Grade Reporting Schedules can now be found on the Academic Calendar.
Non-Attendance Grading
Overview
Procedure for assigning failing grades for non-attendance
Instructors should assign failing grades for non-attendance via the Faculty Grade Entry page in myBama as soon as it becomes evident that the student has never attended or stopped attending class.
Non-attendance grades are as follows:
- FN: Failed – Never Attended
- NN: No Credit – Never Attended
- FS: Failed – Stopped Attending
- NS: No Credit – Stopped Attending
For students who have never attended or who have never signed-in to the class if offered online, please assign the “FN” grade (or “NN” grade, if applicable).
For students who have stopped attending or who have stopped participating in the class if offered online, please assign the “FS” grade (or “NS” grade, if applicable). The “FS” and “NS” grades require the submission of a Last Attend Date. Examples of documented attendance may include presence in class or during exams, completion of assignments, and/or participation in computer-assisted instruction.
Grading Timeline
Non-attendance grading is required during both midterm and final grading as explained below:
- Midterm Grading
- Midterm grading will become available approximately two weeks after the start of classes for the full term.
- Prior to the last day to drop a class with a grade of “W”, all submitted non-attendance grades of “FN”, “FS”, “NN”, and “NS” will be visible to the student as their midterm grades through myBama, but will not be reflected on the transcript. During this time period, students will still have the opportunity to drop the class with a grade of “W” through myBama.
- Following the last day to drop a class with a grade of “W”, midterm grading will be disabled and all submitted non-attendance grades of “FN”, “FS”, “NN”, and “NS” will be converted to “F” (or “NC”, where applicable) and reflected on the transcript as the student’s final grade for the class.
- Final Grading
- Final grading will become available at the conclusion of the last day of classes for the full term.
- Following the end of the grading period, all submitted non-attendance grades of “FN”, “FS”, “NN”, and “NS” will be converted to “F” (or “NC”, where applicable) and reflected on the transcript as the student’s final grade for the class.
Student Impact
- The Office of the University Registrar does not adjust student registration based on the assignment of non-attendance grades.
- No tuition adjustments will be made for students who receive a non-attendance grade unless they have properly withdrawn from that course within the established refund dates as published.
- All grades of “F”, regardless of the reason for which they are assigned, will be punitive in regards to GPA. Grades of “NC” will continue to be non-punitive.
Reasoning Behind Non-Attendance Grading
According to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by regulatory authority, institutions that accept federal financial aid are required to monitor the student’s completion of the courses funded by one of the Title IV programs. Institutions must report withdrawals and failures, and in some cases, refund the awarded financial aid. If the aid is refunded, a student may incur a balance on his/her tuition account. Institutions that accept federal aid are subject to annual audits and program reviews by the US Department of Education to ensure compliance.
Federal regulations require that institutions have a system for identifying students that registered for, but failed to begin attendance in any or all classes. Institutions are responsible for any aid disbursed to these students. For students that cease attending classes, institutions are required to determine the date of last attendance for calculating the correct percentage of aid awarded based on the payment period completed prior to the last attendance date.
Guidance for Students Who Start Attending Again
In certain situations, a student for whom a non-attendance grade has been submitted returns to class and is allowed to continue. In order for these students to be properly graded, the previously assigned non-attendance grade must be administratively removed. In these cases, instructors should follow one of the two procedures as outlined below:
1) Student Returns Prior to the Last Day to Drop with a “W”
- In this situation, the non-attendance grade is still only reflected as a midterm grade and has not yet been transferred to a final grade and reflected on the transcript.
- Return to the midterm grading screen on myBama and change the grade as you see fit. You can assign any other letter grade or a grade of “F” or “NC”. Just make sure that if the student is returning to class, the midterm grade is not a non-attendance grade.
- Click the submit button at the bottom of the midterm grading screen to save your changes.
2) Student Returns After the Last Day to Drop with a “W”
- In these cases, please send an email to registrar@ua.edu and include the student’s CWID along with the subject, course number, section number and an explanation of the situation. The Office of the University Registrar will confirm the removal of the grade and/or inform you of any issues and proposed solutions.
Grading Help
Grade Entry Login
Incomplete Course Grades
Assigning Incomplete Grades
As documented in the the Academic Catalog, the incomplete (“IN”) grade is non-punitive to a student’s GPA. Grades of “IN” must be resolved by the conclusion of the next regular semester (Fall or Spring), whether a student is enrolled at the University of Alabama or not, or the grade of “IN” will be changed to a punitive grade of “F”.
When assigning an “IN” (Incomplete) grade, University policy now expects instructors to document the arrangement using the Incomplete Grade Agreement Form. This form outlines the criteria for eligibility, indicates the terms of the agreement for completion of missing work due to an exceptional circumstance, and documents the deadline for completion. Instructors are asked to complete and submit the Incomplete Grade Agreement Form before or at the same time they assign the “IN” grade. The form is accessible on the Faculty & Advisors page in myBama: Faculty Tools channel > Grading > “Incomplete Grade Agreement Form.”
Important clarification: Submission of the Incomplete Grade Agreement Form is not tied to final grading in Blackboard or Banner. You may submit an “IN” grade even if the form has not yet been completed or approved. To ensure compliance with the policy and to protect both you and the student, please make every effort to submit the form before or concurrently with the “IN” grade. Final grades, including “IN” grades, must still be entered by the published deadline.
Incomplete Grade Deadline Extension
If more than one additional semester is needed to complete the course, faculty may extend the deadline and should complete the Incomplete Grade Deadline Extension Form to document the updated agreement. The form is accessible on the Faculty & Advisors page in myBama: Faculty Tools channel > Grading > “Incomplete Grade Deadline Extension Form.” The “IN” grade will still be rolled to an “F” after the immediate subsequent regular semester as specified above; however, faculty will still be able to submit a grade change once the course has been successfully completed and a grade is earned.
Forms
FAQ
How do I assign midterm and final grades?
You can assign grades using any computer with an internet connection. Log into myBama and click on the Faculty & Advisors page. In the Faculty Tools channel, expand the Grading menu, and choose to submit midterm or final grades for any classes for which you are the primary instructor. Alternatively, you also have the option to import grades you have recorded in Blackboard.
May I submit grades in paper format?
No. All grades must be submitted online.
I missed the deadline for submitting my final grades. How can I resolve this?
Students will receive a grade of “N” for all ungraded courses. Grades of “N” are calculated as “F” grades in a student’s GPA. If grades are not entered on time, the students’ grades must be submitted individually using the ‘Submit a Grade Change’ option under the Faculty & Advisors folder in myBama. There is no exception to this policy.
I submitted my grades, but have since realized that I entered a grade incorrectly. I am unable to change the grade on my final grading roster in myBama. How can I make the necessary changes?
To submit grade changes after the deadline for final grades, please select the ‘Submit a Grade Change’ option under the Faculty and Advisors folder in MyBama. The grade will be automatically updated in the student record once it has been approved by the Dean of your college (or dean’s designee).
I am teaching an interim course. Due to the condensed nature of the interim classes, final grades won't be available until later this summer. Can I still post grades through myBama?
Yes, there are three open grading periods during summer. You can submit interim grades during any period. All summer sessions are not technically due until the final grading deadline at the end of the full summer term.
I do not know my myBama username and password.
You may obtain your mybama username and set up a password by following the “Need an Account” link in the center of the mybama.ua.edu homepage. Follow the steps outlined there to retrieve this information. The PIN or PASSKEY requested is typically your date of birth in the MMDDYY format.
I missed the deadline for submitting my final grades. How can I resolve this?
Students will receive a grade of “N” for all ungraded courses. Grades of “N” are calculated as “F” grades in a student’s GPA. If grades are not entered on time, the students’ grades must be submitted individually using the ‘Submit a Grade Change’ option under the Faculty & Advisors folder in myBama. There is no exception to this policy.
When I log into myBama to submit grades, I don't see one or all of my classes.
Contact your departmental administrative assistant to make sure you were assigned as the primary instructor for the course in the student information system. If this has not been done, then you will not be able to access the final grading menu for this section.
I have a student on my class roll who has not been to any of my class meetings. What grade should this student receive?
If a student has never attended or participated in class, you should assign a grade of “FN” (or “NN”, if applicable).
I want to assign a grade to a student, but the grade is not listed in the grade fields.
The only grades that may be assigned are those grades listed in the grade field. The grade field lists grades in accordance with the approved course inventory record submitted by your academic department.
When I select a grade of "FS" or "NS", why am I being asked for a Grade Reason and/or Last Attend Date?
If you assign a student a grade of “FS” or “NS”, additional information is required due to federal regulations. For more information on non-attendance grading and what is required of instructors, please see the “Non-Attendance Grading Overview” tab in the section above.
UA Grade Terminology
Definitions and additional information on grades and grade point averages can be found in the Academic Catalog.
- Undergraduate – Grades and Grade Points
- Graduate Students – Grades and Academic Standing