Catalogue 07-08: Grading and Evaluations
Please note that this is the March 2007 version of the 2007-2008 Catalogue. Information within is accurate as of this date. Subject to change without notice.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Student Evaluations
Assignment of Incomplete and Withdrawn Grades
Plagiarism/Academic Honesty
Program and Course Evaluations
Birthingway College of Midwifery uses the following grading system:
In Progress = Student is currently enrolled in the course.
Complete = All work must be completed and turned in. At least 80% of work is correct and the remainder partially correct. Equivalent to a B+/3.5 or better in other grading systems.
Incomplete = Student needs to complete work in the course. An “Incomplete” is allowed to remain for six weeks, after which it is changed to “Withdrawn”.
Drop = Student withdrew from the class within the first 25% of the course. Class not counted for Student Academic Progress.
Withdrawn = Student has withdrawn, or been withdrawn, from course.
Birthingway does not issue letter grades, with the exception of the Anatomy and Physiology course and the Writing for Midwives course. These courses are graded on a percentage basis, with 90+% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, 59% or below, no credit.
Birthingway does not issue failing grades.
To graduate, all required coursework must have a grade of “Complete.”
Satisfactory Academic Progress
A student is deemed to be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress when at least 75% of all credits attempted within an academic year are graded "Complete" at the end of the academic year in which the course was taken. "Incomplete" and "Withdrawn" courses are considered attempted but are not considered successfully completed. "Attempted" means not dropped/withdrawn during the first 25% of scheduled class sessions for the course.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is calculated at the end of winter term. If a student does not meet the requirements at that time, they are put on Academic Probation. A student on Academic Probation cannot receive Federal Student Aid and/or Veteran's Administration benefits. Students will be notified in writing by the Student Affairs Coordinator of their failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
While on probation, academic progress is monitored every term. If a student meets the Satisfactory Academic Progress standard at the end of a probationary term, they will be returned to regular standing and will be eligible for financial aid for the next term. If not, they will stay on probation. A student may be on probation for a total of one consecutive academic year, after which they will be put on Academic Suspension.
A student who has been suspended may not register or attend classes until they have completed a remediation plan created with a College advisor. Remediation will constitute rectifying past course deficiencies. A student who takes no action to create a remediation plan, fails to make progress, or fails to complete a plan within one academic year of suspension will be withdrawn from the College. If they wish to attend Birthingway again in the future, they will have to reapply as a new student. In their application, students will need to address the issue of their termination and what changes they have made in their life to ensure satisfactory progress at Birthingway in the future.
In compliance with federal requirements, any courses accepted in transfer must be included when determining Satisfactory Academic Progress. If an incoming student's transferred credits would put the student below a C/2.0 standing, they will be considered on Trial Status for their first term at Birthingway and will not receive financial aid that term, or until they are maintaining a 75% completion level.
Courses that students drop within the first 25% of class sessions are not taken into account when determining Satisfactory Academic Progress. However, withdrawals on or after the day of the following class session are. "Incomplete" courses are considered when determining Satisfactory Academic Progress, and can detrimentally affect a student's completion rate. Non-credit or audited courses and workshops are not considered when calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress. Courses may not be repeated for credit unless the course was not previously completed successfully.
Students may attempt only 150% of the number of credits required to graduate in their particular program before becoming ineligible for financial aid. Students who maintain a 75% completion rate and follow the recommended course sequence will complete the program prior to exceeding this limit. The percentage of credits attempted versus the percentage of credits completed in the program is checked annually. Students who exceed the 150% limit may continue to attend Birthingway but will need to fund their education through other sources.
Mitigating circumstances: If a student becomes seriously ill or injured, has a serious illness or death in the immediate family, or has another extreme circumstance that affects academic work, Birthingway may give a one-term grace period when determining whether the student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress. In this case, the courses from the affected term will not be taken into account when determining the student's Academic Progress. A grace period can be given for one term only. A student who is still experiencing mitigating circumstances after one term should consider not taking classes for a term or two. A student requesting a grace period due to mitigating circumstances should contact the Student Affairs Coordinator in writing, including appropriate documentation (such as letters from a health care provider).
Appeals: Please see COMPLAINTS, GRIEVANCES
Student Evaluations
Examinations
The purpose of exams is to evaluate strong and weak areas of student knowledge so that weaknesses can be corrected, as well as to familiarize students with test-taking in preparation for licensing and certification exams. As such, correcting the exam is at least as important as taking it. Exams are taken using blue or black ink and students correct their own exams in green ink so that additions are visible. In most core classes exams are taken during the class session one week before the final class day. Exams are corrected on the final class day. The instructor then reviews and grades the corrected exam.
All exams are graded as "pass" or "no pass." A passing grade requires that 80% of all questions are answered correctly and completely, and the remaining 20% must have at least partially correct answers. Anything less results in a "no pass" grade.
When an exam yields a "no pass," the student and instructor together create an individual program to remedy weaknesses in the student's knowledge base. Such a remediation program could include additional reading, worksheets and study questions, preparing a special report, retaking a section of the written exam, oral examination over the material or retaking relevant portions of the course. At the point that the student has demonstrated mastery of the material, the exam grade is changed to "pass." The student has six weeks from the last day of the term to remediate work or a grade of “withdrawn” will be assigned.
Class work and Homework
In addition to examination, students will be evaluated on quality, completeness, and timeliness of class presentations and assignments, on participation in class discussion, and on progress in attaining clinical skills. Homework is due as described in the individual course syllabi. It is at the discretion of the faculty to accept, or not, assignments turned in after the due date and to decide whether circumstances justify giving an “Incomplete” rather than a “Withdrawn” at the end of the term. If a required course receives a “Withdrawn” for any reason, it must be retaken and paid for at the current tuition rate.
Clinical Skills
Some clinical skills will be taught and evaluated in the classroom, while others must by necessity be evaluated by the midwife supervising the apprenticeship. Clinical skills are appraised using the College’s “Skills Assessment Checklist” as well as Practical Skills Guide for Midwifery, 3rd edition, by Weaver and Evans, a required first year text.
Evaluation Conferences
Once each academic year, individual students should meet with the Student Affairs Coordinator to review their progress in all areas, assess needs, and give general and specific input about the program. A written summary of the conference is placed in the student's permanent record. Students should meet with the Student Affairs Coordinator at least once during each term that they register for clinical practicum. Formal evaluation meetings will be schedules with each second year student over the summer and again before moving on to third year (March).
Assignment of “Incomplete” and “Withdrawn” Grades
To receive a grade of “Pass,” a student must have completed 100% of all required work in a course, with 80% of the work completely correct, and the remaining 20% at least partially correct. This criteria applies to ALL work -- exams, homework, and in-class assignments. Assigned work is due on the date designated by the teacher. Teachers must grade and return assignments to students as soon as possible, usually within two weeks.
Work that is turned in on time, but that requires remediation
If a student turns in work on time, but the work does not meet the 80%/20% criteria, the assignment will be given a grade of “Incomplete.” The teacher will indicate how long the student has to remediate the work, up to one month from the time the assignment was returned to her.
If any work remains unremediated at the end of a term, then a grade of “Incomplete” will be assigned for the course.
Work that is NOT turned in on time
Classroom faculty set their own policies around acceptance of late work. Some teachers will not accept any late work, others will allow a small percentage of assignments to be turned in late. Some will assign a grade of “Incomplete” if any late work remains ungraded at the end of a term, others assign a “Withdrawn.” It is completely up to the teacher; however, if late work is accepted, College policy states that it must be turned in within four weeks of its original due date.
If a student fails to complete work by the end of the term or turns in work after the assigned deadline, the student will either receive a grade of “Withdrawn” or a grade of “Incomplete,” depending upon the teacher’s stated policy. If the teacher opts to assign a grade of “Incomplete,” then she/he will set a deadline by which the work must be completed.
When working to remedy an “Incomplete,” students should plan on turning in work well before the deadline, to allow time for grading and remediation if necessary. If the work does not meet the 80%/20% criteria, it will be returned to the student to redo. ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED – TURNED IN AND 80% CORRECT/20% PARTIALLY CORRECT – BY THE DEADLINE.
IMPORTANT! All course “Incomplete” grades must be remedied no later than six weeks after the end of the term.
To provide time for grading, teachers may decide on an earlier deadline for a student to turn in work to finish the course. Unless a Special Circumstances extension has been approved, after six weeks the grade will automatically be changed to “Withdrawn” if all work has not been graded and is complete – NO EXCEPTIONS!
Plagiarism / Academic Honesty
Acts of academic dishonesty will result in dismissal from the College. Questions regarding academic honesty should be directed to the Student Affairs Coordinator.
Plagiarism is the act of claiming someone else’s work as your own without giving the creator of the work credit. When students submit research papers or essays, faculty members expect students to present their own and not borrowed work. Violations of this ethic occur when a student copies source materials, (including books, magazines, information from the internet, or interviews) without acknowledging the source. It is also plagiarism to: present rearranged wording of source materials as one’s own wording; to submit the same paper, or significant parts thereof, for two (or more) different course requirements; or to turn in a paper that was borrowed, stolen or purchased from someone else. Plagiarism can even include using another person’s theories, ideas, or phrases without proper attribution. The simplest way to avoid plagiarizing is to always cite the sources from which you gather information or develop arguments. Plagiarism is a serious issue and is a violation of Birthingway’s Code of Conduct.
Program and Course Evaluations
Students, faculty, graduates, and alumni of Birthingway, as well as community members are welcome to provide input concerning Birthingway’s curriculum, student services, facilities, supplies, or any other aspect of the college.
Upon completion of each course section, students are encouraged to turn in a written evaluation of the course. Course Evaluation Forms are available in the classroom or from the front office. Students should realize that written input has more power to effect change than verbal comments, although these are also welcome. The course evaluation may include input on any or all of the following: course content and organization, handouts, audio-visual aids, instructor’s teaching style and technique, guest lecturers, ideas for improvement or additions, and any other input the student might wish to provide. An evaluation form is available from the office for student use (see Appendices). All course evaluations will be read by the President, with appropriate follow-up. Copies of course evaluations will be sent directly to the instructor, placed in their faculty file, and stored in a labeled binder in the office for public inspection.