Grades


Instructors hold authority for the issuance of grades for students in their classes within the guidelines set in the course syllabus. They also are responsible for the calculation and timely submission of grades to the Registrar's Office. The basis for grades should be noted clearly in the syllabus for the course. Though many instructors opt for a traditional grading system where 100 points is a perfect score, instructors retain the option to use other systems as long as they are clearly explained in the syllabus. For additional information regarding grades, please see the General Information Catalog.

 

Grade Changes

Instructors can change a previously submitted grade only if an error was made in the calculation, reporting of the grade in the first place, or to assign a grade for an incomplete (X). As of spring 2012, instructors use the online grade change system for routine grade changes through the Office of the Registrar's website. Grade changes will still be routed through the student's Dean's Office for approval before submission to the Registrar. For more information, see this guide's page on Grade Changes or the Registrar's page on the new system.

 

Grading Options

Undergraduate students may choose to register for a course on a letter-grade or pass/fail basis. Students taking a course pass/fail earn either the symbol CR (credit) or a grade of F. Instructors must make all assignments and calculate grades the same for all students, regardless of the basis for the grade. Any course taken on the pass/fail basis may count only as an elective, unless the course is offered only on the pass/fail basis.

 

Instructors may choose to use a plus/minus system (see below). For GPA calculations and, possibly, for course evaluation, the numbers in the chart should be used. In any case, undergraduates must earn a grade of at least D- to receive credit for a course.

 

Grade
Grade points

A

4.0

A-

3.67

B+

3.33

B

3.00

B-

2.67

C+

2.33

C

2.00

C-

1.67

D+

1.33

D

1.00

D-

.67

F

0

 

Instructors may not withhold a final grade without the dean's approval, unless they assign the symbol X for an Incomplete (see "Incompletes").

 

GPA and grades

Work taken in transfer does not factor in the calculation of UT Austin, in residence GPA. Coursework taken through University Extension, whether online or in the classroom, does factor into residence GPA.

 

Grade Appeals

Students have the right to appeal their grades up through the associate dean for student affairs. For more on grade appeals, see this page.