In the UW Flexible Option, your progress through your coursework is based on your ability to prove that you have mastered the competencies—the skills, abilities, and knowledge—required in an area of study. You do this by mastering assessments after you’ve reviewed the course syllabus and learning resources in Canvas. You will need to master every assessment in a course in order to pass. In most courses, mastery requires a threshold of at least 80%, although your syllabus will note any exceptions to that. How long it takes you to master the material is unique to you based on your prior experiences, learning needs, and schedule. Note that you typically have at least two attempts per assessment to demonstrate mastery. If you need more than one subscription period to successfully complete a course, you may re-enroll in the course in your next/future subscription period to continue your work. Always consult your course syllabus for any specific grading policy.
Key Definitions
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Competency-based Education |
CBE is a style of education that is explicitly and exclusively focused on your ability to demonstrate mastery over every defined competency within a course of study. You must master every assessment in a course to pass it. It does not measure the amount of time it takes you to achieve that mastery, allowing you to move faster or slower based on your unique needs, abilities, and schedule. |
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Course |
A grouping of competencies that together define the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed in a subject area. |
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Credit Hour |
A standardized unit of measurement associated with the amount of material in a course. One credit hour is equivalent to 45 hours of total work. |
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Competency |
Specifically defined and measurable skill, ability, or element of knowledge. Competencies define what you know and are able to do. |
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Assessments |
These are the objective activities (e.g. exams, essays, projects, presentations, etc.) used within a course to measure your level of mastery in a competency. |
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Mastery |
When you have met or exceeded the stated criteria for demonstrating competency on a particular assessment (or course), you are said to have achieved mastery. In most courses, 80% is considered the threshold for mastery. In the UW Flexible Option, most assessments allow more than one attempt at it for you to achieve mastery (consult your course syllabi for exceptions to this definition). |
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Grades |
At the conclusion of each subscription period, you will receive a letter grade that reflects your level of mastery in each course. Each letter grade carries a numerical value that, when averaged, produces your Grade Point Average (GPA). GPA’s are on a 4.0 scale, and are a quick way to communicate your overall performance throughout a course of study. |
To review the grading policies of your UW Flexible Option home campus, click the corresponding tab.
UW-Milwaukee
UW Flexible Option programs hosted by UW-Milwaukee use grades on the A-F (4.0) scale. Given that you must typically earn an 80% or higher on each assessment to successfully master, or finish, the course, C and D grades are rarely awarded. Review more information below on the grades assigned in UW-Milwaukee programs.
Grades
A, B, & F Grades
A traditional letter grade of A, A-, B+, B, or B- is awarded to students who successfully demonstrate mastery in all the assessments of a course. In some rarer instances, an instructor may designate a grade of C+ or C as also indicative of mastery depending on the criteria for that specific course.
Students are assigned a grade of F if: they do not complete any assessments in a course, they do not master the assessments required to earn a PR grade (more on the PR grade below), or they do not successfully complete (or master) the assessments in a course. If you fail a course, you don’t receive any Grade Points. One “F” can greatly lower your GPA and impact your academic standing.
Progress (PR)
Students who demonstrate progress in a course but are unable to finish it within their 12 week subscription period may be eligible for a “PR” grade. The PR grade does not award any credit, but it does count as an attempt for repeat purposes. You may only earn one PR grade per course.
Students who receive a PR grade are able to re-enroll in the course during any future subscription period (it does not need to be the next subsequent period), and you will pick up where you left off in your Canvas course. If you re-enroll in the course after a period greater than one year, it is at your instructor’s discretion whether or not you need to re-submit any of your prior assessments to ensure you still have mastery over the initial concepts.
This grade is permanent (i.e., does not automatically convert to a different grade after a period of time), but does not count toward degree attainment or calculation of grade point average.
Each instructor sets the criteria necessary to be eligible for the PR grade in that course. Read your syllabi carefully, as the requirements for a PR grade differ from course to course. Per UWM policy, receiving a PR grade, even if you’ve done the minimum amount of work required, is always at the discretion of the instructor.
Discuss with your Success Coach or a financial aid adviser any impacts earning a PR grade might have on your continued eligibility for financial aid.
Incomplete (I)
Students who were on track to complete all competencies in a course but, due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g. family/medical emergencies), are unable to do so may request an Incomplete (I) grade. Incomplete grades are awarded only at the discretion of the instructor. Students who earned an “I” grade do not re-enroll in the course, but they are required to complete their remaining requirements during the next consecutive subscription period (or alternative length of time determined by the instructor), or the grade will lapse to an F.
Withdrawn (W)
A W (Withdrawn) grade is a permanent grade assigned if you drop a course between the 26th and 48th day of the subscription period. W grades do not count as an attempt and do not impact your GPA. If you withdraw prior to the 26th day, the course is not noted on your transcript and you do not receive a W grade. Withdrawals are not awarded after the 48th day of the subscription period.
Consult the Academic Calendar for the exact dates of the withdrawal/drop window for your subscription period.
Grade Point Average (GPA) for UW-Milwaukee
As in traditional learning, your final grades will result in a grade point average or GPA. In the UW Flexible Option, a student will earn both a subscription period GPA and a cumulative GPA, which is the culmination of all grades received for your work at your institution. Your GPA will be nationally recognizable and on a 4.0 scale. Transfer credit(s) from other institutions accepted toward your program are not factored into your GPA.
You may explore our GPA calculator to learn more about your personalized grade report.
Grading Scale
Each grade earned in a given course corresponds to a grade point value.
Current grade point values (on a 4 point scale) are:
| A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | F |
| 4.00 | 3.67 | 3.33 | 3.00 | 2.67 | 2.33 | 2.00 | 0.00 |
Calculating your GPA
Your GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in the subscription period by the total number of credits attempted. You may explore our GPA calculator to learn more about your personalized grade report.
Your GPA and Academic Honors
Students may be eligible for academic honors upon completion of their degree, depending on their cumulative GPA and number of credits earned at UWM. To learn more, visit this page.
Administrative Note Regarding GPA and Prior UWM and/or UW Colleges Coursework:
Beginning July 2019, the calculation of the university GPA for new students admitted to the UW Flexible Option program includes all prior coursework taken at both UW-Milwaukee (UWM) and the UW Colleges. With this prior coursework from UWM and UW Colleges calculated into your university GPA, students who are admitted to the UW Flexible Option program may begin their program on probation (if their cumulative GPA is below 2.00).
- Former UWC Grades Earned: count toward AAS GPA but does NOT count toward a baccalaureate degree program
- Prior UWM Grades Earned: count towards the university GPA in all degree programs
- Non-UWC/UWM Transfer Grades Earned: Does NOT count towards the university GPA
Your GPA and Academic Actions
If your grade point average falls below minimum university-wide standards of academic performance for any subscription period, it is important to know you will be subject to academic action. Academic action may impact your standing at the university. Please visit the UW-Milwaukee Academic Actions policy page to learn more.
Still Have Questions?
We are here to help! If you need additional help in understanding what is meant by mastery, or the role that grades play in UW Flexible Option, contact your Success Coach.
UW-Parkside
UW Flexible Option programs hosted by UW-Parkside use differently named grades than you may be used to, but it maps to the same percentage-based A-F (4.0) grading scale that most colleges use. Review more information below on the grades assigned in UW-Parkside programs.
Grades
Mastered with Distinction (MD)
This is a permanent grade assigned when you reach a distinguished level of achievement on the stated criteria for mastery of a course. This is equivalent to a traditional “A.”
Mastered (M)
This is a permanent grade assigned when you meet or exceed the stated criteria for mastery of a course. Once this grade has been assigned, students may not reattempt a course. This is equivalent to a traditional “B.”
Progress (PR)
This is a permanent grade assigned in UW Flexible Option programs when you complete part, but not all, of the requirements toward mastery by the end of the subscription period. This grade is permanent but does not count toward degree attainment or calculation of grade point average. You must complete at least one assessment in a course to be eligible for a PR grade. If you enroll in a course but fail to make any forward progress, you are ineligible for a PR grade and will be assigned an F.
Effective September 2022 – you are required to achieve mastery in a course within four attempts, meaning you may only receive a maximum of 3 PR grades per course.
While continuous enrollment in a course with a PR grade is not required, you should demonstrate progress toward mastery by re-enrolling in the course within six calendar months from the end of the subscription period for which the last PR grade was assigned. Beyond six months, there is no guarantee that your prior work will carry forward into a new version of the course.
You may not have more than five open courses with In-Progress status in any subscription period. If you have five open courses, you may not register for additional courses until you complete one or more of the open courses.
Incomplete (I)
This temporary grade is assigned to a UW Flexible Option course if you, due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g. family/medical emergencies), have requested an incomplete for a course that is near completion and that you need extra time to finish. Incompletes are only awarded at the discretion of the course instructor. Please view the complete policy in UW-Parkside’s academic catalog.
Withdrawn (W)
This is a permanent grade assigned if you drop a course after the 25th day of the subscription period by before the 48th day of the subscription period. To see the dates specific to your subscription period, please view the academic calendar. A W does not count as a course attempt and does not impact your GPA.
Failure (F)
As noted in the PR grade section, if you do not pass a course within 4 subscription period enrollments, or if you register for a course but make no forward academic progress (by completing at least one assessment), you will receive an F. If you receive an F in a course that is required to graduate, you may retake the course as outlined in the UW-Parkside academic catalog. If you pass a course on the retake, the F from your first attempt will still remain on your transcript but the passing grade from your second attempt will be used in your GPA calculation.
Grade Point Average (GPA) for UW-Parkside
As in traditional learning, your final grades will result in a grade point average or GPA. In the UW Flexible Option, a student will earn both a subscription period GPA and a cumulative GPA, which is the culmination of all grades received for your work at your institution. Your GPA will be nationally recognizable and on a 4.0 scale. Transfer credit(s) from other institutions accepted toward your program are not factored into your GPA*.
You may explore our GPA calculator to learn more about your personalized grade report.
*Note: General education courses taken through UW-Milwaukee via dual enrollment are not factored into your GPA at UW-Parkside. Review the Dual Enrollment website for more information.
Grading Scale
| Grade | Description | Grade Points Values | Traditional Letter Grade Equivalency |
| MD* | Mastered with Distinction (MD) | 4.00 | A |
| M* | Mastered (M) | 3.00 | B |
| F | Fail (F) | 0.00 | F |
| The following grades are assigned no grade points and are not counted when the GPA is calculated. | |||
| PR* | In Progress | ||
| I | Incomplete | ||
| W | Withdrawal | ||
*Grades used in the UW Flexible Option program only
If you’re seeking tuition reimbursement, the following memo may help explain the CBE grading format to your employer. If the PDF option does not fulfill your needs, please contact oel-registrar@uwex.edu with additional questions.
Calculating your GPA
Your GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in the subscription period by the total number of credits attempted.
You may explore our GPA calculator to learn more about your personalized grade report.
General education courses taken through UW-Milwaukee should not be included in calculating your UW-Parkside GPA.
Your GPA and Academic Honors
Individuals who excel academically may be recognized with academic honors. Students who have strong grades in a subscription period may be reflected on that season’s (i.e. Fall or Spring) Dean’s List. Those who complete the degree with a strong GPA will be recognized at graduation with academic honors. Academic honors are Cum Laude (GPA of 3.50 – 3.69), Magna Cum Laude (3.70 – 3.89), and Summa Cum Laude (3.9 – 4.0). It is considered a great achievement to graduate with academic honors, and it will be printed on your transcript as well as appear on your diploma itself.
Furthermore, students who excel in their business curriculum may be invited to join UW-Parkside’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma – the international business honors society.
Still Have Questions?
We are here to help! If you need additional help in understanding what is meant by mastery, or the role that grades play in UW Flexible Option, contact your Success Coach.