Credit and Grading
The grading systems for each individual course will be explained to the students by the course instructor. Students earn course grades after completing the entire course. If the course covers the entire school year, one final grade is assigned at the end of the yearlong course. Depending on the model, the final grade will be assigned accordingly. In the dual credit model, the final grade is assigned by the high school dual credit teacher. In the Achieve and dual enrollment models, the final grade is assigned by MBU faculty.
Because the high school semester ends later than the MBU semester, dual credit students will receive grade reports from the MBU ECP office after high school instructors have submitted grades and after they have been entered into the student MBU transcripts. Achieve and dual enrollment models will receive their final grades from the MBU faculty.
Upon completion of an MBU ECP course you will earn course credit from Missouri Baptist University and the course will appear on your MBU transcript. College courses are usually described in terms of credit hours, typically 3, 4, or 5 hour courses. At MBU, the last digit in the course number indicates the number of credit hours the student will earn. (For instance, MATH 154 is a 4 credit hour class.)
Grades
Comparable methods of student assessment and testing procedures will be used in the MBU ECP course and the equivalent on-campus course. The responsibility for the approval or development of assessment and evaluation measures to assure quality and comparability of MBU ECP courses resides with the on-campus faculty in the appropriate academic discipline.
If a participating high school chooses to establish a minimum passing grade higher than the University requirement for receiving college credit through the MBU ECP program, the school must file a written statement to that effect with the University. This information must also be made available by the high school in writing to its students before they register for courses through MBU ECP dual credit.
Missouri Baptist University considers all grades earned through MBU ECP as university grades. All earned grades (including Ds and Fs) will appear on the student’s transcript and will become part of the student’s undergraduate GPA if the student enrolls as a full-time student at Missouri Baptist University. Students planning to attend other colleges or universities should note that most institutions do not accept transfer courses in which students have earned grades lower than a “C.”
Grade Dispute
Questions about dual credit grades should be resolved with the high school dual credit instructor within the high school’s guidelines. Grade appeals should be conducted per the appeals process in the high school. Questions about Achieve grades should be communicated through the high school instructor to the Achieve Instructor of Record. Questions about dual enrollment grades should be resolved with the MBU faculty.
Transferability of Credit
As you’re considering colleges, we suggest you ask (1) how the credit hours will transfer and (2) how the grades will be used. Use the following steps to check on the transferability of MBU ECP courses to a student’s chosen school:
Call the Office of the Registrar / Records at the institution(s) you are interested in. Tell them your name, high school, and names of MBU ECP courses you are taking.
It is up to the school you will attend to decide whether they will accept your credit.
You may need to provide a syllabus from the MBU ECP course. Syllabi may be available from your high school teacher or you can contact the Director of MBU ECP.
Impact on Future Financial Aid
Students who complete dual credit courses may reduce the financial burden of a college education 1) by reducing the amount of time to earn a degree when they enroll as a full-time college student and 2) by paying greatly reduced tuition costs through dual-credit courses. In doing so, a student could potentially save themselves thousands of dollars of tuition costs.
In addition:
- Completion of 6 credit hours in our Early College Partnerships program affords students the opportunity to receive a $500 scholarship for their freshman year at MBU.
- A student’s federal student loan eligibility increases as they progress through academic grade levels from freshman to sophomore and again from sophomore to junior. Students who are able to complete a fair amount of credit hours are at an advantage of receiving access to more financing earlier in their career.
If you need other information, please feel free to contact the MBU ECP office at 314-392-2203 or through MBUECP@mobap.edu.