Plus / Minus Grading
FAQ

  1. When is plus/minus grading effective?
  2. What is the value assigned to each grade for computing grade point averages?
  3. How does plus/minus grading affect HOPE?
  4. Will plus/minus grading be used to determine academic honors?
  5. Will plus/minus grading impact the Dean's List policy?
  6. How will transfer students' transcripts using plus/minus grading be interpreted?
  7. How will the undergraduate Admissions Office calculate GPA?
  8. How will the graduate Admissions Office calculate GPA?
  9. How will policies which state "a grade of C or better is required" be interpreted?
  10. What courses are covered by the change to plus/minus grading?
  11. Is an instructor for a course required to use plus and minus grades?
  12. Is there a value assigned to each grade on a grading scale of 0-100, e.g., 90 = A-?
  13. Will plus and minus grades be listed on UGA students' transcripts?
  14. What transcript will students use to apply to professional/graduate school?
  15. Why is there no A+ in the new plus/minus grading system?
  16. Will previous coursework (i.e., courses completed up until the current spring semester) be converted to reflect the new plus/minus system?
  17. Will the plus/minus GPA grading system be used to calculate eligibility for scholarships through the university, such as the Georgia Incentive Scholarship?
  18. Will the change in grading system be noted on students’ transcripts? How will those reading a transcript on graduate or professional school admissions committees or prospective employers know of the change in grading system?
  19. How will a student's cumulative grade point average be calculated since some grades will come from the previous system and some from the new system?
  20. Do other universities use a plus/minus grading system?


  1. When is plus/minus grading effective?
    Summer Semester 2006 (includes Maymester)


  2. What is the value assigned to each grade for computing grade point averages?
    Under this system, letter grades will correspond to the following:
       A = 4.0
       A- = 3.7
       B+ = 3.3
       B = 3.0
       B- = 2.7
       C+ = 2.3
       C = 2.0
       C- = 1.7
       D = 1.0
       F = 0.0


  3. How does plus/minus grading affect HOPE?
    For the purpose of calculating eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship, the existing grading scale (A,B,C,D,F) will continue to be used. The average will be reported to HOPE authorities as is presently the case.


  4. Will plus/minus grading be used to determine academic honors?
    Yes, plus/minus grading will be used. The UGA work attempted that is included in the overall and cumulative GPA will include plus/minus grades.


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  5. Will plus/minus grading impact the Dean's List policy?
    The Dean's List policy includes a numerical grade point average. This will remain the same. A student's GPA will include any plus or minus grades posted to the transcript.


  6. How will transfer students' transcripts using plus/minus grading be interpreted?
    There will be no change in the way that grades are calculated for those who apply for admission as transfer students.


  7. How will the undergraduate Admissions Office calculate GPA?
    There will be no change in how the undergraduate Admissions Office calculates the GPA for any admission, not just transfer admission. The current system does not consider plus or minus on high school transcripts.


  8. How will the graduate Admissions Office calculate GPA?
    There will be no change in how the graduate Admissions Office calculates the GPA for any admission.


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  9. How will policies which state "a grade of C or better is required" be interpreted?
    For purposes of University policies or regulations which state that "a grade of C or better is required," a grade of C will be considered a 2.0. This means that for these policies and regulations, a grade of C- will not satisfy the standard. The same is true for rules and regulations that require "a B or better" or "a grade of A." An A- or B- will not satisfy this standard.


  10. What courses are covered by the change to plus/minus grading?
    All undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses are covered. The School of Law already operates with a plus/minus system.


  11. Is an instructor for a course required to use plus and minus grades?
    The assignment of grades in a course is the responsibility of the instructor. The new plus and minus system provides more grade options, but how those options are used is the decision of the instructor.


  12. Is there a value assigned to each grade on a grading scale of 0-100, e.g., 90 = A-?
    There is no grading scale assigned to each grade at the University level. The grading scale is the responsibility of the instructor, as is the case with the present grading system.


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  13. Will plus and minus grades be listed on UGA students' transcripts?
    The University of Georgia transcript will include any plus or minus grades that the student earns beginning with 2006 summer terms (including Maymester).


  14. What transcript will students use to apply to professional/graduate school?
    If a transcript is required for professional/graduate school and scholarship applications, the official UGA transcript will be the transcript available for students to include in their applications. It will include any plus or minus grades earned.


  15. Why is there no A+ in the new plus/minus grading system?
    An A+ was not included when the University Council last voted to ask the Board of Regents for permission to adopt a plus/minus grading system. There are many different plus/minus systems at leading state universities. Some include an A+ option and some do not. Major universities that include A+ as a grading option usually assign it the same value as an A for computing grade point averages.


  16. Will previous coursework (i.e., courses completed up until the current spring semester) be converted to reflect the new plus/minus system?
    No grades previously issued will be converted or changed.


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  17. Will the plus/minus GPA grading system be used to calculate eligibility for scholarships through the university, such as the Georgia Incentive Scholarship?
    Beginning with summer term 2006, a student's University of Georgia transcript will post a grade point average that includes any plus or minus grades that he or she has earned. This grade point average will be used to determine whether the student has met any minimum grade point requirement of any university scholarship they hold. For specific application information, a student should contact the office responsible for administering the scholarship.


  18. Will the change in grading system be noted on students’ transcripts? How will those reading a transcript on graduate or professional school admissions committees or prospective employers know of the change in grading system?
    The change will be noted on the transcript and those using the transcript in the future will see it there.


  19. How will a student's cumulative grade point average be calculated since some grades will come from the previous system and some from the new system?
    The cumulative grade point average is calculated from the values associated with each grade earned in each term, using the grading system in place for that term.


  20. Do other universities use a plus/minus grading system?
    A plus/minus grading system is widely used by major universities. These include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, and the University of Florida. Others include Ohio State, Indiana, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota.


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