Grade System and Academic Standing

Pratt Institute's polices on academic standing intend to ensure that all students receive timely notification when they are subject to academic discipline or achieve academic honors.

Each student is responsible at all times for knowing his or her own standing. These standings are based on the published academic policies, regulations, and standards of the Institute. Students subject to academic discipline are encouraged to take advantage of support services available to them, including academic advisement, in an effort to help them meet Institute academic standards.

All students’ records are reviewed at the end of each semester to determine whether any student who has failed to remain in Good Standing may continue in the program.

Good Standing

Undergraduate Students

All undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 (equivalent of a 'C') to remain in Good Standing. An undergraduate student whose GPA falls below a 2.0 at any time may be subject to academic discipline. The specific conditions under which this policy will be invoked are as set forth by the dean of each school and are published in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Written notification will be furnished to the student by the dean.

Graduate Students

To be in Good Standing, all graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 (equivalent of a B). A graduate student whose GPA falls below a 3.0 at any time may be subject to academic discipline. The specific conditions under which this policy will be invoked are as set forth by the dean of each school and are published in the Graduate Bulletin. Written notification will be furnished to the student by the dean.

Qualitative Standards

The staff of each school's advisement office evaluates the academic standing of its students twice during the academic year. The evaluations take place at the end of each major semester (fall and spring).

Academic standing is based on cumulative GPA (for academic discipline) and term GPA (for academic honors). Beginning with the spring 1992 semester, a student's GPA above 2.0 will be rounded to one decimal point in evaluating eligibility for President's List and Dean's List honors and eligibility for restricted and/or endowed scholarships. Rounding is not utilized if a student's cumulative average is below 2.0.

Standard notification letters are mailed to students in the following categories:

• President's List Honors recipients
• Dean's List Honors recipients
• Academic probation standing
• Candidates for academic dismissal

Semester based distinctions are only available to undergraduate students carrying a full-time program. Semester based distinctions are only available to students without any incomplete grades.

President's List Honors  Recipients are defined as students whose term GPA is 3.6 or higher, and who have completed 12 or more credits in that term with no incomplete grades.

Dean's List Honors  Recipients are defined as students whose term GPA is between 3.0 and 3.5, and who have completed 12 or more credits in that term with no incomplete grades.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

Grade Point Averages are computed by dividing the Quality Points earned by Semester Hours Attempted.

Only credits evaluated with grades that earn quality points (see table below) are used in GPA calculations. Each term has a minimum length of fifteen weeks. In courses that are passed, a credit is earned for each period (50 minutes) of lecture or recitation, and for approximately one and one half periods of laboratory or studio work, each week throughout one term or the equivalent.

Academic System Explanation

Grades Without Credits

NR    No Record
INC  Incomplete
P       Pass
CR    Credit
WD   Withdrawn
AUD  Audit
IP     In Progress

*NR an INC grades remain for one semester. At the end of that semester, any NR or INC grade will become an F with a value of 0.0.

Special Notes about the Grading System

• The +/- grading system and numerical values listed above were approved as the Institute Grading System effective as of Fall 1989 semester.
• A+ and D- are not accepted as part of the grading system.
• Since December 1956, the lowest passing grade for a student at the graduate level is C. Grades of C-, D+, or D are not acceptable and are recorded as F.