Grading Guidelines

In March 2019, the Leeds faculty adopted the grading guidelines listed below effective fall 2019. These guidelines are a community norm at Leeds, not a forced curve or mandated distribution. They embody the faculty’s consensus about fairness, level of difficulty, and consistency in the classroom experience across course sections and levels at Leeds.

Average course grades should not exceed:

  • 3.0 (1000‐2000 level courses)
  • 3.0 (3000 level courses)
  • 3.2 (4000 level courses)

Certain classes may be allowed exemptions from these guidelines due to the unique pedagogical nature of the course. 

Revision Approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum and Policy Committee (UCPC): February 4, 2021

Honors-only sections [are] granted an exemption from the Leeds grading guidelines due to the selective enrollments that result in a high distribution of top students.