Grades and Credits

Grading System

Everett Community College uses a letter symbol grading system to assess academic achievement. For traditional grades (A through F) the grade point values are:

Interpretation of Grade Symbols

• A (4.0) High Degree of Excellence of Achievement: In relation to the standards set for the class, the student has done an exceptionally high level of work.
• B (3.0) Better than Average Achievement: In relation to the standards set for the class, the student has significantly exceeded the average.
• C (2.0) Average Achievement: In relation to the standards set for the class, the student accomplished an average level of work and met more than the minimum requirements.
• D (1.0) Low Standard of Achievement: In relation to the standards set for the class, the student did not do average work and met only the minimum requirements. A grade of D- does not meet the requirements for a degree or certificate.
• F (0.0) Failure to Complete Minimum Requirements: In relation to the standards set for the class, the student failed to achieve the minimum requirements.
• + and - Symbols: The symbols + and - may be used with traditional letter grades A through C to differentiate levels of achievement within a grade range. The + is not used with the letter grades A or F. The - is not used with the letter grade D as of January 2014.

Non-Traditional Grades

The following non-traditional grades are also used when appropriate:

Non-traditional grades (I, N, S, U, V, W, and Y) have no grade point value and, except for the S grade, no credit is awarded. Courses in which these grades are received are excluded from the grade point average calculation by Everett Community College.

Students receiving financial assistance should inquire at the Financial Aid office regarding the effect of receiving a non-traditional grade on eligibility for assistance. Grades of I, S, U, V, W, and Y may be evaluated differently by other colleges and universities.

Non-Traditional Policy Explanations

• Incomplete (I): Given when a student has satisfactorily completed most of the requirements for a course but, for an unavoidable reason, has been unable to complete a specific course requirement or take the final examination. The grade is given only if previous arrangements have been made with the instructor. A written copy of these arrangements will be placed in the appropriate division dean’s office. Requirements must be completed within one year, or the grade reverts to an F.
• Audit: Means class attendance and participation without evaluation. Courses taken on this basis carry no credit, do not count toward graduation, and cost the same as credit-bearing classes. Students can register for an audit with Enrollment Services (in-person or via registration@everettcc.edu). Once the quarter begins, written instructor permission is needed to switch to an audit.
• Repeat (R): Transcripts located in our HP Legacy student management system will show an “R” next to a course that has been repeated if the student submitted a course repeat card. Transcripts found in ctcLink place a notation next to the original grade; the original grade remains visible but is excluded from the GPA calculation.
• Satisfactory (S): Indicates a C or higher level of achievement in a course taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. The S grade has no grade point value and is not used in the GPA calculation, but credit is awarded. Instructor permission is required.
• Unsatisfactory (U): Indicates less than a C level of achievement in a course taken on an S/U basis. The U grade carries no grade point value, is not used in GPA calculations, and no credit is awarded.
• Instructor Withdrawal (V): Given at the option of the instructor at the end of the term when a student has stopped attending class and has failed to officially withdraw. This grade may not be given after a Y or an I has been assigned.
• Withdrawal (W): Indicates that registration in a course has been officially canceled by the student on or before the published deadline. Failure to officially withdraw may result in an F grade. An excessive number of withdrawals may trigger a review of the student’s academic record.
• In-Progress (Y): Indicates a course has not yet officially ended, used for classes with an official ending date scheduled after the end of the regular quarter. Work must be completed within one year or the grade reverts to an F, unless an earlier deadline is specified in the syllabus.

BEdA Grading Basis and Transcripts

Per the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges coding policy, classes coded with a BEdA grading basis will exclude basic skills credits from the student’s transcript report. The class will be shown with a grade, but no credits. Credits included on the transcript are included in quarterly and cumulative credit totals.

Final Grade Reports

Final grades are available shortly after the end of each quarter. Students may see their grades by viewing their unofficial transcript online. For information on how to access an unofficial transcript, please visit EverettCC.edu/Transcripts.

Grade Errors and Changes

The deadline for requesting and submitting a grade change is the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the grade was given. In the case of a conversion of an “I” or “Y” to a final grade, the deadline to request a change is the end of the quarter following the term in which that final grade was issued. For spring class grades, the deadline is the end of the following fall quarter. Students should direct initial concerns to the instructor or the respective division dean.

Grade Appeals

Students who have evidence of unfair treatment relating to their final grade may file an academic grievance. Refer to WAC 132E-120-360 Academic Grievance Procedure in the Everett Community College Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for resolution procedures.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A grade point average (GPA) is a measure of the student’s overall academic performance based upon courses where letter grades A through F are assigned. Non-traditional grades are excluded. Everett Community College computes three separate student GPAs:

1. Quarterly GPA: Calculated by dividing the total quarterly number of grade points earned at EvCC by the total quarterly credit hours earned at EvCC. It does not include transfer credits or credits from other quarters.
2. Cumulative GPA: Calculated by dividing the total cumulative number of grade points earned in all quarters at EvCC by the cumulative total credit hours earned across all quarters at EvCC. Program applicability does not filter this score, and transfer credits are excluded.
3. College-Level GPA: Calculated using only those courses numbered 100 or higher. The graduation GPA reflects completed courses at the end of the final quarter, while the commencement GPA is computed as of the end of the quarter prior to the final quarter.

Petition for Grade Exclusion

A returning student may submit a petition with Enrollment Services to exclude early grades (generally below a C or 2.0) from their cumulative GPA calculation if they left the college, returned later, and demonstrated improved academic performance. Eligibility criteria include:

• At least one calendar year must have passed without enrollment at EvCC.
• Grades to be excluded must have been awarded prior to the minimum year of absence.
• Exclusion applies to all grades in the terms prior to absence; singular courses or singular terms cannot be selectively excluded.
• The student must demonstrate an ability to improve by completing at least 30 credits with a GPA of 2.5 or higher since returning to the college.

Approved excluded grades will still appear on the transcript but will be removed from GPA equations. This process cannot circumvent repeat policies or clear graduation constraints; courses completed with an equivalent grade of C (2.0) or higher allow entry to the next progression (e.g., passing TS 098 allows registration for ENGL& 101).

Credit System

Credits measure the amount of academic work required for the class. In general, a class that meets one hour per week and requires about two hours of outside assignments per week for one quarter will earn one credit (representing about three hours of total effort per week). Laboratory and certain other courses vary from this pattern.

Students earn credit only for those courses in which they are officially registered. Credit cannot be earned twice for courses with similar content.

Student Credit Load and Limitations

• Full-Time Status: International students, or students receiving financial aid, veterans’ benefits, or agency funding usually have minimum credit requirements. Normally, 12 credits meet full-time status parameters.
• Credit Overloads: Students wishing to take more than 20 credit hours per quarter need permission from Enrollment Services at the time of registration, unless a prescribed program explicitly mandates it.

The college reserves the right to deny registration by a single student in two sections of the same course to maximize seat availability.

Auditing a Course

A student who desires to attend classes but does not wish to receive grades or credits may enroll as an auditor. Full tuition and fees apply. Switching enrollment tracks (credit to audit or vice versa) requires written instructor permission. If an auditor fails to attend regularly or withdraw officially, an instructor may issue a grade of V (unofficial withdrawal). Running Start students must fund audit choices directly.

Repeating a Course

Some courses can be repeated for additional credit up to a specified maximum, issuing separate grades for each completion. Alternatively, courses can be repeated to improve a grade, but credit applies only once. No course may be repeated more than twice to improve a grade (two repeats maximum in addition to the original enrollment). The highest grade earned among the attempts will be used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.