Carleton’s grading system is as follows:

  • A = Excellent work of consistently high quality, usually showing notable understanding, insight, creativity, or skill and few weaknesses
  • B = Good work of good quality, showing understanding, insight, creativity, or skill
  • C = Satisfactory work that is adequate, showing readiness to continue study in the field
  • D = Passing work that is minimally adequate, raising serious concern about readiness to continue in the field, creditable
  • F = Failing work that is clearly inadequate, unworthy of credit

During your four years at Carleton, you may elect to take up to 30 credits S/CR/NC (Satisfactory/Credit/No Credit), and only up to six credits in any one term.

  • S = A through C- 
  • CR = D+, D, or D-
  • NC = F

For more information regarding Carleton’s grading system see the Campus Handbook: Grading System policy.

DRP Grades

Courses dropped after the registration drop/add period are recorded on the transcript as “DRP”. This is a non-punitive notation; it does not reflect poorly on your coursework for that course. The Academic Standing Committee (ASC) regards the DRP as a valid elective option for a student in cases where a course cannot be completed for a variety of reasons as well as in cases where students have simply missed the registration deadline. Petitions to remove a DRP notation from the transcript are not usually granted.

Extensions

Written Evaluations of Course Work

At the end of any course, you may request a written evaluation from your instructor. As long as the course has an enrollment of 20 or fewer students, your instructor must provide you with one. For more information see the Campus Handbook: Written Evaluation of Course Work policy.

FAQs about Grades

How is my GPA calculated?

The GPA is calculated by dividing total grade points by the number of graded credits attempted. Courses with S/Cr/NC and transfer work do not factor in. For more information see the Campus Handbook: Grade Point Average (GPA) policy.

How do I get my grades?

You can view your grades through your student profile in Workday. Click your profile picture and select Academics from the left-hand menu and then select Academic History to view all of the grades you have received.

What is a CI grade? Or an X grade? Or an L grade?

  • CI grades are only used for the Integrative Exercise (comps). Any time comps is not completed in one term the major department will give a CI grade; however, the department is not required to submit any comps grade until the Monday following the seventh Friday of spring term, so you may see a CI grade even if you have completed your comps.
  • An X grade is posted when an instructor has not submitted their grades. It will be changed as soon as the grade is received from the instructor. 
  • An L grade is posted when you have successfully completed a lab science course. The L is posted for the lab itself.

See the Campus Handbook: Grading System policy for more information.

My parents moved. How do I let you know my new home address and phone number?

You can change your address updating your contact information in Workday. See our guide Changing your Contact Information for more information.

What is a “Directory Hold?” How do I get my information restricted? Or get the restriction removed?

Certain information (Directory information) is publicly available unless you request otherwise. 

For instance, if someone (an insurer, an old friend, a current or potential employer, or anyone who might be curious) calls up and asks if Johan Smith is a student at Carleton, we can either confirm or deny that, as well as provide whatever information is available on the college directory. This may include your e-mail address and telephone number. 

If you request a directory suppress, you will not show up on the online directory and we will not release any information regarding your status at Carleton. We cannot answer questions about you if you’ve requested a directory suppress, unless it is for internal use.

To view or change your Directory privacy settings in Workday, see View and Select My Directory Privacy Settings.

Contact the Dean of Student Office for any questions regarding FERPA or Directory privacy settings.