Grades and Transcripts

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Calculation of Grade Points

Grade points earned are calculated by multiplying the semester hour value of a course attempted at Alvin Community College by the grade point value of the grade received in the course for grades of A, B, C, D, F or FX. The grades of AU, I, IP, S, W and WE, have no point value and are not included in any grade point calculation. (See chart on following page.)

Example: A three semester credit hour course with a grade of “A” produces 12 grade points. For more details, a GPA calculator is provided on the college website.

Cumulative Grade Point Averages are computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total semester hours for all courses attempted at Alvin Community College including developmental courses. However, if a course is repeated, only the highest grade is used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. Cumulative GPA’s are not rounded up.

Semester Grade Point Averages are computed by dividing the total semester grade points earned by the total semester hours in all courses attempted at Alvin Community College for the semester, including developmental courses. Semester GPA’s are not rounded up.

Grades for Repeated Courses

If a student repeats a course in which a grade (A-FX) has been received, the highest grade received is the permanent grade for the course and is used in computing the cumulative grade point average. However, all grades earned in a given course are entered on the transcript. Other colleges may compute the grade point average in a manner different from that of Alvin Community College.

Grade Reporting

Grades are assigned by instructors and may be based on several factors such as class and/or laboratory performance, test scores, departmental academic requirements, and attendance. Grades are available to students by the following means:

• In-person request of an official transcript (fee)- Welcome Center
• The POD for an unofficial transcript (current students)

Course Grade Complaints

A student shall have one year from the date a grade is assigned to submit a grade appeal. Consideration of a grade appeal will only occur if there is evidence of the following:

1. Deviation from the syllabus or Board policy;
2. Grade calculation errors;
3. Disparate treatment of a student other than those addressed by Title IX processes; or
4. Inappropriate grade penalty for academic dishonesty.

A student shall not be permitted to submit a grade appeal because of general dissatisfaction with the grade, when a penalty has been assigned to the grade, or due to the outcome of a course as a result of a grade. In addition, disagreement with the instructor’s professional judgment of the quality of the student’s work and performance shall not be permitted as the basis for a grade appeal. Click Student Complaints at the bottom of any ACC webpage for more information.

Official Transcript Requests

There are two methods by which students may request official transcript ($7.50 per request):

• The POD (for currently enrolled students)
• ACC Website (for former students)
• In person at the Welcome Center. Transcripts provided directly to the student will be marked “Issued to Student,” and may not be accepted as official by other institutions.

Payment is accepted by credit/debit card. The options for an official transcript delivery is through SPEEDE (with approved trading partners) or through Parchment (secure PDF or paper). Follow the instructions located under each option in The POD.

Transcript requests will be serviced as long as all incoming transcripts have been received at ACC, financial obligations to the College have been met and any student record restrictions (holds) have ended.

Grade-Point Value

*An I grade may be extended by the course instructor for one additional semester only when circumstances beyond the control of the student such as catastrophic illness or family emergency, warrant such an exception. Documentation of such circumstances is required. The decision of the course instructor is final. An I grade will convert to an F if a valid grade change is not submitted by the grade deadline of the subsequent semester.

Grade Range

As a general guide, the following letter grades are assigned for percentage grades:

• A 90-100
• B 80-89
• C 70-79
• D 60-69
• F Less than 60

Exceptions to this grading system may exist for certain programs and are published in the course syllabus.

** During the Spring 2020 semester, a rapid transition from face-to-face classes to remote online learning occurred as a result of the COVID-19 health pandemic. In response, ACC implemented an interim grading procedure for the 16-week, 12-week, second 8-week, and 3-week May mini terms. The College’s published letter grade process was maintained and reported at the end of the designated semester terms. Following review of the final course grade, a student could choose whether to maintain the letter grade or request a Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) grade for the course.

With the P/NP interim grading procedure, Pass (P) was assigned to a course grade with a C or higher. A No Pass (NP) was not considered passing if the grade was a D or F. The P/NP grades were not included in a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation and the student transcript noted Pass or No Pass grades were due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, this grading option was only in effect for the 16-week, 12-week, second 8-week, and 3-week May Mini term of Spring 2020.

The use of this interim grading procedure may be considered again if a catastrophic event, such as a health pandemic or devastating hurricane, occurs.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation when they fail to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) on all coursework including developmental education. The probation stands until the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.0 or higher. The maximum course load for students on academic probation is 13 credit hours.

Students who do not make satisfactory progress in the following programs will be subject to removal from the program:

• Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography-Adult Echocardiology 
  Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography-Pediatric Echocardiology
• Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography-Vascular Sonography
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Health Information Management
• Law Enforcement Academy
• Law Enforcement In-Service Training
• Neurodiagnostics
• Nursing
• Nursing-Transition
• Pharmacy Technician
• Polysomnography
• Respiratory Care
• Vocational Nursing