| requirements |
| withdrawing |
| independent study |
| academic advising |
| internships |
| PR Program |
| co-op program |
| grading philosophy |
| grievance procedures |
| ETHOS |
| UC forensics team |
| PRSSA |
| honors/scholarship |
GRADING PHILOSOPHY
Each faculty member in the Department of Communication sets his/her grading standards and is solely responsible for assigning grades to students in a course. Grading standards may vary according to courses and instructors. The Department of Communication does not require faculty to achieve a mandated grading curve or standard. The administration of the Department of Communication does review and maintain records of all grades awarded. This is to insure that grades in the Department of Communication are consistent with College and University norms.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EXCELLENCE
On January 12, 1994, in Departmental meeting, the Communication Faculty determined that: "At the end of each quarter (of the regular academic year)...each faculty member teaching a course or courses at the 300 level and above, shall note any (undergraduate) student whose work has been exceptionally outstanding during that quarter, and shall provide the name of that student and course to the undergraduate Honors Coordinator..."
Any student so named shall be cited for the quality of their achievement and shall be the recipient of a letter indicating the course or courses in which this exemplary accomplishment was noted by their Professor. The overall intent of the Faculty
of the Department of Communication is to say to outstanding students in a "formal" way:
"We observe, we appreciate, and we commend you!"
UNDERGRADUATE GRADES AND GRADE QUALITY POINTS
Beginning with Winter Quarter, 1998-1999, the undergraduate grading system has been revised to include the grades of A-, B+, B-, C+, C-, D+, and D-. In addition, the grade of UW has replaced the grade of Y; the grade of P has replaced the grade of S; the grade of I/F has been added; and the grade
of N has been discontinued.
September 1998 to Present
| Grade | QualityPoints | Description | Comments |
| A | 4.00 | Excellent | |
| A- | 3.67 | ||
| B+ | 3.33 | ||
| B | 3.00 | Good | |
| B- | 2.67 | ||
| C+ | 2.33 | ||
| C | 2.00 | Fair | |
| C- | 1.67 | ||
| D+ | 1.33 | ||
| D | 1.00 | Poor | |
| D- | 0.67 | ||
| F | 0.00 | Fail | |
| P(previously S) | None | Pass | The grade of "P" is used to indicate passing work in courses graded under the pass/fail system as well as for noncredit courses. |
| U | None | Unsatisfactory | The grade of "U" is used to indicate failure in noncredit courses. |
| T | None | Audit | The grade of "T" is used when a student has registered as an auditor rather than for credit. The faculty member and the student should agree on the conditions of the audit as the "T" grade may not be awarded automatically. |
| I | 0.00 | Incomplete | The grade of "I" is used when a course grade has not been finalized. The instructor has either contracted with the student for later completion or has been unable by the grade-reporting deadline to evaluate a passing student's performance. |
| I/F | 0.00 | Failure | The grade of "I/F" is automatically assigned to replace the grade of "I" after one year if no other change of grade has been submitted. |
| W | None | OfficialWithdrawal | The grade of "W" or "F" is used when the student has withdrawn officially. |
| UW(previouslyY) | 0.00 | UnofficialWithdrawal | The grade of "UW" is used when a student has ceased to attend a course, but has not withdrawn officially. (This grade may be given by either the faculty member or the Office of Student Records.) |
| IP | None | In Progress | The grade of "IP" is a temporary grade for use only in courses approved by designated college committees for work to be completed later. |
| (blank) | None | No GradeReported(See Instructor) | A blank on student grade reports and transcripts indicates that no grade was submitted. |
NOTE: "I" grades are nonpunitive and have no affect on the cumulative average for the duration of one quarter. After one quarter, "I" grades carry zero quality points. Between the Autumn Quarter, 1980, and the Summer Quarter, 1992, "I" grades were administratively changed to "F" grades after one year. Otherwise, "I" grades remained as "I" grades. Beginning Winter quarter, 1999, "I" grades remaining on a student's record at the end of one year after the term has ended will be changed to "I/F" grades.
Prior to Winter, 1999, the grade of "N" indicated that no grade was reported, or that the course material was not completed at the time of grading due to the nature of the course material.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) makes it illegal to post a student's grade(s) in any public place if doing so enables others to identify the student. Thus, instructors may not post grades using names, social security numbers (or parts of social security numbers), or any other device that allows the
student to be identified by others. Faculty may assign special identification numbers or names for purposes of grade posting. Questions should be referred to the faculty member's college office or the Office of Registration and Scheduling.
It is also impermissible, per FERPA, to distribute students' graded work in a manner that allows other students to learn the grades of anyone beside themselves.
RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
The Department of Communication is a community of diverse faculty, students, and staff. We are committed to a professional and academic environment free of discrimination. Any form of discrimination, including sexual harassment and racial insensitivity,
will not be tolerated. Questions or complaints about racial and
sexual discrimination should be directed in this order: To the Head of the Department of Communication; the Dean of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences; the Vice President of Human Resources & Relations.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
According to the
University of Cincinnati
Student Code of Conduct, the following actions constitute academic
dishonesty:
Cheating:
1. Using unauthorized material during an examination (any written or oral work submitted for evaluation mand/or grade), such as tape cassettes, notes, tests, calculators, or computer programs.
2. Obtaining assistance with or answers to examination questions from another person with or without that person's knowledge.
3. Furnishing answers to examination questions to another person.
4. Possessing, using, distributing, or selling unauthorized copies of an examination, or computer program.
5. Representing as one's own an examination taken by another person.
6. Taking an examination in place of another person.
7. Obtaining unauthorized access to the computer files of another person or agency, and/or altering or destroying those files.
Plagiarism:
1. Submitting another's published or unpublished work, in whole, in part, or in paraphrase, as one's own mwithout fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference.
2. Submitting as one's own, original work, material obtained from an individual or agency without reference to the person or agency as the source of the material.
3. Submitting as one's own, original work, material that has been produced through unacknowledged collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.
Aiding or Abetting Academic Dishonesty:
Knowingly helping, procuring, or encouraging another person to engage in academic dishonesty.