Academic Affairs

Grading System

The grading system uses a series of letters, to which are assigned grade-point values.
The system is based neither on an absolute numerical system nor on a distribution curve, but on the following descriptions.

Grade A represents exceptionally high achievement. It is valued at four grade points for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

Grade B represents high achievement. It is valued at three grade points for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

Grade C represents satisfactory achievement. It is valued at two grade points for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

Grade D represents the minimum achievement for credit. It is valued at one grade point for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

Grade E represents unsatisfactory achievement and indicates failure in the course. It is valued at zero credit hours and zero grade points in non-remedial and non-developmental courses. Credit may be obtained by repeating the entire course.

Grade F represents an unsatisfactory grade in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis. The student who receives a grade of F in a course shall not be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s). It has no value in computing the grade point average. Credit may only be obtained by repeating the entire course. This grade may be used for developmental courses.

Grade AU (Audit) has no value in computing grade-point average.

Grade I means that part of the work of the course remains unfinished. It shall be given only when there is a reasonable possibility that a passing grade will result from completion of the work. The instructor shall not give and I grade when the reason for incompleteness is unsatisfactory. 

The instructor and student will discuss the requirements for completion of course with the time limit for completion not to exceed a maximum of two years; failure to do so will result in a change of grade from I to an E. 

Each college shall maintain a record of incomplete grades recorded in courses of that college. This record, completed by the instructor at the time the I grade is reported, shall include: (1) the name and number of the student, (2) the course number and hours of credit, (3) semester or session and year of enrollment, (4) signature of the instructor, (5) a brief statement of the reason(s) for recording the incomplete grade, and (6) an adequate guide for removal of the incomplete grade. In the instructor's absence, the division chairperson or the designee, shall forward to the president/director (or designee) the appropriate letter grade to replace the incomplete grade.

Grade Pass-Fail may be selected for a maximum of two elective courses, subject to certain restrictions, by students with at least 30 credit hours and not on academic probation. These can count toward graduation but are not used in calculating grade-point standing. Courses taken on a pass-fail basis shall be limited to those considered as elective in the student' program, and such other courses or types of courses as might be specifically approved by the Community & Technical College Council. Prerequisites for such courses may be ignored at the student's own hazard. Any community & technical college student who receives a grade of P in a course shall be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s). The student is expected to participate fully in the course and take all examinations as though the student were enrolled on a regular basis. Students may not change from a pass-fail basis nor from a regular basis to a pass-fail basis after the last date for entering an organized class. Courses offered only on a pass-fail basis, remedial or developmental, or taken by special examination, shall not be included in the maximum number of elective courses which a student may take under these provisions. Students who intend to transfer to the University of Kentucky are cautioned that any use of the pass-fail option at a community & technical college will count as part of the four pass-fail options available to them at the University of Kentucky. The grade P may also be assigned by the Community & Technical College Appeals Board.

Grade W represents a withdrawal from class without completing course requirements. A student may officially withdraw from any class up to and including the date of mid-term with a W grade. After the date of mid-term and through the last class of the semester or session, any student may officially request a W, WP, or WF grade, which may be given at the discretion of the instructor. Each instructor shall state on the first or second class meeting the factors to be used in determining the assignment of a W, WP or WF grade during the discretionary period. An instructor shall not assign a student a W, WP or WF grade for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from that class in a manner prescribed by the college. The grade W may be assigned by the Community / Technical College Appeals board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights. It may not be assigned to a student found guilty of an academic offense without permission of the instructor in whose class the offense occurred. A president / director of a college (or designee) may, if the student courses, assign the grade of W to a student who has been reported to the president/director for unsatisfactory scholarship or excessive absences and who, after being reported, has made no improvement.

Grade P represents a satisfactory grade in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis. The student who receives a grade of P in a course shall be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s). The grade of P may be assigned by the Community & Technical College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights. It has no value in computing the grade point average. This grade may be used for developmental courses.

Grade MP represents Making Progress and may be assigned only for developmental courses and means that the student has made significant progress but needs and deserves more time to achieve a passing grade. The student should re-enroll in the course in order to continue advancement to the level of competence set for the course. Grades may be earned following re-enrollment for developmental courses. The grade of MP has no value in computing grade point average.

Grade WF represents withdrawal from class after mid-term and indicates student was failing at time of withdrawal. This grade is included in the grade point average calculation as an E.

Grade WP represents withdrawal from class after mid-term and indicates student was passing class at time of withdrawal. This grade is not included in the grade point average calculation.

Changing Grades A grade once reported shall not be changed except when the instructor states in writing that an error has been made. The grade change must be submitted by the end of the following semester or session, or in exceptional cases, at the discretion of the president/director or the president's/director's designee. However, each respective Community & Technical College Appeals Board may change a grade to P or W in the case of a violation of student academic rights or to a W in the case of an academic offense.

Grade-Point Average (GPA). The grade-point average is the ratio of the total grade points earned to the total credit hours attempted (excluding courses taken on a pass/fail basis and courses with grades of "W" or "I"). Total grade points are derived by multiplying the number of credit hours for the course by the number of grade points assigned to the grade earned; A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, E=0.

The GPA on the KCTCS transcript is derived from all courses taken at KCTCS institutions.

Reporting Final Grades The final grades for a course shall be filed with the office of the president / director of the college (or designee) within forty-eight hours after the scheduled time of the final examination for that course. Grades for all candidates for degrees must be filed in the president's/director's (or designee's) office by such dates as may be determined.

Grades for Students who Withdraw or are Dropped From the end of the drop/add period through midterm of the session, a student may withdraw from a course and receive a "W". From the first day after midterm until the last day of course work of the session, a student may, at the instructor's discretion, withdraw from a course and the instructor will assign a grade of "W", "WP", or "WF" at withdrawal. The student must initiate the official withdrawal. No grade will be reported for a student who fails to pay registration fees in accordance with established policy or who withdrawals by the last day to drop without a grade.