Most certificate programs are designed as a series of sequential courses. However, some are nonsequential. Grading guidelines vary slightly by sequence type.
For Sequential Courses
Because courses are arranged sequentially and are normally offered only once each year, students are required to successfully complete all courses in the previous term before they advance to the next term. Students must successfully complete all courses in the program to receive a certificate of completion.
There are three possible grades
Successful Completion (SC)
Students are required to successfully complete all courses in a term to continue in subsequent terms in the program and receive the certificate of completion.
Unsuccessful Completion (USC)
A grade of unsuccessful completion disqualifies a student from a certificate program and from receiving a certificate of completion. A student receiving a USC must discontinue participation in subsequent courses of the program.
Incomplete I
A grade of incomplete will be issued for the following special circumstances: the student requesting an incomplete has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work until within two weeks (14 days) of the end of the course, and the student has furnished satisfactory proof to the instructor that the required work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student's control.
To continue in the program during the current certificate cycle, the student has the sole responsibility for converting the incomplete to a successful completion within three weeks (21 days) of the last session of the uncompleted course. Once the student has completed the required course work to earn a successful completion, the instructor should immediately notify UW Professional & Continuing Education in writing. A student may then resume the program with the next course in the sequence.
For Nonsequential Courses
All sequential grading and completion guidelines apply to nonsequential courses with the following exceptions:
Students are not required to successfully complete all courses in the previous term before they advance to the next term. Students must successfully complete all courses in the program to receive a certificate of completion.
An incomplete does not prohibit a student's enrollment in subsequent courses of the certificate program. However, to receive a certificate of completion in the program during the current certificate cycle, the student must convert the incomplete to a successful completion within three weeks (21 days) of the last session of the uncompleted course. Once the student has completed the required course work to earn a successful completion, the instructor must immediately notify UW Professional & Continuing Education in writing.
Questions about grading procedures should be directed to 206-685-8936.