Certificate Student Handbook

• Overview
• Registration
• Credit Certificate Policies
• Noncredit Certificate Policies
• Certificate Completion
• Refunds & Withdrawals
• International Student Eligibility

Online Student Handbook

• Overview
• Getting Started
• Registration
• Fees & Finances
• Materials
• Assignments
• Examinations
• Grades & Transcripts
• Incompletes & Withdrawals
• Netiquette

Course Guide

• Overview
• Credit Course Fees
• Credit Course Policies
• Credit Course Registration & Enrollment
• Credit Course Grading
• Credit Course Refunds & Withdrawals
• Credit Course Important Dates
• Noncredit Course Policies
• Noncredit Refund & Withdrawal Policies

General Information

• Fees, Aid & Payment
• Student Services
• UWPCE Policies
• Getting Around
• Important Forms

• How is my course graded?

  There are different grading systems for credit and noncredit courses. A credit course is one in which you earn college credits from the University of Washington that appear on your transcript. In a noncredit course, you earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

  Following are explanations of grading for credit and noncredit systems. If you are unsure as to which system your course follows, please contact the Online Learning Support Staff.

  Credit Courses

  The University of Washington uses a numerical grading system for credit courses. Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments and also may report the grade 0.0.

  Numerical grades may be considered equivalent to the letter and percent grades in the table below.

  Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)
  With appropriate departmental review and approval, a credit course may be offered on a credit/no credit basis by the department. This grading method is determined by the department offering the course and is not a student option. The standard for granting credit in a credit/no credit course is the demonstration of competence in the course to the instructor's satisfaction. Only grades of "CR" or "NC" are assigned to these courses.

  Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory (S/NS)
  All UW Online Learning students have the option of taking credit courses on a satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS) basis. University of Washington policy states that a course that is taken S/NS may not be used to satisfy any department, college or university requirement, except that the credits may apply to the minimum of 180 credits required for graduation. Thus, only general electives may be taken S/NS.

  For undergraduate students who have chosen the S/NS option, grades of 2.0 or higher are converted to S while grades lower than 2.0 are converted to NS. For graduate students who have chosen the S/NS option, grades of 2.7 or higher are converted to S; grades lower than 2.7 are converted to NS.

  If you wish to select this option, inform the Online Learning Support Staff when you register or before you submit the second assignment. Use the Grade Option Request Form to request this option (the form is a PDF file; downloading it requires Adobe Reader).

  Auditing (No Grade, No Credit)
  UW Online Learning students have the option of auditing any credit course. If you do not want college credit for the course, select this option when you register. Fees for audit registration are the same as for credit registration. A course your have audited does not appear on your official UW transcript.

  If you wish to select the audit option, submit the Grade Option Request Form before you submit the second assignment (the form is a PDF file; downloading it requires Adobe Reader). You may complete any of the assignments you choose (excluding exams), and you will have access to feedback from the instructor.

  Noncredit Courses (SC/USC)

  Numerical grades are not assigned in noncredit courses. Instead, grading is on a successful completion/ unsuccessful completion basis (SC/USC). A SC/USC grade is not computed in the UW grade point average.

  • Successful Completion. Students who demonstrate competence to the instructor's satisfaction are awarded a grade of SC for the course, and earn the appropriate number of CEUs.
  • Unsuccessful Completion. Students who do not demonstrate competence are awarded a grade of USC and do not earn CEUs.
• Grading Table

  A 4.0-3.9	B- 2.8-2.5	D+1.4-1.2
  A- 3.8-3.5	C+2.4-2.2	D 1.1-0.9
  B+ 3.4-3.2	C 2.1-1.9	D- 0.8-0.7 *
  B 3.1-2.9	C- 1.8-1.5	E 0.0 **

   
  * Lowest passing grade for undergraduates

  ** Failure or unofficial withdrawal. No credit.

• What is a CEU?

  Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are earned by students who successfully complete noncredit courses offering CEUs. As a nationally recognized means to document participation in organized noncredit continuing education, the CEU provides a vehicle for employers, professional groups and licensing agencies to account for the successful completion of noncredit courses. The number of CEUs earned by successfully completing a course, if any, is indicated at the end of the course description. The number of CEUs earned by the student who successfully completes a noncredit course providing CEUs is recorded on the UW Educational Outreach Official Record. Students may request an Official Record by sending a written request to the Online Learning Support Staff . Students who fail to attend noncredit courses providing CEUs must officially withdraw to avoid receiving a notation of unsuccessful completion on their Official Record.
  

• How do I change my course grading option from numeric to satisfactory/not satisfactory?
  To change your course grading option to satisfactory/not satisfactory (credit/no credit is not a grade option), submit the Grade Option Request Form before you submit your second assignment (the form is a PDF file; downloading it requires Adobe Reader).
• Does my instructor have to submit my final grade before my course end date?

  No. If you've taken the final, or submitted the final assignment before the expiration date, then you don't have to be concerned about having your final grade recorded before your course expiration date. The Online Learning Support Staff contacts your instructor if a final grade has not been received within two to three weeks after mailing your final exam to the instructor for grading.
  

• How and when will I receive my final grade?
  For credit, group-start courses and credit individual-start courses with the DL prefix, your final grade will be available via MyUW a week after the end of the your course (final grades are not mailed for these courses). For all other courses, the Online Learning Support Staff will notify you by letter of your final course grade after you have completed and submitted all the assignments (including exams) for your course. This letter is not an official record. You should allow at least three weeks between the completion of the final assignment or exam and the recording of the grade on an official University of Washington transcript. Although we will make every effort to minimize this time period, we cannot guarantee the recording of a grade by a specific date.
   
• I need to finish my course by a certain date in order to graduate, receive a pay raise, apply for a job, etc.

  If you need to finish a class by a certain date, we recommend that you inform your instructor when you submit your first assignment. Your instructor will make every effort to work with you to meet your deadline. Please note the following:

  • There is a minimum two month completion time for online learning courses.
  • Instructors have 10-14 days to return assignments submitted by mail, and 5-7 days for assignments submitted by fax or email.
  • There may be delays around holidays, during summer break and the last two weeks of the quarter.
  • For credit courses, you should allow at least three weeks between the completion of the final assignment or exam and the recording of your grade on an official UW transcript.
• How do I obtain a transcript?

  For Credit Courses: Contact the UW Transcript Office at 206-543-5759 or see the Transcripts section of the UW Student Guide to request a transcript.

  For Noncredit Courses: Noncredit courses are recorded on a University of Washington Educational Outreach Official Record, which can be obtained by contacting the Online Learning Support Staff.
  

• How does my course appear on my transcript?

  Credit Courses
  Your grade for a credit course will appear as a numerical grade, credit/no credit (CR/NC) or satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS).

  Noncredit Courses
  The grade for your noncredit course will be recorded as successful completion/ unsuccessful completion basis (SC/USC), along with the number of CEUs you have earned if you have successfully completed the course. A SC/USC grade is not computed in the UW grade point average

  Audited Courses
  An audited courses will not appear on your UW transcript.