Advising and Grades

Advising
Grade Computation
Grade of Incomplete
Deferred Grade (R)
Probation Policy

Advising

Upon admission each student is assigned a faculty advisor whose name is given in the admission letter. Students should meet with their faculty advisors to discuss academic course planning and professional goals. Advisor signatures are also required for va rious approval forms. Students should carefully plan their course selections, noting appropriate prerequisites and required sequences. The SLIS Web site offers projected long-range course schedules. In addition to the assigned initial faculty advisor, stu dents may consult with any member of the faculty for professional and career guidance.

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Grade Computation

Instructors in the School of Library and Information Science use a grading system that includes plus and minus grades as well as straight letters. Numerical equivalents for these grades are as follows: A+ or A = 4.0; A- = 3.7; B+ = 3.3; B = 3.0; B- = 2.7; C+ = 2.3; C = 2.0; C- = 1.7; D+ = 1.3; D = 1.0; D- = 0.7; F = 0.0.

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) Unsatisfactory work. Student
  
• C (2.0) performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials.
  
• C- (1.7) Unacceptable work. Course work
  
• D+ (1.3) performed at this level will not
  
• D (1.0) count toward the M.L.S. or M.I.S.
  
• D- (0.7) 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 objec tives 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. Any required course in which a grade lower than C 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 stu dent'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.

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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 lim it 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 o ne calendar year, a grade of Incomplete automatically changes to a grade of F on the student's record.

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Deferred Grade (R)

Certain doctoral-level courses, such as L799 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 unti l such time as the dissertation is completed.

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Probation Policy

In addition to the probationary admission described earlier, a SLIS student may be placed on probation at any point in the program when failure to achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 occurs. The student will be assigned a time fr ame in which the required 3.0 GPA must be restored. Failure to achieve 3.0 within the required time or to maintain the 3.0 GPA for the remainder of the degree program will result in dismissal from the graduate program. In no case is a master's degree awar ded for course work in which a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 has been achieved. Students will not be permitted to continue graduate course work beyond the number of credit hours required for the degree solely in an attempt to raise the GPA to the requir ed level. Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA each semester.

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