A grade point average is determined by dividing the total grade points earned by the number of graded semester hours of the coursework taken. The quality points for a particular course are found by multiplying the grade points assigned to the letter grade by the number of semester hours of the course.
Saint Mary’s computes a semester GPA and a cumulative GPA for all graded courses taken. The GPA does not include the grades of courses transferred from another college; however, it does include courses taken through the Notre Dame Co-Exchange, N.I.C.E., or Saint Mary’s international programs. The student’s official GPA is maintained in the registrar’s office and is truncated at two decimal places on the academic transcript.
Students may view final grades via PRISM through the my.saintmarys.edu portal. At the end of each semester a student will be mailed a grade report only upon request. The grade report is witheld if a student has not met all financial obligations to the College, and PRISM access denied.
At the end of each semester the student receives a final grade in each course based upon the instructor’s evaluation of course requirements. The following grades are used in calculating the GPA:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points per Semester Hour | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | Superior |
| A- | 3.67 | |
| B+ | 3.33 | |
| B | 3.00 | Good |
| B- | 2.67 | |
| C+ | 2.33 | |
| C | 2.00 | Satisfactory |
| C- | 1.67 | |
| D+ | 1.33 | |
| D | 1.00 | Poor |
| F | 0.00 | Failure |
Grades not included in calculating the GPA:
| Letter Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| H/S/U | honors/satisfactory/unsatisfactory |
| NR | no grade reported |
| P | pass (course taken on pass/fail basis) |
| V | successful audit |
| W | withdrew with permission |
| X | incomplete |
A Saint Mary’s undergraduate student may take up to six hours of graduate credit at Saint Mary’s College and apply these credits toward the undergraduate degree. Graduate courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. The following requirements need to be satisfied:
Notes:
A student who earns a semester grade point average of 3.6 or higher with at least 12 graded hours and with no incomplete or grade lower than a C will receive academic honors.
The following traditional honors are awarded at graduation for excellence in academics:
| Honor | Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|
| Cum laude | 3.5 to 3.69 |
| Magna cum laude | 3.7 to 3.89 |
| Summa cum laude | 3.9 or above |
The honor of valedictorian is conferred upon the student, or students, who has the highest cumulative grade point average in the graduating class. A student must have completed at least 80 semester hours of credit at Saint Mary’s College to qualify for this honor.
(For a complete listing of College Honors and Awards)
Hybrid courses combine positive features of face-to-face and online instruction, and Saint Mary’s College offers hybrid courses as part of our undergraduate course offerings. Hybrid courses combine online learning experiences that are not possible in the traditional classroom, with the benefits of the face-to-face classroom experience that is one of the hallmarks of a Saint Mary’s education.
In a hybrid course, online learning activities offer a functional equivalent to classroom contact hours, with a subsequent reduction in the number of face-to-face meetings over the course of a semester.
When hybrid courses substitute online learning activities for classroom contact hours, the online activities need not occur for the same amount of time as the in-class contact hours they replace. Instead, the online learning activities must cover the same material and achieve the same learning outcomes as the in-class contact hours, as laid out in the course syllabus. Assessments (such as graded assignments, exams, student collaborations and student presentations, etc.) ensure that the material and outcomes are the same in the hybrid course as they would be in its wholly face-to-face counterpart.
Saint Mary’s College places the following constraints on undergraduate hybrid courses:
Saint Mary’s College places the following limits on undergraduate student registration in hybrid courses:
Student advising is key to implementing this policy. A student must demonstrate eligibility to take a hybrid course prior to registration. Failing this eligibility, the student will be blocked from registering for the hybrid course.
The grade of “X” is used to indicate the course has not been completed due to circumstances beyond the control of the student. It will revert to an “F” on the record if not changed to a passing grade within 30 days after the beginning of the next semester.
A for-credit internship (paid or unpaid) is a form of learning that integrates knowledge and skills gained in the classroom with knowledge and skills developed in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields.
Criteria for an experience to be defined as a for-credit internship:
Specially designed courses of study such as independent study or internships are available to juniors and seniors. Learning contracts must be completed and filed with the Registrar’s office before credit can be given. Three hours (independent study) or three hours (internship) of work per week are required for every hour of credit earned. Credit should not exceed 3 hours per semester. No more than 6 hours of independent study may be taken in one department with no more than 9 hours total counting toward the 128 hours needed for a degree. For internships, generally no more than 6 hours may be applied toward the fulfillment of major requirements or toward the 128 hours required for a degree.
Instructors are required to provide deficiency notices to all students whose work is not satisfactory at midterm. Failure to receive a mid-semester deficiency notice does not preclude the possibility that the student may still fail the course, nor does it imply that the student will automatically pass the course. Mid-semester deficiencies do not become part of a student’s official record. Deficiency notices are available online through PRISM.
A student may choose to take a limited number of courses on a pass/fail basis. The following rules apply to such courses:
A student’s permanent academic record is maintained in the Registrar’s Office. Official transcripts of the permanent record are available to each student or alumna. Requests for transcripts must be submitted in writing to the registrar or through the portal. Transcripts will not be issued to students or alumnae who have not met their financial obligations to the College.
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