Grading & Grade Appeals
Anchor Christian University (ACU) establishes clear standards for evaluating academic performance, calculating grade point averages (GPA), and determining academic standing. Course-specific expectations, including attendance and engagement, are communicated within each course in the learning management system (LMS). Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to both institutional and course-level policies.
Grading Scale
ACU uses the following standard grading scale:
A: 95–100
A-: 92–94
B+: 89–91
B: 86–88
B-: 84–85
C+: 81–83
C: 78–80
C-: 76–77
D+: 73–75
D: 70–72
D-: 68–69
F: Below 68
Letter grades reflect the level of mastery of course learning outcomes. Graduate programs may require higher minimum grades for course credit and progression.
GPA Calculation
Grades are assigned quality points on a 4.0 scale (A = 4.0 to F = 0.0).
Term GPA reflects performance within a single term.
Cumulative GPA reflects all GPA-bearing ACU coursework.
Transfer credits and non-letter grades (e.g., W, I, P/NP, AU) do not impact GPA.
Academic Record Notations
The following notations may appear on transcripts:
I (Incomplete): Temporary grade for approved, documented circumstances; must be resolved within the designated timeframe or converts to a final grade.
W (Withdrawal): Course withdrawal after the add/drop period; does not affect GPA.
P/NP (Pass/No Pass): Used only in designated courses.
TR (Transfer Credit): Accepted credit; not calculated in GPA.
AU (Audit): Course taken without credit.
Course Repeats
Students may repeat courses as permitted by program policy. All attempts remain on the transcript, and grades from all attempts are included in GPA calculations unless otherwise specified. Credit is awarded only once for repeated courses.
Incomplete grades
An incomplete grade is assigned when the instructor notifies the Registrar’s Office that the instructor and student have agreed to a completion plan. The plan’s completion deadline must be no more than four weeks after the end of the course session. If the student does not complete the work by the agreed deadline, the earned grade will be entered based on completed coursework and the course’s grading scheme.
Grade Changes and Appeals
Final grades may be changed to correct an error, resolve an approved incomplete, or implement a decision reached through the grade-appeal procedure.
A student may appeal a grade on an assignment or a final course grade when the student believes:
the grade contains a calculation or recording error; or
the instructor did not apply the grading criteria published in the syllabus or assignment rubric as written, or applied them differently than to other students.
An instructor's professional judgment of the quality of a student's work, when the published criteria were applied consistently, is not grounds for appeal.
This procedure does not cover:
grades or sanctions resulting from an academic integrity or conduct finding, which are appealed under Student Discipline & Appeals, Appeals section;
requests to correct other inaccurate records, which follow Student Privacy and Records, Requesting Amendment of Records; or
other concerns that the University is not following its policies, which follow Complaints and Grievances, Steps to Resolve Complaints.
Steps and Deadlines
Instructor review. A student must submit an assignment-grade appeal within 10 business days after the assignment grade is posted. A final course-grade appeal must be submitted within 30 calendar days after the final grade is posted in Populi. The student writes to the instructor through Canvas or email, identifying the grade, the alleged error or misapplication of published criteria, and the requested correction. The instructor responds in writing within 10 business days.
Chief Academic Officer. If the student is dissatisfied with the instructor’s response, the student may appeal to the Chief Academic Officer within 10 business days after receiving it. If the instructor does not respond within the required period, the student may appeal within 10 business days after that response period ends. The Chief Academic Officer reviews the relevant materials and issues a written decision within 15 business days. If the Chief Academic Officer is the course instructor, the President conducts this review.
Final decision. The decision at step 2 is final. Grade appeals do not go to the Board of Trustees.
If a grade is changed, the instructor or Chief Academic Officer submits the change to the Registrar, who updates the student's record in Populi.
A student who believes the University did not follow this procedure may raise that concern under Complaints and Grievances, Steps to Resolve Complaints.