Education / Graduate Education / PhD Programs / Neuroscience Graduate Program / Faculty and Student Researchers / Student Researchers / Handbook / Grading and Performance

Grading System & Performance Evaluations

All required courses, except for Laboratory Rotations, Journal Club, Student Seminar, and Teaching Assistantships, are graded on an A/E system. These exceptions are graded on an S/E system.

A/E System
A	Excellent
A-
B+
B	Good
B-
C	Poor
E	Failure
I	Incomplete
IE	Incomplete and Failure
W	Withdrawn
N	No Grade Reported

S/E System
S	Satisfactory
E	Failure
I	Incomplete
IE	Incomplete and Failure
W	Withdrawn
N	No Grade Reported

The minimum passing grades for courses and research carrying credit are C or S. However, upon receiving one C or lower grade in a course, the student will be put on academic probation and will receive notification from the Senior Associate Dean of Graduate Education. If a student receives a second grade of C or lower, the adequacy of the student’s academic performance is reviewed by the Dean and the NGP Director. It is NGP Policy to dismiss a student upon receiving two grades of C or lower. For more information, please refer to University of Rochester Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Studies.

Annual evaluations

The NGP Steering Committee reviews the performance of first year graduate students at the end of each semester. Student progress is evaluated based on grades, instructor feedback, rotation evaluations, rotation reports, oral presentations, performance in journal club and participation. Students may be placed on academic probation, or a mentoring plan based on these evaluations.

Second year students and beyond also receive a written evaluation of their performance from their advisor and thesis committee. After completing the Qualifying Exam, the student must meet with his or her Thesis Committee at least annually and file a written progress report with the Program Director within one week of the committee meeting, but no later than June 1st. This report is reviewed by the NGP Director and the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education. Scheduling thesis committee meetings is the responsibility of the student and should be done in conjunction with the annual student seminar whenever possible.

Please follow the guidelines below for annual evaluations:

Entering into your First year: since you are just entering or will be entering the program you do not need to complete this.
Entering into your Second year: since you have just chosen a lab you do not need to complete this.
Entering into your Third year: Please complete the annual evaluation. You do not need to complete the committee report section.
Entering into your Fourth year and above: You need to complete the entire annual evaluation

Please complete the annual evaluation when you have your qualifying exam and when you have your annual committee meeting to prepare for your PhD defense.