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Academic Affairs for the College of Allied Health Professions

Grading System

The grading system used by the programs within the College of Allied Health Professions for courses in which objective evaluation procedures such as examinations are employed is as follows. The grading scale below is used for most courses, or as outlined in each course syllabus. Additionally, the quality points are calculated according to the system below:

Grade Percentage Quality Points Other Grades
A+ 97.000-100 4.00 I – Incomplete
A 93.000-96.999 4.00 NR – No Report
A- 90.000-92.999 3.67 WX – Administrative withdrawal
B+ 87.000-89.999 3.33 W – Withdrawal
B 83.000-86.999 3.00 P – Pass
B- 80.000-82.999 2.67 NP – No Pass
C+ 77.000-79.999 2.33
C 73.000-76.999 2.00
C- 70.000-72.999 1.67
D+ 67.000-69.999 1.33
D 63.000-66.999 1.00
D- 60.000-62.999 .67
F 00.000-59.999 0.00

The Honors (H), Pass (P), Fail (F) grading system may be used for some courses when deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Class Standing and Promotion

The grade earned in each course is determined by the course instructor. Appropriate methods of evaluation may include written, oral and/or practical examinations, personal observation of performance, and appraisal of the quality of work performed for all required projects and assignments.

Any course for which all requirements have not been fulfilled by a student may be reported by the instructor as "Incomplete." The instructor thereby indicates that the student's progress in the course is satisfactory, and that the student has been allowed additional time to complete a course in which a passing grade is possible. Students must resolve a grade of “Incomplete” no more than one year from when the grade was issued; however, instructors may choose to grant a student less time to complete the course. If the student does not complete the course in the allowed additional time, a failing grade is reported for the course.

The faculty of each program reserves the right to recommend that a student withdraw if health, scholastic standing, clinical or laboratory performance, or other factors make it impractical and inadvisable for the student to continue in the program. For more information on program withdrawal, see Student Success and Academic Standing 3.6.

Credit Hour Definition

All programs in the College of Allied Health Professions adhere to the UNMC credit hour definition in their curricula. For more information on the UNMC credit hour definition, please see the UNMC Credit Hour Definition policy.

Program Curricula

All CAHP curricula must be submitted to and approved by the CAHP Curriculum Committee. Members of the committee represent each of the CAHP educational programs and are appointed by the Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions. Course syllabi are catalogued and archived, and maintained by CAHP Enrollment Management & Student Affairs.

For a listing of each program’s curriculum, visit the CAHP website and see the Curriculum webpage under that program.

Requirements for Graduation

The certificate or degree in any program is granted only under the following conditions:

  1. The candidate for certificate or degree must have proven his or her competence in the health profession of his or her academic major.
  2. The candidate must have passed all required courses in which he or she has been registered, unless a waiver is approved by the program director.
  3. The candidate must have discharged all indebtedness to the University of Nebraska.

All students must complete an Application for Degree; instructions for this process will be provided to eligible students by CAHP Enrollment Management & Student Affairs.

Degrees and Honors

Degrees are conferred by the Board of Regents upon recommendation by the academic faculty of the College of Allied Health Professions.

The student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.70 for those credit hours specified by his or her professional program to be eligible for graduation with honors.

Undergraduate Programs Undergraduate programs within the College of Allied Health Professions will use the student’s incoming cumulative undergraduate grade point average combined with the cumulative grade point average from the student’s CAHP program of study coursework.

Post-baccalaureate Certificate Programs

Post-baccalaureate Certificate Programs within the College of Allied Health Professions will use the student’s incoming prerequisite grade point average (as defined by each program’s admission requirements) combined with the cumulative grade point average from the student’s CAHP program of study coursework.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Professional Programs within the College of Allied Health Professions will use the student’s cumulative grade point average from the student’s CAHP program of study coursework.

Honors Categories

Awarding of degrees with honors will be calculated as above to determine a final grade point average. Students will be eligible for Honors in one of the three following categories, based on a final grade point average:

Honors Level Required GPA Award
Distinction 3.70-3.79 Medallion: Red Ribbon
High Distinction 3.80-3.89 Medallion: White ribbon
Highest Distinction 3.90 & above Medallion: Red & White Ribbon

Dean's List

The Executive Associate Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions will recognize student’s outstanding academic achievement for full-time study in an undergraduate program by placing students on the Dean's List each semester.

  1. Only students enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking, undergraduate program in the College of Allied Health Professions are eligible for the Dean's List.
  2. The UNMC program grade point average for the semester must be 3.75 or above.
  3. The CAHP Enrollment Management & Student Affairs office verifies eligible candidates and submits names to the Program Director and Executive Associate Dean.
  4. Students are notified by letter from the Executive Associate Dean.
  5. A list of students to be recognized will be sent to the UNMC Public Relations Office.

Alpha Eta Society

The Alpha Eta Society is a national honor society for allied health students. The intent of the Society is to promote and recognize scholarly and clinical excellence, leadership, and potential for contributions to the allied health professions. The Society’s motto, “Together We Serve,” is a reflection of the collective role and value of the allied health professions. The honorary was founded in 1973, and the then School of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center established a Chapter of the Alpha Eta Society in 1994.

Students must rank in the top 20 percent of their graduating class to be eligible for the distinguished honor of membership in the Alpha Eta Society. In addition, candidates for membership must demonstrate leadership, sustained excellence in both academic and clinical studies, and a capacity for achievement in their chosen allied health profession.