Academic Transcripts
WWU transcripts include only Western courses. For coursework from other universities, you must order transcripts from that institution.

The Grading System is as follows:

Grade averages are calculated using the grade point values below:

Grades of P, NP, W, S, U and K are not included in gpa calculations. Students are advised that excessive use of the “Pass/No pass” grading system or consistent patterns of incomplete (K) grades may negatively influence admission to some graduate schools or some employment opportunities. Careful attention must be given to program planning and registration.

Credit is given in courses graded A through D-. However, the grade of D represents poor work which is not acceptable in the major, minor, supporting courses for majors and minors, English composition, professional education and educational psychology courses required for a degree or certificate nor for Fifth Year courses.

Grades of S and U are used in certain courses which have been deemed to be inappropriate for other grading systems. In such instances, all sections of the course will be graded S/U. Refer to the course description in the WWU General Catalog.

The Incomplete (K) Grade
The grade of K (incomplete) may be assigned under all grading systems. It may be assigned only upon request of the student and agreement of the course instructor. Normally it is given only to a student who has been in attendance and has been doing passing work until the final two weeks of the quarter when extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control make it impossible to complete course requirements on schedule. (Extenuating circumstances do not include mere lateness in completing work, the desire of a student to do extra work to raise a poor grade, et cetera.)

To receive a K grade, a student must obtain a contract form from
the appropriate department and negotiate a formal agreement with the course instructor specifying the work done and the remaining work to complete the course and earn a grade. One copy is kept by the student and one by the faculty member.

Normally, the student completes the work agreed upon during the next quarter and a final grade is submitted by the instructor. After one year, however, if a final grade has not been submitted, the K automatically reverts to a failing grade (Z), and the student may establish credit only by registering again for the course. (Grades of K earned in thesis courses numbered 690 do not lapse to failure.) Once a final grade has been submitted, the student’s record will show the K grade as well as the final grade. In no case will a final grade replacing a K affect the student’s academic standing in the quarter in which the final grade is assigned.

Removing a K grade (and replacing it with a final grade) will not affect the student’s grade point average for the quarter in which the K was assigned, nor will it affect the quarterly grade average in the quarter in which the final grade is recorded. However, it will affect the cumulative grade point average as soon as the final grade is recorded.

A student who receives an incomplete in a required course the final quarter before graduating must complete the course within two weeks of the end of that quarter in order to graduate at that time. If the course is not completed after two weeks, the prospective graduate is subject to resubmitting the degree application, payment of another degree application fee, and registration in another course to satisfy the final-quarter-in-residence rule.

Grade of W (withdrawal) may result only from student initiative and may not be assigned by an instructor.

Grade of Z may be assigned, in lieu of F, for failure due to nonattendance. It affects the grade point average in the same manner as an F.

Pass/No Pass Grading is available on an optional basis to students in elective courses only. The deadline for changing to or from Pass/No pass grading is the end of the fourth week of instruction. You must go in person to the Registrar's Office prior to the deadline to request a change to or from Pass/No Pass.
Regulations pertaining to pass/no pass courses are as follows:

1. Courses required for the major, minor or supporting courses, undergraduate professional requirements, and General University Requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.
2. The student at the time of registration must designate the courses for which he/she wishes to receive a pass/no pass grade. He or she may change this designation by the regular change of registration procedure through the fourth week of instruction.
3. Prerequisites, work required, and credit allowed are not affected by election of the pass/no pass option.
4. In computing grade averages, neither the P nor NP grade in the pass/no pass courses will be counted.
5. Courses applying to a major (including supporting courses) or minor normally must be taken on the standard grade system. Should a student change his/her major or minor, the academic departments involved will be the sole judges of the acceptability of any pass/no pass courses already completed in the newly chosen concentrations.

• It is discovered that the grade resulted from clerical error in transcription or recording. Requests for change to correct these errors may be made only by the course instructor and only during the quarter immediately following original issuance of the grade.
• The Registrar may be instructed to change a grade as a result of the academic grievance procedure.
• The Registrar may be instructed to change a grade if it is determined that the grade resulted from academic dishonesty.

The Fresh Start application deadline is the end of the first week of the quarter in which the student returns. The application may be obtained in the registrar's office. Undergraduate students who have been dropped for low scholarship, even if absent for five years or more, must pursue reinstatement. Students who have earned degrees are not eligible.

Undergraduates who might be considering applying for a master's degree at WWU should contact the Graduate Office for information about the implications of having been given a Fresh Start.

• Credit will be awarded only once, the final time, for a repeated course.
• All grades earned will be considered in calculation of the student's grade average.
• Students wishing to repeat a class in which they already received a P, S, C-, or better grade may not register for the class until Phase III of registration, except in the case of students needing to retake English composition or a public speaking course for admission to teacher education to achieve a grade of B- or better. The repeat registration for English composition or public speaking course prior to Phase III requires the written permission of the chair of the respective department.

Students who registers to repeat a course must file a Course Repeat Card with the Registrar's Office. Unless this card is filed, the repeat may not be detected until the senior evaluation, at which time cumulative credits will be reduced.

Master's degree students are not permitted to repeat courses.

Student Records Policy/Notification of Rights
The WWU Student Records Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students the following rights with respect to their education records. For a complete copy of the Student Records Policy see Appendix D in the WWU General Catalog.

1. The right to review and copy education records. Requests by a student for access to an education record should be made to the head of the unit holding the record.
2. Students have the right to challenge the content of, release of, or denial of access to their education records.
3. Only directory information (name, local telephone number, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received) may be released to third parties, unless written permission is given by the student. Students may request that directory information remain confidential. FERPA has defined certain exceptions to this which are detailed in the Student Records Policy.
4. Students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by WWU to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Following is the name and address of the office which administers FERPA:
   

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   US Department of Education
   600 Independence Avenue SW
   Washington, DC 20202-4605