Grading Policy

Quality Points & Grading Symbols

Official grades are reported and recorded on a student’s official academic record at the end of each semester on the basis of the following system:

Grade Quality Points per Credit
A+ 4.00
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D- 0.67
F 0.00
I Incomplete: a temporary grade indicating that specific arrangements have been made with the instructor to complete work by a later date not to exceed 210 days. An “I” which is not removed by the prearranged date is replaced with an “F.”
DG Deferred Grade: Satisfactory progress in a course that extends beyond a single semester.
W Withdrawal or administrative withdrawal.
P Successful completion of a pass/fail course. These hours are not included in point average calculations.
LP Low Pass (D+, D, D-) in a Pass/Fail course; hours are not included in GPA calculations
L Stopped attending. The grade of “L” may be assigned to the student who stopped attending a course without officially withdrawing. The grade of “L” will be computed as an “F” for purposes of the student’s grade point average.
MG No grade supplied by instructor.
AU Audit registration; no credit hours attempted or earned.
* Quality points count toward GPA; credits do not count toward degree credits earned.
~ Quality points do not count toward GPA; credits count toward degree credits earned.
# Quality points do not count toward GPA; credits do count toward degree credits earned.

Calculating a GPA

To calculate a grade point average (GPA), divide the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours graded on an A-F basis.

Text Notification of Grades

Students can register for the University of Maine System’s Grade Notification via Text Messaging Service.  Students who register for the service will be able to receive text notifications any time a new grade or grade change has been posted to their MaineStreet record.  Follow the instructions below to register for the service.

  1. Login to MaineStreet (http://mainestreet.maine.edu) and go to your Student Center.
  2. Select the Text Messaging Service link found at the bottom right-hand portion of the page.
  3. On the line labeled “Grade Notification Service,” select “Register for this Service” from the drop-down box on the right.
  4. Click the >> button.
  5. On the next page, select or add the cell phone number where you want to receive the text notifications.
  6. Click the link labeled “Register.”
  7. A notice will pop up alerting you to the fact that the text messages which will be sent are not secure, and asking if you still want to register.  Click OK if you are still willing to subscribe to this service.
  8. You will receive a Text message on your phone with an Activation Key code.
  9. Click the Return button.
  10. On the line labeled “Grade Notification Service,” select “Activate My Registration” from the drop-down box.
  11. Click the >> button.
  12. Enter the Activation Key you received on your phone.
  13. Click the Activate button.
  14. Your registration for this service will expire on the date indicated.  You can cancel your registration at any time.

Grade Reports

Once grades have been posted to their academic records, students can see them by selecting the “Grades” link in their MaineStreet Student Center.

Students needing assistance to use the system should call the Registrar’s Office at (207) 255-1223.

Repeat Policy

When a student repeats a course, the initial grade remains on the transcript, but only the latest grade is used for computing the grade point average.

Credit earned for all previously completed attempts of the course will be lost.

When a student completes the exact equivalent of a UMaine Machias course at another institution (while registered at that institution) with an acceptable grade, the effect of the original grade on the student’s GPA will be cancelled. However, the grade the student earned at the other institution will not replace the original grade in the calculation of the GPA, in accordance with standard transfer credit policy.

Academic Records Changes

Considerable care is taken to ensure that courses and grades entered on a student’s permanent record are accurate. Any student who suspects an error has been made should contact the Registrar’s Office immediately. Records are assumed to be correct if a student does not report any discrepancies to the Registrar’s Office within one year of the completion of the course. At that time, the record becomes permanent and the student has no further right to appeal.

Academic Appeal Procedures

First Level of Appeal

Appeals in all academic matters should be initiated by the student directly, in person, with the administrator, faculty member or staff member involved within 30 days of the incident or event in question. If the student is not satisfied with the results, he/she should consult immediately with his/her academic advisor.

Second Level of Appeal

The next level of appeal should be by the student and his/her academic advisor to the next superior of the administrator, faculty member, or staff member involved, and should be submitted in writing within ten days after the ruling on the initial appeal step.

Third Level of Appeal

The third level of appeal should be to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, unless he/she has already been involved at the level of the second step described above.

Fourth Level of Appeal

If the student is still not satisfied with the decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, he/she may, with the assistance of his/her academic advisor, request a hearing before the Academic Appeals Committee. At this point in the process, the question of whether the appeal is indeed of an “academic” nature shall be determined by the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Dean of Students before the appeal shall be referred to the Academic Appeals Committee. If it is ruled not to be an “academic” matter, the appropriate appeal procedure shall be pointed out to the student and his/her advisor.

The Academic Appeals Committee shall consider all action taken on the appeal to this point and other matters that it deems pertinent to the case. It shall make a full report of this and a specific recommendation for final disposition by the President. As a part of its recommendation, the Academic Appeals Committee shall report the vote count within the committee on its recommendation.

Final Ruling

The President shall make the final ruling on the appeal.

Grade Forgiveness

A student readmitted to UMaine Machias after a period of two or more years may choose to request grade forgiveness for all previous work done at the institution. To qualify, students must be matriculated and enrolled at the time of the request, and have completed at least 15 credits at the institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 after the point of readmission.

If grade forgiveness is approved, the student retains past credits only for courses in which a grade of C- or higher was received. The effect of all prior quality points is nullified and the student’s cumulative GPA is reset to zero. All prior grades earned continue to be displayed on the student’s transcript, though they do not affect the student’s cumulative grade point average.

To apply for Grade Forgiveness, eligible students must complete the Request for Academic Forgiveness and submit to the Registrar’s Office. Students must specify on the application the semester before which all grades will be forgiven.