Class of 2013
Interim Grades
First year students receive interim grades each semester. In Fall 2009 interim grade reports are due October 14. Students receive their interim grades via email, so students must check their washcoll.edu email account in order to see their interim grade reports. Interim grades do not appear on transcripts and are not included in grade point average calculations and for this reason aren't available on WebAdvisor. Professors usually include comments with the grades and advisors receive copies of their advisees' interim grade reports.
Interim grades are a snapshot of how a student is doing so far, and students should already have a pretty good idea of how they're doing based on feedback such as quiz and exam grades, grades and professor's comments on essays and papers, and conferences with professors. Some students, though, may be surprised or disappointed to discover that they are not doing as well as they thought they were.
Students whose interim grades are poor but who are uncertain about how to improve should meet with their professors as soon as possible. Faculty genuinely want students to master course material and do well. They are happy to advise students about how to improve and to work with students who need help or clarification of course material or expectations for assignments. Students can see professors during their office hours — drop in times, no appointment needed — or make an appointment to see them.
Students with poor interim grades can also expect to hear from their advisor, who may want to meet to discuss what they can do to improve. Students should consider this request to meet as an opportunity, not a punitive sanction. Advisors also want to see their students succeed; they're happy to give advice and encouragement and to refer students to academic resources and other on-campus supports.
In many courses, much of the work that determines a student's final grade is due during the second half of the semester. So students with poor interim grades shouldn't be discouraged; there is time to improve, though the work will get harder and the assignments more demanding. And students with good interim grades shouldn't rest on their success so far but should continue to work to meet the demands and expectations of their courses.