Other Grade and Transcript Notations
Beyond the letter grades that carry grade points, Columbus State issues several notations that appear on a transcript but are not part of the point scale:
- S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) — award or withhold credit but are not calculated into the GPA.
- N (Non-Traditional Credit) — credit for life experience, not calculated into the GPA.
- X (Proficiency Examination) — credit for "testing out" of a class, not calculated into the GPA.
- W (Withdrawal) and AW (Administrative Withdrawal) — attempted credit not calculated into the GPA.
- I (Incomplete) — automatically changes to an E if course work is not completed within six weeks after the start of the next semester.
- R (Audit) — no college credit is awarded.
- Z (Fresh Start) — marks a grade deleted from the transcript under the Fresh Start Rule; not calculated into the GPA.
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) sections 1, 3 — verified Aug 2026
How the GPA Is Calculated
The cumulative GPA is computed by multiplying the grade points earned for each course by its GPA credit hours, summing across all courses, and dividing by the total GPA credit hours. Grade notations S, U, N, X, W, AW, I, R, K, KD and Z are excluded from this calculation. A grade earned in a developmental course counts toward the student's overall GPA but not toward the graduation GPA.
Only the most recent grade for a repeated course is used in the GPA; the earlier grade remains on the transcript but is replaced for GPA purposes once the repeat grade posts.
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) sections 5(a), 16(a)-(b) — verified Aug 2026
Satisfactory Academic Progress and Academic Standing
Satisfactory academic progress requires a cumulative GPA rising with credit hours attempted:
| GPA Credits | Cumulative GPA Required |
|---|---|
| 1–16 | 1.50 or higher |
| 17–32 | 1.60 or higher |
| 33–43 | 1.75 or higher |
| 44–54 | 1.90 or higher |
| 55 or more | 2.00 or higher |
A student below this standard moves through a sequence of standings: Academic Warning (first time term GPA falls below 2.00, after the first semester), Academic Probation (cumulative GPA below standard beyond the second semester, with 24 additional credit hours to recover), Academic Suspension (still below standard after the probation period, barring enrollment the following semester pending a readmission petition), Conditional Enrollment (after an approved readmission), and Academic Dismissal (term and cumulative GPA both still below standard during Conditional Enrollment, barring enrollment for three semesters).
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) sections 2, 13 — verified Aug 2026
GPA and Graduation
A grade earned in a developmental course is included in a student's overall GPA but is excluded from the separate GPA used to determine graduation eligibility. A student must repeat any failed course and earn a passing grade in order to satisfy graduation requirements.
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) sections 5(a)(v), 16(b) — verified Aug 2026
Dean's List and Graduation Honors
The Dean's List is compiled each semester for students completing at least 6 credit hours with a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher; a student with an Incomplete (I) is not eligible.
Graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above graduate with honors:
| Honor | Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|
| Cum Laude | 3.500–3.799 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.800–3.949 |
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.950–4.000 |
The class valedictorian and salutatorian are the students with the highest and next-highest GPA, respectively, among those who completed the greatest number of credit hours at the College.
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) section 14 — verified Aug 2026
Transfer Credit Notation
Credit for a course taken at another institution requires a minimum earned grade of D to transfer. Where the earned grade was a D, the transcript records "K" followed by the letter grade ("KD"). K/KD credit is not calculated into the student's GPA, and the student must still meet College prerequisites for the course.
Source: Procedure 5-09(D) section 4 — verified Aug 2026
