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Chronology of General University Grading System

Current (Effective Summer Quarter 2008-09):

Grade Description
A (+,-) Excellent
B (+,-) Good
C (+,-) Satisfactory
D (+,-) Minimal Pass
NP Not Passed
CR Credit (student-elected satisfactory: A, B, or C equivalent)
S No-option Satisfactory (A, B, or C equivalent)
NC No Credit (unsatisfactory performance, D+ or below equivalent)
I Incomplete
L Pass, letter grade to be reported
N Continuing Course

RP

Repeated Course
GNR Grade Not Reported
W Withdrew
Note: The notation * was changed to GNR (No Grade Reported).

Effective Autumn Quarter 1995-96:

Grade Description

A (+,-)

Excellent

B (+,-)

Good

C (+,-)

Satisfactory

D (+,-)

Minimal Pass

NP

Not Passed

CR

Credit (student-elected satisfactory: A, B, or C equivalent)

S

No-option Satisfactory (A, B, or C equivalent)

NC

No Credit (unsatisfactory performance, D+ or below equivalent)

I

Incomplete

L

Pass, letter grade to be reported

N

Continuing Course

RP

Repeated Course

*

No Grade Reported

W

Withdrew

Note: The grades A, B, and C were redefined, NP and W were added, and “+” was changed to CR.

Autumn 1994-95: RP was introduced to replace the original grade for a course later retaken. The grade of I (incomplete) was changed to automatically lapse to NP or NC after one year.

Effective Autumn Quarter 1989-90:

Grade Description

A

Exceptional Performance

B

Superior Performance

C

Satisfactory Performance

D

Minimal Pass

L

Pass, letter grade to be reported

+

Satisfactory, student elected (A, B, or C)

S

Satisfactory, no option (A, B, or C)

N

Continuing Courses

*

No Grade Reported

I

Incomplete

Note: The P notation has been changed to S (Satisfactory). The lowest acceptable grade for either S or “+” is now C-.

Effective Autumn Quarter 1975-76:

Grade Description

A

Exceptional Performance

B

Superior Performance

C

Satisfactory Performance

D

Minimal Pass

L

Pass, letter grade to be reported

+

Pass, student elected (A, B, C, or D)

P

Pass, no option (A, B, C, or D)

N

Continuing Courses

*

No Grade Reported

I

Incomplete

Note: Under this system, Stanford restored the D grade, defining it as “Minimal Pass.” Pass notations (“+” and P) were redefined to encompass all passing grades, A through D.

Summer Quarter 1972-73: P was introduced to denote pass in a course offered only pass/no credit at the option of the instructor.

Spring Quarter 1971-72: “+” and “-” as grade modifiers were reintroduced for all students.

Autumn Quarter 1971-72: “+” and “-” as grade modifiers were reintroduced for graduate students.

Effective Autumn Quarter 1970-71:

Grade Description

A

Exceptional Performance

B

Superior Performance

C

Satisfactory Performance

L

Pass, letter grade to be reported

+

Pass, student elected (A, B, or C)

N

Continuing Course

*

No Grade Reported

I

Incomplete

Note: The grades A, B, C, and “+” were redefined: D, E, F, W, and “-” were dropped from the grading system. Under the prior system, the University maintained records of all courses a student attempted. But under the revised system, the only courses recorded were those that were successfully completed or for which an I (incomplete) grade was given. The revised system also allowed a student or instructor to request the deletion of an I grade from a student’s record if the student did not meet the requirements of the course within the time limit determined by the instructor. The use of the modifying suffixes “+” and “-” appended to letter grades was discontinued.

Effective Autumn Quarter 1963-64:

Grade Description

A

Excellent

B

Good

C

Satisfactory

D

Minimum Credit

E

Conditioned

F

Failed

N

Continuous Course

W

Unauthorized Withdrawal

I

Incomplete

*

No Grade Reported

+

Passed Without Defining Grade

-

Failed Course Taken Pass/Fail

Prior to Autumn Quarter 1963-64:

Grade Description

A

Excellent

B

Good

C

Fair

D

Barely Passed

E

Conditioned

F

Failed

N

Continuous Course

W

Unauthorized Withdrawal

I

Incomplete

*

No Grade Reported

+

Passed Without Defining Grade

-

Failed Course Taken Pass/Fail