The credit hour or semester hour, terms used interchangeably, is the unit of instruction. One credit hour is constituted by a minimum of one hour of classroom or direct instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for a semester (or its equivalent). An equivalent amount of work (minimum three hours per week for a semester or its equivalent of combined direct instruction and out-of-class student work) must be represented for a credit hour in other academic activities such as laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work. A semester is defined as not less than 15 weeks. Courses offered in shorter timeframes must have an equivalent number of hours dedicated to instruction and student work as that spent in a semester-based class.
A student's time status is calculated by totaling all course credit hours registered within a single term (i.e. Summer, Fall, or Spring), including all full-term and modular courses with shorter duration.
| Time Status | Credits Per Semester |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 12 or more credits |
| Three-Quarter Time | 9 or more and less than 12 credits |
| Half-Time | 6 or more and less than 9 credits |
| Less Than Half-Time | More than 0 and less than 6 credits |
A student's classification is based on the student's cumulative earned credit hours.
Regular class attendance is expected of all students, although the specific attendance policy in each course is determined by the instructor. Information on the attendance policy of each college and school is available in the deans’ offices or college/school Web site.
Students are required to validate their enrollment by attending the first class meeting for each course on their schedule. Failure to attend the first class or to make prior arrangements with the professor may result in the student being dropped from that course.
The minimum requirement for the bachelor's degree is a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.00 for all work attempted at Drake University.
Grade points are earned on the following basis:
| Grade | Point Value |
| A+ | 4.00 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 1.00 |
| F | 0.00 |
| WU | 0.00 |
Other marks not included in grade point calculation:
| Grade | Description |
| CR | Credit given under Credit/No Credit provision |
| NC | No credit under Credit/No Credit provision |
| W | Official withdrawal from course |
| XX | Repeated course |
| I | Incomplete |
| IP | Course in progress |
| AU | Audit |
| NR | No grade recorded |
Transfer college work earns credit only and is not included in computing the Drake University cumulative G.P.A.
Grades for coursework completed as part of an associate's degree through Bright College will be included in GPA calculations for students who elect to move from Bright College into a Drake University bachelor's degree program.
The G.P.A. is determined by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of credit hours attempted. Grades of "F" are computed in the G.P.A., but no credit toward graduation is earned. G.P.A. calculations are rounded to the nearest hundredth.
The mark “I” (Incomplete) indicates a student has not submitted all evidence required for a final grade. The student must make satisfactory arrangements with the instructor to complete the work by the end of the next semester of enrollment (excluding enrollment in summer terms or the January term). The instructor writes out the conditions that must be met to remove the incomplete. As a component of these conditions, the instructor may demand an accelerated deadline (the midterm of the following semester) or may provide an extended deadline if special circumstances warrant (a semester abroad, student teaching, etc.). The instructor will indicate online the final grade for the course in the event the work is not completed. A copy of conditions that must be met to complete the course is also given to the student. Marks of incomplete are changed to a final grade either by the instructor (upon completion of the work) or by the Office of the Registrar (upon attaining the specified due date). Marks of incomplete are not computed in the G.P.A.
The mark of “IP” (In Progress) may be given in certain courses where special conditions make the grade of Incomplete unrepresentative of the status of the students at the close of the semester. The grade of “IP” is appropriate only when the coursework could not be finished during the semester for the entire class (e.g., internships, practicums or courses that do not fit the standard academic calendar; fieldwork or research presentations that may take place after a semester has ended; theses or dissertations; or other special situations where coursework extends beyond one semester). A grade of "IP” must be changed to a final grade by the instructor by the end of the next semester (excluding the summer or January term). The instructor must indicate to the appropriate dean’s office in what courses students will be assigned an “IP.”
A student may not graduate/earn a degree from Drake University with an "I" (Incomplete) or an "IP" (In Progress) notation on his/her transcript.
The mark of “AU” (Audit) is recorded in place of a letter grade in courses when the instructor and dean have consented to such enrollment. Students who audit classes are not required to take part in discussions or complete examinations. If the attendance requirements are not completed to the satisfaction of the instructor, a permanent record of the enrollment is not retained. Courses taken for audit are charged the same fees as courses completed for academic credit.
Students intending to enroll in a course on an audit basis must indicate this intention at the time of registration. Students wishing to change from a credit to an audit basis during the semester must have the approval of the instructor, the adviser, and the dean, and must do so no later than the midpoint of the semester or, in the case of a short course, no later than the midpoint of that course.
After achieving sophomore standing, a student pursuing a bachelor's degree may elect to register for a maximum of 12 credit hours of work (of the total 120 credit hours required for the degree) on a credit/no credit basis. Neither the “credit” nor the “no credit” grades are included in the student’s cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.).
The student may elect to take any course in the University as credit/no credit which is open to students who meet the usual standards for admission to the course except a course that satisfies basic requirements, or a primary or related course applying to the major. Not more than seven credit hours may be taken in a semester on this basis. A student receives credit for a course in which the student earns the equivalent of the grade of "C-" or better.
The student must have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 before registering for a course on a credit/no credit basis. A senior with at least a 2.00 cumulative G.P.A. is eligible to take a maximum of two courses in a semester on a credit/no credit basis, provided the adviser has approved the arrangement.
Although the University requires that a student indicate at the time of registration that a specific course is being taken on a credit/no credit basis, some exceptions are made allowing students to change from credit/no credit grading to regular letter grading — or from regular letter grading to credit/no credit grading — until the midpoint of the semester, or, in the case of a short course, no later than one week following the midpoint of that course.
Students should be aware that most law schools and many graduate schools re-compute a student’s G.P.A. in such a way as to count courses graded “no credit” as “F” grades.
Visiting students from other institutions may elect to register for undergraduate courses on a credit/no credit basis.
A student may repeat a course. Only the highest grade and credit hours are used in computing the student’s cumulative G.P.A. Lower grades removed from the computation by a student repeating a course appear on the permanent record marked by a designated symbol. Students cannot remove unsatisfactory grades received at Drake by repeating those courses at other institutions and transferring the credit to Drake.
Students should be aware that most law schools and many graduate schools recompute a student’s G.P.A. in such a way as to count all grades received and not just the highest grade earned for a course.
The appeal for a change in final grade is handled through the college, school or unit in which the course in question is offered.
Students must initiate a grade appeal within 10 business days following the final grade submission due date published by the Registrar. The appeal is initiated by first seeking a resolution with the instructor. Exception: For courses in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the final grade appeal must be initiated 3 business days following the final grade submission due date published by the Registrar, or in the event that the final grade submission occurs prior to course completion, the timeline will begin with official College notification to the student.
Students may appeal a final grade for one or more of the following reasons:
If the student believes that the grade received is based upon discrimination, harassment, or related retaliation, as defined and prohibited by Drake policy, the student should initiate the complaint process set forth in the related policy: Non-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy (Non-Sex-Based), or Sexual Harassment Policy.
Students must provide sufficient evidence to support how their appeal meets one or more of the grounds for appeal, and the inability to provide this evidence may result in dismissal of the appeal. To be clear, students may not appeal the final grade on the grounds that they disagree with the professional judgment of the instructor as to the quality of the students’ performance or work or whether they met course standards.
It is expected that most, if not all, appeals will be resolved between the student and their instructor. If an agreement is not reached between the instructor and the student, the appeal may be escalated based on each college, school or unit’s appeal process and time frame. If unsure about which college, school or unit offers the course please contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@drake.edu). If an agreement between the parties involved occurs at any step of the appeals process, the appeal has concluded and the grade may not be appealed again.
To learn more about the appeals process please refer to the college/school/unit that offers the course from the links included:
A&S: https://www.drake.edu/artsci/studentresources/policiesandregulations/#appeals
John Dee Bright: https://catalog.drake.edu/undergraduate/johndeebrightcollege/regs/
Zimpleman: https://www.drake.edu/zimpleman/about/policies/
CPHS: https://www.drake.edu/cphs/handbookspolicies/appealoffinallettergrade/
SJMC: https://www.drake.edu/sjmc/about/currentstudents/conflict/
SOE: https://www.drake.edu/media/collegesschools/soe/documents/grievance_policy.pdf
Library: https://purpose.library.drake.edu/files/2021/11/LibraryCurricular_Policies_Procedures2021.pdf#page=8
IN college courses (INTD, HONR, FYS): https://www.drake.edu/media/departmentsoffices/academicsdivision/facultysuccess/INTD.pdf
Suggested Hearing Guidelines: These are suggested guidelines that may be refined in each instance, if the college/school desires, in consultation with the legal counsel of the University.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty: Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:
End-of-term grade reports are not withheld from students because of financial indebtedness. However, “holds” are placed on the release of permanent records (transcripts). Transcripts will not be released by the Office of the Registrar until satisfactory arrangements have been made by the student with the office that has placed the hold on the record. A student is promptly notified by the Office of the Registrar if there is any reason why that office cannot comply with the request to release his/her transcript. The student should resolve this matter by contacting the appropriate office(s).
Modifications of the required curricula may be made only on the recommendation of the student’s adviser and the dean of the college or school. Reasons for such modification include: (a) transferring from another college or university; (b) bypassing of basic courses by scoring satisfactorily on special examinations.
Credit is given only for courses in which the student has been regularly enrolled or for courses in which the student has scored satisfactorily on special examinations. A student who receives a satisfactory score on a special examination receives credit for the course but does not receive a letter grade.
Entering first-year students who choose to enroll in courses the summer proceeding their first full-term of enrollment are eligible to take a maximum of 6 credit hours during the summer term. Students interested in a course(s) that has a lab component may request an exception to enroll in a maximum of 8 credit hours.
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.