Grading

Grading

This page covers grade submission, grading systems and curves, grade changes, incomplete grades, and independent study grading. For questions, contact [email protected].

1. Submitting Grades

Submit all grades via SSOL's Web Grading System. Faculty may assign TAs or administrative staff to enter grades as proxies, but each professor must make the final submission. Once approved, grades are posted overnight for students to view.

If you encounter login or access issues:

2. Grading System

Your class roster may include both CBS students and non-CBS cross-registrants. Both grading systems apply depending on the student's home school.

CBS and Non-CBS Grading System Equivalencies

3. Grading Curves (MBA/EMBA Only)

Curves apply to MBA/EMBA courses only — not MS or PhD courses. The curve may be applied to each section individually or across all sections you teach. Non-CBS cross-registrants must be included in the required grade distribution.

Core Courses

  • H: 25–30%
  • HP: 55–65%
  • P1 or below (LP, F): 10–15%

+/– grades may be applied with the following restrictions:

  • No H+ grades may be given in core courses.
  • The number of pluses (+) must be equal to or less than the number of minuses (–) across all grades in the course.

Do not post core course grades in Canvas. Grades will not be released to students until the curve requirement is met.

Elective Courses

  • H+ and A+: No more than 2%*
  • H+/H/H– and A+/A/A–: 50% or less
  • P/LP/F and C/D: 5% or more (recommended)

+/– grades may be applied without restriction.

*For courses with fewer than 50 students, no more than one H+ or A+ grade may be assigned.

Courses that do not adhere to the required guidelines will not be accepted. For resources on increasing grading consistency, visit the Samberg Teaching Resources page.

4. Grade Changes

Instructors are responsible for initiating grade changes via SSOL. Click Change Grades from the Web Grading menu.

5. Write-In Grades

If a student does not appear on your grade roster, use the Write-In section of the Grade Roster to enter their name, credentials, and grade. This is maintained as an electronic record for the instructor, department, and Registrar.

Note: Write-in grades do not automatically feed onto the student's transcript — they must be manually entered by the Registrar once the student is registered. Exchange students not on your roster should not be included in your grade distribution. The grading scheme for non-CBS students is A/B/C/D/F.

6. Incomplete Grades (MBA Students)

In cases of incapacitating illness, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity, instructors may grant an Incomplete (IN) grade. The instructor and student must agree on a completion date. The incomplete must be resolved by the degree conferral date or six months from the date the incomplete was earned, whichever is earlier. If a final grade is not submitted by this date, the IN reverts to F.

MBA students must apply for an incomplete through the Office of Student Affairs before an incomplete can be granted.

7. Grade Suppression for Missing Course Evaluations

Students who do not complete end-of-course feedback will have their grade withheld until one week after the grading deadline. The feedback window typically lasts 5 days beginning on the day of the final class session. Once closed, forms will not be reopened for individual students.

The Samberg Institute oversees the course evaluation process.

8. Independent Study Grading

Independent study courses use the same grading scale as electives, with two exceptions: the course is not subject to a curve, and H+ is not permitted for MBA or EMBA independent study courses.

  • With an assigned section: Submit grades via SSOL.
  • Without an assigned section: Email grades directly to [email protected].

For full details on supervising independent studies — including initiation, approval, faculty credit limits, and deliverables — see the Independent Study Guidelines page.