SPRING SEMESTER 2024 REGISTRATION GUIDE

DEFINITION OF GRADES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING GRADE POINTS

A+		4.0
A	Outstanding	4.0
A-		3.7
B+		3.3
B	Good	3.0
B-		2.7
C+		2.3
C	Acceptable	2.0
C-		1.7
D+		1.3
D	Poor	1.0
D-		0.7
F	Failing	0.0

GRADE OPTIONS

The university uses a combination of traditional and nontraditional grading options as follows:

TRADITIONAL

• Letter Grades: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F

NONTRADITIONAL

• CR - C (2.0) grade or better in undergraduate courses; B (3.0) or better in graduate courses.
• NC - No credit

Students may indicate the grading basis for each course when they register. They have until the deadline published in the front cover of the registration guide to change an option. If grading for a course is listed as "Under graduate Student Option," the course can be taken either for a letter grade (A,B,C,D) or as credit/no credit. If no option is chosen, the course will default to letter grade. Certain faculty-designated courses may solely be taken as graded or as credit/no credit. To change the option from letter grade to Credit/No Credit or from Credit/No Credit to a letter grade, use the pull down menu under "Grading" at the time you enroll in the class. Grade basis can be made online through the second week of classes.

A letter grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) must be used by all undergraduate students for major, minor and general education requirements.

A letter grade (A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) must be used by graduate students for all required courses.

Exceptions are those courses designed by the faculty to be graded Letter Grade Only or CR/NC Only.

Students should know that there is a limitation on the number of courses which can be taken with the nontraditional grading basis. A maximum of 36 units of credit/no credit courses, including those transferred from other institutions, may be counted toward the baccalaureate. Limited courses with a grade of CR may be used for the master's or doctorate degree. A detailed description of the grading policy and definition of symbols used may be found in the current catalog.

 

CREDIT / NO CREDIT GRADING OPTION

For undergraduate students, "credit" is awarded for work equivalent to all grades which earn 2.0 or more grade points ("A+" thru "C"). "No credit" is awarded for work equivalent to all grades which earn less than 2.0 grade points ("C" minus thru "F").

For graduate students, "credit" is awarded for work equivalent to all grades which earn 3.0 or more grade points ("A+" thru "B"). "No credit" is awarded for work equivalent to all grades which earn less than 3.0 grade points ("B minus" thru "F").

 

Advisory caution

Undergraduate students who plan to pursue graduate or professional studies later are advised to be selective in opting for courses on a credit/no credit basis. As a general rule (advisory only), coursework that is preparatory or prerequisite to advanced specialized study should be completed and evaluated on a letter grade and not a credit/no credit.

 

Grading Option Changes

If grading for a course is listed as "Undergraduate Student Option", the course may be taken either for a letter grade (A,B,C,D) or as credit/no credit. If no option is chosen, the course will default to letter grade. Certain faculty designated courses may solely be taken as graded or as credit/no credit. To change the option from letter grade to Credit/No Credit or from Credit/No Credit to a letter grade, use the pull down menu under "Grading" at the time you enroll in the class. Grade option changes can be made online through approximately the second week of classes. The deadline is published on the Registration Calendar . 

 

PLUS / MINUS GRADING

• Individual instructors have the option of using plus/minus in their grading criteria.

• Course syllabi must include a statement as to whether or not plus/minus grades will be used.

• Plus/minus grading does not apply to terms prior to Spring 2005.

 

PLUS / MINUS GRADES AND TRANSFER ADMISSIONS

In determining transfer admissibility, the transcripts of applicants for admission will be evaluated and grade point average(s) calculated based on the grade points assigned by the CSUF grading policy, e.g. a grade of B+ at Cypress College will be calculated for admissions purposes as being worth 3.3 grade points per semester units.

Plus and minus grading will have no effect upon the admissions applicability of community college coursework that has been general education "certified" by California community college(s) as per CSU Executive Order 1100.

 

INCOMPLETE AUTHORIZED (I)

The symbol 'I' (Incomplete Authorized) signifies that a portion of the required coursework for a class has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period, due to unforeseen but fully justified reasons, and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. It is the responsibility of the student to bring pertinent information to the instructor and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements which must be satisfied to remove the incomplete. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated.

An incomplete must be made up within one year following the end of the term during which it was assigned. This limitation prevails whether or not the student maintains continuous enrollment. Failure to complete the assigned work will result in an Incomplete being changed to an IC symbol or an NC unless faculty member assigns a specific letter grade at the time the incomplete is assigned, which would replace the 'I' in the student's record at the end of the one year deadline. Therefore, 'I' grades that were earned for the Spring 2023 semester must be completed by May 24, 2024. 'I' grades assigned at the end of the Fall 2023 semester must be completed by January 2, 2025.

The IC symbol counts as a failing grade for grade point average and grade point balance computations.

A grade of incomplete may be given only when, in the opinion of the instructor, a student cannot complete a course during the semester of enrollment for reasons beyond the student's control. Such reasons are assumed to include: illness of the student or of members of the student's immediate family, extraordinary financial problems, loss of outside position, and other exigencies. In assigning a grade of 'I', the instructor shall submit the online Incomplete Grade Form for future reference and student access. The requirements shall not include retaking the course. The instructor will also designate a time limit (up to one year) for completing requirements.

A copy of the form will be sent to the student. The student should review this form at the earliest opportunity.

The form will indicate the quality of the student's work to date. This not only provides an interim evaluation for the student but assists the department chair in assigning a final grade in those instances where the instructor is no longer available. When specific requirements are completed, the instructor will report a change of grade. The responsibility for changing the Incomplete grade rests with the instructor.

 

AUDITING (AU)

The symbol AU identifies those instances where a student enrolled in a course for purposes not requiring credit. An auditor must have the permission of the instructor, and may enroll only after students otherwise eligible to enroll in the course for credit have done so. Auditors pay the same fees as credit students; regular class attendance is expected. Once enrolled as an auditor, a student may not change to credit after the last day to add classes. A student enrolled for credit may not change to audit after the deadline published on the inside cover of this registration guide. An auditor does not take examinations in the cours e; therefore, there is no basis for evaluation nor a formal grade report.

 

WITHDRAWAL UNAUTHORIZED (WU)

University policy states that the symbol WU shall be assigned to a student who is enrolled in a class as of the census date*, but stops attending or participating, does not complete the course work and does not officially withdraw from the class. Students who discontinue course attendance without submitting an official, approved withdrawal form online, may result in a 'WU' (Withdrawal Unauthorized) being assigned by the course professor at the end of the semester.

When a WU is assigned, the grading basis selected by the student at the time of registration for the course determines what displays on the student transcript:

• If the student registered for the class with a grading basis of 'letter grade', the symbol on the CSUF transcript appears as WU, and is equivalent to an F in GPA calculations.

• If the student registered for the class with a grading basis of 'credit/ no credit', an assigned 'WU' would be recorded as NC* which does not impact GPA calculations.

• NOTE: T he grading basis available for a class depends on how the course is being offered. Some courses are offered as 'letter grade only', some as 'credit/no credit only' and some courses offer students a choice of either 'letter grade' or 'credit/no credit'.

In the first semester at CSUF that a WU is assigned to a student, any and all WU's tha t are posted to the student record during the final grading period for that semester are automatically converted to a W during the grading cycle at the end of that term. The student is notified that this is a "one time only" provision. This auto-conversion will not occur in future semesters.

For future occurrences, students may petition for retroactive withdrawal from courses by using the retroactive withdrawal petition process when serious and compelling circumstances occurred during the semester being petitioned. A serious and compelling reason is defined as a physical, medical, emotional or other condition which has the effect of limiting the student's full participation in the class and which is clearly beyond the student's control. The student must provide independent documentation (from a source other than the student, or the student's family or friends) to verify the serious and compelling circumstances that occurred during the semester being petitioned which resulted in the student receiving a WU or NC*. There are also specific time limits for submitting retroactive withdrawal petitions. Further information on these time limits can be viewed online at: http://records.fullerton.edu/ -  select the 'Forms' tab and scroll down to 'Petitions'.

All retroactive withdrawal petitions are individually reviewed and can be either granted or denied. If it is determined that retroactive withdrawal is justified, a grade of W will be assigned and the negative effect of the WU will be removed from the GPA. Petition forms are available online at http://records.fullerton.edu/resources/ .

*The census date is approximately at the end of the fourth week of classes. (See the 'Semester Calendar' section in the online Registration Guide each term for the applicable census date).

 

WITHDRAWAL 'W' GRADES

If you drop one or more courses after grant aid was disbursed to you or applied to your u niversity account, you may be billed for some or all of the aid. Visit the Office of Financial Aid to determine how much you would be required to repay. If you receive financial aid and you completely withdraw from the university, we will calculate the amount of Federal financial aid you "earned" based on the number of days you were enrolled. You may be required to repay a portion of the funds you received. In addition, the university may be required to refund a portion of tuition and fees to one or more federal aid programs. 
For further information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (657) 278-3125.

REPEAT POLICY

GRADE FORGIVENESS (16-UNIT LIMIT)

An undergraduate student may repeat up to 16 units of course work with 'Grade Forgiveness.' This category of repeat is used for grades of C- (1.7) or lower. In computing the grade point average of a student who repeats courses in which he or she received C- (1.7), only the most recently earned grades and grade points shall be used in the GPA calculation for the first 16 units repeated. In exercising this option, an undergraduate student must take and repeat the course at this campus. Repeat policy will be automatically applied to courses repeated each semester during final grade processing at the end of the term.

GRADES AVERAGED (12-UNIT LIMIT)

An undergraduate may repeat up to 12 units of course work with 'Grades Averaged', beginning Fall 2009 forward. Under this category of repeat, both grades are calculated into the student's GPA.

MAXIMUM REPEAT LIMIT (28-UNITS)

The 16 units of 'Grade Forgiveness' and the 12 units of 'Grades Averaged' comprise the maximum repeat limit of 28 units for an undergraduate student.

REGULATION AGAINST REPEAT OF COURSES WITH 'C' GRADE OR BETTER 

Undergraduate students may not repeat a course in which a grade of 'C' or better has already been earned. This does not apply to those courses noted in the university catalog as "may be repeated for credit".

REGULATION AGAINST REPEAT OF A COURSE WITH AN "I" CURRENTLY ON RECORD

A student may not re-enroll in a course for which he or she has received an 'I' until the 'I' has either been assigned a final grade, or been converted to an 'IC'.

For further information on Undergraduate Repeat Policy, see http://records.fullerton.edu/registraroffice/regulations.php Select "Regulations" and scroll down to "Repeat Policy".

WITHDRAWAL LIMIT

Undergraduate students are limited to a maximum of 18 units of withdrawal ("W" on transcript) during their CSUF career, from Fall 2009 forward. "W's" earned prior to Fall 2009 will remain on the record but will not be counted toward the 18-unit limit. For further information, see http://records.fullerton.edu/services/withdrawal.php .