Grading System
A single grading system is used in all courses at the GSD. The grade of "Pass" is the standard mark for recognizing satisfactory work. "Distinction" and "High Pass" are reserved for work of clearly exceptional merit. "Low Pass" indicates a performance that, although deficient in some respects, meets minimal course standards. "Satisfactory" is used to indicate that the doctoral thesis is in progress. "Withdrawal" is assigned for courses dropped after the add/drop deadline. "Fail" is reserved for work that is unsatisfactory, and a student receives no credit for that course. "Incomplete" indicates incomplete course work and is only granted for medical reasons. A Petition for an Incomplete must be submitted to the registrar's office prior to the last class meeting of the course. Receipt of an excessive number of incompletes, low passes, or failures may result in action under the policy on Satisfactory Progress and Termination (see official Catalog). The GSD does not use a grade-point average or rank-in class system. Non-GSD students who cross-register into a GSD course are evaluated on the same grading system as are GSD students. Information about grading systems and credit conversion for cross-registered classes can be found on the GSD's cross-registration page or the university-wide cross-registration web site. Information on grade changes and appeals and incompletes can be found in the policy section of the official Catalog.