Historically the University's standard letter grading system of A, B, C, D, and F did not include grades such as B+ or C− as options for instructors to use in undergraduate and graduate courses.
In response to the concern that such a grading system did not provide enough distinguishing performance feedback within the range of a single letter grade, effective for the Summer 2017 term the University approved the use of plus/minus grades for undergraduate and graduate student course grading.
The revised grading system includes the following grades that may be used on undergraduate and graduate students in standard letter-graded courses:
- 1. When did the use of plus/minus grades go into effect?
- 2. How are transfer courses being impacted?
- 3. What does the student's transcript look like?
- 4. How are grade-related conditions affected by plus/minus grades?
- 5. How is scholastic standing affected by plus/minus grades?
- 6. What scale should instructors use with plus/minus grades?
- 7. Are the above grades the only ones that instructors can use?
Use of plus/minus grades by instructors was introduced only for those applicable courses taken Summer 2017 or later. Most obviously, for the initial entry of grades within SalukiNet, instructors now have the additional plus/minus grade choices within their Self-Service Banner grade entry task.
Instructors can use plus/minus grades on grade change cards only for courses taken in Summer 2017 and subsequent terms. Retroactive grade change requests for courses taken prior to Summer 2017 cannot use plus/minus grades.
Courses that are transferable from another institution, that are taken in Summer 2017 or later at the other institution, and that have been graded using a similar plus/minus grading system at the other institution, will be assigned equivalent grades that make use of this plus/minus grading system.
The student's transcript now reflects the assignment of any plus/minus grades for Summer 2017 and beyond, with a notation on the back of the transcript noting the change in grading systems as of Summer 2017.
A grade-related condition for University or program course requirements will be impacted by the introduction of plus/minus grades. For example, a minimum grade of a C in a pre-requisite course (or in a course required for the major) will not be satisfied by a grade of C−. Why not?
Under the historical grading system, the grade of C was worth 2.0 grade points. Under the new plus/minus grading system, the grade of C is still worth 2.0 grade points, but the grade of C− is worth only 1.667 grade points, which is less than the number of grade points previously required to satisfy, say, a pre-requisite condition of a grade of C.
In response to this, some departments have formally modified grade-related conditions to allow for a minus grade that otherwise would be excluded from satisfying the condition, but that is up to the discretion of the department.
Graduate students need to especially pay attention to this because of the higher grade expectations required for them to remain in their program of study.
The determination of a student's end-of-term scholastic standing will be impacted by the introduction of plus/minus grades. For example, an undergraduate student whose cumulative institutional GPA falls below a C average will normally be placed on probation. An undergraduate student on probation will need to maintain an institutional term GPA of at least 2.0 in each subsequent term while on probation in order to not be suspended. However, a C− average for a term will not satisfy that condition to prevent a suspension. Why not?
Under the historical grading system, the grade of C was worth 2.0 grade points. Under the new plus/minus grading system, the grade of C is still worth 2.0 grade points, but the grade of C− is worth only 1.667 grade points. Thus, a C− average for a term is below the C average necessary to avoid being suspended, and such a student will be suspended.
On the flip side, a C+ average for a term while on probation is better than a C average and will accelerate the timeframe for the student to get off of probation and return to good standing.
Graduate students need to especially pay attention to this because of the higher grade expectations required for them to remain in good standing.
The assignment of particular grades has normally been at the discretion of the instructor, and this has not changed with the use of plus/minus grades.
For example, an instructor may have previously chosen to assign a grade of B for work that was evaluated to be from 80 to 89 percent of the total points possible. Under such an example, the instructor who uses plus/minus grades would want a B+ grade to be at the upper end of that scale and a B− grade to be at the lower end of that scale.
What does "the upper end" of such an example scale equate to? 89 only? 88 or 89? 87 through 89? Something else? This is a real question for you as an instructor, and any of those are legitimate possible answers for you to consider.
What does "the lower end" of such an example scale equate to? 80 only? 80 or 81? 80 through 82? Something else? Again, this is a real question for you as an instructor, and any of those are legitimate possible answers.
You as the instructor have the discretion to determine those answers, perhaps with some guidance from your college or school. We in the Registrar's Office are not able to do that for you. (And please understand that the examples just given are not meant to tell you how exactly to assign a B+ or B− grade, or even what the range of all B-related grades should be for you to use in your situation. That is up to you.)
This discussion of plus/minus grades is focused on the transition from a grade system of A, B, C, D, and F to a grade system as noted above. Other grades such as INC, NS, and WF can still be used for special situations and are described here.
That said, the Faculty Senate (FS) and Graduate Council (GC) both approved moving to a plus/minus grading system, and the grades for use in that system are those noted above. As you can see, the approved plus/minus grading system does not include grades of A+ or D− or F+.
FS and GC also did not approve a more detailed numeric grading system such as that formerly used by the SIU School of Law. Thus, you as an instructor can not assign a final grade like one that would equate to 1.5 or 2.5 or 3.5 grade points.
