Grades

The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each and two summer sessions of 7.5 weeks each. Instructors have until noon on Tuesday immediately following the end of the term to submit their final grades. Grades are posted to the students’ academic history that afternoon. 

To view your grades, log in to goWMU with your Bronco NetID and password at go.wmich.edu. 

1. Click the "Apps" navigation item in the top menu bar.
2. Scroll down to the “For students” app list and select the “Academic Services for Students” link.
3. Click the "Final Grades" link. 

You can also find the link to your grades by using goWMU’s search bar. Simply search “grades” and click the https://go.wmich.edu/s/article/My-Final-Grades article. 
 

The final grades report is a snapshot of the latest semester or session grades. If a grade does not show on the report please contact the instructor of the class. Students who believe that an error has been made in the assignment of a grade should contact the instructor within 60 business days of the end of the term for which the grade was assigned. Failure to act within the 60-day time period will disqualify the student from further consideration of the matter.

Grading system

Grading scale and honor points

The student receives one grade in each course taken. The grade combines the results of course work, tests, and final examinations. Grades are indicated by letters, each of which is assigned a certain value in honor points per hour of credit.

Honor points

Honor points are the numerical equivalents assigned to each letter grade. To determine the total honor points for a course, multiply the number of credits earned by the numerical honor points assigned to the grade. For example, a four-credit course awarded an A is worth four credits. Multiplied by four honor points results in sixteen total honor points.

Incomplete

This is a temporary grade which the instructor may give to a student when illness, necessary absence or other reasons beyond the control of the student prevent completion of course requirements by the end of the semester or session. This grade may not be given as a substitute for a failing grade.

A grade of I must be removed by the instructor who gave it or—in exceptional circumstances—by the department chairperson. If the unfinished work is not completed and the I grade removed within one calendar year of the assignment of the I the grade shall be converted to an E for undergraduate courses and an X for graduate courses.

A grade of I is not figured into the GPA until it is replaced with another grade. Students should not re-register for the class but should work with the instructor to complete the outstanding assignments.

Repeat policy for undergraduate students

Any course in which a student may have been enrolled more than once is considered a repeated course. A grade must be presented for each course, and any course first elected for a letter grade must be elected for a letter grade when repeated. Only the most recent grade for a repeated course is used in calculating a student’s grade point average unless a student receives a letter grade in the first enrollment and then enrolls again in the course and receives a grade of W, CR or NC. In this case, the previous grade will remain in the grade point average.

Additional repeat policy information can be found in the undergraduate catalog.

Repeat policy for graduate students

With the exception of courses that are approved by the University Curriculum Review Policy as repeatable for credit (e.g., multi-topic or umbrella courses), no course may be repeated more than once during the student’s graduate career (inclusive of all graduate degrees and certificates) at WMU. A department may place restrictions on the number of courses that could be repeated within a given program, but such restrictions must be communicated to the students no later than the end of the first semester of their program.

A grade must be awarded for each course, and any course first elected for a letter grade must be elected for a letter grade when repeated. If a student wishes to repeat a course taught by an overseas institution during WMU sponsored study abroad, the pre-approved WMU equivalent course may be repeated for credit if the student’s department approves. Only the most recent grade for a repeated course is used in calculating a student’s grade point average. However, if a student receives a letter grade in the first enrollment and then enrolls again in the course and receives a grade of “W,” “Cr,” or “NC,” the previous grade will remain in the grade point average. Course in which grades of “W,” “Cr,” or “NC” are received will not count as attempts in limiting the maximum number of times a student can register for a course. Appeals may be address to the department chairperson.

A repeated course is not removed from the student’s record. All grades earned are shown on the transcript.

Many graduate and professional schools recalculate the grade point average using grades from all classes taken, including repeats, in determining eligibility for admission. This fact should be carefully considered by students who are attempting to increase their grade point average by repeating courses in which they have received a passing grade.

Calculating grade point average

The following rules apply in computing the grade point average for honors:

• All credits and honor points earned at Western Michigan University will be counted.
• Credits and honor points earned in correspondence and extension courses will be counted toward honors.
• A letter grade of X is the same as an E when calculating the GPA.
• Classes taken as credit/no credit do not affect the GPA.

Your GPA is calculated by dividing the total amount of honor points by the total amount of credit hours attempted.

Example

38 honor points ÷ 13 credit hours = 2.92 overall GPA

See the GPA calculator
 

Honors upon graduation

Undergraduate students who obtain a high level of performance during their University career are awarded the honors listed below.

Cum Laude: when their grade point average is 3.50 to 3.69, inclusive

Magna Cum Laude: when their grade point average is 3.70 to 3.89, inclusive

Summa Cum Laude: when their grade point average is 3.90 to 4.00, inclusive

In computing the grade point average for honors, the following rules apply:

1. All credits and honor points earned at Western Michigan University will be counted.
2. All students must have earned at least thirty semester hours of course work at Western Michigan University which was graded by a letter grade and computed into the final cumulative grade point average.

The commencement program will list as candidates for honors, all students who have earned a grade point-hour average of 3.50 and have registered for 30 hours of graded WMU credit by the end of the first week of their final semester. Final determination of honors and level of awards will be based upon all work and will appear on the final transcript and diploma.

Dean's list

Semester criteria

Have completed at least twelve semester hours of work during the fall or spring semester for a letter grade and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 for the semester

Summer session criteria

Have completed at least six semester hours of work during the Summer I or Summer II for a letter grade and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 for the session.