rasmussen.edu | 888-5-RASMUSSEN ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES Master’s Programs Grade Scale Students are required to earn at least a “C” in their master’s-level courses. This applies to all coursework level 5000 through 6999. Letter Grade A B C F Percentage Range 100 to 94 % 93 to 85% 84 to 78% Below 78% Doctoral Programs Grade Scale Students are required to earn at least a “B” in their doctoral level courses. This applies to all coursework level 7000 through 8999. Letter Grade A B F Percentage Range 100 to 94 % 93 to 85% Below 85% Health Sciences Programs Grade Scale The following grade scale applies to all upper- and lower-level courses with prefixes of BSC, HIM, HSC, MEA, MLT, MTS, PHT, PTN, RTE, and STS. Letter Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C F Percentage Range 100 to 93 % 92 to 90% 89 to 87% 88 to 83% 82 to 80% 79 to 77% 76 to 73% Below 73% In addition to the lecture component, a School of Health Sciences course may contain a co-requisite lab component, a co-requisite clinical/externship/ practicum learning component, or both. Satisfactory performance (score of 73% or higher) in each of the learning components of the course is required to earn a passing grade in the course. If a satisfactory grade is achieved in all learning components of a course, each learning component will receive an independent grade. Failure to earn a satisfactory grade in all learning components of the course will result in failure of all components of the course. All learning component grades will appear on the student’s transcript. Nursing Programs Grade Scale Students are required to earn at least a “C” in their Nursing courses. This applies to all NUR and PRN coursework level 0000 through 4999. Letter Grade Percentage Range A B C F 100% to 94% 93% to 85% 84% to 78% Below 78% Nursing core courses may contain a co- requisite lab component, co-requisite clinical learning component, or both in addition to the lecture component of a course. Satisfactory performance in the lecture component (score of 78% or higher) and a satisfactory assessment in the laboratory and/or clinical experience are required to earn a passing grade in the course. Failure to earn a satisfactory assessment in the laboratory and/or clinical component will result in failure of all components of the course. If a satisfactory assessment is achieved in the lab and/or clinical learning experience, courses with multiple components will receive a coordinated grade for each component equivalent to the earned grade in the lecture component. A. Total Exam Score Average In order to pass the course, students are required to achieve an overall Total Exam Score Average at or above a threshold of 78% for all exams taken within the nursing course. Neither the threshold calculation or the individual exam percentages will be rounded up (for example, 77.9% equals 77%). • Exam score averages as a passing threshold: Each course exam will be individually calculated, earning a distinct percentage. Exam “percentages” (not points) will then be added individually and divided by the number of exams in the course in order to determine achievement of the 78% benchmark. – e.g., If there are four exams in the course, and the results of exam one (50 questions) = 80%, exam two (50 questions) = 78%, exam three (50 questions) = 89% and final exam (100 questions) = 76%, the Total Exam Score Average would be 80% ((80+78+89+76)/4). B. Total Course Score Once the 78% total exam score average threshold has been met, the final grade for the nursing course will be calculated based on all incorporate points earned for exams, assignments, quizzes, and other coursework requirements. • Students who successfully reach the 78% exam average threshold as calculated above will then have the course grade determined by an overall course point calculation, which includes all earned points as outlined in the course syllabus. Competency-Based Education Course Grade Conversion Scale The following course grade conversion scale can be used to convert competency-based education course scores to letter grades: Competency Percentage Report Scale Range 4 3 2 1 100% – 94% 93% – 85% 84% – 78% below 78% Letter Grade A B C F Self-Directed Assessments Policy Rasmussen University self-directed assessment offerings that fulfill some academic program requirements. Demonstrated mastery through the successful completion of self-directed assessments allows students to test out of some courses within their academic program. • A signed enrollment agreement in a program which allows self-directed assessment is required in order to gain access to the library of self-directed assessments. Non-degree seeking students do not have access to self- directed assessments. • Active students must attempt a minimum of six faculty-led credits per quarter in order to gain access to the self-directed assessments that may be available to them. • Enrolled students must have fulfilled all Developmental Education requirements prior to enrolling in any self-directed assessments. • Any student or prospective student must be in good academic standing in order to enroll in any self-directed assessments. • Self-directed assessments are optional, and students can complete a degree without completing a self- directed assessment. • Self-directed assessments must be completed within 45 days of accessing the self-directed assessment. • There will be no extensions granted for self-directed assessments. • If self-directed assessments are not successfully completed, the student will be required to take a faculty-led course to fulfill graduation requirements. No appeals will be considered to repeat the assessment. • Enrolled students may elect to take a self-directed assessment in lieu of a course for any course that has been identified as having a self-directed assessment equivalent or fulfills the same General Education category. • A completed self-directed assessment will be posted as Test-Out (TO) on the student transcript. • If a student has already attempted the faculty-led course, as indicated by any posted grade, including W/WD/ WP/WX or F/FA/FD and excluding CL, PD and WL grades, the student will not be allowed to attempt the equivalent Credit by Examination options. • A student may complete a self-directed assessment and later decline Transfer Credit for the option (TO grade) and enroll in an equivalent faculty-led course and earn a letter grade. • Self-directed assessments must be completed prior to or concurrently with the final faculty-led courses in the program. • Self-directed assessments will not count as credits for financial aid eligibility. • Self-directed assessment credits will not satisfy credit load requirements for the purposes of veterans benefit program funding or any other student financial assistance program. • Students who enroll or reenter the University are required to pay a nonrefundable/nontransferable self- directed assessment fee in order to gain access to the assessment. See the tuition structure table for current rates. • Contact your Advisor for a list of available self-directed assessments as well as instructions to enroll and pay the self-directed assessment fee. • Payment of the fee does not guarantee the award of credits; any credits awarded will be based on meeting all of the criteria above and the self-directed assessments policy. Empowered Learning Competency- Based Education (CBE) Programs Policy Students enrolled in a CBE program will be enrolled in competency-based courses where they are offered and in traditional courses when a course is not available as a competency-based course. Traditional courses are defined as courses of any modality with specific assignment deadlines. CBE courses are defined as those which allow students control over their assignment deadlines and are time flexible within the academic term. • CBE programs will offer at least 51% of the program credits as CBE credits. • Students will matriculate into Rasmussen University upon acceptance in a CBE program of their choice. • Students may attempt a competency- based course as long as they are enrolled in an eligible program. • Competency-based courses will count as credits toward financial aid eligibility. • All Rasmussen University policies and procedures apply to a student in a CBE program unless otherwise noted. • Attendance policies of the University must be met. • It is the expectation that students in a CBE Program will complete their program by taking a combination of traditional courses and competency- based courses dependent upon the delivery method the course is offered by the University. 142 ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM
