I: Incomplete – Makeup Work Required
The special grade of I is assigned when the student has performed at a satisfactory level and has made significant progress toward the completion of course objectives but is unable to complete all prescribed work by the end of the semester due to extenuating circumstances such as accident, illness, or comparable unavoidable developments. Under normal circumstances, the grade of I is not assigned to a student who fails to appear for the final examination.

To receive the grade of I, the student must confer with the instructor and request the I grade on or before the last class day of the semester. The student must provide the instructor with documentation of particular circumstances necessitating the I grade. If such circumstances are considered legitimate, the instructor provides the student with written instructions specifying the work to be completed and the completion deadline.

If the student completes the work according to the instructor’s requirements, a grade for that work is assigned and computed in the final course grade. If the course work is not completed during the subsequent semester, the I grade is changed to an F grade.

In no case may the work be completed later than the conclusion of the following semester. If the incomplete course is an essential prerequisite for a subsequent course, the student may be required to remove the I grade within a significantly shorter period of time. Otherwise, the subsequent course must be dropped.

An I grade received during the semester before the semester of graduation must be removed by the midterm of the semester in which the student intends to graduate.

IP: In Progress – Must Repeat Developmental Course
The special grade of IP is assigned only in some Developmental Studies courses (most courses with a number of 99 or lower) when the student has not mastered all course competencies. The student must re-register for the course before progressing to the next level of course work.

NS: Student Never Attended Course
A student who registers for a course but never attends the course before the 10 percent point in attendance is designated as a “no-show” (NS) in the course. A student who never attends a course receives the NS grade.

W: Withdrawal from Course
The special grade of W is assigned when a student officially withdraws or, in some specific circumstances, is dropped from a course by the instructor during the first 60 percent of the class meeting hours. After the 60 percent date, a letter grade other than W may be assigned for the course, depending on the circumstances under which the student left the course. (See more information about withdrawals and the last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of W.)

WP: Withdraw/Pass
The WP grade is available for a Developmental Education student who scores well enough to move to the next level course on the ASSET or COMPASS placement test. A student is eligible to request the WP grade after attending the course through the sixth week of the semester. To do so, the student must submit a copy of his or her test scores to the instructor prior to the first day of the subsequent semester. The WP grade is a "withdraw/pass" grade. It will not compute into the student's GPA, it will have no effect on a student's financial aid, and it is considered a passing grade for the course.

AU: Course Audit
The special grade of AU is assigned when a student enrolls in and regularly attends a course on a noncredit basis. Enrollment is subject to space availability and the program director’s prior approval. The audit student, like the credit student, is subject to Durham Tech’s attendance policy. The student may not change from credit-to-audit or audit-to-credit status after the first 10 calendar days of the semester. Students may not audit Developmental Education courses.

CE: Credit by Examination
The special grade of CE is awarded when a student has applied for and successfully completed the requirements for credit by examination. Qualified curriculum students with relevant prior training or experience may earn academic credit for certain courses by examination. A student interested in receiving such credit should contact the appropriate program director for information on the procedures for application. To receive credit by examination, the student must be enrolled in a curriculum program and be registered for the course for which application is made. The application must be approved within the first 7 calendar days of the semester, and the examination must be completed within the first 14 calendar days of the semester.

To receive credit by examination, the student must score at least 85 percent on the examination. In certain courses, the required passing score may be higher. The examination may be taken only once, and a student failing the examination must complete the course for credit. No more than 10 percent of the total credit hours required by the student’s plan of study may be earned by examination unless the chief instructional officer gives special approval to exceed this limit.

CEs do not transfer to any university. Typically credit by exam is used to document relevant prior training, work experience, or competencies.

Note:  A student graduating with a CE as part of the 64 University Transfer program hours or the 44 core hours is not covered by the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). In that program, students should avoid CEs.

The credit examination process is as follows:

• Enroll in the class for which you wish to take the credit by examination. Review the list and contact information for credit by examination courses.
• Obtain the application for credit by examination from the program director or course instructor.
• Student Information and Records (Wynn Center, room 1203) must verify:
  • Admission to a program;
  • Registration for the course; and
  • Exam does not exceed the ten percent limit of credits earned by examination.
• Return the completed application and receive approval from the program director within the first seven calendar days of the semester. Some programs require a pre-test to qualify for the credit by examination.
• The examination must be completed within the first 14 days of the semester.
• To receive credit by examination, the student must score at least 85% on the exam. In certain courses, the required passing score may be higher
• The examination may only be taken once.
• A student, who receives a passing grade on the credit by examination, will be given a grade of CE. The student, who passes the exam, should not drop the course. The student must remain on the roster to receive credit for the course.
• A student failing the exam must complete the course for credit.
• The program director submits the application and the student’s exam and results to the department dean and then to the Vice President of Student Learning, Development, and Support. Copies of all completed credit by exams are maintained in the office of the Vice President of Student Learning, Development, and Support.  

Change of Grade
All change of grade requests are to be submitted on change of grade forms for approval by the chief instructional officer. All change of grade requests other than those converting an I grade to a letter grade require written explanations of the reasons for the changes and must be requested within one calendar year after the original grade was assigned.

Grade Point Average
Academic progress at Durham Technical Community College is based on a 4.0, or letter grade of A, cumulative grade point average system. A final grade point average of 2.0, or a C, is required for graduation from all programs of study.

Grade points accumulated per semester are based on grades earned. The grade point average is determined by dividing grade points earned in courses by the number of semester credit hours attempted. No grade points are earned when a grade of I, IP, NS, W, AU, or CE is received or when grades are transferred to the college.

Only those courses taken in residence and prescribed by the student’s plan of study or officially approved substitute courses are included in calculating the grade point average required for graduation.

Course Repeat
A student may not enroll in the same course more than three times without departmental approval. Some Health Technologies programs have a limit of two enrollments.

A student who earns a grade of D or below on a required course may repeat the same course. In such an instance, only the higher grade will be used in calculating the grade point average for graduation. A student may take a different elective course instead of repeating the elective course in which a grade of D or below was earned; however, the credit hours and grade points for both courses will be included in calculating the grade point average for graduation.

No grade points are earned when a grade of F, I, IP, W, NS, AU, or CE is received or when credits are transferred to the college.

All grades remain on the student’s transcript.

Full-time curriculum students who earn a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 for the semester are named to the Dean’s List for that semester. Full-time curriculum students with a grade point average of 3.75 or above are named to the President’s List for the semester.

Full-time or part-time students completing their plan of study with a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are graduated with honors, while students maintaining a grade point average of 3.75 or above throughout their studies are graduated with high honors. Students who have earned a grade point average of 3.75 or above and who participate in commencement exercises are recognized individually at the ceremony.

In addition, academic achievement of students attending Durham Technical Community College is recognized through two honor societies. The Gamma Beta Phi Society is an honor and service organization for students in two-year and four-year colleges and universities in the United States. The Gamma Beta Phi Society was chartered at Durham Tech in 1990. Students nominated for membership must have completed 12 credit hours of college-level work; be enrolled in a program leading to a degree, certificate, or diploma; and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society was chartered at Durham Tech in 2011. Students nominated for the membership must be currently enrolled in an Associate Degree program, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and have completed 18 hours of college-level work. Phi Theta Kappa promote the four hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.