Grading Policies

All students will have two grades that make up the final grade in a course: one for assignments and one for grades.  If a student receives a "FN" for attendance, then they will fail the course regardless of their assignment grade.  For more information on the attendance polices, please choose either Real Time or Asynchronous. 

In the both Digital Filmmaking Programs (AAS & PC), each course is graded by the individual instructor according to the criteria outlined in the class syllabus.

Grades are calculated on the basis listed below:

90-100 A 4.0

80-89 B 3.0

70-79 C 2.0

60-69 D 1.0

Below 60 F 0.0

In addition, some classes will be graded pass/fail (P or F).

Please note: each class has a set of criteria for the components on which the student is evaluated. The score achieved reflects the student’s competency and the skill level achieved to meet the criteria for the components. Students are responsible to know their academic standing by referring to written policies and regulations and by consulting with their instructors

Students will receive reports of their progress at the end of each semester. Students whose grade is failing will be counseled and may be terminated. Students who do not maintain satisfactory progress may be placed on probation for a period to be determined by the program or education director until minimum performance is achieved or the student is terminated.

Incomplete Grade

In the case of a student receiving an incomplete grade (I), the student must complete all work necessary to remove the incomplete grade within 2 weeks from the beginning of the semester. 

When the deadline for grades to be finalized is reached, the instructor and/or TA must notify the Registrar of the student’s final grade in the course.  If the student failed to turn in the agreed upon items, then the “I” will be changed to an “F”.  If the student did turn in the agreed upon items, the instructor and/or TA must state what the student’s final grade for the course is, along with all grades pertaining to assignments and attendance. All incompletes must be changed to a letter grade once the semester has been finalized. Incompletes are not factored into either the term or cumulative GPA. 

Course incompletes, repetitions and non-credit remedial courses do not apply to this institution’s form of instruction. The school does not issue permanent incompletes and does not offer non-credit remedial courses. 

Academic Probation

At the end of the semester, a student will be put on Academic Probation if they fail classes or have a GPA of 2.0 (D) or lower. They will have to retake any failed core class. If they fail a class the following semester, or have a 2.0 GPA or lower, then they fail out of school. 

Make-up Work

Students may be given the opportunity to make up any work or tests, subject to the approval of the program or education director. Make-up work must be completed within a week of returning or before the final exam day, whichever is sooner. Students may retake a class they have failed, subject to availability and space. All retaken classes will incur additional tuition costs at the current cost-per-credit rate.

Failing Grades and Course Retakes

If a student achieves a failing grade in a class or if a student fails a class due to non - attendance, the student is required to retake the course in the following semester. All retaken classes will incur additional tuition costs at the current cost-per-credit rate. Students are required to pass all courses in a program in order to receive a degree or professional certificate.

The higher grade will be used in determining GPA for the student, both in term progress and cumulative.

Students are allowed to repeat a course to obtain a higher grade.  However, they must contact Financial Aid to determine how the cost of the repeat class will be covered. The student must obtain permission from the Registrar to repeat a course that they have already passed.  Students requesting to repeat a course will be informed that this will delay their progress in the program. Registering for a repeat course depends on the vacancy in the course in the semester.  Priority is given to students that have not taken the course but it is required for their degree and to students who previously failed the course and must retake it. 

Course Withdrawal

The first two weeks of a Full semester is the add/drop period. For the Mid - Semester, the add/drop period ends one week from the start of classes.  During this time, students can choose to drop a course without it showing on their transcript.  The student will not be charged for any credits dropped during this time. 

From weeks 3 to 10 each semester, a student may submit (in writing) to the Registrar a request to withdraw from a course.  If approved, a “W” will show on the student’s transcript. This will not affect the student’s GPA.  If a student submits a request to withdraw from a course after week 10 of the semester, if approved, the student’s transcript will show an “F” for the course. This will affect the student’s GPA. Students that withdraw from courses after the add/drop period has ended, are responsible for any costs associated with the course up until the date that they withdraw. 

If a student withdraws from a course that is required to finish their program, the student must retake the course.  All requests to withdraw from a course require approval from the Registrar.  If approved, a form will be sent to the student to sign via DocuSign.  The instructors of the course will also receive a copy of the withdrawal form. 

If the student is requesting to withdraw from a course that is a corequisite for another course they are currently enrolled in, the student must meet with either the Assistant Dean or Registrar to explain the reason for dropping the course and produce supporting documentation.  The student will then be counseled on how this will affect their progress in the corequisite course. 

If the student withdraws from a course that is a prerequisite to move to the next level, the student must retake the withdrawn course in the following semester.  Until the student receives a passing grade in the withdrawn/prerequisite course, they will not be allowed to move to the next level.  

Information on how a course withdrawal will affect a student’s tuition or financial aid, can be found in the Financial Aid section of the Student Handbook under Cancellation and Refund Policies.