Grading System
Grades are assigned on an alphabetical A-F scale, with +/- marks added at the instructor's discretion. Several non-letter marks are also used: "H" (audit), "S" (satisfactory, credit toward graduation), "U" (unsatisfactory, no credit), "X" (deferred work), "W" (withdrawn before quality of work could be determined), "WP" (withdrawn passing), and "WF" (withdrawn failing) — the source states these seven marks are grade-point neutral.
"I" (Incomplete) is assigned only for serious illness or another unavoidable delay near the end of a course. Instructors set a completion deadline of up to 60 days; an unresolved Incomplete automatically lapses to a grade of "F".
Pass/Fail grading ("S"/"U") is used for student teaching and field experiences, and is otherwise open to juniors and above for one elective course per semester in their final four semesters (major, minor, required-support, and general-education courses are excluded). A passing grade under this option requires "C" quality of work or better.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026
GPA Calculation and Course Repeats
Cumulative grade point average is calculated as total grade points earned divided by total semester hours attempted; a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.
- If a course is retaken after a grade of "F," only the higher of the two grades counts toward the cumulative GPA.
- With department chair consent, a course graded "C-," "D+," "D," or "D-" may be retaken once, with the higher grade counting toward the cumulative GPA.
- A course graded "C-" or below may instead be repeated at another institution to fulfill degree requirements, again with the higher grade counting toward the cumulative GPA.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026
Academic Standing
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA that rises with semester hours attempted: 1.5 for 1-18 hours, 1.7 for 19-29 hours, 1.8 for 30-45 hours, 1.9 for 46-59 hours, and 2.0 for 60 or more hours attempted.
- Dean's List: semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Academic Warning: falling below the sliding-scale minimum above, or a semester GPA below 1.0.
- Academic Probation: a first-semester GPA of 0.5 or less, or no improvement after a semester on warning.
- Academic Suspension: cumulative GPA below 0.667 with fewer than 18 cumulative credits, below 1.0 with more than 18 cumulative credits, or a first-semester GPA of 0.0.
- Academic Dismissal: for students on probation who do not return to good standing or fulfill their probation conditions.
Transfer students' academic standing is based on their prior-institution cumulative GPA for their first semester at Olivet, then on the Olivet-accepted coursework GPA thereafter.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026
Graduation Requirements
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation from undergraduate programs; graduate master's and doctoral candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Bachelor's degree candidates must complete either their last 30 semester hours in residence at Olivet, or 15 of their last 30 hours in residence with no less than 45 total semester hours of Olivet residence credit; associate's degree candidates must complete 15 of their last 30 hours in residence with no less than 30 total hours of Olivet residence credit.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026
Graduation Honors
Graduation with highest honors (summa cum laude) requires a cumulative GPA of 3.90; high honors (magna cum laude) requires 3.70; honors (cum laude) requires 3.50. A student who completed part of their coursework at another institution has these honors GPAs calculated on the total work accepted toward the degree.
Dean's List recognition requires a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher with 12 or more hours attempted. Departmental Honors requires a 3.5 GPA in the student's major field.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026
Transfer Credit and GPA
Courses graded "F" are not accepted for transfer credit, though they may be calculated in the GPA used for admission, initial financial aid, and initial athletic eligibility. After one term of attendance, only the grades of courses accepted in transfer count toward the cumulative GPA used for academic standing, graduation, graduation honors, financial aid, and athletic eligibility.
Graduate transfer credit is normally not accepted, except up to two courses (6 credit hours) with a grade of "B" or higher accepted as a substitute for comparable core courses, if completed within five years of matriculation.
Source: official document — verified Sep 2026