XII. GRADING, RANKS, HONORS

1. Grading Policy
   
   The following Grading Policy is promulgated by the faculty of the School of Law and is subject to amendment by vote of the faculty. Effective with the Fall 2007 semester, the faculty amended the Grading Policy (1) to include a grade of C- with 1.7 quality points; (2) to increase the possible percentage of A+, A, and A- grades in first-year core courses from 10% to 15%; and (3) to increase the possible percentage of A+, A, and A-, grades in upper division courses with 15 or fewer students or where more than 50% of the grade is based on one-to-one student teacher contact from 25% to 35%.
   
   Note: Information on the grading policy in effect prior to the Fall 2007 semester can be found in the 2006 Student Handbook.
   
   
   1. Grading Definitions
      
      
      • ”A+” (4.0) - truly exceptional understanding of subject matter and truly exceptional mastery of skills of the course * (a rare grade, it is not the case that the top student in each class is to be given this grade);
      • ”A” (4.0)- excellent understanding of subject matter and mastery of the skills of the course;
      • “A-“ (3.7)
      • “B+” (3.3)
      • “B” (3.0) - good understanding of the subject matter and good deployment of the skills of the course;
      • “B-“ (2.7)
      • “C+” (2.3)
      • “C” (2.0)- minimally satisfactory understanding of the subject matter and minimally satisfactory deployment of the skills of the course;
      • “C-“ (1.7) (effective with the Fall 2007 semester)
      • “D” (1.0) - less than satisfactory understanding of the subject matter or less than satisfactory deployment of skills of the course;
      • “F” (0.0) - basic failure in understanding of the subject matter or basic inability to deploy the skills of the course.
      
      * “skills of the course” - analytic problem-solving skills ordinarily, but also may include drafting skills, oral presentation skills, etc.
      
      
   2. First Year Grading Standards: The following grading standards apply to the first year core courses:
      • The mean (average) of the grades assigned in the class (not including any failing grades) must fall between 2.70 and 2.90. In addition, the aggregate number of A+, A, and A- grades should not be fewer than 5% of the class or more than 15% of the class.
        
        
   3. Upper Division Grading Standards: The following grading standards apply to the upper division courses offered on the Saint Louis University campus as well as those offered on the Madrid campus and in the Berlin Summer Program.
      
      
      • Upper Division courses with sixteen or more students: The mean (average) of the grades assigned in the class (not including any failing grades) must fall between 2.75 and 3.25. In addition, the aggregate number of A+, A and A- grades for Upper Division courses subject to the 2.75 and 3.25 mean grade range should not be fewer than 5% of the class nor more than 15% of the class.
      • Upper Division courses with fifteen or fewer students: The mean (average) of the grades assigned in the class (not including any failing grades) must fall between 2.60 and 3.40. In addition, the aggregate number of A+, A and A- grades may be as many as 35% of the class.
      • Upper Division courses where more than 50% of the grade is based on one-to-one student teacher contact: The mean (average) of the grades assigned in the class (not including any failing grades) must fall between 2.60 and 3.40. In addition, the aggregate number of A+, A and A- grades may be as many as 35% of the class.
        
        
   4. Grades not Included in G.P.A. Compilation
      • Grades received for Directed Research or for participation as a Moot Court Teaching Assistant will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average. An asterisk (*) will appear next to this grade on the University Grade Report.
      • Grades received in courses taken outside the School of Law will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average. These include courses taken at other Law Schools including summer study abroad programs.
        
        
   5. Pass/Fail Grades
      
      A grade of P or F is assigned in several courses which are graded on a pass/fail system. Grades of P are not computed in the G.P.A. although the credit hours are counted toward the hours required for graduation. A student may obtain a maximum of 11 clinical P/F hours. This limitation applies only to the clinical component and not the co-requisite course.
      
      
   6. Incomplete
      
      Students who are unable to complete course requirements during the semester may request a grade of I (incomplete) from the faculty member. However, no student will be permitted to extend the time for completion of such requirements beyond thirty days after the last day of classes scheduled for that semester. Exceptions due to extenuating circumstances may be granted by the Dean of Students in consultation with the faculty member. Students who are in their final semester of law school can not be granted an extension of time to complete course requirements unless they postpone their graduation date.