2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty Senate approves GPA lifeline
Derek Simons
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
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Any student can have a bad semester, but now there is a chance for undergraduates to revive a sagging Grade Point Average (GPA) by retaking a course.
It has always been possible to repeat a course, but, under the new policy approved 21-2 by the Faculty Senate on Aug. 28, undergraduates who have received a grade of "D+" or lower can have the original grade eliminated from their GPAs.
The original grade will, however, remain on a student's transcript, prefixed by an "R" with a footnote explaining the policy.
The policy is effective immediately, but only for courses initiated this semester, and not as part of incomplete courses from previous semesters.
"This policy brings UMKC into line with the other University of Missouri campuses, as well as surrounding institutions in the Midwest," said Professor Joan Dean, chair of the Academic Issues Committee (AIC), which was responsible for drawing up the policy.
The grade substitution is not automatic. A student needs to submit a "Request for GPA Adjustment" form to the Registrar's Office. Both the original and the repeated courses must be taken at UMKC, and students can replace up to a maximum of 15 credit hours.
Senator Tom Stein, Conservatory, said he voted against the policy because he thought the number of credit hours was "too lenient."
"I think the idea of [the policy] is good," he said. "I just had a problem with the extent of it."
AIC member Professor Marilyn Yoder, Biological Sciences, presenting the document to the senate, said it included some amendments to the original proposal based on senate suggestions from its first presentation in spring 2007.
The policy is not applicable to grades involving academic dishonesty and will have no retroactive effect on deans' lists, honors, financial aid and other areas.
Theoretically, a student could repeat the same course up to five times if every attempt until the final one resulted in a "D+" or lower, according to Yoder. This would, however, use up the entire allotment of 15 credit hours.
It has always been possible to repeat a course, but, under the new policy approved 21-2 by the Faculty Senate on Aug. 28, undergraduates who have received a grade of "D+" or lower can have the original grade eliminated from their GPAs.
The original grade will, however, remain on a student's transcript, prefixed by an "R" with a footnote explaining the policy.
The policy is effective immediately, but only for courses initiated this semester, and not as part of incomplete courses from previous semesters.
"This policy brings UMKC into line with the other University of Missouri campuses, as well as surrounding institutions in the Midwest," said Professor Joan Dean, chair of the Academic Issues Committee (AIC), which was responsible for drawing up the policy.
The grade substitution is not automatic. A student needs to submit a "Request for GPA Adjustment" form to the Registrar's Office. Both the original and the repeated courses must be taken at UMKC, and students can replace up to a maximum of 15 credit hours.
Senator Tom Stein, Conservatory, said he voted against the policy because he thought the number of credit hours was "too lenient."
"I think the idea of [the policy] is good," he said. "I just had a problem with the extent of it."
AIC member Professor Marilyn Yoder, Biological Sciences, presenting the document to the senate, said it included some amendments to the original proposal based on senate suggestions from its first presentation in spring 2007.
The policy is not applicable to grades involving academic dishonesty and will have no retroactive effect on deans' lists, honors, financial aid and other areas.
Theoretically, a student could repeat the same course up to five times if every attempt until the final one resulted in a "D+" or lower, according to Yoder. This would, however, use up the entire allotment of 15 credit hours.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Vincent Davis
posted 9/10/07 @ 10:02 PM EST
Septmeber 10, 2007
I think this is a very good idea, I just wish it was retro-active. I have met a number of students in math classes that didn't pass previous math courses as a pre-requisite for those they were attempting when I met them and then failed the course we sat together. (Continued…)
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