The UMSI doctoral program follows Rackham’s grading scale, which is a 4.3 scale. The masters and undergraduate programs follow a standard 4.0 grading scale.

Your course syllabus should include information about how students will be evaluated (including the grading scale), any weighting of assignments, exams, and class participation in the determination of the student’s grade. The UM Center for Research on Learning and Teaching has some information on preparing your course syllabus that may be useful.

UMSI strives to provide an academic program that is academically rigorous, with high expectations. While most students have an A- or B+ average, faculty should grade according to performance, even if that means giving a student a B, C, or D in a course. The A+ is rarely given and is reserved for particularly excellent work.

Letter Grades

The method of grading graduate students is the letter grade system (A, B, C, D, E) as well as S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory), except for special courses as noted below. Undergraduate students also use the letter grade system, as well as P (Pass) and F (Fail). Courses in which grades of E or U are earned cannot be used in fulfillment of degree requirements. In all UMSI programs (PhD, MADS, MHI, MSI) courses in which a D+, D, D-, or E grades are earned do not count for degree credit. In the BSI, courses in which grades D+, D, and D- grade are earned do not count for SI credit, but will still count towards the overall UM degree. A grade of E does not earn credit. Indications of + and - may be given to undergraduate or graduate students whenever such fineness of discrimination is possible.

Grading Scale and Interpretation

A+ 4.0 (4.3 for PhD students) Extraordinary achievement. Rarely given.
A 4.0 Consistently distinguished performance in all course aspects, such qualities as analytical ability, creativity, and originality are exhibited at a very high level.
A- 3.7 Strong, solid achievement in most aspects of the work.
B+ 3.3 Good performance. Consistent with performance expected of students in a graduate degree program.
B 3.0 Acceptable.
B- 2.7 Borderline.
C+ 2.3 Poor performance. This is a marginal grade which alerts students to their limited performance.
C 2.0 Very poor performance.
C- 1.7 Minimal. Performance not at a graduate student level. Student should review his/her progress in the program with the assistant dean for academic affairs.

D-E Failure. If in required course, it must be repeated

D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
E 0.0

Letter Grades and Points

The method of grading graduate students is the letter-grade system (A, B, C, D, E), except for special courses as noted below. Courses in which grades of “D,” “E,” or “U” are earned cannot be used in fulfillment of degree requirements. Grades of + and – may be given to graduate students.

Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grades for Graduate Students only

At UMSI, “S” and “U” grades are primarily used only for credit-based internships, doctoral courses SI 990 and SI 995, a few specific courses, and with faculty approval, for independent studies. Independent studies are given a letter grade unless S/U grading is requested by the student and approved by the instructor.

When S/U grading is used, "S" means that the student has achieved a level of performance that the instructor regards as satisfactory at the level of the course. Conventionally, this means that the student would have earned a "B" or better in a graduate level course (500 and above), or a "C-" or better in an undergraduate course (4xx or lower). "U" grades are assigned when the student does not meet this criterion. No honor points are generated by the earning of either an "S" or a "U" grade, and such grades are not calculated in a student's grade point average. "S" grades count toward the minimum credit hour requirements of a UMSI student's degree program and "U" grades do not.

Pass (P) and Fail (F) grades for Undergraduate Students only

At UMSI, “P” and “F” grades are only used for select undergraduate courses , such as internship and career development courses.

When P/F grading is used, "P" means that the student has achieved a level of performance that the instructor regards as passing at the level of the course. Conventionally, this means that the student would have earned a C- or better in an undergraduate course. "F" grades are assigned when the student does not meet this criterion.

Grade of Incomplete (I)

Incomplete (I) Grades for Residential Students (BSI, MHI, and MSI)

A grade of Incomplete should be assigned to a residential student (BSI, MHI, and MSI) if the unfinished part of the student's work is no more than 50% of assigned coursework, the unfinished work is reviewed and approved by the instructor, and the student's standing in the course is "B" grade or higher for residential graduate students, or "C" or higher for undergraduate students. Any time an “I” grade is issued, a residential student should fill out the Residential Incomplete Grade Form. They will need to upload a copy of the course instructor's written approval of this request, including agreement of the work to be completed and the deadline for submission.

The student and the instructor should discuss a schedule for completing the remaining work prior to conferral of an "I" and submitting the Residential Incomplete Grade Form. Grades of Incomplete can be changed to letter grades only if the incomplete work is made up by the end of the fourth full term (about 12 months) beyond the term for which the grade of "I" is given (regardless of enrollment status in subsequent terms and including the spring-summer term). The grade point average will continue to be based on hours of completed work.

Important: The grade of "I" will be replaced by a final grade, and will not be retained on the transcript. If the work is not completed within the 12 month timeline, the grade of "I" will be the final grade and is permanently retained on the student record.

Incomplete (I) Grades for Online Students (MADS)

Effective January 1, 2026:

An Incomplete (“I”) grade is a temporary grade assigned when a student is unable to complete required coursework within the session due to unique/special circumstances that arise after the drop/add deadline. Students are expected to contact the course instructor promptly when circumstances arise that may interfere with successful course completion.

Eligibility for an Incomplete

A grade of Incomplete (I) should be assigned when all of the following conditions are met:

The student has participated in the course beyond the MADS drop/add deadline
The student experiences unique/special circumstances* beyond their control that prevent timely completion of remaining coursework
The student has requested a grade of Incomplete from the instructor

There is no minimum grade or percentage of coursework completed required to assign an Incomplete in the MADS program. Students who stop participating in a course and have not requested an Incomplete should be assigned a grade of “NR” (No Report).

*Unique/special circumstances are unanticipated events outside the student’s control that prevent timely completion of coursework. For adult learners balancing fast-paced courses with professional and personal responsibilities, examples include but are not limited to: illness or injury, family emergencies, caregiving responsibilities, employment demands, natural disasters, or other major disruptions.

Resolution Options for an Incomplete

When an Incomplete is approved, unofficial enrollment in the course during the next academic term is the standard method for resolving the Incomplete. At the instructor’s discretion, a short extension may be approved as an alternative when the amount and nature of remaining work allow for timely completion without re-engagement in the full course. Faculty should clearly communicate the approved resolution option and deadline to the student at the time the Incomplete is assigned.

Resolution Option 1: Unofficial Enrollment in the Next Academic Term (Standard Resolution Option)

This option is subject to the course being offered in the following academic term
The student participates fully in the course during the next term and completes all required coursework according to the new term’s syllabus
The course is graded by the instructor of record for the term in which the unofficial enrollment occurs
Unofficial enrollment does not constitute formal registration and does not incur additional tuition

Resolution Option 2: Short Extension (Alternative Resolution Option)

This option is intended for limited, well-defined remaining coursework
The student may be granted up to two weeks after the end of the course to submit remaining coursework; instructors may approve a shorter extension at their discretion
All coursework is submitted in the original course site and graded by the original instructor

If a student begins with a short extension and does not meet the established deadline, they may resolve the Incomplete through unofficial enrollment in the course during the following academic term, if available. Note: If the Incomplete grade is not changed to a letter grade before the start of the next course offering, the student will be unofficially enrolled in the course in the next academic term.

In rare circumstances, if an instructor is willing to provide additional flexibility for a student but determines the MADS Incomplete Grade policy does not adequately address the instructional or situational needs, the instructor should consult with MADS Advising (umsi.advising.mads@umich.edu) to discuss alternative options.

Resolution Deadline and Grade Conversion

An Incomplete must be resolved by the end of the next academic term (four months from the end of the term in which the course was started), regardless of subsequent enrollment status. If not resolved by this deadline, the grade will convert to an “IPL” (Incomplete Permanent Lapse), which is final. The student must re-enroll in the course to earn credit.

GPA, Academic Progress, and Prerequisites

“I” and “IPL” grades are not included in the term or cumulative GPA. GPA calculations are based only on completed coursework. “I” and “IPL” grades do not satisfy prerequisite requirements; a passing letter grade must be posted before a student may progress to a course for which the in course with an Incomplete is a prerequisite.

Grade Change Process

The University of Michigan affirms that the instructional team assigned to a course holds full grading authority for all enrolled students. Instructional team members are responsible for assigning and submitting grade changes, including the conversion of Incomplete (“I”) grades to final letter grades (A–E), in accordance with university and school-specific grading standards. Instructional process guides can be found here. Any questions regarding this process should be submitted to the UMSI Registrar & Student Services team via email at umsi.registrar@umich.edu.

For additional information, please refer to the MADS Student Handbook.

Incomplete (I) Grades for Doctoral Students (PhD)

A grade of incomplete (“I”) may be assigned to a PhD student only if the unfinished part of the work is small, the unfinished work is incomplete for reasons acceptable to the instructor, and your standing in the course is a “B” grade or higher. The student and instructor should discuss a schedule for completing the remaining work prior to conferral of an “I.” Grades of incomplete can be changed to letter grades only if the incomplete work is made up by the end of the fourth full term beyond the term for which the grade of “I” is given (regardless of enrollment status in subsequent terms and including the spring-summer term). The grade point average will continue to be based on hours of completed work.

When a student in the Ph.D. Program receives an Incomplete, the Ph.D. program team will contact the student, the instructor, and the advisor to request a plan for completing the work and resolving the Incomplete grade.

Important: The grade of “I” is permanently retained on your record. An incomplete that has been made up according to the above procedures will appear on your transcript, e.g. “IB+”.

No Report (NR) Grades:

A grade of No Report (NR) should be assigned when:

A student never attended/participated in the class

A student stopped attending/participating in the class before the end of the term/session, but has not dropped the class or requested an Incomplete

A Last Date of Participation is required for NR grades on the grade roster. Participation/attendance for enrollment and financial aid purposes is defined in the Credit Hour Policy for UMSI.

Deadline for Submitting Final Course Grades

Grades are due 72 hours after the scheduled final exam time for the course. It is critical that instructors submit their grades on time; missing grades cause problems for graduating seniors, may impact a student's ability to receive financial aid, and students needing grades posted for a variety of other reasons, including end-of-term review for academic standing.

NOTE: MADS grade rosters do not get generated until the Friday after the session closes. Faculty should be able to enter grades on that Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.

Posting Grades

Never post grades in public places to protect each student’s right to privacy. Please refer to the Office of the Registrar web site at https://ro.umich.edu/student-records/student-rights-records.

Grading Features in Canvas

It is valuable to understand the options for using Canvas, and important to be accurate in any grading for students done in Canvas. This is especially important for any weighted grading as students often interpret the grades in Canvas as reflective of their actual grade in the course.

Using the Gradebook in Canvas

Weighting course grades in Canvas based on assignment groups

Submitting Grades in Wolverine Access

Course grades are submitted via the Internet by course instructors, GSIs, or another designee. Detailed information is available at csprod.dsc.umich.edu/htmldoc/eng/dftie/lsaa/htm/sr_fb_graderoster.htm. This helpful resource shows the step by step instructions for entering AND approving grades, https://csprod.dsc.umich.edu/htmldoc/eng/dftie/lsaa/htm/images/CU_SGRD_Review_SS.pdf-- pay close attention to steps 6 & 7.

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