Academic Records

Grading System

Grades are determined by each instructor based upon an evaluation of all assigned and completed coursework. Course participation, mastery of subject matter, and promise of continuing success in sequential courses in related fields are all criteria used to evaluate progress.

• “A” represents outstanding understanding, application, and integration of subject material and extensive evidence of original thinking, skillful use of concepts, and ability to analyze and solve complex problems. Demonstrates diligent application of Learning Model principles, including initiative in serving other students.
• “B” represents considerable/significant understanding, application, and incorporation of the material that would prepare a student to be successful in next level courses, graduate school, or employment. The student participates in the Learning Model as applied in the course.
• “C” represents sufficient understanding of subject matter. The student demonstrates minimal initiative to be prepared for class. Sequenced courses could be attempted, but mastering new materials might prove challenging. The student participates only marginally in the Learning Model.
• “D” represents poor performance and initiative to learn, understand, and apply course materials. Retaking a course or remediation may be necessary to prepare for additional instruction in this subject matter.
• “E” represents failure in the course.
• “P” represents passing the course and is not calculated into the GPA.
• “W” represents withdrawal from the class and is not calculated into the GPA.
• “UW” represents an unofficial withdrawal which is given to a student who meets the following criteria: Did not complete proper withdrawal procedures; has record of non-attendance that began before the last date to withdraw from individual courses without grade earned; and did not complete any work, tests, or class related assignments after attendance ceased. The “UW” is calculated into the GPA as a failing grade value. (0.0)
• “I” is a conditional grade. (See “Incomplete Grades.”)
• “CR” indicates credit given.
• “NC” indicated no credit.
• “NR” represents the grade was not reported by the instructor. A student receiving a “NR” grade should contact the instructor to request that a valid grade be submitted to Enrollment Services.
• “V” indicates a course taken for audit.

Under some circumstances, students receiving financial aid may not be eligible to receive a grade of CR, NC, P, I, W, or V. Consult the Financial Aid Office for additional information relevant to specific situations.

CR/NC (Credit/No Credit). Credit/No Credit courses do not count towards graduation and are not calculated into the GPA. A mastery level of 80% is required to receive credit in the following courses:

ELAN 87 Listening/Speaking for Non-Native Speakers

MAT 90 Basic Mathematics

MAT 97A Introductory Algebra

MAT 97B Introductory Algebra

Credit Definitions

• Attempted: The total number of credits in which a student has registered in a semester or on a cumulative basis.
• Earned: The total number of credits completed with a progress grade in a semester or on a cumulative basis.
• Passed: The total number of credits earned that do not factor into a semester or cumulative GPA.
• Quality: The total number of credits earned that factor into a semester or cumulative GPA.
• Points: The total number of grade points earned in a semester or on a cumulative basis.

The following table indicates each grade variant at LDSBC with its equivalent grade points:

* Does not affect the GPA calculation, but may impact Satisfactory Academic progress.

** Does not affect the GPA calculation, does not impact Satisfactory Academic Progress, and does not appear on the official transcript.

Calculating GPA and SAP

GPA: quality points divided by quality credits

SAP: earned credits divided by attempted credits

NOTE: Student financial aid eligibility may be determined by a different GPA standard and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) percentage.

Grade Changes

After the final grade submission deadline, grades may be changed only for the following reasons:

• No grade was submitted by the deadline.
• A calculation error was made in computing the grade.
• The wrong grade was posted.
• An Incomplete grade contract was finalized.
• The previous grade was re-evaluated, but no additional work was submitted.

A grade change should not be submitted if a student completes any additional work beyond the end of the semester. If extenuating circumstances exist, an incomplete grade may be granted if requested before the grade submission deadline.

A submitted grade typically cannot be changed to a W (Official Withdrawal). Students who had a non-academic emergency may file a petition for withdrawal with Enrollment Services.

In addition to changing a student’s semester and cumulative GPAs, a grade change may also change a student’s total earned credits. A grade change may also positively or negatively impact a student’s academic standing.

Grade change requests may only be submitted by the instructor or an authorized designee via the College’s approved grade change process. Grade change requests older than one year are additionally reviewed by the Director of Academic & Institutional Assessment and typically are not approved.

Incomplete Grades

An incomplete grade (“I”) is a conditional grade only granted if all of the following circumstances are met:

1. Extenuating circumstances occurred (e.g., serious illness, pregnancy, personal injury, death in immediate family, etc.) that hindered class work, and occurred after the fourth week of a semester.
2. The student must have a passing grade at the time of petitioning for the incomplete grade. It is not a substitute for a failing grade. Therefore, an incomplete grade cannot be granted if a student is failing a class and wants additional time to submit make-up work in order to improve a grade.
3. The student must be able to complete the remaining work on an individual basis with the instructor. Re-enrollment or attendance in all or part of the same course during a subsequent semester cannot be required as part of the contract. The general length of time to fulfill the requirements of an incomplete contract is one additional semester.
4. Instructor approval is mandatory. Incomplete (‘I’) contracts are granted at the instructor’s discretion.
5. Students must take the contract to the Cashier’s Office, pay the $5.00 incomplete grade fee, and return the incomplete grade contract to the instructor. If the incomplete work has not been finished by the end of the semester after the ‘I’ was given, the ‘I’ will be changed by the Registrar’s Office to a letter grade. This will be the grade the student earned in the course prior to the signing of the Incomplete Grade Contract. Class attendance in a subsequent semester or re-registering is not permitted to make up the incomplete.

Repeatable Courses

Repeatable courses allow a class to be taken two or more times for additional credit. Most classes at LDSBC are not repeatable for credit. Repeatable courses are generally designated with an “R” at the end of the course code (ex: MUS 102R). Departments establish the maximum number of credits and times a course can be repeated. A repeated course does not replace the former grade or credit of a previously completed course, unless the maximum allowable repeats have been exceeded. In such cases the enrollments are treated as a retake. (See “Retake Courses” below.) Approval to enroll in a repeatable course for the purpose of replacing a previous credit and grade must be obtained from the Academic Exceptions Committee prior to registering for the course.

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat a course in which a low grade was received. Once the course has been discontinued, the right to repeat the course for a better grade is gone.

The student must register and pay tuition for the semester in which the class is repeated. The original grade remains on the record and is marked as a repeated course. The highest grade received in the course will then be used in calculating the student’s cumulative grade point average. Hours earned in repeat courses may be counted toward graduation requirements only once. If after repeating the course the student still has not achieved a required grade (i.e., a C grade or higher in the program classes), the student must obtain approval from the Program Chair/Course Supervisor to repeat the course. Different rules may apply for financial aid eligibility.

LDSBC courses cannot be replaced by equivalent courses from other institutions. Students should also be aware that this is a LDSBC policy and other institutions are not obligated to honor it.

Challenge Examination Policy

1. LDS Business College (LDSBC) recognizes and encourages students to use and build upon their education and learning that has been achieved through prior experiences. For example, students may have attended a school with limited transferability or who have through work or life experience have attained knowledge equivalent to what is being taught in a college course. As such, students may wish to take a Challenge Examination for that specific course.
2. Any credit granted shall be consistent with the following standard from Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities:
   1. The institution develops, publishes widely, and follows an effective and clearly stated transfer-of-credit policy that maintains the integrity of its programs while facilitating efficient mobility of students between institutions in completing their educational programs. (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Standards for Accreditation (Revised 2010), Standard 2.A.14)
   2. Credit and degrees, wherever offered and however delivered, are based on documented student achievement and awarded in a manner consistent with institutional policies that reflect generally accepted learning outcomes, norms, or equivalencies in higher education. (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Standards for Accreditation (Revised 2010), Standard 2.C.3)
   3. Credit for prior experiential learning, if granted, is: a) guided by approved policies and procedures; b) awarded only at the undergraduate level to enrolled students; c) limited to a maximum of 25% of the credits needed for a degree; d) awarded only for documented student achievement equivalent to expected learning achievement for courses within the institution’s regular curricular offerings; and e) granted only upon the recommendation of appropriately qualified teaching faculty. Credit granted for prior experiential learning is so identified on students’ transcripts and may not duplicate other credit awarded to the student in fulfillment of degree requirements. The institution makes no assurances regarding the number of credits to be awarded prior to the completion of the institution’s review process. (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Standards for Accreditation (Revised 2010), Standard 2.C.7)
   4. The final judgment in accepting transfer credit is the responsibility of the receiving institution. Transfer credit is accepted according to procedures which provide adequate safeguards to ensure high academic quality, relevance to the students’ programs, and integrity of the receiving institution’s degrees. In accepting transfer credit, the receiving institution ensures that the credit accepted is appropriate for its programs and comparable in nature, content, academic quality, and level to credit it offers. Where patterns of student enrollment between institutions are identified, the institution develops articulation agreements between the institutions. (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Standards for Accreditation (Revised 2010), Standard 2.C.8)
3. Process for Awarding Credit for a Challenge Examination:
   1. Examinations are prepared, approved, administered, and evaluated by the appropriate academic department in conjunction with the Director of Curriculum and Director of Assessment.
   2. Program Directors and Course Supervisors will provide the Registrar’s office with a list of courses for which challenge examinations are available on a yearly basis.
   3. Credit by challenge examination is not treated as part of the student's workload during a regular term and therefore does not require a petition for excess units.
   4. International students must have approval from the International Student Office.
   5. Students may not take the Challenge Exams if they have previously taken the course and received a grade of D- or higher. If you received an E or a W, you're eligible to take the challenge exam.
   6. A student may NOT complete a Challenge Exam in the same semester in which he/she is registered for the course (i.e., if a student registers for a course and then decides to do Challenge Exam, the course must be dropped.
   7. A grade of B or better on the Challenge Exam is considered passing.
   8. You will receive a P on your transcript if you pass. It will not affect your GPA. If you fail, it will not show on your transcript.
   9. Currently enrolled students pursuing an LDSBC credential may apply to take a Challenge Exam for credit through the Registrar’s Office on the 2nd floor.
   10. The Registrar’s Office will forward the Request for Challenge Exam form to the appropriate Program Director.
   11. The Program Director will work with faculty to administer and grade the Exam.
   12. The Program Director will review the recommendation for awarding education credit. If approved, the Program Director will forward the signed and approved Request for Challenge Exam form to the Registrar’s Office.
   13. The Registrar’s Office will notify the applicant of the Challenge Exam results and record the awarded credit on the LDSBC transcript.
   14. Challenge credits may not be accepted by other schools and may not transfer. The only way challenge credits may be accepted by other institutions is if a student receives their Associates Degree and transfers the entire degree. If you have questions about whether or not challenge credit will be accepted by another institution, please contact that school directly.
4. General Guidelines:
   1. Credit awarded for Challenge Exams shall be consistent with LDSBC’s educational mission and goals.
   2. LDSBC will only award credit for approved, non-developmental, lower division courses and programs that are offered by LDSBC and lie within the scope of its mission and role, as described in Church Education System Board of Education.
   3. Health Professions courses are not eligible for challenge examination credit.
   4. Credit for Challenge Exams shall be granted only for successful completion of an Exam which demonstrates competency in the expected outcomes of specific program courses.
   5. The amount of credit granted shall be consistent with standards articulated by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
   6. To ensure transcript integrity, student transcripts at LDSBC will identify the source of awarded credit.
   7. Credit awarded shall be ungraded course credit.
   8. LDSBC shall not award partial-course credit. Only full course credit will be awarded for the Exam. The Exam should demonstrate competency in the entire Course required Outcomes.
   9. Students must be currently enrolled at LDSBC and pursuing a LDSBC credential at the time that they seek credit for a Challenge Exam.
   10. Credit granted for a Challenge Exam is not eligible for financial aid or veterans’ education assistance, and such credits will not be counted toward full-time status for scholarship purposes.
   11. The Challenge Exam Request form for students and fees to be assessed will be published and kept current by the Registrar’s Office.
5. Appeal Procedures: A student who wishes to appeal the determination of credit to be awarded may appeal through the following process:
   1. The student will submit a written appeal request to the Dean of Instructional Support (DIS) with any and all additional supporting materials within 30 days of denial.
   2. After review of the written appeal and within 30 days of receiving the appeal, the DIS will schedule a meeting with the Academic Vice President, the Director of Assessment, the Program Director and the student. After reviewing the additional supporting materials and meeting with the student, the DIS will notify the Registrar’s Office and the student of their decision to award (or deny) credit for specific LDSBC courses in writing. The decision of this Appeal Committee is final.

Transcript Requests

Official academic transcript requests are made online at ldsbc.edu. Transcripts may not be ordered by phone, e-mail, paper or fax. Transcripts can be requested by both current and former LDSBC students by logging into their current or former student account. When requesting a transcript, students and former students may choose a certified electronic PDF transcript delivered within minutes of placing an order. Students and former students may also choose a paper copy to be sent by US Postal mail or overnight delivery for a fee. Transcripts may be sent immediately, at a later date, or after grades are posted at the end of each semester. Official transcripts will not be released until all LDSBC debts have been paid in full. For more information, visit www.ldsbc.edu.