Beginning in fall 2009, faculty members at Loyola will have the option of using a plus-minus grading system. 

Faculty members are not required to use this new system. Professors also have the option to use only minuses in their grading scales, only pluses or both, said political science senior Cade Cypriano, Student Government Association president.

While a D- may not be used, the new grading scale will introduce the option of an A-, B- and C- in both graduate and undergraduate courses, according to an official Academic Affairs document.

The grade of C- earned at other universities will no longer be accepted for passing transfer credit at Loyola, the document said.

Those majors that require a grade of C or better to progress in the college courses will not accept a C- as passing.

The grade point averages required to graduate from Loyola with distinction will remain the same: 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude.

Loyola does not have a university-wide standard scale for grading. The range between each letter grade will be determined by individual faculty members and not by course, Cypriano said.

The new grading option will not affect financial aid or grade point averages of this and past semesters, the document said.

Stephanie Pawlik can be reached at [email protected].