Understanding the Hunter College Grading System

Hunter College employs a comprehensive grading system to evaluate student performance. This system includes letter grades, pass/no credit options, and various administrative grades, each carrying specific implications for a student's academic record and GPA.

Traditional Letter Grades

Hunter College uses the traditional letter grading system (A, B, C, D, and F) to assess student performance in most courses. These grades are defined as follows:

A+ (Exceptional): Represents outstanding work. (4.00 quality points)
A (Excellent): Signifies excellent performance. (4.00 quality points)
A- (Excellent): Also denotes excellent work, but slightly below an A. (3.70 quality points)
B+ (Good): Indicates good performance, above a B. (3.30 quality points)
B (Good): Represents satisfactory good performance. (3.00 quality points)
B- (Good): Suggests good performance, but slightly below a B. (2.70 quality points)
C+ (Satisfactory): Shows satisfactory performance, above a C. (2.30 quality points)
C (Satisfactory): Indicates satisfactory performance. (2.00 quality points)
D+ (Passing): Represents passing work, above a D. (1.30 quality points)
D (Passing): Signifies passing work. (1.00 quality points)
F (Failure): Indicates failure to meet the course's learning objectives. (0.00 quality points)

These letter grades, except for the F, indicate that the student earned credit for the class by the end of the semester (or term). Grades ranging from A to D are included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Pass/No Credit (P/NC) Option

Hunter College provides students with the option to take some courses on a Pass/No Credit (P/NC) basis. This allows students to explore subjects without the pressure of earning a specific letter grade that impacts their GPA.

P (Pass): Awarded for performance equivalent to A, B, C, or D. It signifies that the student has met the requirements for the course and will receive credit.
NC (No Credit): Given when performance is equivalent to an F. The student does not receive credit for the course.

Restrictions on P/NC Grades

While the P/NC option offers flexibility, it is subject to several restrictions:

Read also: Hunter Education Course Details

Departmental Restrictions: Departments or programs may restrict students from using the P/NC option for major courses, especially those leading to certification or postgraduate study. Students should consult with their departmental advisors for specific policies.
Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to take courses on a P/NC basis.
Limit on P/NC Courses: A maximum of four courses taken at Hunter College, including repeated courses, can be assigned a P/NC grade on the Hunter College transcript, excluding courses with mandatory CR/NC grading.
Grade Replacement: The grade of P shall be used to replace the academic grades of A, B, C and D. The grade of NC shall be used to replace the academic grade of F. It shall not be used to replace the grade of WU.
Improper Use: If a P/NC grade is given when it is not allowed according to college, departmental, or major regulations, the Registrar's office will convert it to the underlying letter grade entered by the instructor.

Read also: Affording Your MSW: Hunter College Tuition
Incomplete Grades: If a student receives an INC after requesting P/NC grading, the P/NC grade is applied only when the instructor changes the INC (or FIN) to a letter grade.

How to Opt for P/NC

To choose the P/NC option for a course, students must complete a form available from the Office of the Registrar and submit it by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) one calendar day prior to the last day of classes as indicated in the Hunter College academic calendar. Notification of the student's P/NC choice will be sent to the course instructor by the Office of the Registrar. Once a student chooses a P/NC grade for a course, that choice is final and irrevocable.

Considerations Before Opting for P/NC

Students should be aware that other colleges, graduate and professional schools, services, and employers may not favor Pass/No Credit grades. They may convert “Pass” to “D” and “No Credit” to “F” for their purposes. Before opting for P/NC grades, students should consult with advisors in the Office of Advising, in their academic program(s), and in the Office of Financial Aid. They should also check the policies of external financial-aid agencies.

Other Grades and Symbols

Besides the standard letter grades and the P/NC option, Hunter College employs other grades and symbols to represent various academic situations. These include:

AUD (Auditor, Listener): Indicates that the student attended the course as an auditor and is not graded.
INC (Term's Work Incomplete): A temporary grade given when a student has not completed all the required coursework due to extenuating circumstances. An INC should only be given by the instructor in consultation with the student when there is a reasonable expectation that a student can successfully complete the requirements of the course no later than the last day of the following semester, or its equivalent in calendar time, exclusive of Summer Session/Term. Transcript comments for INC grades should be added to the student record indicating the nature of the incomplete. The grade of “INC” lapses to an “FIN” grade no later than the last day of the following semester, or its equivalent in calendar time, exclusive of Summer Session/Term.
FIN (F from Incomplete): Assigned when an INC grade is not resolved by the specified deadline, typically the last day of the following semester (excluding summer sessions).
PEN (Grade Pending): A temporary grade used when the final grade requires further evaluation or when academic review is pending. Final determination of a grade will depend on final evaluation by the instructor or the outcome of the college’s academic review process. PEN grade must be resolved to letter grade by the end of the semester following the semester in which the course was taken.
W (Withdrew): Indicates that the student officially withdrew from the course. Student participated in an academically related activity at least once.
WA (Administrative Withdrawal): A non-punitive grade assigned to students who had registered for classes at the beginning of the term but did not provide proof of immunization by compliance date. Student participated in an academically related activity at least once.
WD (Withdrew Drop): Dropped after FA cert date during the program adjustment period. Student participated in an academically related activity at least once.
WN (Never Participated): Assigned to students who never participated in an academically related activity.
WU (Withdrew Unofficially): Assigned to students who participated in an academic activity related to the class at least once, stopped participating, did not drop the class or receive approval for an incomplete, did not otherwise officially withdraw from the course, and did not complete enough work for the instructor to be able to calculate an earned grade using the criteria delineated in the course syllabus.
Y (Year or Longer Course of Study Must Continue to Completion): A temporary grade used for courses that extend over a year or longer.
RC (Course must be repeated): Minimum level of proficiency not attained. Restricted to noncredit, remedial, and to developmental courses
SP (Satisfactory Progress): Restricted to thesis and research courses requiring more than one semester for completion (temporary grade)
U (Unsatisfactory): Restricted to noncredit, remedial, and to developmental courses
H (Honor): Hunter College School of Social Work only.
NRP (No Record of Progress): Exclusive to Dissertation Supervision at the Graduate Center Only

Discontinued Grades & Grade Symbols

Following symbols have been implemented as prefixes to grades in the student system to identify repeated courses including the application of the F grade repeat policy and Board approved variance, as well as to indicate a grade’s impact on GPA and credit accumulation. CUNYfirst College have retired the use of these prefixes as they went live in CUNYfirst. Colleges may not use any symbol which is no longer in use and therefore not included in the glossary. Values have been defined in this document for historical purposes of computation on existing transcripts.

ABS (Absent from the final; make-up exam permitted.):
E (Excellent): (At LaGuardia Community College only)
FAB (F from absent): used when the ABS grade reverts to an F grade.
FPN (F from pending): used when the PEN grade reverts to an F grade.
G (Good): (At LaGuardia Community College only)
H (Honors): (Used only at Richmond College and only for students who began in Spring 1975 or earlier.)
J (Failure for non-academic reasons):
K (Condition course completed): (This is not a grade.)
NF (Failure in a non-academic course): (At York College only)
WF (Withdrew Failing): Student participated in an academically related activity at least once
WP (Withdrew passing):
X (Non-punitive failure):
Z (No grade submitted by the instructor): temporary grade which is assigned by the registrar pending receipt of the final grade from the instructor

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is an index of a student’s scholastic performance at Hunter College. It is calculated by assigning numerical values to each letter grade and averaging them across all courses taken. The numerical values, also known as quality points, are as follows:

A+ = 4.00
A = 4.00
A- = 3.70
B+ = 3.30
B = 3.00
B- = 2.70
C+ = 2.30
C = 2.00
D+ = 1.30
D = 1.00
F = 0.00

Important Considerations for GPA Calculation

Courses with 0 Credits: Courses that carry 0 credits will not impact the GPA.
Repeated Courses: Hunter College has specific policies regarding repeating courses, particularly those in which a student received a D or a failing grade. Generally, if a student retakes a course and receives a better grade, the initial failing grade will remain on their academic record but will no longer be computed into the GPA, subject to certain limits.
Minimum GPA for Retention: Both degree and non-degree graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain at Hunter College. Students whose grades fall below this standard are required to raise their GPAs to at least 3.0 within one semester.
Minimum GPA for Graduation: Students will not qualify for a graduate degree, diploma or certificate unless, by the time of graduation, they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) in all graduate work taken at Hunter College.

Change of Grade Policy

Hunter College has a formal process for students to appeal a grade if they believe it was assigned in error. According to the Change of Grade Policy & Process Effective Fall 2021, application for a change of grade, assigned by a member of the faculty, may be made at any time within one year from the end of the semester in which the course was taken. Either the student or the instructor may make this request. Grades cannot be changed once a student has graduated and their academic record is closed.

Change of Final Grade

Faculty members who initiate such a change must file a Change of Grade Form (paper or secure online form), including the reason for the change, follow campus changes of grade approval process, and forward the completed form to the Office of the Registrar, who will process the change and notify the student and faculty.

Undergraduate grade change request over one academic year requires the approval of the Grade Appeals Committee (or campus equivalent.)

Graduate change of grades over one academic year requires the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies (or campus equivalent.)

Change of INC to Administrative FIN

Campus Registrar assigns the grade of FIN when an INC (Incomplete) remains unresolved at the end of the semester following the semester in which the course was taken (exclusive of Summer Term.)

Incompletes unresolved in the above-mentioned time period will become FIN in students’ record.

The student or the instructor may appeal this administrative action or request for an extension as defined by campus.
Appeals, if permitted by the campus, must be filed within thirty calendar days of FIN grade assignment in CUNYfirst (excluding faculty annual leave period).

Change of PEN to Final Letter Grade

The “PEN” grade is a temporary grade awarded when the disposition of the final grade requires further evaluation and when the absent or incomplete grades are inappropriate. 'PEN' is also used to facilitate the implementation of the Procedures for Imposition of Sanctions whereby colleges must hold a student’s grade in abeyance pending the outcome of the academic review process. Final determination of a grade will depend on final evaluation by the instructor or the outcome of the college’s academic review process. PEN grade must be resolved to letter grade by the end of the semester following the semester in which the course was taken.

Student Final Grade Appeal for grades other than INC, FIN, PEN

Students are strongly encouraged to first communicate with the professor of the course. If that conversation does not remedy the situation, or if students choose to not follow that route, then students who think that a final grade was issued erroneously may file a grade appeal using campus appeal process and deadline.

Academic Penalty Removal for WU grade

Effective Fall 2021, WU grade will not have punitive impact on student’s GPA.

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