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Academic Policies, continued

Examinations

The schedule of final examinations is published in the Schedule of Classes. No examinations (other than laboratory tests and short quizzes) are allowed during the two weeks prior to the final examination period.

Grades

Grades given in all courses are A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, NG, S, I, and L. A grade of A indicates excellent achievement, B above average, C average, D minimal passing, F failure, CR credit, NC no credit, NG no grade and work in progress, S satisfactory, and I incomplete. L is the designation given to audited courses. Only grades of A, B, and C may be used to fulfill requirements for advanced degrees. NG is given for noncompletion of requirements for 500 (master's Plan B study) and 700/800 (thesis/dissertation). Upon completion of the non-thesis program or acceptance of the thesis/dissertation, a grade of S is given.

The 500 course is offered as a 1-credit course, with credit awarded upon completion of the Plan B requirements. Credit for this course does not count toward meeting degree requirements or toward meeting full-time enrollment status. Students must be registered during the term in which the degree is to be awarded. 

An I is given to students who fail to complete a small but important part of a semester's work before the semester grades are determined, if the instructor believes that the failure was caused by conditions beyond the student's control and not by carelessness and procrastination. Students are expected to complete all courses. Therefore, students receiving an I should contact the instructor to determine the steps to be taken to remove the I. The deadline for removing an I received in the fall semester is the following April 1; for removing an I received in the spring semester or the summer session, the deadline is the following November 1.

Instructors who record a grade of I for undergraduate courses (100-599) must also record the grade that will replace the I if the work is not made up by the deadline; that grade is computed on the basis of what grades or other evidence the instructors have, averaged together with Fs for all incomplete work (including the final examination, if it is not taken). This alternate grade may be the appropriate letter grade, or if the course was taken under credit/no credit, CR or NC. (The designation W cannot be used as an alternate grade.)

Instructors who record a grade of I for graduate courses (600-798, excluding 700) do not record an alternate grade to replace the I. If the work is not completed by the deadline for the removal of the I, the instructor may (1) allow the incomplete to remain unaltered on the student's record; (2) submit a grade computed on the basis of the work completed by the deadline; or (3) at the request of the student, petition the Graduate Division for an extension from the end of the term in which the I was given. Such an extension may be permitted on a case-by-case basis and for a maximum of two semesters from the end of the term in which the grade was given. No change of grade will be made after this time. However, the student may reregister for that course in a subsequent semester.

If work for a course in which an I has been assigned is completed prior to the deadline, the instructor will report a change of grade, taking the completed work into consideration. A grade of F or NC, as appropriate, will be assigned in those cases where an instructor has not assigned a grade to a student who has never attended or has ceased to attend class without officially withdrawing.

Repeated Courses
In computing the GPA of students who retake a course in which they received a grade of C, D, or F, all grades in that course will be included.

Students switching from either Plan A or Plan B to Plan C must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses completed (300-398, 400-498, 600-798). Credit hours taken under the credit/no credit option (except 699) while under Plan C will not be counted toward degree requirements for either Plan A or B.

Credit/No Credit Option
The major purpose of the credit/no credit option is to encourage students to broaden their education by venturing into subject areas outside their fields of specialization without hazarding a relatively low grade. Under the option, students receive grades of CR (credit) or NC (no credit). These do not carry grade points and, therefore, are not computed in the student's GPA.

The option must be exercised at the time of registration and only under the following conditions:

1. Except as noted, courses taken under the CR/NC option may not be applied toward the requirements for the master's degree. Only 699 directed reading/research courses may be taken on CR/NC at the option of the graduate field of study and may be granted credit toward a master's degree within the limits already prescribed by the Graduate Division (see master's degree requirements, Plan A and Plan B).
2. A course for which a grade of NC is received may be retaken under the CR/NC option.
3. The CR designation in the non-letter grade system denotes C-caliber work or better.
4. The NC designation and the course in which it is received will appear in official records as part of the student's academic history.
5. The NC designation affects neither the credit hour total nor the grade point total of the student.

Requirements for Continued Registration

Satisfactory Progress
To remain eligible for further graduate work and to be awarded a graduate degree, students must maintain progress toward completion of their programs and must have a B average (3.0 GPA) for all courses completed at the University of Hawai'i toward the degree. Students must also have a B average for all courses taken as a classified graduate student and for all graduate courses numbered 600 and above.

The Graduate Division disregards grades or credit hours for courses numbered 100-198 and 200-298, except those required to fulfill undergraduate deficiencies.

Satisfactory academic progress in a program also involves maintaining the academic and professional standards expected in a particular discipline or program; failure to maintain these standards may result in termination of student's admission to the program. 

Fulfillment of Credit Hour Requirements
Credit hour requirements for graduate degrees can only be fulfilled by grades of A, B, and C except for 699 courses taken under the CR/NC option. Grades of A, B, C, and CR can be used to make up undergraduate deficiencies. Grades of CR for 699 directed reading or research courses are counted in credit hour requirements within stated rules but are not computed for GPAs. Grades of NC are neither counted nor computed. Grades of D and F are not counted toward the completion of requirements for advanced degrees but are computed in the GPA, along with grades for all courses taken to satisfy undergraduate deficiencies and courses counted toward advanced degrees.

Probation and Dismissal
A regular student whose cumulative GPA fails to meet the minimum requirements after completing at least 12 credit hours or two semesters of course work will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. The student must be registered in the semester he or she is placed on probation.

A conditional student whose GPA since admission fails to meet the minimum requirements after completing one semester of course work will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. (ESL students are subject to dismissal.)

All grades for courses taken during the probationary semester, as well as the grades for all previously taken classified credits, will be included in calculating the GPA at the end of the probationary semester. No extensions of the probationary semester may be granted due to incompletes (I).

A student on academic probation who fails to attain the minimum standards at the end of the probationary semester will be denied further registration in that program. 

For purposes of these rules, a "semester" is the calendar period, regardless of the number of credit hours taken.
Two summer sessions equal one semester, regardless of the number of credit hours taken.

In special cases, two grades below B in undergraduate courses taken during the first semester as a graduate student at the University may be excluded when computing the GPA if a petition, filed by the student and recommended for approval by the chair of the graduate field of study, is approved by the dean of the Graduate Division. If these grades are so excluded, the concomitant course credit hours may not be counted toward fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees. Any such waiver will not alter the official University record of student grades and GPAs.

For students pursuing approved concurrent graduate degree programs, the requirements stated above are applicable to both programs but will be applied toward each program independently.

Policy on Reinstatement after Dismissal
To be reinstated to the same program after academic dismissal the student must submit completed readmission forms to the Graduate Records Office and meet the standard admission criteria applicable to the field of study. The field of study must submit a petition to the Graduate Records Office on the student's behalf, providing strong justification for the action. If reinstated, all courses applicable to the degree are subject to the seven year rule (i.e., must be completed within seven years of the date the degree is to be awarded) and the student will be subject to the degree requirements in effect at the time of reinstatement. 

To be admitted to a new program after academic dismissal or voluntary withdrawal, the student must submit a new application to the Graduate Admissions Office and meet the standard admission criteria applicable to the field of study. Such students will be treated like new students.

Special Non-degree Students
Special non-degree graduate students are not subject to the B-average rule.

Diplomas

The Graduate Application for Degree form must be filed at the beginning of the semester (see the "Calendar" for dates and deadlines) in which the student expects to complete the degree requirements. Students can also obtain a Hawaiian language version of their degree. Application forms may be obtained at the Graduate Division Records Office, and the fee paid at the Cashier's Office.

Degree Checks

A degree check will be made for all students who file a degree application form.
The Graduate Division will automatically delete from the graduation list the name of any student whose final grade report contains either a grade of I (incomplete) or a missing grade, or whose records have any other discrepancies.

Conferring of Degrees

Degrees are conferred and diplomas awarded three times annually, in December, May, and August. Students completing their degree requirements may, upon request, receive certification from the dean of the Graduate Division that the degree will be conferred at the end of the appropriate semester. Diplomas are issued by the Office of Admissions and Records. Inquiries regarding diplomas should be addressed to Admissions and Records, Student Services Center, Room 001, 2600 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 (tel. 808-956-8975), and not to the Graduate Division.

Transcripts

Transcripts may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records.

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