Grading System

The School of Allied Health Professions employs a letter grading system (A, B, C, D, F, I, P, S, and U). The grades of A, B, and C indicate satisfactory undergraduate work, with A being the highest grade given. D indicates work that is passing, but below the minimum quality expected. Grades of A and B indicate satisfactory graduate work.

• An F grade indicates failure in a course.
• The I grade is recorded for a student whose work is satisfactory but, for reasons beyond the student’s control, is incomplete at the time grades for the course are reported.
• The P grade indicates a Pass.
• The S grade indicates satisfactory performance.
• The U grade indicates unsatisfactory performance

All students will be notified of their academic standing at the end of each academic semester by the Office of the Registrar. The grade point average is derived by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of hours attempted.

An A has the value of 4 quality points, B=3 quality points, C=2 quality points, D=1 quality point, and F=no quality points. Thus, a 2.0 ratio is equivalent to a C average.

An I grade will be converted to F unless it is removed during the next regular semester in which the student is in residence in the LSU System prior to the deadline for adding courses for credit as noted in the “Calendar.”

Students who withdraw will receive a grade of W in any course in which they withdraw within a term.

Examinations

Examinations may be written, oral, practical, or a combination of all three types. A student may be excluded from any examination for excessive absence, regardless of the cause, at the discretion of the Department head. A student may also be excluded for failure to pay fees. The Department head has the option to re-examine any student at any time or administer any additional test or tests other than those regularly scheduled with the object of arriving at a more accurate evaluation of the student’s academic performance.

Grading and Evaluation of Performance

In determining the final grade to be assigned for a student at the end of a course, all important attributes of each student’s performance in the course are considered. This includes not only cognitive attributes, but also non-cognitive attributes such as deportment, interpersonal relationships, attitude toward course work, and other factors, which, in the opinion of the faculty, are important to the student’s future role as an allied health professional.

Student Grade Appeals

Appeals of final grades must be initiated by the student within ten days of the end of the semester in which the grade was given. In cases where an assigned grade would result in dismissal from the school the student must initiate the appeal process in a time frame sufficient to resolve the matter prior to the beginning of the next semester. The following procedure is to be followed.

The student should meet with the faculty member concerned to discuss the situation and attempt to arrive at a solution. Although each may have an advisor present, under most circumstances the meeting will be more productive if only the student and the faculty member are present. If an administrative officer (department head, dean, or vice chancellor for academic affairs) is the faculty member who assigned the grade which is appealed, that person should be excused from the appellate process; that place in the procedure will be taken by a faculty member appointed ad hoc by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or the Chancellor, as appropriate. If the decision reached requires change in an official LSU System record, the faculty member must comply with all University System regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change.

If the matter is not resolved between the student and the faculty member, and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, the student shall make a written request to the head of the department in which the course was taught asking for a meeting with the department head and faculty member. The written request should clearly state the purpose of the meeting and should indicate the faculty member’s name; however, it should not go into detail as to the justification for the appeal. The department head shall arrange a meeting within two weeks from the date of receipt of the request. At this meeting, both the student and the faculty member may be accompanied by an advisor. At the close of the meeting, or within seven days thereafter, the department head shall make a decision. If a decision is made at the close of the meeting, it is to be given orally to all present. If the matter is taken under advisement, the department head shall inform all parties of the decision in writing. If the decision reached requires change in an official record, the faculty member must comply with all regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change.

If the student is not satisfied with the decision reached, the student may appeal to the Dean of the School. The student’s appeal must be in writing and must contain the following information: 1) An explanation of the complaint; 2) the relief requested; 3) and a specific statement of the reasons supporting the relief sought. Upon receipt of the request, the Dean will forward copies to the department head and faculty member concerned, who must promptly reply with an individual written statement supporting their previous actions. When the department head’s and faculty member’s replies have been received, the Dean may take one of the following actions.

1. Decide the question on the basis of the written appeal and the faculty member’s and department head’s written replies.
2. Meet with all parties concerned, who may be accompanied by advisors if desired, and, after discussion, reach a decision.
3. Refer the appeal to a hearing panel for its recommendation.

The following procedure will be followed if the Dean refers the matter to a hearing panel. Hearing panels to consider grade appeals will be appointed by the Dean or his/her designee and shall be composed of three faculty members selected by the Dean, or his/her designee with at least one faculty member being from a department other than the one in which the appeal has been initiated. Two students will be appointed by the student government president of the School. The Dean or his/her designee shall appoint a chairperson for the panel. The panel will conduct a hearing to elicit facts from the concerned parties. After deliberation, the panel will make its recommendation in writing to the Dean. Copies of the recommendation and the Dean’s final decision must be given to all parties. Regardless of the method used, the Dean must make a decision thirty days from the date of receipt of the student’s appeal. The decision must be written, listing the reasons supporting the decision; copies must be given to all parties. If the decision requires change in an official record, the faculty member must comply with all regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change.

If any party to the appeal seeks resolution of the matter through any agency outside the Health Sciences Center, whether administrative or judicial, the Health Sciences Center shall have no obligation to continue the appeal process, subject to constraints of law. If any party to the appeal believes that a serious procedural error occurred or that there was an abuse of discretionary authority in reaching the decision, that person may file with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs a written petition for review. This petition, which must be filed within seven days after receipt of the decision in Step 3, must contain a complete statement of the alleged serious procedural error, or examples of abuses of iscretionary authority complained of, and also must contain reasons for the relief sought. The petition must be accompanied by all documents produced in the appeal. Copies should be sent to all parties to the appeal and to the Dean.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall decide within two weeks after receipt of the petition whether further action should be taken. In reaching this decision, this official may ask other parties to the appeal to make written reply to the request for a review or these parties, on their own, may make a written reply. If the decision is reached that a review is not justified, the student and all other parties will be so notified. If the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs decides to respond favorably to the petition for review, this official will hold a formal meeting with all parties and their advisors, if desired, and reach a decision based on discussions at this meeting, as well as on all written materials furnished.

Once a decision is reached, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will notify all parties, plus the Dean, of the decision. The decision of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall conclude the matter, subject to the right of the Chancellor to review the case. The Chancellor will consider the case only on the basis of a petition for review following the procedure outlined above. The appeals process described above is for final course grades only; students who wish to appeal grades received for examinations, quizzes, laboratories, or clinical-practicum experiences, must resolve their appeals within their own departments. The instructor of record will have the final authority for assignment of grades in all departmental courses and activities.