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Students are evaluated according to the following grading system:
| Grade | Points | Definition |
| A | 4.000 | Exceptional |
| B | 3.000 | Very good |
| C | 2.000 | Fair |
| D | 1.000 | Poor |
| F | 0.000 | Failure (may be assigned as a grade for failure to attend or to indicate failure to formally withdraw or terminate) |
| I | Incomplete (temporary mark pending course work completion as agreed in a signed document). See incomplete section below for details. | |
| W | Withdrawal (from the individual course or all courses) only if the student follows the official withdrawal procedure. If a student enrolls in a course and then abandons it (stops attending) without following the official withdrawal procedure, a grade of F will be assigned. | |
| S | 0 | Satisfactory (equivalent to a C or better [B or better in courses numbered 5000 or above]; see general information on S/U grading below) |
| U | 0 | Unsatisfactory (see general information on S/U grading below) |
| UK | 0 | Unable to compute grades (for midterm grades only) |
Each letter graded course carries grade point value computed as: the total credit hours earned in the course times the point value of the letter grade earned. For example: a student earning an A (point value of 4) in a 3 credit-hour course would earn 12 grade points for the course.
Semester (or Term) Grade Point Average
The semester grade point average (GPA) is the sum of all grade points earned in a semester or term divided by all credit hours attempted for letter grade. Credit hours in courses in which marks of I, W, S or U were assigned, as well as developmental courses, are excluded.
Cumulative Grade Point Average
The average of all grades earned by a student is termed the cumulative grade point average. It is used for determining activity, eligibility, honors, probation, suspension, graduation and for all comparisons or purposes requiring measurement of academic standing.
The cumulative grade point average is defined as the sum of all grade points earned in University of Wyoming residence, correspondence, or Distance Education, divided by all credit hours attempted for letter grade, with the following exceptions:
1. The credit hours shall not be counted in courses in which marks of W, S or U were assigned, or in which marks of I (for incomplete) are still in effect.
2. For repeated courses:
a. First repeat: only the second credit and grade is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.
b. If repeated more than once, only the last credit and grade earned is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.
c. A student is limited to a maximum of three (3) attempts, including withdrawals, in any course at the University of Wyoming.
d. If a mark of W, S, or U is assigned in a repeated course, the previous grade assigned will stand except when an S or U is earned repeating a previous S or U.
e. Courses applied towards one completed degree may be repeated as part of a second degree; however, the grade and grade point average in the original degree will not be changed.
3. Transfer grades are not counted in the UW grade point average. If a course taken at UW is repeated at another institution, the credits and grade earned at UW will be deleted from computation of the UW cumulative grade point average if credit for the repeated course is transferred to UW.
4. Courses numbered below 4000 are not added in to the semester and cumulative totals, or computed into the GPA, for graduate students.
Students may repeat course work; however, credit earned in any given course (or equivalent course) is applicable toward a degree requirement only once. All grade entries remain on the student's record, but only the last grade earned will be calculated in the UW cumulative grade point average. Refer to the Cumulative Grade Point Average section of this bulletin for further information. Variable-credit courses are not considered as repeats unless the department head provides written certification that the course content was, in fact, repeated. Courses repeated will remain as entries on the academic transcript. Courses applied towards one completed degree may be repeated as part of a second degree; however, the grade and grade point average in the original degree will not be changed. A student is limited to a maximum of three (3) attempts in any course at the University of Wyoming. An "attempt" includes any instance in which the student earns a grade for the course or withdraws from the course. The three-attempt limit does not apply to courses identified in the General or Graduate Bulletin as being appropriate for students to take multiple times. A student can petition for exceptions to this limitation through established university procedures (UW Regulation 8-238). See the University Regulations online for the most up-to-date version.
A grade of "I" (incomplete) is a temporary grade assigned to students who, due to unforeseen circumstances, were unable to complete all work required for a course. It may be awarded only if the class instructor has approved a petition to be filed prior to grade submission by the instructor to the Registrar at the end of the term in which the student was enrolled in the class. (UW Regulation 6-720) See the University Regulations online for the most up-to-date version.
Time allowed for completing course requirements will normally not exceed 120 calendar days beyond the end of the semester in which the I was given. The dean of a college may designate certain research courses where the 120-day limit may be extended by the instructor; however, the completion date even in these courses should not be later than the time of graduation for the student unless the student is reserving the particular course for graduate credit (with the approval of the Graduate School dean).
If the final grade for the course is not received in the Office of the Registrar by the date indicated on the authorization, the I will revert to an F. Should graduation occur in the interim, the I can stand permanently or it can still be completed within the specified deadline, but the student's GPA at graduation with all associated honors will stand as computed. (UW Regulation 6-720) See the University Regulations online for the most up-to-date version.
The grade of S (satisfactory) is interpreted to include grades A through C and the grade of U (unsatisfactory) to include grades C- through F on the conventional grade scale for courses numbered less than 5000 (for courses 5000 or above, the grade of S is interpreted to included grades A and B). Credit hours of S/U courses are counted as hours attempted toward graduation. However, neither the S nor U grade carries grade points and neither will be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
Students may not take a course for S/U credit to satisfy University Studies Program requirements, unless the course is offered for S/U only; (e.g., POLS 1000, or the equivalent history or economics courses, may not be taken for S/U).
If a mark of S or U is assigned in a repeated course, the previous grade assigned will stand except when an S or U is earned repeating a previous S or U.
Students must signify at the time of registration or schedule modification whether they are taking any course for S/U grades. Faculty will be notified of the student's decision.
The faculties of the various colleges and interdisciplinary programs shall determine the number of credit hours of S that may be used to satisfy degree requirements in their programs. They may also place restrictions upon the use of S credits to satisfy college or major requirements. In addition, they may designate particular courses in their colleges as courses to be offered for S/U only.
A student who changes majors within a college or who transfers to a different college may petition for the acceptance of S credits previously earned if such credits are in conflict with faculty-established regulations for the new major or college.
Mid-term grades for all courses numbered below 5000 are submitted by instructors on WyoRecords the week following midsemester. Grades which can be assigned by faculty are:
| D | Poor |
| F | Failure (may also be assigned as a grade for failure to attend or to indicate failure to formally withdraw) |
| S | Satisfactory (equivalent to a C or better) in cases where the class is offered for S/U or the student has elected the S/U option |
| U | Unsatisfactory (equivalent to a D or F) in cases where the class is offered for S/U or the student has elected the S/U option |
| UK | Unknown (Unknown; unable to compute grade) |
The UK may be assigned if, due to lack of performance assessments such as exams, papers, homework, etc., a faculty member is unable to make a determination of a midterm grade.
Please note that the mid-semester grade received in any particular class reflects the assessment of student performance during the first portion of the semester only.
Mid-term grades are available on WyoRecords. Any schedule discrepancies should be reported to the registrar's office immediately.
Final grades are available on WyoRecords as soon as possible (usually five working days) after the close of the semester or term.
Definitions
A recorded grade may be changed through established appeal processes within individual colleges. Contact your department for further information about appealing a grade.
Official transcripts of individual academic records at UW are sent from the Office of the Registrar upon written authorization signed by the individual. Individuals may also authorize the release of their academic transcripts through WyoRecords. All financial obligations to the university must be cleared before a transcript may be released or viewed on WyoRecords.
Transcripts are produced on a first-come, first-served basis and one to two business days must be allowed. Individuals are asked to anticipate transcript needs and submit requests to the Office of the Registrar as far in advance as possible. Usually, 10-15 days are needed at the close of a semester to record semester grades and issue transcripts. Same-day transcript service is available for a $10 charge (limit 2 transcripts).
Partial transcripts are not issued. Each transcript includes the complete academic record at the University of Wyoming and the number of credits from other institutions accepted by UW.
Official transcripts of credit earned at other institutions which have been presented for admission or evaluation of credit become the property of the University of Wyoming and are not reissued or copied for distribution. This includes high school records and any other type of supporting documents. Transcripts of work completed at other institutions should be obtained directly from the issuing institution.
Applicability of transfer credit toward any degree is dependent on the curriculum pursued by the student.
In preparing transcripts for graduate students or second bachelor's degree candidates whose undergraduate work was taken elsewhere, the University of Wyoming includes on its transcripts no detailed reference to that undergraduate work, mention being limited to designation of the degree and date received and the name of the institution granting the degree.
Undergraduate and law students who achieve high academic grades are honored by being placed on either the President's Honor Roll, the academic Dean's Honor Roll, or the Provost's Honor Roll.
The requirements to be met to attain these honors are:
For President's or Dean's Honor Roll:
For the Provost's List:
Graduate Students
Graduate Students are not eligible for the President's Honor Roll, the academic Dean's Honor Roll, or the Provost's List.
Undergraduate Students
Academic Status
In order to graduate, every student is expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress, which is based on scholastic performance. Current academic status will be indicated on internal documents and grade reports as:
Upon the request of a person placed on academic suspension or denied reinstatement, the vice president for academic affairs may review the circumstances and reverse the decision of the dean if the vice president for academic affairs deems it necessary to prevent a gross injustice.
An undergraduate student who returns to the University and who has not completed or withdrawn from a college course at UW during the previous five years will have the option of continuing his or her earlier UW cumulative GPA or commencing a new cumulative GPA under the Academic Renewal policy. The student must submit the Academic Renewal Application Form (which may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar) to the registrar no later than ten class days before the last day of classes of the semester in which the student returns to UW.
The entire UW transcript will remain intact. A note indicating the policy will precede the new part of the UW transcript if the student opts for academic renewal. At the discretion of the academic department in which the student is enrolled, credit hours for which the student earned the grade of C or better may be applied toward the completion of the degree requirements. The list of any departmentally-approved courses must be indicated on the Academic Renewal Application Form when initially submitted to the registrar. No further changes may be requested.
A student's GPA and completed courses that were applied to a baccalaureate degree are not eligible for academic renewal.
Graduate students are not eligible for academic renewal.
A graduate student enrolled at the university will be placed on academic probation at the end of a semester or summer session when his or her graduate cumulative UW grade point average in 4000-level or higher courses is below 3.000. Students who fail to bring their graduate GPA to 3.000 and remove themselves from probation after one semester or summer session will be suspended from the university. A suspended student may petition his/her academic program for reinstatement to the same degree program. A reinstated student will be on probation and may be subject to other performance criteria as specified by the dean of the affected department.
The above GPA requirement is considered to be a minimum requirement. Individual departments or programs may modify these minimum performance standards and establish department- or program-specific criteria for satisfactory academic progress. A graduate student may be dismissed from a degree program for lack of satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the department or program offering the degree.
The above regulations governing academic probation, suspension, and reinstatement do not apply to students enrolled in the College of Law.
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