Competencies and Grades

CBE courses at MLC are evaluated both with a traditional grade scale as well as the completion of related course competencies. A learner in a CBE course will be awarded an overall grade for their completion of all assessments that the instructor indicates are graded. These will include assessments, discussions, journals, quizzes, projects, etc. The instructor will calculate the overall grade based on learner performance. Grades are transparently tracked in the Grades section of Brightspace.

Grade Scheme

The grade obtained in a course is based on the following grade scheme. Grades are determined at the discretion of the course instructor. 

Competency Requirements 

All courses are mapped to competencies that students must meet to successfully complete the course. Competencies are noted in multiple ways in the course:

• Competencies are identified in the unit introduction.

• Competencies are also listed in the assignment instructions.

• Typically, an assessment with one or more competencies attached has an asterisk at the end of its name.

Competency-focused assessments will be evaluated on the following scale, which also corresponds to the grade scale:

If a learner receives a marking of Proficient or Mastery on a competency-based assessment, the competency is met. If a learner receives a marking of Developing or Not Present on the assessment, the responsibility is on the learner to connect with the instructor to determine what additional expectation(s) need to be met to obtain a score of Proficient or Mastery. All competencies must be met at a minimum of Proficient to pass the course. A learner can have a passing grade for a course, but not pass the course if competency-based assessments are not attempted or passed with a score of Proficiency or Mastery.

NOTE: Instructors in the CBE program will reevaluate learner work as needed to determine that the learner has met the minimum proficiency level. However, instructors are not obligated to adjust learner grades for resubmissions. Regrading is a matter of instructor policy and discretion.