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  1. Students
  2. Admissions and Records
  3. Grading & Academic Progress

Grading & Academic Progress

Grading Policies

It is the policy of the Maricopa Community Colleges that a grade will be assigned at the conclusion of the course.

  • A - Excellent 4 grade points per credit hour
  • B - Above Average 3 grade points per credit hour
  • C - Average 2 grade points per credit hour
  • D - Passing 1 grade point per credit hour
  • F - Failure 0 grade point per credit hour
  • I - Incomplete Not computed in grade point average
  • IP - Course in progress Not computed in grade point average
  • N - Audit Not computed in grade point average
  • P* - Credit Not computed in grade point average
  • W - Withdrawn, passing Not computed in grade point average
  • Y - Withdrawn, failing
  • Z - No Credit Not computed in grade point average
  • *A 'P' is judged to be equivalent to a grade of C' or higher.

Some courses may be taken under a credit/no credit grading system. These courses carry grades of P' (credit, equivalent to a grade of C' or higher) or Z' (no credit) and are not computed in the student's grade point average. Credits earned with a grade of P' may be counted toward graduation. All HCC courses which are graded P/Z do not have the option to select standard grading.

In courses with credit/no credit (P/Z) grading, the student may request standard grading (A, B, C, D, F), within 14 days* including the date of the first class meeting. The instructor must immediately notify the Office of Admissions and Records. In courses with standard grading (A, B, C, D, F), the instructor determines if the credit/no credit option is available. If the option is available, the student must obtain the permission of the instructor. The instructor must notify the Office of Admissions and Records within 14 days* including the day of the first class meeting. It is the student's responsibility to verify the transferability of credit/no credit courses. Some universities place a limitation on the number of credit/no credit courses that can be transferred.

Advisory note: Some institutions outside the Maricopa Community Colleges may translate the Z' grade as failing.

*The prescribed time limits are for full semester classes. Time limits for classes which meet fewer than 16 weeks are adjusted accordingly.

Students who are doing acceptable work may request an incomplete grade (I') if they are unable to complete the course requirements by the end of the term because of illness or other extenuating circumstances. If the request is approved by the instructor, he or she shall define, in a written contract, how the course will be completed.

Students must complete the requirements within the time period agreed to; maximum time allowed is seven months from the end of the term in which the grade of incomplete was assigned. Students who do not complete the requirements within seven months will have their grade recorded in accordance with the written contract. Students should NOT reregister for the course to complete the contract.

To improve a previously earned grade, students may repeat the course up to three times after the initial attempt. (A W' or Y' is not considered an attempt.) Students planning to enroll in a course for the third time should seek advisement prior to enrolling. All enrollments in a course will appear on the transcript and will be included in calculating the grade point average. Students may request in writing that the course(s) with the lower grade(s) be excluded during the grade point average calculation. The written request must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records at the Maricopa Community College where the course with the lower grade was taken. Check individual courses and programs for exceptions.

Auditors are those who enroll in a course for the sole purpose of obtaining information. They receive no credit, grades, homework, or tests. If an auditor wishes to earn credit, he or she must change from audit status to credit status within the first week*. If a student wishes to audit a course for which he or she is enrolled for credit, the change must be made within the first five weeks* of a semester. Auditors are subject to the same attendance policies as other students. Audit fees are in addition to the regular tuition and fees charged for the class. See the Tuition and Fee Schedule for audit fees. Financial aid is not available for audited courses.

*Prescribed time limits as defined in previous section.