{"id":329,"date":"2025-03-18T09:43:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T14:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/?page_id=329"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:15:17","slug":"grades","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/registrar\/student-record\/grades\/","title":{"rendered":"Grades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Grades<\/h1><\/header>\n\n\n

Grades at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (51ÁÔÆæ) are posted in the PAWS system at the end of each term, typically within two weeks after the last day of finals. Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, equivalent to a “C” grade, while graduate students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can view their grades, understand GPA calculations, and learn about honors designations, academic actions, and grade appeals through the Registrar’s Office. For any issues or questions regarding grades, students are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Graduate School\u2019s Academic Policies & Procedures<\/a> includes grading information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\nPAWS<\/a>\n\n\n\nStellic<\/a>\n\n\n\nContact<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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View Your Grades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can review your grade history in PAWS<\/a> anytime:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Log in to PAWS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Under the 51ÁÔÆæ<\/em> header, click in the drop down menu and select Grades<\/strong>, then click the yellow arrow<\/strong> button<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Select the term you want to view<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The Class Grades<\/em> table will show your letter grade and grade points<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Click the blue Class Name<\/strong> to bring up the Class Details<\/em> screen as it originally appeared in PAWS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. The Term Statistics<\/em> table will show your term and cumulative Grade Point Averages<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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    GPA & Grading Policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Students pursuing a degree from 51ÁÔÆæ will take most of their coursework on a graded basis. The general quality of a student\u2019s performance in their classes is expressed in terms of the grade point average (GPA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The number of grade points earned in a course is computed by multiplying the points for the grade by the number of credits for which the course is offered. For example, if a student earned a B in a three-credit course, they would earn nine grade points. GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of graded points taken. The highest possible average is 4.000 or an A in every subject.  The Registrar\u2019s Office has a GPA Calculator Tool<\/a> you can use to calculate a future GPA based on estimated grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The grade point average recorded on the official 51ÁÔÆæ transcript is based solely upon credits earned or attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. Some schools and colleges have different standards for GPA calculation and may include transfer work; see degree requirements in the Academic Catalog<\/a> for specifics. 51ÁÔÆæ credits taken as audit or credit\/no credit do not apply to your 51ÁÔÆæ GPA. If a student wants to receive a letter grade for a course, they should not specify audit or credit\/no credit as a grading basis when registering on PAWS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Letter Grades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    51ÁÔÆæ uses a letter grade system that includes \u201cplus\u201d and \u201cminus\u201d grades and is based on a 4.000 scale. For convenience in computing averages, each letter grade carries a specified number of points per credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grade Point Chart<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    A<\/strong><\/td>4.000<\/td>C<\/strong><\/td>2.000<\/td><\/tr>
    A-<\/strong><\/td>3.670<\/td>C-<\/strong><\/td>1.670<\/td><\/tr>
    B+<\/strong><\/td>3.330<\/td>D+<\/strong><\/td>1.330<\/td><\/tr>
    B<\/strong><\/td>3.000<\/td>D<\/strong><\/td>1.000<\/td><\/tr>
    B-<\/strong><\/td>2.670<\/td>D-<\/strong><\/td>0.670<\/td><\/tr>
    C+<\/strong><\/td>2.330<\/td>F<\/strong><\/td>0.000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Other Grade Values<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    C<\/strong><\/td>Credit: C- or higher in a \u201cCredit\/No Credit\u201d course (will not be calculated into GPA)<\/td><\/tr>
    NC<\/strong><\/td>No Credit: D+ or lower in a \u201cCredit\/No Credit\u201d course (will not be calculated into GPA)<\/td><\/tr>
    NR<\/strong><\/td>Not reported: Grade was not submitted in time to be reported<\/td><\/tr>
    I<\/strong><\/td>Incomplete<\/td><\/tr>
    P<\/strong><\/td>Progress (research and thesis course work still in progress)<\/td><\/tr>
    S<\/strong><\/td>Satisfactory (audit and zero-credit courses only)<\/td><\/tr>
    U<\/strong><\/td>Unsatisfactory (zero-credit courses only except for English 090\/095, Linguistics 096 and Math 090\/095, which are assigned letter grades though they carry no degree or GPA credit)<\/td><\/tr>
    UNREC<\/strong><\/td>Unrecorded \u2013 Audit Only (the course will not be entered on your academic record)<\/td><\/tr>
    W<\/strong><\/td>Course dropped by student after fourth week of semester or first quarter of shorter session<\/td><\/tr>
    WR<\/strong><\/td>Administrative Drop (enrollment in course violates permitted number of repeats)<\/td><\/tr>
    R<\/strong><\/td>Repeat Course (counts in GPA)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    F Grade Policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you fail a course, you don\u2019t receive any Grade Points. One \u201cF\u201d can greatly lower your GPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    51ÁÔÆæ maintains a \u201cF\u201d grading system due to Federal compliance requirements for students receiving financial aid. When reporting a grade of \u201cF,\u201d instructors will also report a number corresponding to the student\u2019s \u201cweek of last participation\u201d in the course. A student receiving the grade \u201cF0\u201d would have never attended or participated, and a student with a grade of \u201cF16\u201d would signify completion of the entire term. The numeral for \u201cweek of last participation\u201d will be reflected on unofficial transcripts and grade reports. On official transcripts, only the grade of \u201cF\u201d will be reflected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re in danger of earning an \u201cF,\u201d work with your course instructor and Academic Advisor to see what options you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Incomplete Policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You may be given an Incomplete if you have carried a subject successfully until near the end of the semester but, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond your control, have been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of coursework. An incomplete is not given unless you prove to the instructor that you were prevented from completing the course requirements for just cause as indicated above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Undergraduates are required to complete a course marked Incomplete prior to the end of the next succeeding semester (excluding summer sessions and UWinteriM). If the Incomplete is not removed during this period, the grade of \u201cI\u201d<\/strong> will lapse to \u201cF\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Graduate students should contact the Graduate School<\/a> for more information on the incomplete policy for graduate students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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    Honors Designations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A complete list of Honors offered by Undergraduate degree programs appears with the information about each degree in our Academic Catalog<\/a>.  Select from a list of undergraduate majors<\/a>, and you\u2019ll find an \u201cHonors\u201d tab listed for each major. For example, your School or College may award Departmental Honors<\/strong> or Honors in the Major<\/strong>, or may include information on scholastic honor societies related to your area of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Each School or College offers Commencement Honors<\/strong> (a recognition that grants a student a gold cord distinction for the purposes of the graduation ceremony) and Final Honors<\/strong> (a distinction on your transcript to highlight degrees awarded Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude). As above, the specifications to earn these distinctions are noted with other Honors information in the Catalog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Dean\u2019s Honors List<\/a> identifies the names of students who have earned Dean\u2019s Honors<\/strong> each semester.  The Dean\u2019s List is finalized and will be published approximately one month after the end of the final grading period each semester, excluding UWinteriM. This timing allows for grade reporting, grade changes, the clearing of Incompletes, and other end-of-semester actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Criteria for earning Dean\u2019s Honors are based on your academic program. Degree-seeking students who enroll through Pathway Advising have their Honors requirements listed on their program page in the Academic Catalog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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    Academic Actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The university-wide Academic Action Policy holds you, as an enrolled 51ÁÔÆæ student, to minimum standards of academic achievement. Individual schools and colleges may adopt stricter criteria, and you should consult the school\/college advising offices for specific information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The standard minimum Grade Point Average for a 51ÁÔÆæ undergraduate is 2.0, which is equal to a \u201cC\u201d grade. The standard is based on your Cumulative (total) Grade Point Average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Graduate Students must maintain a 3.0 or better. Contact the Graduate School<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unacceptable academic performance will result in formal academic action. The following actions are recorded on the unofficial transcript: (1) Academic Probation; (2) Academically Dropped for One Semester; (3) Final Probation and (4) Academically Dropped for Two Years. Your official transcript will document any Academic Drop action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Academic Probation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Probation is a formal academic action that documents unacceptable performance on your unofficial transcript. If your cumulative GPA falls below 2.000 at the end of any grading term, you will be placed on Academic Probation. As long as your GPA in subsequent semesters remains above 2.000, you can continue to take classes even if your cumulative GPA remains below 2.000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once your cumulative GPA increases to 2.000 or higher, you will clear probation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Academically Dropped for One Semester<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you are placed on Academic Probation and your GPA in a subsequent semester falls below 2.000, you will be Academically Dropped for One Semester.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Final Probation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you are Academically Dropped for any period of time and are permitted to enroll, you would return on Final Probation. As long as your GPA in subsequent semesters remains above 2.000, you can continue to take classes even if your cumulative GPA remains below 2.000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once your cumulative GPA increases to 2.000 or higher, you will clear probation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Academically Dropped for Two Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you are placed on Final Probation and your GPA in a subsequent semester falls below 2.000, you will be Academically Dropped for Two Years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Academic Drop & Reinstatement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    An Academic Drop is dismissal from the university for academic ineligibility. Academic Drop status is initiated by administrative offices and you must apply for readmission before you will be allowed to resume work at 51ÁÔÆæ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You may be reinstated immediately after a drop action or readmitted after the specified drop period (one semester or two years). If readmitted or reinstated, you will be placed on Final Probation. These actions (reinstatement or readmission) may only be taken by the dean of the school or college by which you were dropped. Even if you wish to change your field of study upon reentry to 51ÁÔÆæ, you still need to obtain official permission to re-enter from the academic dean of the school or college from which you were dropped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you were Academically Dropped for any amount of time and you wish to change your field of study, you must first obtain permission to re-enter from the academic dean of the school or college from which you were dropped. When reapplying, indicate your current desired field of study in the appropriate box on the application. If readmitted, you must contact the academic dean of the school or college you wish to transfer to and initiate the process of officially changing your classification. It may be beneficial to contact the academic dean of your new school or college to discuss the possibility of reclassification before you apply for admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Academic Renewal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The Academic Renewal Policy (PDF)<\/a> aims to make it possible for undergraduate students who attended 51ÁÔÆæ years before, attained low GPAs, and left without completing their degree to return without suffering all the consequences from their previous poor performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Undergraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria below may apply for Academic Forgiveness through their school\/college academic advising unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Academic Renewal Request Form (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The advising unit may require information in addition to the form in order to make a decision. Students should consult with their advisor for details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Minimum Eligibility Criteria<\/h4>\n\n\n\n