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Information related to Academics in NEUST
System of Grading
NEUST employs a 5-point grading system to evaluate student performance in their courses. However, their precentage equivalents and descriptions vary depending on the professor but it appears that they commonly follow the table below starting at 70% and above for passing grades.
| 5-Point Scale | Percentage Scale (with Passing Grades starting at 70%) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 96.64% - 100.00% | Excellent |
| 1.25 | 93.31% - 96.63% | Excellent |
| 1.50 | 89.98% - 93.30% | Very Good |
| 1.75 | 86.65% - 89.97% | Very Good |
| 2.00 | 83.32% - 86.64% | Good |
| 2.25 | 79.99% - 83.31% | Good |
| 2.50 | 76.66% - 79.98% | Satisfactory |
| 2.75 | 73.33% - 76.65% | Satisfactory |
| 3.00 | 70.00% - 73.32% | Passing |
| 4.00 | 69.00% - 69.00% | Conditional |
| 5.00 | Below 69.00% | Failure |
| INC | N/A | Incomplete |
| UD | N/A | Unofficially Dropped |
| OD | N/A | Officially Dropped |
4.00 / Conditional — This grade indicates that a student has not yet completed all the requirements for a course. The student is given a "removal" exam, where passing it will convert the grade into a passing grade (3.00) and nothing higher. If the student does not pass the exam, the grade automatically converts to 5.00 / Failure.
INC / Incomplete — This grade is given when a student has not completed all course requirements due to valid reasons, such as illness, but does have a passing grade at the time. The student must complete the requirements within a year to convert this grade into the earned grade. Failure to do so will result in the grade converting to the original earned grade. For example, if a student has an INC with an earned grade of 2.00, failing to complete the requirements will convert the INC to 2.00. But if they completed the requirements and earned a 1.75, the INC would convert to 1.75.
UD / Unofficially Dropped — This grade is assigned to students by the professors who stop attending classes without formally dropping the course. It indicates that the student has withdrawn from the course without following the official procedures. The student will need to retake the course in the next academic year if they wish to complete it.
OD / Officially Dropped — This grade is given to students who officially drop a course before the mid-term examination by the Office of Admission and Registration. It indicates that the student has formally withdrawn from the course without any academic penalty.
Latin Honors
According to the NEUST Student Handbook (2023 Edition), Latin Honors are awarded based on the following GWA criteria:
| Honor | GWA Range |
|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 1.00 - 1.20 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 1.21 - 1.45 |
| Cum Laude | 1.46 - 1.75 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Latin Honors, a student must meet the following conditions:
- Must have completed at least 76% of the required academic units for their degree program in NEUST.
- Must have been enrolled in the university for a minimum of two (2) academic years.
- Must have taken not less than 15 units during each semester.
- Must not have any grades below 2.00 (2.25 - 5.00) in any course.
Academic Distinction Award
The Academic Distinction Award is given to students who achieve a GWA of 1.75 or better, provided they meet the following criteria as outlined in the NEUST Student Handbook (2023 Edition):
- Must have completed at least 75% of the required academic units for their degree program in NEUST.
- Must have taken not less than 15 units or the normal load prescribed in the curriculum during each semester.
- Must not have any grades that are failing (5.00), incomplete (INC), and dropped throughout their recidency.
Awards Comparison
There are different sorts of academic awards in NEUST, each with its own criteria and significance, which are summarized below:
| Award | Criteria | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Honors | Based on GWA ranges (1.00-1.20, 1.21-1.45, 1.46-1.75) and other academic conditions. | Recognizes outstanding academic achievement upon graduation, however is there must be no grades below 2.00 in any course. |
| Academic Distinction Award | GWA of 1.75 or better with specific academic conditions met. | Acknowledges high academic performance during a student's tenure, even if not graduating with Latin Honors. |
| Dean's Lister | Typically requires a GWA of 1.75 or better for a specific semester. Depending on the Department. | Recognizes students who excel academically in a particular semester, highlighting consistent performance. This is not an award given during graduation, but rather a semester-based recognition. Additionally, not all departments may have this award and requirements may vary. |
| NEUST Honor's Society | Usually requires a GWA of 1.75 or better and also have no grades below 2.00 in any course. Other criteria may apply based on the organization's rules. | This is a University Student Organization (USO). Students may apply for membership at the start of each academic year if they meet the organization's criteria — you need at least one semester that meets the requirements to apply. Note that you do need to reapply each academic year to maintain membership. |
Retention
Retention refers to the university's policy on maintaining enrollment status based on academic performance. According to the NEUST Student Handbook (2023 Edition), a student shall be retained in the university as long as they have passed all their subjects.
A student who fails in two (2) subjects in a semester shall still be retaubed, provided they re-enroll and pass the failed subjects in the succeeding academic year.
However, a student who fails in three (3) or more subjects equivalent to nine (9) or more units in a semester under a board program shall be advised to transfer to a non-board program. If the student fails under the same conditions in a non-board program, they shall be advised to transfer to another school.
Changing of Grades
According to the NEUST Student Handbook (2023 Edition), changes of grades caused by erroneous entry shall not prejudice the student but could be made in favor of the student. So basically, grades can only be increased but not decreased.
Once a faculty member has posted a final grade to the School Portal, the faculty member may request authorization from the Dean of the academic unit concerned, and approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), to change the final grade of a student. However, usually, such a request must be made within thirty (30) days from the time the grade was given.