Academic Warning and Probation | Dean's List | Grades
Academic Warning and Probation
In each quarter of registration, students must complete on time 75 percent of the courses for which they register (i.e., at least three courses) with a minimum GPA of 1.75. (This means that students with part-time status must complete on time all of the courses for which they register with the minimum GPA). A student who fails to meet this requirement is placed on academic warning for the following quarter. An academic warning is an informal sanction without a notation on the transcript. Students on academic warning are expected to complete 75 percent of the courses in the next quarter of registration with a minimum GPA of 1.75; courses must be completed on time. At the end of that quarter, students either will be returned to good standing or they will be placed on academic probation and an official sanction will be noted on the transcript. At the end of the following quarter, students are either taken off probation or asked to leave the College for a period of time, usually at least one year.
If a student has been taken off probation and—in the subsequent quarter—fails to meet the minimum course completion rate and GPA threshold to remain in good standing, the Dean of Students may decide to place the student directly back on academic probation.
Special rules apply to first-year students. First-year students who complete either no courses or only one course in any quarter are placed directly on probation.
NOTE: Students on financial aid who fail to meet completion rate and GPA requirements and/or fail to complete nine courses each year may jeopardize their financial aid packages.
For the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in varsity sports, all students eligible to register are considered to be in good standing.
Dean's List
Full-time, degree-seeking students whose grade point averages are 3.25 or above for an academic year (in which they have completed a minimum of nine courses with at least seven quality grades) are placed on the Dean's List for that year and their official transcripts are marked accordingly. Students are only considered for Dean’s List once all of their grades for the academic year have been recorded. A determination is made each year on the basis of grades available in the registrar's office on July l. The GPA is not recomputed for Summer Quarter grades. For course work that does not contribute to the GPA, see note below under "Grades."
Grades
The following grades are awarded in undergraduate courses:
| Letter Grade | GPA Weight | Passing | Confer Credit | Quality Grade |
| A | 4.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A- | 3.7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| B+ | 3.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| B | 3.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| B- | 2.7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| C+ | 2.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| C | 2.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| C- | 1.7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| D+ | 1.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| D | 1.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| F | 0.0 | No | No | Yes |
| P | See Below | Yes | Yes | No |
| I | See Note Below | |||
| Q | See Note Below | |||
| W | See Note Below | |||
The grades A through F are known as quality grades and carry a specific weight in calculating official grade point averages (GPA). These averages are regularly calculated to determine Dean's List, academic probation, and general honors. They may influence awards like Phi Beta Kappa and departmental honors. Note that College students who take a course at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business may receive an A+ grade according to the Chicago Booth grade system, but will receive 4.0 grade points in the College grade system for that Chicago Booth course. For College students, other Chicago Booth grades convert to grade points according to the College scale above.
Students who wish to receive a passing grade rather than a quality grade have one option open to them: Pass/Fail (P/F). Students considering P/F grading should consult with their College adviser early in the quarter because this option is subject to conditions and restrictions. Whether a course with a grade of P can be counted toward a student's degree depends on how it is to be used in the student's program. All general education courses must be taken for quality grades and most courses satisfying requirements in the major must be taken for quality grades. However, some majors permit a limited number of P marks. For P/F grading, the student and instructor reach an informal agreement, at the discretion of the instructor and according to departmental policy, before the instructor submits a grade for the course; no action is required by the student's adviser.
The P grade indicates that the student has submitted sufficient evidence to receive a passing grade. As some departments give credit only for a grade of C- or higher, students should establish with the instructor what constitutes passing work. A mark of P may not later be changed to a quality grade, and a quality grade may not be changed to a P. Although the P confers course credit, it is not calculated in the GPA. Students who do not pass a P/F course receive an F which counts as a zero in the calculation of the GPA.
The I (Incomplete) grade is intended for a student who has not completed the requirements of a course before the end of the quarter but who has (1) made satisfactory arrangements with the instructor to complete the remaining work, (2) completed the majority of the requirements of the course with work that is of a passing quality, and (3) participated actively in the course. The student is also responsible for completing and submitting an official Incomplete Form, which must be obtained from the student's College adviser. The student must submit the request for an Incomplete to the instructor before the end of the course. Approval to complete work late is at the discretion of the instructor and/or according to departmental policy. Incompletes must be finished within a period of time agreed upon between student and instructor. In the absence of a specified due date, the work must be completed within one year. When the work is completed, the grade for the course is entered on the transcript following the I, which remains on the academic record. If the course work has not been completed within the specified time period and an extension has not been granted, the student will receive a W unless a grade is indicated on the Incomplete Form.
The Q grade stands for "Query." It is entered on the student's grade report by the registrar when the instructor has failed to submit a final grade for a student or has entered an I for the student without also submitting an Incomplete Form. Students with a Q on their grade reports should consult the instructor immediately about the reason for the Q. Students must have the Q replaced with a grade or with an official Incomplete Form before Friday of the fourth week of the succeeding quarter, or the Q will be converted to a W.
A grade submitted by an instructor to replace a Q will be entered on the academic record following an I unless the instructor states that the student's work was completed on time. The Q should not be interpreted as an informal Incomplete or as a way to avoid an I on the transcript. Rather, students are strongly urged to protect themselves against misunderstandings and missed deadlines by arranging for an official Incomplete if one proves necessary.
The W (or WF or WP) grade means that the student has decided after the third week of the quarter not to complete the work of the course. Students who wish to exercise this option must request a W before the date of the final examination or the due date of the final paper. A request for a withdrawal made before the deadline cannot be denied except in cases of academic dishonesty. The instructor and/or the department have the option to issue a W, a WF, or a WP. No credit is conferred for any of these marks. A W may not subsequently be changed to any other mark.
Students who register for graduate-level courses are subject to the policies governing graduate grading. Students should discuss the implications of these policies with their advisers before registering for courses numbered 30000 and above. NOTE: Grades earned in graduate-level courses contribute to a student's GPA as indicated earlier in this section.
NOTE: Only grades for University of Chicago courses are calculated into a student's GPA. Grades from advanced standing (transfer courses) do not contribute to the GPA. Grades from off-campus study abroad or domestic programs do not contribute to the GPA unless the courses are listed on the transcript with University of Chicago course numbers.