Final grades of all students are recorded and posted to their transcripts. In determining these final grades, the faculty may consider grades received in daily recitations, written work, laboratory work, clinical rotations, tests, and final examinations.
Specific criteria or numerical ranges for the following grading system are the responsibility of the individual SHRP program.
A (Superior Performance)
B (Above Average Performance)
C (Adequate Performance)
D (Inadequate Performance)
F (Failure)
I (Incomplete) A temporary notation to be awarded only if, in the instructor's judgment, the student should be allowed additional time to complete the course. A grade of I that is not changed by the instructor by the end of the next regular term automatically converts to an F.
P (Passing) Applicable only to a course taken on a pass/fail basis (see
Course Enrollment: Courses Taken on a Pass/Fail Basis).
W (Withdrawn) A notation assigned by the Office of Registration and Academic Records reflecting an administrative action
initiated by the student in accordance with SHRP and University regulations governing withdrawal from courses. W (withdrawn) may not be assigned by the instructor. The student must complete and submit a Course Withdrawal Form to the Office of Registration and Academic Records
prior to the date specified in the current UAB Class Schedule for the particular academic term (see
Course Enrollment: Withdrawing from Courses).
N (No grade submitted) A temporary notation made by the Office of Registration and Academic Records if no grade (A, B, C,
D, F, I, or P) is assigned the student by the course instructor. This notation is used only when the Office of Registration and Academic Records is unable to obtain a grade from the instructor prior to the issuing of grade reports or when the course is designed to extend beyond a single term. It remains the instructor's responsibility to assign a permanent grade. If the instructor has not submitted a grade by the end of the following term, the N (No grade submitted) is changed automatically to an F (Failure) by the Office of Registration and Academic Records. The notation N cannot be extended.
The initial transferability of college courses to baccalaureate programs at UAB is generally determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The applicability of these courses to satisfy degree requirements of a SHRP program is determined by SHRP faculty. Grades of D are not transferable to UAB if the student's cumulative GPA is less than a 2.0 upon transfer to UAB.
Students who wish to take courses at another institution while concurrently enrolled at UAB must submit a completed copy of the "Transient Student Request Form" to the UAB Office of Registration and Academic Records before enrolling in the course. This form requires the signature of the student's academic advisor or program director in SHRP. This written evidence identifies the recommended courses the student has been approved to take and facilitates transfer of the credit back to the home institution (UAB).
Students who wish to take courses at another institution while not concurrently enrolled at UAB must follow the same procedure and use the same form as outlined above. These students are advised to pursue transient status at the host institution.* The student must present written evidence to the host institution of advisement by the academic advisor and the appropriate dean at the home institution** (UAB).
*
Host institution is defined as the institution where a student has temporary or transient status.
**
Home institution is defined as the institution where the student is enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
UAB, Birmingham-Southern College, Miles College, the University of Montevallo, and Samford University have established the Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education (BACHE) to expand educational opportunities for their students. UAB students may also enroll in courses at the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Huntsville through the University of Alabama System Cooperative Exchange Program. Any full-time, degree-seeking UAB student who is in good academic standing may, with written permission from the student's academic advisor and dean, and at no additional charge,
take a course at another cooperative exchange institution if it is deemed to be beneficial to the student's overall educational
program. All courses eligible to be taken must be articulated by UAB prior to the students' registration. Credit for work completed under the cooperative programs will be posted on the student's record as UAB credit.
The cooperative program course hours may be counted in the 12 hours needed for full-time status; however, students cannot use an audit of a UAB course to count for full-time status. If, after being accepted into a cooperative exchange program, a student drops a UAB course that causes the student's status to fall below full-time, the student will not be allowed to continue in the cooperative program. Students usually may take only one course per term at a cooperative institution, but under special circumstances permission may be granted to take more.
All academic regulations of UAB must be observed; in addition, students are expected to observe the academic regulations of the cooperating institutions. Students must register for a cooperative exchange program course during UAB's registration period regardless of when the host institution's term begins.
Further information on registration procedures and other matters may be obtained from the Office of Registration and Academic Records.
In some instances academic credit may be awarded for work done in a format other than a college course. Credits earned in this way are recorded on the transcript with a grade of P. Such credits may not be used in repeating a course and may not be awarded for work equivalent to a course that is a prerequisite to a course already taken for credit. No more than 45 semester hours of alternative credit may be applied toward a degree.
Opportunities for earning credit outside the normal course format include:
- Advanced Placement (AP)--The amount of credit awarded and the examination score required are stated in the UAB Advanced Placement brochure. Consult the Office of Student Testing, Evaluation, and Placement (1-STEP) for further information. Telephone: (205) 934-5503.
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)--The CLEP General Examination must be taken before 15 semester hours of college work have been completed. The subject-area examinations are assigned credit as listed in the UAB CLEP Policy statement. Applications for examinations must be received by the registration deadline indicated in the UAB CLEP Policy brochure for the test date requested. CLEP tests are administered monthly (excluding December and February). Consult the Testing Office for further information. Telephone: (205) 934-3704.
- International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)--Academic credit may be awarded for scores of five or higher on IB higher-level examinations. No credit is awarded for subsidiary-level examinations. Requests for a listing of transfer equivalencies should be directed to the Office of Student Testing, Evaluation, and Placement (1-STEP). Telephone: (205) 934-5503. The academic unit responsible for the program of study will determine the application of credits toward specific degree requirements.
- Credit by Examination (CBE)--A degree-seeking student may petition to obtain credit for a course by taking an examination; however, not all programs will accept CBE. It is the student's responsibility to verify the applicability of CBE courses for major/minor requirements. Credit by examination (challenge exam) is offered for some subjects taught in the School of Health Related Professions. The SHRP program or division responsible for the subject determines whether an examination will be offered. The candidate who passes the examination will be awarded academic credit or advanced placement. Additional information regarding this option and any associated fees may be obtained by consulting the SHRP program or division director. In addition, preprofessional students may apply for credit through the UAB Credit by Examination. The relevant department must agree to create and grade the examination. If a student takes CBE in a course that the student has already taken for credit, the grade for CBE will not replace the grade for the previous course. Consult the Office of Academic Programs and Policy for information about CBE registration and fees. Telephone: (205) 934-5503.
- Credit by Portfolio--A degree-seeking student may petition to receive credit for a course on the basis of a portfolio of information documenting knowledge of the course material. Certain academic units of the School of Health Related Professions may award a student credit for prior learning achieved outside the traditional academic setting. Consult the appropriate SHRP program for further information. The chair of the appropriate department and dean of the school make the final decision on acceptability of the materials for credit. Consult the Office of Academic Programs and Policy for information about registration and fees. Telephone: (205) 934-5503.
- Noncollegiate Courses--Credit may be awarded for noncollegiate courses in accordance with American Council on Education recommendations and approval of the appropriate department chair and dean. Consult the Office of Academic Programs and Policy for information. Telephone: (205) 934-5503.
- Credit for Military Experiences--UAB evaluates military service and educational experiences completed by active-duty military service and Coast Guard personnel. UAB is an institutional member of Servicemembers' Opportunity Colleges. For further information, contact the Office of Academic Programs and Policy. Telephone: (205) 934-5503.
These types of academic credit may not be used to fulfill the residency requirement (see
Degree and Certificate Requirements: Residency Requirements).
Posting of such credits on the student's transcript does not constitute acceptance toward fulfillment of the degree requirements.
The applicability of such credits toward degree requirements at UAB will be determined by the program responsible for the degree program.
The official determination of "credit hours earned," "credit hours attempted," and "grade point average" can only be made by the Office of Registration and Academic Records. The following sections indicate how these quantities are calculated. Transfer work and courses taken at UAB are treated on the same basis. Developmental courses are not included in calculations of credit hours earned, credit hours attempted, or grade point average.
Credit Hours Earned
The student's "credit hours earned" are increased by:
- earning a grade (D or better) in a course for which the student was registered for credit,
- obtaining the "Pass" grade in a course taken on a pass/fail basis, or
- obtaining the "Pass" grade for alternative credit.
See
Course Repeat Policy below.
Credit Hours Attempted
The student's "credit hours attempted" are increased by:
- receiving an A, B, C, D, or F in a course for which the student was registered for credit, or
- receiving the "Fail" grade in a course taken on a pass/fail basis.
See
Course Repeat Policy below.
Grade Points
Four grade points are awarded for each semester hour for which the student received an A grade; three grade points are awarded for each semester hour in which a B was obtained; two grade points are awarded for each semester hour in which a C was obtained; and one grade point is awarded for each semester hour in which a D was obtained. No grade points are awarded for an F.
Grade Point Average
The grade point average is determined by taking the grade points obtained and dividing by the credit hours attempted (not credit hours earned). The UAB grade point average is determined using only work attempted at UAB. The cumulative grade point average is determined by calculating all college work attempted.
Any course taken at UAB may be repeated. If a course is repeated once, the second grade awarded replaces the first in computing the institutional grade point average. When a course is repeated more than once,
all grades for the course--
excluding the first grade--will be employed in computation of the institutional grade point average. However, official records maintained by UAB will list each course in which a student has enrolled and earned a grade. The same procedure for calculating grade point average also applies for a course taken at another institution and repeated at that institution prior to its transference to UAB. Within UAB, academic departments and schools may have additional provisions regarding repeat courses and the calculation of grade point average.
It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Registration and Academic Records of a repeated grade, since recognition of a repeated grade is not automatic.
All students currently or previously enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have certain rights in relation to their educational records. No information from records, files, or other data directly related to a student, other than the directory information defined in this catalog, shall be disclosed to individuals or agencies outside the university without the written consent of the student. Directory information consists of a student's name, local and permanent address, telephone number, major field of study, schedule of classes, dates of attendance, and degrees awarded. Upon written request, this information will also be withheld from outside agencies. (See
UAB Student Records Policy)
Upon written request by the student, the Office of Registration and Academic Records will send an official transcript directly to the recipient designated by the student. Official transcripts will not be issued to the student; however, an unofficial transcript may be issued to the student. There is a charge for each transcript. Transcript requests will be honored only for students whose financial accounts with UAB are clear, including payment of charges for the current term.