be graded using only straight letter grades if the rest of the class is graded using the +/- scale
Incomplete "I" Grade
An Incomplete grade may be assigned to a student who cannot complete a small portion of the required academic work for justifiable emergencies or unforeseeable reasons at the end of the semester.
The decision to give an Incomplete rests solely with the instructor. A student who receives an Incomplete must make arrangements with the instructor and must make up the work no later than one year following the end of the semester in which the “I” was assigned, (excluding summer sessions). In extenuating circumstances, and with the instructor’s approval and the Vice President of Academic Affairs approval, the student may petition for an extension of not more than one additional semester
While issuing a final grade of Incomplete is accomplished online through the MyGavPortal, the instructor must provide an Incomplete Grade Request Form to the student, stating the conditions for completing the work and the final grade to be assigned if the work is not completed. Instructor’s should keep a copy of the form for at least 2 years.
The instructor shall submit a Change of Grade Form to Admissions and Records when the work is completed. To access the Change of Grade form, log on to you mygav account and under the faculty tab, click on Grade Change Form
If the Incomplete is not removed by the end of the subsequent year, and no extension has been granted, the Incomplete grade shall be changed to an F.
"W" Academic Grading Symbol
It is the responsibility of each student to register for and drop a course if necessary. You can support students by notifying them of add and drop regulations and deadlines listed on the Admissions and Records website under Dates and Deadlines.
Effect of Cheating on Grades
In 2007 the Chaffey College Faculty Senate submitted the following questions to the Chancellor's Office regarding cheating:
The Chancellor's Office sent the following response:
"On October 17, 2007, you wrote to Chancellor Woodruff requesting a legal opinion on two issues regarding the ability of a faculty member to penalize a student for suspected cheating or academic dishonesty. Specifically, you asked:
1. May an instructor discourage cheating by giving a student a grade of "Incomplete" in response to an egregious cheating incident? The instructor would not change the Incomplete to a passing grade until the student completed a module designed to discourage cheating.
2. May a faculty member issue an F grade to a student at any time during the semester, after census, when a cheating incident occurs?
For the reasons which follow, we conclude that neither of these practices is permissible."
To read the rest of the opinion, please click HERE.