Grade Computation
Letter grades have been defined as follows by student and faculty members of the Curriculum Steering Committee and have been approved by the faculty as an aid in evaluation of academic performance and to assist students by giving them an understanding of the grading standards of the School of Library and Information Science.

• A (4.0) Outstanding achievement. Student performance demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations.
• A- (3.7) Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner.
• B+ (3.3) Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above- average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks as defined in the course syllabus.
• B (3.0) Good work. Student performance meets designated course expectations, demonstrates understanding of the course materials, and performs at an acceptable level.
• B- (2.7) Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials.
• C+ (2.3), C (2.0) Unsatisfactory work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials.
• C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), D- (0.7)  Unacceptable work. Course work performed at this level will not count toward the M.L.S. or M.I.S. degree; for the course to count toward the degree, the student must repeat the course with a passing grade.
• F (0.0) Failing. Student may continue in program only with permission of the dean.

Grades are assigned by individual instructors based on a combination of student performance measures developed for each course. Student achievement of course objectives is usually assessed through the use of multiple performance measures. For example, a combination of several of the following assessment methods is common: examinations, class participation, written assignments and exercises, research papers, or term projects. Other methods, depending on course content and objectives, may include in- class small-group exercises, oral presentations, field-based projects and field experiences,  or case study presentations.

No course in which a student receives a grade of lower than C (2.0) will be counted toward requirements for any SLIS degree. Effective Fall 2010, any required course in which a grade lower than B- is received must be repeated; an elective course in which an unacceptable grade is earned need not be repeated, but it may be repeated or another course must be taken in its place. Repeating a course in which an unacceptable grade was earned or taking another in its place does not remove the credit points for that course from the student’s grade point average. All grades achieved in SLIS courses will be counted in the SLIS and IU GPA. Since a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) is required for graduation, any grade below B must be balanced by another sufficiently above B to keep the GPA at the 3.0 level.

Grade of Incomplete
The grade of Incomplete (I) may be used on the final grade report at the discretion of the instructor. The grade I indicates that the student’s work in a course is satisfactory thus far but has not been completed as of the end of the semester.

The grade of Incomplete may be given only when the completed portion of a student’s work in a course is of passing quality, and may be awarded only upon showing hardship to the student that would make it unjust to hold the student to the original time limit for course completion. It is the responsibility of the student who has incurred a grade of Incomplete in any course to fulfill the requirements of that course within a maximum of one calendar year from the date on which the I grade is recorded. After one calendar year, a grade of Incomplete automatically changes to a grade of F on the student’s record.

Deferred Grade (R)
Certain doctoral-level courses, such as S799 and G901, in which candidates enroll while working on their dissertations, are expected to take longer than one year. In these instances, an R, indicating that the grade has been deferred, will be assigned until such time as the dissertation is completed.