Credit/No Credit Program
The grade designation “credit/no credit” may be assigned
by faculty members in courses such as student teaching,
laboratories, independent studies, electives, and one-hour courses
in physical education and music. The opportunity to take elective
courses on a credit/no credit (CR/NC) basis offers students the
opportunity to develop background in new areas of study without
threatening cumulative GPAs.
The following guidelines govern involvement in the program:
1. A student of any classification may choose to earn credit/
no credit or a letter grade in one semester hour, non-major
physical education courses. This choice may be made at
the end of the semester.
2. To earn credit, a student must maintain an average of “C” or
better in the course.
3. A student must be at least a junior in classification (have
earned at least 61 semester hours) to take an elective
course on a credit/no credit basis. An elective is a course
that will not count toward the student’s general education,
major, minor, or cognate requirements.
4. A student may take just one elective course per term under
the credit/no credit designation.
5. The total number of courses (other than one-hour physical
education courses) that may be taken under the credit/no
credit designation is determined by the student’s cumulative
GPA:
2.0–2.49 one course
2.5–2.99 two courses
3.0–3.49 four courses
3.5 and above six courses
6. A student taking an elective course who wishes to change
from the credit/no credit designation to the regular grading
designation must do so before the end of the fourth week of
the semester.
7. A student who wishes to change an elective course to the
credit/no credit designation must do so before the end of
the first full calendar week of the semester.
Grade Points and Point Averages
Cedarville University uses the “four-point system” to determine
academic averages. Grade points are awarded as follows:
Grade
Grade Points
A
4.0
A-
3.7
B+
3.3
B
3.0
B-
2.7
C+
2.3
C
2.0
C-
1.7
D+
1.3
D
1.0
D-
0.7
F
0.0
The GPA is computed by dividing the total grade points earned
by the total hours attempted. Grades are issued at the end of each
semester. The student is responsible for discussing their academic
achievement with their instructor.
Academic Progress, Warning, and Suspension
To satisfy the minimum graduation requirements, a student
must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0. The minimum cumulative GPA
needed to maintain good academic standing is also 2.0.
The University recognizes that some students may have
difficulty earning and/or maintaining the minimum cumulative GPA
required for good standing and for graduation. To assist them,
the following academic progress chart outlines the minimum
cumulative GPAs needed according to the credit hours earned.
Academic Progress Chart
Credits Minimum Cumulative Minimum Cumulative
Attempted GPA for Academic
GPA for Academic
Probation
Warning
0–18.99
1.00
1.45
19–36.99
1.25
1.60
37–64.99
1.50
1.75
65–96.99
1.75
1.90
97–112.99
1.90
_
113–128.99
1.95
_
Some academic programs have stricter academic progress
requirements than those listed above. Students should check
academic department sections of the catalog for the specific
grade point requirements of their majors.
Students who are not in good academic standing will be notified
by the dean of their college or the dean of undergraduate studies.
First-semester freshmen who do not meet the 1.0 average will
usually not be academically suspended in order to provide some
additional time for them to make the adjustment to college life.
Any student who does not meet the minimum cumulative GPA
required for academic probation will be suspended for at least one
semester. Any student on academic probation for two successive
semesters who is not making satisfactory academic progress is
subject to academic suspension. Any student whose term GPA
is not above 1.0 for two successive semesters and who is not
making satisfactory academic progress is subject to suspension.
The school dean or dean of undergraduate studies may make
exceptions to the academic progress guidelines when appropriate.
A student receiving veterans benefits who is on academic
probation for two successive semesters without making
satisfactory progress will be reported to the Veterans
Administration. The veterans benefits for such a student will be
terminated unless the student is making progress toward meeting
the minimum academic requirements for graduation.
Faculty members and other counselors are available to discuss
student progress. The student experiencing academic difficulty
should utilize these personnel, as well as resources available in
the academic assistance center, to help find solutions to academic
problems.
Students on academic warning or probation may be required
to take a special study skills course as a condition for continuing
at the University. Academic warning may preclude involvement in
certain University activities. Students facing academic warning or
probation should consult with the coaches, advisors, or directors
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2014–15 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Academic Information
Grading System
