Grades and Grading Policies

Chicago Booth Course Grades

Chicago Booth adheres to a plus/minus grading policy. The following course grades are used: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, P (pass), F (fail), I (incomplete), R (registered), and W (withdrawal). The grades of A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and P are passing grades used for students who desire course credit.

The grade F (fail) indicates unsatisfactory work. An F grade in a student’s final quarter will delay degree completion and distribution of diploma. The student will be required to complete the degree requirements before officially graduating. The grade W (withdrawal) indicates that the student has withdrawn from the course after the third week of the quarter.

Grade Point Average Calculation

When computing GPA, A+ = 4.33, A = 4, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1, and F = 0. A grade of F in a course counts in the GPA calculation even though no credit is earned toward the degree requirements. Grades of P, I, R, and W do not count in grade-point calculations.

Incompletes

An Incomplete signifies that a portion of the required work for a course is or will be outstanding at the time the faculty member submits final grades for that quarter. It is not a remedy for poor performance in a course. If schedule conflicts, workload, recruiting, or other factors have affected a student’s ability to keep up in a particular course, a student should withdraw from the course. Please note the following:

  1. Contact the dean of students to obtain the Incomplete form, which also requires faculty approval.
  2. Incomplete forms are accepted between Monday of Week 6 and the last day of classes prior to final exams and only forms that are approved by the faculty will be accepted.
  3. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructor. The manner of and time period for completion of the work is agreed on by the instructor and the student, subject to the guidelines noted here. If the instructor is unwilling to give an Incomplete, the student should withdraw from the course.
  4. Students may make up an Incomplete only with the instructor who granted it unless otherwise agreed upon by the faculty member.
  5. If a student is graduating and has a mark of Incomplete from a prior quarter, work must be submitted to the instructor (as required by the instructor), with a final grade posted by the grade submission deadline for the graduating quarter. If a grade is not posted by this deadline, the student will be removed by the Registrar’s Office from the list of degree candidates and graduation will be postponed for one quarter or until a grade has been posted. To be eligible for Honors/High Honors consideration, Incompletes must be satisfied by Friday of Week 2 of the quarter of graduation.
  6. Students are not eligible for graduation if an Incomplete is approved for a course in the graduating quarter.
  7. Students may not carry more than two Incompletes at a time to ensure academic progress.
  8. The grade of I will be posted on the student’s university transcript until the final grade is posted. Once the final grade has been posted, the grade of I will be replaced with just the final grade.

Chicago Booth Grading Policy

For masters sections in the Master in Management and Master in Finance programs, a faculty member may not exceed a maximum grade point average of 4.0.  For MBA sections, a faculty member may not exceed a maximum grade point average of 3.33.  Also excluded from the 3.33 average are PhD courses, “lab” courses, and small special topics courses designated by the deans’ office; however, the maximum grade point average cannot exceed 4.0 for these courses.

Official Transcripts

All entering students pay a lifetime transcript fee in their first year of study. This one-time lifetime transcript fee allows students to request an unlimited number of official transcripts, now and in the future, whenever they need them, at no additional cost. Transcripts may be ordered via secured internet transaction at registrar.uchicago.edu/transcripts.

Grade Appeal Procedures

A student who believes that there is an error in the grading on any graded material in a course (i.e., assignment, paper, project, examination) should follow the guidelines provided by the professor for a grade appeal. If the professor does not provide specific guidelines either in the syllabus or verbally, the student should:

  1. Discuss the potential grading error with the professor.
  2. Submit a written request for a review of the graded material to the professor.
  3. If the student believes that the appeal was not given appropriate consideration by the faculty member, the student should contact Academic Services.

Academic Services can verify that the procedure outlined above has been followed. If there is evidence of a grading error, it will be brought to the attention of the faculty member. Note that neither program administrators nor Academic Services can alter a grade.

Unless a professor informs students otherwise, a grade change appeal must be initiated no later than the quarter after the course is completed.

Academic Grievances

Students are encouraged to raise issues and concerns in email regarding academic matters with the faculty, when appropriate, to the associate dean of faculty and academic services. Academic grievances not related to a grade change may be brought, in email, directly to the dean of students. Issues that cannot be resolved by the dean of students or associate dean of faculty and academic services will be taken to the Deans’ Office for further review.

An academic grievance appeal must be initiated no later than the quarter after the course is completed. The university’s Office of the Student Ombudsperson is also available to provide resources and support at ombudsperson.uchicago.edu.

Academic Probation and Academic Warning

Chicago Booth has the highest of academic standards. To maintain these high standards, student academic performance is reviewed quarterly to ensure that students are making strong academic progress.

If a student's quarterly academic performance falls below the minimum grade point average (GPA) needed to graduate (2.33), they will receive a quarterly performance warning. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.33, they will be placed on academic probation.

If a student receives a quarterly performance warning or is placed on academic probation, they will receive official notification from Academic Services, and will be required to meet with Academic Services or, in some cases, with the dean of students. For cases of quarterly performance warnings, restrictions may be placed on grading options and quarterly enrollment limits. For cases of cumulative probation, restrictions will be placed on grading options, quarterly enrollment limits, and involvement in student activities and/or leadership positions.

Students who remain on academic probation for two consecutive quarters, who are on cumulative probation at the end of the academic year, or who fail to meet the conditions of probation, will have strict enrollment limits placed on their subsequent quarter(s), may be placed on administrative leave of absence, and/or may be dismissed from the school by the dean of students beginning Summer Quarter.

Failing Grade Replacement in GPA Calculation

If a student fails a course and later retakes the same numbered course for a quality grade (no I, P, X or blank), both grades and course enrollments will be listed on the university transcript, and the passing grade will replace the initial failing grade in the GPA calculation at Chicago Booth.

A course that is retaken to compensate for the same course previously failed will be assessed tuition and will count toward a student's overall unit count. Students who replace a failing grade are ineligible for retroactive quarterly dean's honors and graduating with honors distinctions.