Grades Policy

Hostos Community College awards letter grades to denote the level of achievement for each course. The grading system is as follows:

Letter Grade......

...Range....

.....Quantity Point Value

A......................

...93-100...

..............................4.0

A-..................... ...90-92..... ..............................3.7
B+.................... ...87-89..... ..............................3.3
B...................... ...83-86..... ..............................3.0
B-..................... ...80-82..... ..............................2.7
C+.................... ...77-79..... ..............................2.3
C...................... ...70-76..... ..............................2.0
D...................... ...60-69..... ..............................1.0
F ...................... ...Failure.... ..............................0.0

Other Grades

AUD - Audit Policy

Matriculated and non-degree students may audit a course on a seat available basis. Students are cautioned to consider the effect of auditing a class that is required for their major or is a pre/co-requisite of another course. Auditors will be charged full tuition and required fees. Audited courses cannot be used to qualify for full-time or part-time status, financial aid, veteran's benefits, or foreign student status. No credit will be given and a grade of "AUD" will be recorded. "AUD" grades cannot be changed to any other grade.

To audit a course a student must:

  • Obtain written permission from the Department's Chairperson or Unit Coordinator.

  • Provide Registrar's Office with written approval declaring auditor status no later than the last day of the add/drop period.

  • Audit status cannot be changed to credit status nor can credit status be changed to audit status after the last day of the add/drop period.


INC - Incomplete:
This grade indicates that the objectives of a course have not been completed for good and sufficient reasons, and that there is a reasonable expectation that the student can, in fact, successfully complete the requirements of the course. The instructor, in consultation with the student, may grant an INC if the student has met the instructor’s requirements for the course, completed most of the coursework and have a passing semester average. Whether or not the student is registered at Hostos, the INC becomes a FIN grade if the missing coursework is not completed by the last day of classes of the semester immediately  following the semester in which the INC grade was assigned; refer to the Academic Calendar for dates and times.
 

W - Withdrawal without penalty

This grade indicates that a student has good and sufficient reasons for withdrawing from the course, and is doing so at a time when he or she is doing passing work, prior to the last day of classes.

WU - Unofficial Withdrawal

Given lack of continued enrollment. Replaces NC grades assigned prior to 1980. This grade is included in the computation of the GPA and counts as a failure (F) prior to Fall 2021. Effective Fall 2021, WU grade will not have punitive impact on student’s GPA.

WA - All students born on or after January 1, 1957, whether degree or non-degree, who register for six or more credits/billable equivalent credits are required to demonstrate proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella. A non-punitive administrative grade (WA) will be given to students who are excluded from classes for reasons of non-compliance with the New York State Immunization Law (PHL 2165).

R - Given in courses designed as developmental (remedial courses with credit and excess hours) and remedial courses (with no credit).

An "R" grade is given when a student has not reached a minimal level of proficiency for the course, but has fulfilled all three of the following conditions:

  1. Satisfactory enrollment record;

  2. Satisfactory completion of in-class and homework assignments;

  3. Satisfactory progress toward the performance objectives of the course.

The "R" grade is considered a non-punitive grade, and is not included in the computation of the GPA. It is given one time only per course, except in the case of ESL 091 or ENG 091, which may be given twice. Students who take ENG 1399/ENG 092 Spring 2003 and thereafter may receive an "R" grade twice.

WN – Withdrawn, Never Attended (punitive):
Effective Fall 2008 through the Summer 2009 semester; this grade is included in the computation of the GPA and counts as a failure (F). 

*WN – Withdrawn, Never Attended (non-punitive):
Effective Fall 2009 through Spring 2012, this grade is not included in the computation of the GPA. 

WN – Withdrawn, Never Attended (non-punitive):
Effective Summer 2012; this grade is not included in the computation of the GPA. 

P - Passing

A grade assigned to SSD 1000 (Freshman Orientation), and COOP 101, 102, 103 (Cooperative Education).

F - Grade Policy

The grades of "#F," "#WU," and "#FIN" denote grades excluded from GPA calculation. Grades not computed in grade point averages are based on CUNY policy effective September 1, 1990:

"When an undergraduate student receives the earned academic grade of "F," "FIN," "WU," or an administrative failing grade, and that student subsequently retakes that course and receives a grade of "C" or better, the initial grade of "F" will no longer be computed into the cumulative grade point average. The "F" will remain on the transcript. The number of failing credits that can be deleted from the grade point average calculation shall be limited to 16 for the duration of the student's undergraduate enrollment in the institutions of The City University of New York."

  • If a course for which a student wants the failing grade to be replaced by a grade of "C" or better was taken prior to September 1, 1984, the student must receive the approval of the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing;

  • For a grade of "C" or better to replace a grade of "F" in the calculation of the cumulative GPA, the failing grade cannot be received at another institution;

  • A failing grade may not be partially replaced. If a student has replaced 14 credits of failing grades and subsequently receives a grade of "C" or better in another 3-credit course that was previously failed, the failing grade cannot be replaced;

  • If a student has received more than one failing grade for the same course and subsequently earns a grade of "C" or better in the course, the failing grades will be deleted from the calculation of the cumulative GPA, subject to the 16-credit limit;

  • If a student fails a course that was taken on a pass/fail basis and subsequently retakes the course, a grade of "C" or better must be earned in order for the failing grade to be replaced;

  • If the course number or title of a course was changed in the period between the receipt of the failing grade and the repetition of the course but the content remained the same, the failing grade will be replaced if a grade of "C" or better was received in the repeated course;

  • If the content of the course was changed in the period between the receipt of the failing grade and the repetition of the course, or when a student has been allowed to substitute one course for another, the declaration of course equivalency for the purpose of deleting the failing grade from the calculation of the cumulative GPA will be at the discretion of the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing;

  • The cumulative GPA calculated on the basis of this policy is to be used for purposes of retention and graduation from the college and the admission to and continuance in a major or specialization. It will not be used to calculate graduation honors, the Dean's List, or departmental honors at graduation.

Any student who does not want a repeated course to replace a previously recorded failing grade should notify the Registrar so that the replacement does not take place. This request may be made at any time after the second enrollment, provided the student is enrolled in the College.

Note: The policy is not applicable to an e-Permit course; students receiving a failing grade ("WU", "F", "FIN") under no circumstances will benefit from the "F" grade policy.

FIN - Failure due to Incomplete

A grade given when an "Incomplete" reverts to an "F" grade. Failure to complete requirements of a course by the end of the next academic semester results in an "FIN" grade, effective Spring 1998 semester.

Z- Grade: No grade submitted by instructor

"Z" is an administrative grade, which cannot be assigned by the instructor.