Grading at Reed
Frequently Asked Questions
Entering Grades
Grade of S (Satisfactory)
Grade of UW (Unofficial Withdrawal)
Grade of IN (Incomplete)
Senior Grading
Grade of U (Unfinished Thesis)
Grade/Comment Changes
Entering Grades
I have a really big class and entering grades is time-consuming. Can I upload them from a file?
I used to receive an email confirming I'd recorded grades. Does that still happen?
Grade of S (Satisfactory)
What is the grade of S?
When and how is the S grade used?
When is the S grade not appropriate?
What is the opposite of an S grade?
Grade of UW (Unofficial Withdrawal)
What is a UW?
Can UW be a final grade?
Grade of IN (Incomplete)
When is a student eligible for an incomplete?
What must I do if I assign an incomplete?
Can an incomplete be recorded for thesis?
When is work due for an incomplete?
Why would I set an earlier deadline for an incomplete?
Does an incomplete thesis have a different deadline?
Senior Grading
How do I know whether I have seniors who are graduating in my class?
Why are there pass/fail grades in spring?
Are pass/fail grades final?
Why can't I record a pass/fail grade for thesis?
Can I record grades for graduating seniors but wait for the other students?
There is a senior on my roster, but the P/F option doesn't't show. How do I grade that senior?
Grade of U (Unfinished Thesis)
What is the grade of U?
When is work due for a U?
What is the difference between an IN and a U in thesis?
When a thesis is completed after an incomplete or U, what's next?
What happens if the student does not complete the thesis?
Grade/Comment Changes
Can I change a grade once I've recorded it?
How do I know if I can still change a recorded grade? How do I change it?
Can I change a comment once I've recorded it?
How do I change a comment once I've recorded the grade/comment?
If I wrote a comment that is incorrect, and it is too late for me to edit it, how can I have it corrected or removed?
I have a really big class and entering grades is time-consuming. Can I upload them from a file?
Yes. We have added an upload option to the grading page. Look for the notation "Import grades from .csv file." There is a help link to assist you with this feature. If you have difficulty, contact the registrar’s office.
I used to receive an email confirming I’d recorded grades. Does that still happen?
IRIS no longer generates an email to confirm submission of grades. You can check grades submitted in the class list page by selecting “review grades.”
What is the grade of S?
The grade of S may be assigned as a progress (temporary) grade to indicate that work is at the level of C or better.
When and how is the S grade used?
It may be assigned only at the first grading period for a course other than thesis. For thesis, the S grade may be assigned up to the final grade.
When is the S grade not appropriate?
S (satisfactory) grades may not be assigned to students on academic probation or in an overload. It may not be assigned as a spring eight-week grade in any year-long course other than thesis.
The S grade is never permitted as a final grade in any course.
What is the opposite of an S grade?
The grades of C-, D, or F are appropriate when a student is not doing satisfactory work.
What is a UW?
The notation UW (unofficial withdrawal) indicates the instructor is unable to evaluate a student's performance. Typically, this applies to a student who is registered but is not attending class. It is a non-punitive grade.
Can UW be a final grade?
UW can be recorded at the end of the semester only if UW was recorded at eight-week grading.
When is a student eligible for an incomplete?
Two conditions apply: 1) for reasons of health or extreme emergency, and 2) if the work completed up to the point of the incomplete is passing. The decision whether to grant an incomplete is the instructor’s.
What must I do if I assign an incomplete?
You must submit a comment and include the letter grade the student will earn if the missing work is NOT turned in. You must also list the work that must be submitted to complete the course.
Can an incomplete be recorded for thesis?
If the student meets the requirements above, a grade of IN for thesis must also be recommended by the division and approved by the Administration Committee.
When is work due for an incomplete?
In all but thesis, the deadline to submit work to the instructor is the Friday ten days prior to the first day of classes for the following semester. Instructors may set an earlier deadline. An extension to the deadline is permitted only by successful petition to the Administration Committee.
Why would I set an earlier deadline for an incomplete?
If the student encountered a short-term illness or emergency that resulted in a slight delay in their ability to complete the course, the incomplete deadline can be set to reflect that short-term difficulty. The faculty must inform the student of the deadline.
Does an incomplete in thesis have a different deadline?
The student must complete the thesis by the first day of classes in the subsequent term. Any extension requires a petition as above.
How do I know whether I have seniors who are graduating in my class?
On your class list page, classes with seniors enrolled will be flagged “seniors required.”
Why are there pass/fail grades in spring?
Finals end on Thursday, grades are due on Friday, and commencement is on Monday. Students are ineligible to participate in commencement unless they have completed all requirements. Rather than require faculty to finalize all senior grades before the Friday grade review, the faculty voted to allow pass/fail grades to determine eligibility for commencement.
Are pass/fail grades final?
No. P/F grades are temporary and must be replaced by a final grade. For students who fail a course, you can simply enter a final grade of F and record that grade, rather than use the P/F option.
Why can’t I record a pass/fail grade for thesis?
Because thesis finishes well before finals, the faculty agreed final thesis grades should be recorded. In addition, the Phi Beta Kappa selection includes a review of any recorded senior grades, so the more final grades that are recorded, the more complete that process can be.
Can I record grades for graduating seniors but wait for the other students?
Yes. You can record grades for seniors and select “record seniors only.” You can return to grade the remaining students later, before the deadline for submitting grades.
There is a senior on my roster, but the P/F option doesn't’t show. How do I grade that senior?
Seniors who are not graduating are not highlighted, and P/F grades are not needed. This includes those who have outstanding requirements they plan to complete in summer or fall, spring/fall seniors, etc. Submit a final grade for them with all other students.
What is the grade of U?
A U (Unfinished) signifies a thesis that is not finished at the end of the final semester in thesis. The thesis adviser has granted the student a summer or winter extension.
When is work due for a U?
The student must complete the thesis by the first day of classes in the subsequent term. Any extension requires a petition as above.
What is the difference between and IN and a U in thesis?
The incomplete must be for reasons beyond the student’s control (i.e., illness or extreme emergency) and must be approved by the division and the administration committee. The U is up to the faculty to decide. The U results in a fee; the IN does not.
When a thesis is completed after an incomplete or U, what’s next?
Four unbound copies are due to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline. The student has two weeks to defend the thesis, make revisions, and turn the final document in to the library.
What happens if the student does not complete the thesis?
If the thesis project is not completed, the grade of U or IN changes to an F.
Can I change a grade once I’ve recorded it?
Yes, but only when grades have not been moved to academic history. Typically, this means you can change a grade when grading is open in IRIS. Once grading closes, you will no longer be able to retract the grade. You must submit a change of grade request. Information about that process may be found at http://www.reed.edu/registrar/grade_instruc.html#grade_change.
How do I know if I can still change a recorded grade? How do I change it?
Click on the grade on the class list. If it can be retracted, you will see a new page that allows you to click on “retract grade.” You will then be returned to the grading page and can enter a different grade.
Can I change a comment once I’ve recorded it?
Yes, but only if grades have not been moved to academic history by the registrar’s office. When that happens, you will no longer be able to change a recorded comment.
How do I change a comment once I’ve recorded the grade/comment?
If the option is still available, you must first retract the grade, then both the grade and the comment can be changed.
If I wrote a comment that is incorrect, and it is too late for me to edit it, how can I have it corrected or removed?
Once comments and grades are in academic history, contact the registrar’s office. They will be able to remove the comment and you can record a new one.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Bradley
bradley@reed.edu
(503) 777-7295
Last updated October 11, 2021