Kansas State University

1.  How do I change my grading option to A/Pass/Fail?

Students can change the grading option for a class section in KSIS as long as the following conditions exists:

• You must be enrolled or on the waitlist for the class section in question.
• The last date to drop classes for the term in question must not have passed.
• The class must allow for a grade of A/Pass/Fail grading option {refer to the A/Pass/Fail policy for guidance}

Refer to the KSIS: Change the Grading Option for a Class help page for assistance

2.  I want to stop attending my class, what should I do?

There is an official process for dropping or withdrawing from a classes(s).  If you cannot continue to attend a class for any reason and it is before a deadline to drop or withdraw, you must drop the couse in KSIS before the printed deadline in the academic calendar.  If you encounter technical difficulties you should contact your College Dean's Office for assistance.  If you cannot continue in ALL of your classes please connect with your College Dean's Office for assistance.

For additional information please refer to the Drops/Withdrawals page.

3.  How do I request an Incomplete grade and what is the process?

You can request an Incomplete grade ('I') from your instructor if you have been engaged and participating in the class prior to the circumstances that prevented completion of the course requirements.  It is highly recommended that you confirm in writing via an Incomplete Agreement Form confirming the remaining requirements to be completed in order to replace the grade of incomplete.

Do not just fill out the form and send it to your instructor.  You should first engage with your instructor to discuss options for completion of the course and determine in consultation with your instructor if a grade of incomplete is a viable option.  If agreement is made that the 'I' grade is the option to pursue then the Agreement Form should be pursued. {refer to the Incomplete Grading policy for additional guidance}

4.  Can my instructor lower my grade for being late or absent?

Your instructor has the right and responsibility to set the standards and criteria by which you will be graded.  These criteria can include attendance, punctuality, and class participation.  It is your responsibility to find out which criteria your instructors will be using to determine your grades.

5.  How do I check my grades?

Students may view their grades in KSIS by a few options:

• Viewing Your Academic History/Unofficial Transcript
• Viewing Grades by Term

6.  I am enrolled in a non-standard section that ends prior to the end of the full semester.  When can I see my grades in KSIS?

For courses offered in a shorter time period within the full 16-week (fall/spring) semester, it is possible that your instructor of record to post the grade prior to the official grade submission deadline at the end of the term.  Non-Standard courses allow for an instructor to grade once the course has ended and if the instructor saves/submits the grade to the final course roster the grade will show in the next overnight posting.  {i.e.; FA21 - ACCTG 832 goes from 8/23/21 through 10/15/21 - instructor submits grades on 10/20/21 - grade will be availble in KSIS on 10/21/21}

All grades for a semester are formally processed at the end of the term.  The grade submisison deadline is typically the Tuesday after the end of finals week resulting in grades being availble to view in KSIS the next day (Wednesday).  Refer to the Academic Calendar for exact dates. 

7.  I recieved an 'NR' grade.  What does it mean?

A grade of 'NR' stands for No Grade Reported meaning that the instructor of record has not submitted/posted grades for the course in question.  

8.  I did not finish my grade of 'I' (Incomplete) and it turned into a 'F'?

Because you did not compelte the coursework within your required agreement and deadline, the Incomplete grade you received in the prior semester has automatically rolled to a grade of 'F' per the Incomplete Grading policy.  This has been formally calculated as an 'F' in your GPA.

9.  I stopped attending my class, and I received a grade(s) of 'F'?

If you stopped attending class(es) at any point inthe semester without notifying your instructor(s), academic advisor or dean's office of the reason for your absence AND you did not drop/withdraw from the course(s) in KSIS before the deadline printed in the academic calendar, your should expect to receive a grade of 'F'.  

If you feel that due to extenuating circumstances, beyond your control, that you would like to request consideration of a late drop/withdrawal please refer to the Appeal for Late Drop/Withdrawal After Deadline process. 

10.  How is my GPA Calculated?

Grade Point Averages (GPA) are calculated by dividing the total number of Grade Points by the number of Credit Hours enrolled. Refer to the University Catalog:  Academic Policies and Procedures - Grade Point Average (GPA) Types for additional information.

11.  What grades are not included in my GPA?

Grades of CR (Credit Awarded ), I (Incomplete), IH (Incomplete Hold), P (Pass), NC (No Credit Awarded), NH (Non-Reported Hold), NR (No Grade Reported), or W (Withdrawn) do not impact your GPA. Do not include the credit hours for these courses in your credit hour total for calculating GPA.

12.  Are my grades from my former college(s) included in my GPA?

No. Grades received at other institutions are NOT averaged with grades received at K-State for the purpose of meeting the university/institutional cumulative GPA requirements. Other agencies and honorary societies will compute averages in accordance with their own standards and policies.

13.  What is a grade appeal?

Grade appeals (not including Academic Integrity/Dishonesty cases) may fall under the Grievances involving a change of grade protocol {University Handbook, Appendix V, Section A, 1.3}.  Students must first make any and all effort to engage with the instructor of record for the course around any disputes around the grade.  All effort to settle this dispute must be made first before formally beginning a grade appeal process. Grade appeals must be initiated within six (6) months following the issue date of the grade in question. Appeals must go to the Academic Department Head over the course in question, who will act as the mediator in the dispute. Please refer to the link above for additional information on the timeline and steps involved in this process. 

14.  I want to hand in the work I owe for my Incomplete grade, but my instructor has left the university?

Whenever possible, try to contact the instructor directly to make arrangements to hand in your work.  Sometimes instructors give out their personal contact information on their syllabi while others can be reached by asking the department to forward a message.

If your instructor is unresponsive or unavailable, contact the Department Head for help in resolving the unfinished grade. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you waited more than the agreed upon deadline in the Incomplete Agreement Form or the semeser after the Incomplete grade was issued, neither the instructor nor the Department Head is obligated to accept the completed work unless another deadline was negotiated and is one file before the instructor left the university.

15.  Can I retake a course? Should I retake a course?

It is impossible to detremine wether you can or should retake a couse without knowing what the grade is and how the cousre can be used to fulfill your graduation requirements. Students should work with their faculty/academic advisor to discuss options.  Undergraduate students should refer to the Undergraduate Retake Policy {University Handbook, F65.1}

16. Does K-State Provide a ClassRank? Why?

NO. 

K-State does not proivde a class rank at the end of each semester because we focus on a more holistic evaluation of a students' academic achievement rather than comparing them to peers. Class rank can create unnecessary competition or stress and may not accurately reflect individual growth, as grading scales and course difficulty can vary. Additionally, some schools prioritizie other measures of success, such as GPA or specific academic honors, over ranking students releative to each other. 

While class rank typically exisists for cohort or professional-based programs, such as those used to evaluate applicants for veterinary internships and residency positions, it is not a practice followed for other academic programs. Most attendees of a post-secondary institution are not part of a cohort experience and have the flexibility to adjust their time to degree, allowing for varied experiences and varied student types (freshman/sophmore/transfer), typically averaging 4-6 years to completge a bachelor's degree. This varability further complicates the creation of a true class ranking system, as students academic paths differ significantly. Therefore, the emphasis is on the personal development and achievement rather than competion.