How Grades Are Assigned
The same letter-grade scale applies across all of Hawkeye Community College's programs, but instructors may adapt grading procedures within a course. Instructors must share their grading scale with students at the start of each course, apply it consistently across all sections they teach, and are not required to include plus or minus grades. Hawkeye records the letter grade exactly as reported by the instructor.
Source: Student Handbook — Grades — verified Aug 2026
Which Grades Count Toward GPA
Grades of I (Incomplete), N (Audit), O (Grade Requital), P (Credit Earned/Pass), Q (No Credit/No Pass), and W (Withdrew) are not included in the GPA calculation.
Grade Requital lets a student who received an "F" or "FW" (Failure to Withdraw) grade request that it be forgiven. To apply, a student submits a Grade Requital for Failure to Withdraw form, with documentation of extenuating circumstances, to their academic advisor; a committee appointed by the Registrar reviews the appeal and issues a decision within 30 days.
Source: Student Handbook — Grades / Dean's List Recognition & Grade Requital sections — verified Aug 2026
Academic Probation
If a student's current semester GPA or overall (cumulative) GPA falls below 2.00, the student is placed on academic probation for one semester. A student remains on probation until both the semester GPA and cumulative GPA are 2.00 or higher.
Source: Student Handbook — Grades / Academic Probation section — verified Aug 2026
GPA Requirement to Graduate
Students must have a minimum 2.00 GPA in their program to be eligible to graduate.
Source: Student Handbook — Grades / Academic Probation section — verified Aug 2026
Dean's List Recognition
Full-time students who successfully complete 12 or more credits during the fall or spring semester, with a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher for courses taken at Hawkeye Community College, are named to the Dean's List.
Grades of I, N, O, P, Q, W, and X do not count toward the 12-credit requirement for the Dean's List.
Source: Student Handbook — Grades / Dean's List Recognition section — verified Aug 2026