Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

Repeated Classes

From time to time, it may be necessary for a student to repeat a class. It is important for student veterans to understand both Wayne State University policy regarding retaken classes, as well as related DVA policies.

WSU Policy Regarding Retaken Classes

At Wayne State, if an undergraduate student repeats a course and completes it with a grade of A±, B±, C±, D±, or E, the following rules apply in posting the students cumulative record:

  1. The honor points and credit for an earlier attempt will be eliminated from the student's honor point average computation.
  2. Only the grade, honor points and credits of the retaken course will be included in the student's honor point average computation.
  3. The original grade in the course repreated under this rule will be indicated by an 'R'. Thus, the indicator 'R' will appear opposite all attempts in a course except the last.
  4. After registering to repeat a course, a Retake Form must be filed in Student Records, Helen New berry Joy Student Services Center, 1 West.
  5. After a degree has been granted, no grade computed in that degree may be changed.
  6. If a post-bachelor status student repeats a course originally taken under regular undergraduate status, the retake will in no way modify the earlier attempt. The second election, however, will be averaged in the honor point base.

    NOTE: School of Business Administration: No course in which a student has received a passing grade or mark may be repeated without the prior written approval of the Director of Student Services of the School of Business Administration.

    NOTE: College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions-Faculty of Allied Health: No course may be repeated without the consent of the advisor(s) delegated for each professional curriculum.

DVA Policy on Repeated Courses

The DVA will pay for repeated classes only under certain conditions. In order for the DVA to pay VA educational assistance for a repeated course, the course must be computed in the graduation requirements of the school, unless there are mitigating circumstances. Under DVA rules, whenever a punitive grade is either removed from a student's transcript or if no longer computed in his or her grade point average, that grade is considered a non-punitive grade.

In those instances where it is the established published policy of an educational institution to replace a prior punitive grade with a credible passing following a successful repetition of a course, if otherwise in order, created based upon the assignment of the non-punitive grade. This applies only to courses required for graduation which a student may have passed, but did not achieve a minimum acceptable grade (e.g. in some programs students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses in their major.)

Payment of educational assistance by the DVA may be authorized, if repetition of the course is specifically required by the institution for attainment of the student's approved program objective, and if overall satisfactory progress standards are met. There is no limit on the number of times an eligible person may repeat a course for which a failing grade (or a grade which does not meet the minimum requirements for graduation) was received as long as the grade assigned to the repeated course at the end of the term is punitive. The school, however, must report the student's unsatisfactory progress at such time as s/he no longer meets the school's standards of academic progress. There is no distinction between the criteria of repeating courses for non college degree (NCD) and degree (IHL) courses.

Electives are considered to be courses which are required for graduation as long as they do not exceed the minimum number of credit hours required for graduation. Electives for which a failing grade (or a grade unacceptable for graduation) has been assigned may be repeated until a passing or acceptable grade is received as long as each grade is punitive when it is originally assigned. If the student does not need additional electives to meet his or her degree requirements, but chooses to repeat an elective, the DVA will not authorize payment unless the repetition takes place during his or her final term and is merely taken to round out the program to full time.

Repeating a course for which an unacceptable grade has been assigned should not be confused with taking additional courses to remove a deficiency in the grade point average which is preventing the student from graduating. When additional subjects beyond those generally required for a degree are needed in order to overcome a grade point average deficiency, the additional subjects may be approved, but a statement is required from the school certifying official that:

  • the courses are being taken for the purpose of removing the grade point average deficiency, AND
  • no course previously taken for which credit has been granted is being repeated, unless repetition of that particular course is required for continuation in the approved program, AND
  • the student's progress is satisfactory under the school's standards.