Academic Affairs has developed the following policy to assist in implementing a more sustainable and efficient system for recording Grade Point Equivalencies (GPE's). GPE's are collected as a service to undergraduate and graduate students to help achieve their goals. A GPE Report helps students who are considering graduate school, applying for scholarships, or other areas where a cumulative GPE is required. GPE's are attached to all student records since Spring Semester 2018. This is the current practice and is stated on official transcripts.
Alverno College is committed to its non-graded, narrative feedback, outcomes-based education which also requires students to self and peer assess.
GPEs are defined as the extent to which students have met course outcomes by the end of the semester.
GPEs are not part of the students' transcript nor their official record. They are available to students upon request through the Registrar's Office. Please visit the Registrar’s Office web page for more information on accessing GPE information.
Alverno continues commitment to narrative feedback, outcome-based education, and self-assessment while providing this service to students to help them achieve their goals.
Collecting and Recording Grade Point Equivalencies (GPE's)
- Instructors for credit-bearing undergraduate and graduate courses provide a grade point equivalency (GPE) for each course.
- Grade equivalencies quantitatively represent the extent to which students have met course outcomes at the end of the semester. They do not reflect an “average of performance” nor do they reflect student behaviors unless dispositional language is included in course outcomes. GPEs are not for individual assignments nor assessments.
- To calculate cumulative GPE, the GPE value for each course is multiplied by the number of credits for the course. This product is divided by total cumulative credits to determine the cumulative GPE.
- Instructors assign a Progress Code of S/U/I for all courses, as well as enter the Ability validations and the GPE. GPE's are due within 7 business days of the Progress Code deadline. GPE's are applied to the Abilities.
- Instructors who assigns an Incomplete (I) Progress Code do not assign a GPE until the final grade is submitted.
- Instructors submit the GPE via the Self-Service portal.
- GPE's are NOT part of the students’ official transcript.
Possible GPE's
- The following are possible GPE entries: 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 0. There is no .5, 1 or 1.5 or “D”.
- An Unsatisfactory Progress Code (U) automatically records as 0.0. GPE
- Undergraduate courses require students earn a “C” level 2.0 or higher for a Satisfactory (S) Progress Code.
- Graduate courses require students earn a “B” level 3.0 or higher for a Satisfactory (S) Progress Code.
Complaints/Grievances with GPE Assigned
GPEs are non-negotiable with students. Instructors should not change the GPE for a course once it has been submitted. However, if a mistake was made or some change has happened and the instructor decides to change a GPE, they made do so by submitting a Change Progress Code form to the Registrar's Office
Repeat Courses
Courses can be retaken and the higher GPE is used in quantifying the GPE.
Student, Faculty, Staff Transfer Institutions Access to GPE's
- Students may request their GPE Report at any point and for any reason. This is legally required.
- Students must request their GPE Report by completing an electronic request form accessed via the Registrar’s Office webpage.
- Faculty, instructional staff, advisors and transfer institutions may not request GPE Reports.
- Students are encouraged to meet with a professional or faculty advisor before requesting their GPE report to discuss Progress Codes, their purpose and implications. This cannot be made mandatory.
- Students may show their GPE Report to their faculty or professional advisor if they choose.
- Campus committees and groups do not have access to GPEs. No internal awards will request GPE for assigning honors, scholarships, travel monies, or other awards.
The Director and Associate Director of Athletics have access to GPE information for required NCAA reporting and scholar athlete purposes. Athletics does not inquire with faculty or instructors regarding GPE's.
