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Section 3: Student Expectations and Responsibilities:
Walden's Grading Policy

The guidelines and policies that follow are designed to provide faculty and students with a common understanding of Walden’s expectations on important issues in the classroom.

Walden’s standard grading policy will be used in each course. For more information, see the Course Grading Scales section of this Walden University Student Handbook.

For the specific grading policies and standards of each course, please review the course syllabus and any course assignment rubrics that may be included in the course materials.

Late Assignments

Undergraduate Student Work

Walden expects students to submit assignments in a timely fashion according to schedules published in course information (syllabi and/or calendars). Assignments (e.g., applications, projects, journals, blogs, Check Your Knowledge or Tests for Understanding, quizzes, exams, etc.) submitted beyond the deadline, outside of an emergency, documented illness, or without prior consent of the instructor, will receive a grade reduction of 10% off of the total assignment points for each day past the original deadline up to 7 days. Late assignments submitted beyond the 7-day late period will receive zero points.  

Discussion posts submitted after the deadline do not contribute to the weekly discussion or add value to the overall class experience. Therefore, late Discussion posts submitted outside of an emergency, documented illness, or without prior consent of the instructor, will only be awarded partial credit for the initial (content) post if submitted within 7 days of the original deadline. “Partial credit” for the initial (content) post will be defined as 10% off of the total Discussion points for each day past the original deadline up to 7 days. Initial (content) posts submitted beyond the 7-day late period will receive zero points. No points will be awarded for late peer feedback posts for any reason, including a documented illness.

Assignments submitted after the last day of class, unless due to an excused absence as defined above, will be not be accepted and will not be graded.

Further, late assignments may not receive the same level of written feedback as do assignments submitted on time. A pattern of chronic lateness in submitting assignments may result in a reduction in the course grade.

Graduate Student Work

Walden expects students to submit assignments in a timely fashion according to schedules published in course information (syllabi and/or calendars). Assignments submitted late due to agreements between student and instructor for preplanned absences and due to emergency absences do not normally receive any grade reduction for tardiness. The university recommends that late assignments be accepted no more than a week past their due dates.

Assignments submitted late without prior agreement of the instructor, outside of an emergency absence, or in violation of agreements for late submission, may receive grade reduction for the assignment, or may not be accepted for grading, at the discretion of the instructor and as published in course syllabi. Further, late assignments may not receive the same level of written feedback as do assignments submitted on time. A pattern of chronic lateness in submitting assignments may result in a reduction in the course grade. See also Student Attendance and Engagement.

Incomplete Grades

Walden strongly discourages grades of “I” (Incomplete). However, Walden understands that there are certain circumstances under which a grade of “I” (Incomplete) is appropriate.

Grades of “I” (Incomplete) are given at the discretion of the instructor, but normally are granted only if students have acceptably completed the majority of the coursework, including discussions and assignments, prior to the last day of the class. Students must request a grade of “I” (Incomplete) prior to the last day of the course. Such a request should include a list of missing assignments and a date and plan for submission of missing assignments, no later than 80 calendar days from the last date of the course. Discussion assignments may not be made up after the last date of class. Coursework submitted within the allowed time period, not to exceed 80 calendar days from the last day of classes, will be graded and included in computation of an overall course grade that will replace the “I” grade. Failure to complete the specified coursework within the allowed time will cause the grade of “I” to default to an “F” (Fail) or “U” (Unsatisfactory), depending on the course grading scheme.