FAQ about MIDTERM GRADES

• How will I get my midterm grades?
• What are midterm grades, and why are they given?
• What should I do if I'm not happy with my midterm grades?
• Why am I missing some midterm grades?
• Why don't I have a midterm GPA?
• How can I compute my midterm GPA?
• I have some other questions. Whom should I ask?

How will I get my midterm grades?

Your midterm grades will be available to you on-line via your KnowHopePlus account. If you've lost your PIN, please come to the Registrar's Office (first floor of DeWitt) or e-mail Advising@hope.edu

You'll be able to see your midterm grades as soon as your professors enter them.

What are midterm grades, and why are they given?

Midterms reflect grades in courses after about eight weeks. In some cases, they represent about half your grade in the course; in others, much of the course work is yet to be completed and graded. If you have questions, be sure to check with your instructor.

While midterm grades are not part of your permanent record and do not "count" in your semester grade point average (GPA), they are important indicators.

The worst thing to do about midterms is to ignore them.

Midterm grades are meant to encourage you to get in touch with others. Keeping on the same path may result in the same grades; spending more time on classes may not be enough.

What should I do if I'm not happy with my midterm grades?

Talk honestly with your professors. Consider the study strategies you use, and discuss with your professors whether they are appropriate. Many of you opted to attend Hope College because you value our strong faculty-student connection-now is the time to take advantage of it. Talk with your professors about supplemental help-lots is available-from individual tutoring to group help sessions to support from the Writing Center.

Academic advisors are also good resources. After you contact your professors, head for your advisor's office.

Maura Reynolds, director of academic advising, is another resource. Feel free to talk to her in the Registrar's Office, first floor of the DeWitt Center.


Why am I missing some midterm grades?

Usually, no midterm grades were assigned for first or last half-semester classes-first-half classes recently ended, and last-half classes have just begun to meet.

For full-semester classes, if no grade is listed, the professor did not submit a midterm grade.


Why don't I have a midterm GPA?

Midterm grades are not part of your permanent academic record, so no midterm GPA is calculated.

Check out your blue student advising handbook, Connections, for directions and a sample. You received this blue folder from your advisor when you arrived at Hope.

If you want to compute your midterm GPA, multiply the quality points for each grade you received (you'll find these values in the college catalog under "system of grading") by the number of credits you'll earn in the course. Then divide the total by the number of graded credits. Let's suppose you earned these midterm grades:

So for these courses and these grades, you'd multiply the value of each grade by the number of earned credits. Your midterm GPA is based only the courses which received a midterm grade.

Your midterm GPA is 34.00 divided by 12 credits = 2.83 (just above a B-).

I have other questions, whom should I ask?

If your question involves a midterm grade in a particular course, talk with your professor.

If you have other questions about midterms, bring them to the Registrar's Office, first floor of DeWitt Center.