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6 Dec 2023

New University of Maine System Early College Course Retake Policy

Sent on October 12, 2023

If you have questions about this information or how to join either listserv, please contact Early College Advising & Success Coordinator, Christy Alley, by email at christy.alley@maine.edu.

New University of Maine System (UMS) Early College Course Retake Policy

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Aspirations program will now cover the cost for a student to retake a course if they earned a D, F, W or L grade (one time per course). Previously, students who needed to retake a course had to pay the UMS reduced Early College (EC) tuition rate. 

This new system-wide policy is written to serve the best interest of the student and is a critical component of our goals to promote equity and access while focusing on their future college success.  

Purpose/Problem Statement:  

Student success is a UMS priority. National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) accreditation requires that universities provide student support services, as well as continuous improvement efforts through regular program evaluations. UMS (EC) Offices share the responsibility of providing students with advising, support, and resources to give them the best chance of future success with our high school partners. This advising includes guiding students who are unsuccessful in their classes to the best course of action to improve their university transcript. 

EC students are creating permanent college transcripts and these transcripts must be sent to colleges during the application process. Having a failing grade can impact a student’s ability to get into college after high school, have implications for federal financial aid, and/or mean they start their college journey on academic probation. This new policy is designed to require students to remediate their F or L grade as soon as possible to prevent some of these consequences.

Grade Definitions, Credits, and Impact on Grade Point Average (GPA)

  • W: Student officially withdrew from the course after the drop period.  The grade of W has no impact on GPA, but is listed on official and unofficial transcripts.
  • D:  A low-level passing/below average grade. Work completed does not adequately prepare students for more advanced work in the discipline.  If a student matriculates to the UMS system campus where the D grade is earned, then the D grade may contribute toward the number of credits required for graduation 120). However, the D grade may not satisfy program-specific graduation requirements. D grades do not transfer. Computed into GPA as 1.0.
  • F: Failure. No credit is earned. Computed into GPA as 0.0.
  • L:  Never attended, stopped attending, or dropped out and did not officially drop or withdraw. Computed into GPA as 0.0.
  • I:  Incomplete. A temporary grade.  Instructors assign the I grade when students have participated in the majority of a class, however as a result of extenuating circumstances a student has not completed and/or submitted assignments during the grading period. Before submitting an I grade, instructors should specify the remaining assignments and a deadline for submission. Some instructors may include the grade a student will be assigned if remaining assignments are not submitted.
Table of grade-related information. Column Titles: Grade, Grade Definition, Credit Earned, Show on Transcript, Calculated to GPA, Transfer to Other Colleges. Row Titles (Grades): W, D, F, L

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Required Next Steps for Students Earning W, D, F, L, I Grades 

  • W: A student who earns a W grade will not be required to retake the course.
  • D: A student earning a D grade will be encouraged, but not required to retake the course.  
  • F/L:  A student earning an F or L grade will be required to retake the course before taking any additional course(s). If the student is registered for  any subsequent course (s) then they will be removed.
  • I: A student who earns an I grade will be required to complete that course before taking any additional course(s).  Students receiving an I are not allowed to register for the same course unless the grade is converted to an F. A student receiving an I grade may not make up missed work by sitting-in on the course the next time it is taught. If the student is registered for any subsequent course (s) then they will be removed. Students with I grades will not be able to take additional courses until they have completed their course with a D- or better. 

Early College Outreach Process 

  • The Early College Advising & Success Coordinator (ECASC) will email students with the following grades: W, D, F/L, and I. Counselors will be included, as well as parents (if there is a signed FERPA release on file). 
  • Students with F/L/I grades will be required to meet with ECASC to create a success plan and plan for retaking or completing the course with D- or better before they will be allowed to take additional courses.

New University of Maine System (UMS) Early College Course Retake Policy

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Aspirations program will now cover the cost for a student to retake a course if they earned an F or L grade (one time per course). Previously, students who needed to retake a course had to pay the UMS reduced Early College (EC) tuition rate. This new system-wide policy is written to serve the best interest of the student and is a critical component of our goals to promote equity and access while focusing on their future college success.  Students earning D- grades and above who choose to retake a course to improve their grade will be marked as a self-pay student and will be charged the reduced EC rate.

Purpose/Problem Statement:  

Student success is a UMS priority. National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) accreditation requires that universities provide student support services, as well as continuous improvement efforts through regular program evaluations. UMS (EC) Offices share the responsibility of providing students with advising, support, and resources to give them the best chance of future success with our high school partners. This advising includes guiding students who are unsuccessful in their classes to the best course of action to improve their university transcript. 

EC students are creating permanent college transcripts and these transcripts must be sent to colleges during the application process. Having a failing grade can impact a student’s ability to get into college after high school, have implications for federal financial aid, and/or mean they start their college journey on academic probation. This new policy is designed to require students to remediate their F or L grade as soon as possible to prevent some of these consequences.

Grade Definitions, Credits, and Impact on Grade Point Average (GPA)

  • W: Student officially withdrew from the course after the drop period.  The grade of W has no impact on GPA, but is listed on official and unofficial transcripts.
  • D:  A low-level passing/below average grade. Work completed does not adequately prepare students for more advanced work in the discipline.  If a student matriculates to the UMS system campus where the D grade is earned, then the D grade may contribute toward the number of credits required for graduation 120). However, the D grade may not satisfy program-specific graduation requirements. D grades do not transfer. Computed into GPA as 1.0.
  • F: Failure. No credit is earned. Computed into GPA as 0.0.
  • L:  Never attended, stopped attending, or dropped out and did not officially drop or withdraw. Computed into GPA as 0.0.
  • I:  Incomplete. A temporary grade.  Instructors assign the I grade when students have participated in the majority of a class, however as a result of extenuating circumstances a student has not completed and/or submitted assignments during the grading period. Before submitting an I grade, instructors should specify the remaining assignments and a deadline for submission. Some instructors may include the grade a student will be assigned if remaining assignments are not submitted.
Table of grade-related information. Column Titles: Grade, Grade Definition, Credit Earned, Show on Transcript, Calculated to GPA, Transfer to Other Colleges. Row Titles (Grades): W, D, F, L

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Required Next Steps for Students Earning W, D, F, L, I Grades 

  • W: A student who earns a W grade will not be required to retake the course.
  • D: A student earning a D grade will be encouraged, but not required to retake the course.  
  • F/L:  A student earning an F or L grade will be required to retake the course before taking any additional course(s). If the student is registered for  any subsequent course (s) then they will be removed.
  • I: A student who earns an I grade will be required to complete that course before taking any additional course(s).  Students receiving an I are not allowed to register for the same course unless the grade is converted to an F. A student receiving an I grade may not make up missed work by sitting-in on the course the next time it is taught. If the student is registered for any subsequent course (s) then they will be removed. Students with I grades will not be able to take additional courses until they have completed their course with a D- or better. 

Early College Outreach Process 

  • The Early College Advising & Success Coordinator (ECASC) will email students with the following grades: W, D, F/L, and I. Counselors will be included, as well as parents (if there is a signed FERPA release on file). 
  • Students with F/L/I grades will be required to meet with ECASC to create a success plan and plan for retaking or completing the course with D- or better before they will be allowed to take additional courses.