Enrollment Management Electronic Newsletter

Reminders from the Calendar: Final Grading

Thanks to all of you for your good work this semester. As final exams approach, a few reminders:

1) For those of you who are using RAIL to submit grades electronically (most of you, by the way!), it is not necessary to print and turn in the electronic rosters that we will send via secure email. We send those rosters out as a reminder, and as a convenience for those few who still need paper rosters.

2) All grades must be submitted via RAIL or turned in to our office no later than 9 a.m. on Monday, May 14.

Remember that for our students, eligibility for May graduation, participation in the May commencement ceremony, graduate school, employment, scholarships, and continued enrollment, all depend on a timely and complete grading process. Our office cannot begin its work on grading and certification until ALL grades have been submitted. Your late or incomplete roster might be the one that holds up the entire works--please don't put the institution (or your students) in that situation.

3) Remember the following grading hints:

--On RAIL, take note that the rosters for sections of more than 25 students may appear on multiple pages--don't forget to grade the 2nd page!

--Do not overwrite a final grade of AU or W already in the roster. Similarly, do not enter an AU or W in the roster, since those grades are appropriate only with approved Audit or Withdrawal forms.

--Do not leave any grades blank.

"But this student never attended, or stopped attending. How can I assign a grade?!" Read on...

--A grade of IF (Failure due to irregular withdrawal) is appropriate for those students who have stopped attending or never attended, but who remain on the roster and have not formally withdrawn. Note that this grade is distinct both from an academic F as well as from the grade of Incomplete. It provides critical information to the student, to the advisor, and to those in academic and administrative offices who work with the student record. If you assign an IF, please also enter the last date attended. IF grades at midterm do not automatically become IF grades at final grading (a student might have reformed!), so please enter the appropriate final grade as well.

--A grade of Incomplete (I) is reserved for those students who have been making adequate progress in the course, and have arranged with you to complete specific requirements due to sudden circumstances. Please help us track these students by submitting an Incomplete Grade form as soon as you can. The student who arranges for an Incomplete in a course has until the end of the next regular semester to complete the work; the final grade will be due when final grades are due for that next regular semester. Extensions of Incomplete grades must be approved by petition to the Admissions and Credits Committee.

On a related note:

4) All Incomplete grades from Fall 2006 must be finalized, and final grades turned in to our office no later than 9 a.m. on Monday, May 14. Any Incomplete grades left unresolved will revert to a final grade of I/F. Remember that students must petition to the Admissions and Credits committee to have an Incomplete from Fall 2006 (or earlier) extended beyond this date. Email reminders for these outstanding Incompletes were sent to faculty and students at mid-term.

For instructions on using RAIL for web grading: http://www.shepherd.edu/REGISTER/Grading_Brochure.doc (this is a tri-fold brochure on two pages). If you have any difficulties whatsoever, please do contact my office, and we will be happy to assist.

Best wishes from our office as this busy part of the semester begins.

http://www.shepherd.edu/register/