Academic Records and Grading

Grading 

Grading System

Course grades are recorded on the student’s permanent transcript at the end of each semester. Students can view final grades using the student portal. Students may request a progress report from the instructor in each of their courses prior to the last day for withdrawal in each semester. Letter grades, which may be modified by plus or minus symbols, indicate the level of performance in a course as follows: A (Excellent), B (Good), C (Average), D (Poor); a grade of F indicates that a student has failed the course. Only grades for courses taken at Assumption University and at HECCMA Consortium partner institutions through cross-registration are included in the calculation of GPAs for transcript purposes.

Grade Point Average

Assumption uses a four point system. The following is a numerical conversion of letter grades: A (4.0); A- (3.7); B+ (3.3); B (3.0); B-(2.7); C+ (2.3); C (2.0); C- (1.7); D+ (1.3); D (1.0); D-(.7); F (0).

Grade point averages are calculated by multiplying the points for the grade earned by the number of credits the course is worth, then dividing by the total number of credits attempted. If a student earns a B in five 3-credit courses, she would have earned 3 points times 3 credits, or 9 grade points for each of five courses. Nine times five yields a total of 45 grade points. Divided by the 15 credits attempted, the student has a 3.0 grade point average for the semester.

Pass/No Credit

In order to allow students the opportunity to explore courses which they might otherwise be hesitant to take, the University offers a Pass/No Credit option. Under this option, the student receives a grade of P (Pass) for performance at the level of C- or higher and NC (No Credit) for performance at an unsatisfactory level (i.e., below C minus). Neither grade will include quality points calculated into the student’s overall GPA. This option is available to all second, third, and fourth year students who have an overall GPA of 2.0 at the time the option is requested. Transfer students must have completed at least one semester at Assumption before they are eligible. Qualified students must request this option by contacting the Registrar’s Office up to the last day for withdrawing from a course, as published in the academic calendar. Once the Pass/No Credit has been approved by the Registrar’s Office, the P/NC option is final. The student will receive a P (pass) or NC (no credit) on their transcript. This option applies only to free elective courses and may not be used for any courses taken to satisfy Foundations Program, Major, or Minor requirements. Only two courses may be taken for Pass/No Credit during the student’s time at the University, and only one may be taken in any given semester.

Incomplete

An Incomplete may be awarded if a student is unable, due to documented serious illness or emergency in the last two weeks of the semester, to complete the requirements of his/her course by the final grade deadline. The instructor of record must submit a request for an incomplete grade form prior to the end of the semester. An Incomplete cannot be approved if the student has completed the requirements for the class. Authorization of an Incomplete extends the time allotted to complete the course by six weeks. Faculty overseeing an Incomplete must submit a Change of Grade form no later than six weeks after the last day of finals for the relevant term (fall, intersession, spring, or summer). After the six-week period has elapsed, the Incomplete will be converted to an F.

Change of Grade

All grade changes must be requested by the instructor of record before the end of the sixth week of the following semester. Students requesting a change of grade do so by petitioning the faculty member in writing, stating the reason for the request. If the faculty member agrees, he/she submits a change of grade form, available on the Faculty Team Site on the portal. Grade changes are approved only in the case of error in the computation or submission of a grade, or other accident or error. All requests for changes of grade based on work turned in after the last day of the semester will be denied.

Withdrawal From a Course

A grade of W (Withdraw) becomes the final grade when a student withdraws from a course prior to the withdrawal deadline as published on the Fall/Spring Academic Calendar. Withdrawing from a course may result in a course and/or credit shortage. Students are responsible for completing any additional course work necessary to make up the shortage and to remain on track for graduation. A W grade is processed only when the student submits the electronic Withdraw from a Course form, which can be found on the Registrar’s webpage. Not attending class does not constitute a withdrawal.

Replacing a Course

When an F or any other low grade is earned, students may compensate for this either by repeating that course or by taking a course which satisfies the same requirement: Foundations Program, major, minor, or free elective. Once the replacement course has been successfully completed, the initial course entry on the transcript will bear the letter “R” indicating a replacement has taken place. However, the revised grade point average and credits earned are reflected only in the term of replacement. Students must request course replacements from the Registrar’s Office. Replacing a course for which the student earned credit removes those credits from the record. Credit may not be earned for the same course twice.

Class Rank

The final class rank of a graduating student is based on the average of all grades for courses taken at Assumption University and at Consortium institutions through cross-registration.

Class Standing and Reclassification

Upon matriculation, all full-time students are assigned an expected year of graduation or degree completion, which constitutes their class standing. For example, a full-time student who matriculates in Fall 2026 and follows a traditional four-year course of study would be expected to complete their degree in Spring 2030 and would therefore be considered a member of the Class of 2030.

Class standing is updated once per year by the Registrar's Office. After the completion of summer, the Registrar reviews the credits earned and, according to the chart below, reassigns students to the appropriate class year.

Transfer students are assigned class standing in the same way. Questions regarding class standing should be referred to the Registrar’s Office at 508 767-7355.

Transcripts of Academic Record

Students and alumni order official transcripts through the University's Parchment transcript service. For transcript ordering instructions and additional information, visit the Office of the Registrar.

The current transcript fee is $15 for an electronic transcript, and $17.50 for a paper copy sent via surface mail.

Current students may access unofficial transcripts through Student Planning by selecting My Progress in their portal account.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) Release of Information

Assumption University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. A summary and instructional tutorial of student rights is available at the Department of Education website. Assumption students have the right to control who has access to their educational records and how their information is used and shared. As part of the University’s commitment to transparency and respect for students’ privacy, it offers students the opportunity to designate a person or persons with whom AU can share information if they contact us. These are typically parents or guardians and/or other third parties such as outside scholarship agencies and non-family members. When students designate a parent/guardian, it means that if that person contacts a professional office at AU, Assumption has permission to share any information we have about academic record and progress, including final grades, mid-term grades, retention alerts, information from professors, billing, and financial aid data. If no person is designated and a parent or guardian calls a professional office, Assumption will inform them that it is not permitted to share information about student academic progress.

FERPA gives students the right to:

• Inspect and review education records.
• Request an amendment to education records if the student believes they are inaccurate or misleading.
• Consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in education records, except under certain specified exceptions.
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe their rights under FERPA have been violated. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-8520. 

Written notification to withhold directly information must be directed to the Registrar’s Office. Unless otherwise directed, the University considers the following as directory information: the student’s name, address, telephone listing, campus e-mail address, date and place of birth, academic program(s), class year, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, current photo, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. A request to withhold any or all of the above data in no way restricts internal use of the material by the University. We encourage students to consider their options carefully and make an informed decision that aligns with their preferences and values. Questions or concerns about FERPA or student privacy rights should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.