Grading System
The following descriptions guide the faculty in evaluating student work and assigning grades at Northeastern Seminary:
A | = | 95—100% Unusually high quality, exceptional graduate work; represents not only industry, thoroughness, and correctness of detail, but also originality, natural ability, and no small degree of insight |
A- | = | 91—94% Far above average, fine graduate work |
B+ | = | 88—90% Above average for graduate work |
B | = | 85—87% Very good, average for graduate work; indicates that a student has intellectually fulfilled the requirements of a course, assimilating the subject matter with thoroughness and correctness (yet without distinctive ability and insight) |
B- | = | 81—84% Slightly below average for graduate work |
C+ | = | 78—80% Meets minimal requirements, but with noticeable inadequacies for graduate work |
C | = | 75—77% Meets minimal requirements, but with significant gaps for graduate work; represents work that may be mechanically or outwardly correct but which shows little reflection upon or assimilation of the material, or that is uneven, irregular, or fragmentary |
C- | = | 71—74% Meets minimal requirements, but with serious gaps |
D+ | = | 68—70% Minimal work |
D | = | 65—67% Barely acceptable for graduate work; indicates work that is far inferior to the average both in quantity and in quality; represents either low potentiality or the lack of initiative and sense of responsibility |
D- | = | 61—64% Inadequate work |
F | = | 60% or lower Failure |
I | = | Temporary grade indicating that not all requirements for the course have been completed; all incomplete work must be completed per policy in current NES Catalog |
N | = | Indicates no credit and no quality points. It is assigned to allow extension of time for Independent Study and Directed Study courses or for research projects extending beyond one semester |
W | = | Indicates a student has withdrawn from the course. This grade has no effect on the grade point average. |
(AU) | = | Audit |
[ ] | Grades in brackets indicate course that was repeated. |
Grade Changes
A student must file an appeal for a grade within two months from the date of the end of the semester in which the disputed grade was given. To appeal a grade, a student must follow the Graduate Student Grievance Policy outlined in this Catalog.
Criteria for Grading Individual Papers
Three items are considered in the evaluation of the grade, two of them dealing with content and one dealing with writing style. When evaluating the content of papers, the professor considers (1) the degree to which students demonstrate an understanding, with fullness of detail and with accuracy of the materials read and discussed in class and (2) the precision and creativity students have shown in reacting to and applying these materials to the contemporary situation. The professor also considers (3) writing style. Consideration is given to such things as grammar, spelling, word choice, clarity of writing, organization, logic, and other such items. Students will want to consult A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Eighth Edition), by Kate L. Turabian and, if they have never purchased a simple book on writing, The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White. Students should also make regular use of Inclusive Language Handbook by Donald Thorsen and Vickie Becker.
Incomplete Grades
Students who are unable to complete their work for any Seminary course must submit a "Request for an Incomplete Grade" form to the professor no later than the second to last class session. Incompletes are only granted when work is delayed by serious illness or other sufficient reason, and it is the prerogative of the professor whether or not to grant an incomplete.
When an incomplete is granted, the student must submit all incomplete work within 14 days of the last class session. If incomplete work is not submitted within 14 days, the incomplete grade will be converted to an earned grade, including a possible “F” grade if that is what was earned, in which case the student will need to repeat the course. (For additional information, see “Repeating Courses” section of this catalog.)
Special Note Regarding Incomplete Core Grades
In very rare cases, an additional grace period may be granted by consultation with the dean and course instructor. However, due to the intense workload of the NES Core courses, students will in no case be permitted to enroll in the next fall or spring semester’s courses while still attempting to complete a Core course. A student who exceeds the 14-day grace period for completing a course and is asked to withdraw due to incomplete coursework should work with his or her professor on a completion strategy prior to returning to active status.