Grading & Evaluation

Grading Scale
Revised February 13, 2026

A (94-100): Excellent
Quality of Work: Demonstrates a high level of understanding, critical thinking, and creativity.
Characteristics: Consistently strong performance, well-organized, insightful analysis, and effective communication.

A- (90-93): Very Good
Quality of Work: Demonstrates a strong level of understanding, critical thinking, and creativity.
Characteristics: Solid performance, well-organized, clear analysis, and effective communication.

B+ (87-89): Good
Quality of Work: Demonstrates a good level of understanding, critical thinking, and creativity.
Characteristics: Competent performance, well-organized, adequate analysis, and effective communication.

B (84-86): Satisfactory
Quality of Work: Demonstrates a satisfactory level of understanding, critical thinking, and creativity.
Characteristics: Meets expectations, generally well-organized, basic analysis, and clear communication.

B- (80-83): Passing
Quality of Work: Demonstrates a minimal level of understanding, critical thinking, and creativity.
Characteristics: Meets minimum requirements, limited but present analysis, and adequate communication and organization.

C+, C, and C– can all be assigned as final grades. Note that only grades of B- (2.70) and above may count toward degree completion. Any course required for one’s degree program for which C+ or below is earned must be repeated.

F (Failing)
Work does not meet criteria identified above.

Grade of Incomplete
This policy allows a student with extenuating circumstances a brief extension (maximum 60 days) to complete outstanding work after the end of a semester or program end date despite deadlines set forth in the syllabus. In rare situations, an extension beyond 60 days may be granted due to health or other extraordinary circumstances. For all courses other than the program-specific capstone course, the extension to complete outstanding work granted cannot be more than a total of 120 days after the end of the semester or program end date. For the graduate-level Capstone course ONLY, the extension to complete will be granted until the last day of the following semester.

Grade Change Policy
When a grade is submitted to the Registrar’s Office, it is considered final, except for Incomplete (I) grades. The grade cannot be changed except by the instructor. The student has the right to appeal a grade in writing to the instructor within six months of the posting of the grade. If the instructor accepts the appeal, the instructor will submit a Grade Change Form to the registrar. If the instructor denies that appeal, the student may appeal to the Provost’s Office, which is composed of one assistant dean, the registrar, and two relevant faculty who are not in any way connected to the case. All grade changes must be submitted on the Grade Change Form. Note: If grade change is submitted more than six months from the end of the semester in which the course was offered, the change must be approved by the provost’s office. No grade change will be considered after one year from the end of the semester in which the course was offered.

Grade Appeal

Phase One
A student seeking a grade change must first, within 60 days of the posting of the grade, write a formal grade appeal letter directed to their academic director or program director or SIT Graduate Institute faculty (henceforth all referred to as faculty), providing any supporting documents for the grade appeal. In considering the appeal, the faculty relies on the materials and information the student submitted. The faculty may also consult with appropriate in-country faculty and reevaluate work that may have remained in-country and any other documentation relevant to the specific course(s) being appealed. Within 30 days of receipt of the appeal letter, the faculty must send a written response to the student. If the grade has been changed, the faculty submits a grade change form to the SIT registrar.

Phase Two
If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the first phase and wants to proceed further, they must submit a second appeal letter, in writing, within 30 days to the appropriate academic dean. This second appeal letter must include all relevant materials, documentation, and information. The faculty is also asked to provide documentation. The academic dean then gathers all the documentation and forwards all documents to an
SIT Academic Review Board which is composed of one academic dean and two relevant faculty who are not in any way connected to the case.
The Academic Review Board will decide on the appeal, and their decision will be communicated to the student by the academic dean within 30 days after receiving the appeal letter and documentation. The academic dean will also communicate with the faculty and the registrar, in case of a grade change.

Phase Three
Should the student want to appeal the Academic Review Board’s decision, they must send a third appeal letter to SIT’s chief academic officer, with a copy to the academic dean. This must be done within 30 days of receipt of the Academic Review Board’s decision. This appeal must be based only on the evidence and rationale previously considered by the SIT Academic Review Board. The chief academic officer will review the official record of these proceedings. The chief academic officer’s decision is final, and they will notify the involved individuals within 30 days of receipt of the student’s final appeal. If the student’s appeal results in a change to the academic record, the SIT registrar updates the student record.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The U.S. Department of Education implemented Program Integrity Rules to protect Title IV students and taxpayers, effective July 1, 2011. One component of the rules requires SIT to adopt an institutional Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy to ensure (Title IV) students are making measurable progress toward satisfactory completion of a program. They include the standards by which SIT must measure progress toward satisfactory completion of a program.