The definitions of grades and the grade point system at Brite Divinity School are as follows:

A+ 4.00

A 4.00 Excellent

A- 3.70

B+ 3.30

B 3.00 Good

B- 2.70

C+ 2.30

C 2.00 Marginal

C- 1.70

D+ 1.30

D 1.00 Poor

D- 0.70

F 0.00 Failure

I Incomplete

P Pass

NC No credit

Q Dropped with Dean’s permission

AU Audit

Brite students may not elect the Pass/No Credit grading option. Certain courses may be designated by Brite faculty and administration as Pass/No Credit. These include PRTH 65013 Supervised Ministry I, PRTH 65023 Supervised Ministry II, SPIR 70023/80023 Spiritual Resources and Disciplines, and PTPC 75053 Clinical Pastoral Education. Pass/No Credit courses are disregarded in the calculation of the student’s GPA.

The Registrar’s Office requires faculty to report grades on-line using the internet (MY.TCU.EDU). Final grades for the fall and spring semesters are reported no later than 72 hours after the end of the semester; the office also places final grade reports on my.tcu.edu. In reporting grades directly to students, faculty members are to keep grade information confidential. If graded material is left for students to pick up in the absence of the instructor, it must be placed in sealed envelopes or returned by some other method that preserves confidentiality. Normally, faculty should always complete all grade evaluations before this time period expires. The “I” should never be reported when students have finished all required work.

The Registrar’s Office also provides online report forms for faculty to record mid-semester unsatisfactory progress for any student. Directions accompany the form. The faculty member will also want to inform the student of such unsatisfactory progress.

The grade of “I” (Incomplete) may be granted by faculty members and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs only in cases of truly exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the student that prevent the completion of course work by the end of the semester. A student may request the grade of “I” from the course instructor by obtaining a form from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The student will complete the form listing reasons for the “I” grade request, secure the approval signature of the instructor and submit the approved form to the Office of the Associate Dean for his/her signature. The official time limit for completing work for the course, and thereby changing the “I” to a final grade, is within sixty calendar days of the completion of the course (last day of final exams). This means that the work must be submitted to the course instructor well in advance of this date to allow for course evaluation and processing of the grade change. To remove an “I” from a student’s transcript, the instructor must access the Faculty Center and post the replacement grade. The system will forward the grade change to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for online approval. Upon that approval, the grade will automatically be changed on the student’s transcript. Failure to remove the “I” within 60 days of the completion of the course (last day of final exams) will result in a grade of “F” to be recorded on the student’s transcript. Any extension of the official time limit (the “official time limit” refers to the date by which the student is to have submitted the course work) must also be for truly exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the student and is by student request to the instructor combined with the completion of a form provided by the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. No extension shall be granted beyond the end of the semester in which the grade is to be removed. Further, the “I” is never to be used in the event a student simply does not complete expected work on time (without prior arrangement due to the conditions described in point 2 of the Incomplete form). At the end of a semester, missed work should be given no credit. There can be no extension of time granted the student to complete missed work.

Faculty members are expected to provide information at the start of each semester on how the final grade will be determined. Questions about an assigned grade should be directed to the instructor of the class. Should a question arise, it is usually best to make an appointment for an office visit.

If a student feels that concerns have not been addressed, can speak with the Dean about the matter..

Grade Appeals Procedure

Students who wish to appeal a grade or the result of a critical component of a degree requirement (e.g., qualifying exam, oral exam, juried exhibition, thesis, dissertation etc.) must adhere to the following procedures. In the event a student questions the appropriateness of a grade or component of a degree requirement the student must first discuss the matter with the faculty member(s). These discussions between the faculty member and the student should occur as early as possible after the grade is assigned or result given. In the event that the faculty member(s) agree(s) to a change, the normal process for changing a grade or reporting a result shall be followed. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the faculty after these discussions, the student must follow the formal grade appeal process outlined below. This appeal process must start within thirty calendar days following the conclusion of the term in which the grade or result was given. Normally, appeals may be made based upon a decision of a faculty member that varies with the syllabus descriptions, or a weight attached to a particular assignment that is different than that described in the syllabus, or a mistake in calculation as described in the syllabus. Grade appeals outside these categories must provide a preponderance of evidence that unprofessional behavior or prejudice on the part of the faculty member(s) has affected the grade or result assigned by a faculty member.

1. Appeal to the Dean

If a student has discussed an assigned grade or result with the faculty member(s) as outlined above and is not satisfied with the outcome, the student may appeal the faculty member’s decision in writing to the Dean (see exceptions in next paragraph). Exceptions to deadlines set forth herein for students in unusual circumstances (for example, studying abroad) may be granted in writing by the Dean. The Dean will become familiar with the facts of the case by communicating with the student and the faculty member(s). The parties have the right to meet with the Dean without the other party present. The faculty member will respond in writing to the Dean concerning the student’s appeal. The Associate Dean may either accept or deny the student’s appeal. The Dean will normally notify the student and faculty member(s) of the decision in writing within ten academic days. In the event the Dean accepts the student’s appeal, the Dean will instruct the Associate Dean to initiate the change of grade or result.

If the Dean is involved in the appeal as the faculty member, the President will assume the Dean’s role in the appeal process.

3. Appeal to the President

The Dean’s decision on the matter may be appealed in writing by the student or faculty member(s) to the President within ten academic days of the Dean’s decision. The President will normally notify the student, faculty member, the Associate Dean, and the Dean of the decision in writing within ten academic days. In the event the President upholds the student’s appeal, the change of grade or result shall be initiated by the Associate Dean. The decision of the President is final.

Each fall and spring semester, M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A.T.M. students who achieve a grade point average of 3.80 or above in a given semester on a minimum of nine completed (graded) credit hours are honored by being named to the Dean's List. Students with one or more grades designated "Incomplete" are ineligible for the Dean's List that semester.

Dean's List can be viewed at https://brite.edu/deanslist.

Brite Divinity School’s probation and academic dismissal policy is composed of the following policies:

1. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.50, or if a student receives a grade of “F” in any three- or four-credit hour course, the student will be placed on academic probation.
2. All students on academic probation are limited to an enrollment of nine hours per semester.
3. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters, or if a student receives a grade of “F” in any three- or four-credit hour course for two consecutive semesters, the student will receive notice of academic dismissal from Brite Divinity School.
4. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.50, or if a student receives a grade of “F” in any three- or four-credit hour course three times while in program (non-consecutive semesters), the student will receive notice of academic dismissal from Brite Divinity School.
5. Normally, if a student receives a grade of “F” in any two courses that meet core or distributive requirements in any masters program, the student will receive notice of academic dismissal from Brite Divinity School.
6. Students who enter a Brite degree program on probation must complete nine graded semester hours work with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above before they will be removed from probationary status.
7. Students on academic probation are not usually allowed to register for courses taught by adjunct faculty (whether during a regular semester or during the summer).
8. Students on academic probation are not usually allowed to register for Independent Study Courses.
9. If a student completes at least two summer modules of work (six semester hours or more), the summer’s work will count, for academic probation purposes, as the equivalent to a fall or spring semester of work at Brite Divinity School (the Summer Semester includes work taken during the May module).
10. Students who are admitted to Brite Divinity School on academic probation may be denied tuition grants. Students placed on academic probation after completing at least one semester’s work are normally subject to an immediate reduction in student aid to no more than 50% tuition.
11. Normally, if students who enter on probation do not achieve a 2.50 GPA their first semester, they will not be allowed to continue in program.

Students may be withdrawn from individual courses for lack of academic progress on the recommendation of the faculty member and the approval of the Dean. Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion may also be denied tuition grants or have current tuition grants reduced. Students may be dismissed from the Divinity School at such times as it is clearly demonstrated that the student is not interested in, or making, acceptable academic progress.