Letter grades and grade points are awarded to students to reflect their level of achievement of the objectives of a course. At Windward Community College, the following grades may be awarded:
| Grade | Description | Grade Points | Credit Awarded? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent achievement | 4 | Yes |
| B | Above average achievement | 3 | Yes |
| C | Average achievement | 2 | Yes |
| D | Minimal passing achievement | 1 | Yes |
| F | Less than minimal passing achievement | 0 | No |
| CR | Achievement of course objectives at "C" level or higher | 0 | Yes |
| NC | Achievement of course objectives at less than "C" level | 0 | No |
| N* | Work completed; minimal objectives not met | 0 | No |
| I** | Incomplete | No (until resolved) | |
| W*** | Official withdrawal from course | 0 | No |
| L | Audited Course | 0 | No |
| CE | Credit by exam | 0 | Yes |
| NCE | No Credit by exam | 0 | No |
| PBA | Portfolio Based Assessment | 0 | Yes |
*N grade indicates that the student has worked conscientiously, attended regularly, finished all work, fulfilled course responsibilities, and has made measurable progress. However, either the student has not achieved the minimal student learning objectives and is not yet prepared to succeed at the next level, or the student has made consistent progress in the class but is unable to complete the class due to extenuating circumstances, such as major health, personal or family emergencies.
**I grade (Incomplete) is a temporary grade given at the instructor’s option when a student has failed to complete a small part of a course because of circumstances beyond his or her control. The student is expected to complete the course by the designated deadline in the succeeding semester. If this is not done, the “I” will revert to the contingency grade identified by the instructor.
***W grade indicates that the student officially dropped/withdrew from the class. If the student dropped/withdrew during the erase period, the record of the registration does not appear on the transcript. Refer to the Academic Calendar or Schedule of Classes for drop/withdrawal deadlines.
Grade Point Average
A student’s grade point average is computed by dividing the student’s total grade points earned by the total credits attempted, excluding the credits for classes in which grades of I, W, N, CR, and NC were awarded. Although I, W, N, and NC are not included in the grade point average, students are advised that some colleges, especially graduate and professional schools, do not look favorably upon transcripts containing these grades. Similar attitudes occur among some employers and scholarship grantors.
Repeating Courses (UH EP 5.233)
Students may repeat any course taken at the College. Credit is allowed only once unless the catalog course description explicitly states the course may be repeated for additional credit.
In alignment with the University of Hawai‘i System Aligned Course Repeat Policy (EP 5.233):
GPA Recalculation (1st–3rd Attempt): For the first three attempts of a course taken at Windward Community College, the highest grade earned is automatically used to compute the cumulative GPA. All attempt grades remain permanently on the official transcript, but excluded grades are annotated accordingly.
Multiple Repeats (4th Attempt+): For a fourth attempt and beyond, all subsequent grades earned in that course are included in the cumulative GPA calculation.
Transfer / Multi-Campus Repeats: Courses repeated at other University of Hawai‘i campuses or outside institutions cannot be used for grade replacement or GPA recalculation at WCC.
Dean’s List
Each semester the Dean’s List recognizes students who have achieved academic excellence at the College. Students who have earned 24 credits at the College, who have a current and cumulative gradepoint average of 3.5 or better, and who have no N or NC grades in the current semester are automatically placed on the Dean’s List, which is noted on their transcript.
Credit/No Credit Option
The Credit/No Credit option is maintained to encourage students to broaden their education by taking courses outside of major requirements without affecting their grade point averages. No grade points are given for courses taken under this grading option. Course credit is awarded for courses completed at Windward Community College with certain restrictions. This grading option is not offered in all courses and students majoring in a particular program are not permitted to take a major required course with the CR/NC grading option. The student should consult the instructor’s course outline to determine if this option is available in a particular course. If this option is available, the student must submit the completed CR/NC Option form to the Admissions & Records Office by the deadline. Once the CR/NC Option is submitted, the CR/NC cannot be changed. Refer to the Academic Calendar or Schedule of Classes for deadline date.
Auditing
No credit is given for an audited course. The grade of “L” will be recorded for the course on the student’s transcript.
Auditors must complete all admission and registration requirements and procedures, including the payment of tuition and fees. Students are permitted to audit certain classes with the written consent of the instructor. Students who want to audit a course must submit the completed Audit Request Form to the Admissions & Records Office by the deadline. Refer to the Academic Calendar or Schedule of Classes for deadline date.
Grade Reports
Grade reports may be viewed online at the end of each semester. Students must report any errors on their grade report to the Admissions & Records Office within 7 calendar days following the end of term.