Grade Policies

Grades are earned in each course and are recorded on the student’s permanent record. Evaluation of student achievement will be made in relation to the attainment of the specific objectives of the course.

At the beginning of a course, the instructor will explain these objectives and the basis upon which grades are determined. This webpage will explain De Anza's policies on grading, including

For More Information

See the following board policies and administrative procedures adopted by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District:


Dean’s List

Full-time students (those taking 12 or more quarter units) must have a quarterly GPA of 3.30 or higher to qualify for the Dean's List.


Grade Changes

Title 5 of the California State Administrative Code states that "the determination of the student’s grade by the instructor shall be final in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetency.”

  • If students believe corrections should be made within the above restriction, they should first talk to their instructors.
  • Corrections must be initiated within two years of completing any course in which a grade is being disputed.


Grade Definitions

A+

Excellent:  4.0 points

A 

Excellent:   4.0 points

A-

Excellent:  3.7 points

B+

Good:  3.3 points

B

Good:  3.0 points

B-

Good:  2.7 points

C+
Satisfactory:   2.3 points
C
Satisfactory:  2.0 points
D+
Passing – less than satisfactory:  1.3 points
D
Passing – less than satisfactory:  1.0 point
D-
Passing – less than satisfactory:  0.7 point
F
Failing:  0 points
FW

Failing: 0 points. This grade indicates that a student has stopped participating in a course after the last day to officially withdraw, without achieving a final passing grade, and the student has not received college authorization to withdraw under extenuating circumstances.

P

Pass – at least satisfactory; units not counted in GPA. This grade may be assigned in courses when student achievement is evaluated on a Pass/No Pass basis rather than a letter grade such as A, B, C, etc. Pass/No Pass courses are designated in the catalog.

NP

No Pass – less than satisfactory, or failing; units not counted in GPA. This grade indicates the student is not attaining course objectives.


Nonevaluative Symbols

These are not used by De Anza in calculating GPA

I

Incomplete:

Academic work is incomplete for unforeseeable, emergency and justifiable reasons at the end of the term. At least 75% of the class must have been completed to qualify for Incomplete status.

IP

In Progress:

The symbol denotes that the student is registered for this course, and the grading period is not complete. Work that is "In Progress" will not appear on a student’s transcript until the term has officially begun. It will remain on the transcript until the student has either officially withdrawn (receiving a W) or a grade has been assigned.

RD

Report Delayed:

The RD symbol may be assigned by the Office of Admissions and Records only. It is to be used when there is a delay in reporting the grade of a student due to  circumstances beyond the control of the student. It is a temporary notation to be replaced by a permanent symbol as soon as possible.

W

Withdrawal:

A W is assigned when students drop a class after the first two weeks of a regular 12-week term or, if the term is shorter, after 20% of a course duration has passed. Students may only withdraw and receive a W during the period between the dates on which the course has met for 20% and 75% of its duration. While a W will not be used in calculating GPA, it will be a factor in probation and dismissal procedures. It will also apply in calculating enrollment limits: Students may not enroll in the same course more than three times, including times when they received a W or substandard grade.

EW

Excused Withdrawal:

An EW is assigned when a student is permitted to withdraw from a course because of verifiable extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing the course. An EW will not be counted in calculating GPA or units attempted. It also will not count in progress probation or dismissal calculations, or against limits on repeating a class.

EWs may be granted after the deadline to drop a course without a W, but an EW can only be awarded if a student meets with a counselor to complete the correct petition form, provides adequate documentation and meets other conditions as described on the Admissions and Records website at deanza.edu/admissions/withdrawals. See also more information below on this page.

MW

Military Withdrawal:

An MW is assigned when a student who is a member of an active or reserve U.S. military service receives orders compelling them to withdraw from a course. Upon verification of such orders, an MW will be assigned at any time after the deadline to drop a course without receiving a W. An MW will not be counted in calculations for progress probation or dismissal calculations. It does not apply against limits on the number of withdrawals or limits on repeating a class.


Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Grading

De Anza College uses the P/NP grade for courses authorized by the Board of Trustees and Title 5. Students may request the P/NP option at any time up to the last day of class by submitting the Pass/No Pass Request Form. (See exceptions described under COVID-19 Grade Policies below.)

  • Some courses are P/NP only and a letter grade cannot be assigned. Check the course description for information on the grade type for each course. Letter grades are not available in these courses.
  • Other courses may allow students to select P/NP as an option. However, some transfer schools may not accept P/NP results for credit or to satisfy certain requirements.
  • Once a student selects the P/NP option for a De Anza course, state regulations do not allow that selection to be reversed.

No more than 30 units of P/NP classes can be applied toward De Anza College degrees. In addition:

  • Units earned on a P/NP basis will not be counted in calculating a student's GPA. 
  • However, a grade of NP may be considered in determining Academic Progress and in probation and dismissal procedures. (See the exceptions described under COVID-19 Grade Policies below.)


Excused Withdrawals

An EW is assigned when a student is permitted to withdraw from a course because of verifiable extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing the course. An EW will not be counted in calculating GPA or units attempted. It also will not count in progress probation or dismissal calculations, or against limits on repeating a class.

EWs may be granted after the deadline to drop a course without a W, but an EW can only be awarded if a student meets with a counselor to complete the correct petition form, provides adequate documentation and meets all other conditions as described on the Admissions and Records website at deanza.edu/admissions/withdrawals. Students may petition for an EW

  • During the quarter in which the course was taken, provided they submit the petition no later than the Friday before finals begin
  • For a course taken in a prior quarter, provided the petition is filed no later than two years after the quarter or summer session in which the course was taken

Examples of extenuating circumstances that may be considered, along with examples of those that do not qualify, can also be found on the Admissions and Records website at deanza.edu/admissions/withdrawals. A petition for an EW will not be considered if the student 

  • Passed the course with a grade of C or higher
  • Received EWs for all courses taken in two consecutive terms (quarters or summer session) – unless the student has completed at least 12 units since then
  • Received EWs in multiple classes, representing a total of 24 units or more – unless the student has completed at least 12 units since then
  • Received EWs for the last two consecutive terms (quarters or summer session) in the same course for which the student is submitting another EW request
  • Submits the petition for a course taken in a prior quarter, after the student has already received a W in that course. (Petitions may be considered for a class in which the student received a W in the current quarter.)


Noncredit Courses

Noncredit courses are not recorded on a student’s transcript and grades are not calculated in a student’s GPA. Students in these courses may receive letter grades or be graded on the basis of Pass/No Pass or satisfactory progress. See the individual course description for more information.


COVID-19 Grade Policies

In consideration of the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the college adopted several temporary policies relating to the calculation of GPAs, Pass/No Pass grading and academic progress and progress probation.

Calculation of GPA

Under a temporary local policy:

  • A grade of F earned in winter, spring, summer or fall of 2020 will not be counted in calculating earned units or Grade Point Averages as they relate to a student's academic standing at De Anza.
  • Grades of D-plus, D and D-minus earned in winter, spring, summer or fall of 2020 will not be counted in calculating Grade Point Averages as they relate to a student's academic standing at De Anza.

However, other universities – including campuses in the University of California and California State University systems – have continued to count D and F grades received in 2020, under their own policies for calculating GPAs. As a result, De Anza College resumed counting D and F grades for winter 2021 and subsequent quarters.

Pass/No Pass

  • A grade of NP (No Pass) will not be considered in determining academic progress or course completion rates for purposes of probation or dismissal, if the NP grade was received for courses taken in the winter or spring quarters of 2022, or in the 2021 or 2020 calendar years.
  • There is no deadline to request P/NP retroactively for classes taken in winter or spring of calendar year 2022, or winter, spring, summer and fall of calendar year 2021, or winter, spring, summer or fall of calendar year 2020.
  • For classes taken in summer 2022 and all subsequent terms, the deadline to request Pass/No Pass is the last day that the class meets in the current quarter (or summer session).

Academic Progress and Progress Probation

  • All withdrawals during fall 2020 or winter, spring, summer or fall of 2021 are treated as excused withdrawals, which do not count in determining academic progress or course completion rates for probation or dismissal.
  • A grade of NP (No Pass) will not be considered in determining academic progress or course completion rates for purposes of probation or dismissal, if the NP grade was received for courses taken in the winter or spring quarters of 2022, or in the 2021 or 2020 calendar years.
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