Grading Policy Frequently Asked Questions for Employers
In Spring 2007, the faculty at the UNC School of Law approved modifications in the grading and ranking system to bring our system more closely in line with peer institutions by awarding letter grades instead of numerical grades and eliminating individual class rank.
Because the new system was phased in during the 2007-08 academic year, and will initially apply differently to different classes, employers reviewing applications of UNC law students may have some questions. We have tried to address the most common ones below, and are always happy to discuss with you any individual concerns.
How do the changes affect the Classes of 2008 and 2009 differently?
The Class of 2008 will be the last class to receive individual class ranks. Starting with the Class of 2009 and going forward, only the top ten students in each class will receive an individual class rank. For the rest of the class, grade cutoff points for the top ten percent, top third, and top half of the class will be communicated to students and will appear on the UNC Law website, as explained below.
How will the changes affect student transcripts?
Effective with grades awarded for classes taken in Fall 2007, the grading system is as follows:
- Grades are awarded in the form of letters (A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc.). Each letter grade is associated with a number (A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, etc.) for purposes of calculating a cumulative GPA. An A+ (4.3) may be awarded in exceptional situations.
- The mean grade requirement for all graded courses (other than certain specialized writing courses and seminars) falls within the range of 3.2 to 3.3.This is a change from the previous system, making cross-class comparisons invalid. Intra-class comparisons remain valid for each and every class.
- A numerical cumulative grade point average for each student will be calculated on a continuing basis.
Why and how was the grading system changed?
In the fall of 2006, the Faculty Career Services Committee forwarded a proposal to the Academic Affairs Committee to align Carolina Law's grading system more closely with those of peer law schools. The issue had been raised by students and by some employers who noted that Carolina Law's grading system differed substantially from most national top law schools, both public and private, in that UNC assigned an individual rank to each student in the class. The system of assigning number grades for each class, computed in the GPA to the third decimal point, and the "curve" (median grade) for each class was also out of line with our peers.
After substantial review of other schools' systems, and extensive discussion, the faculty thus approved changes to the current system, to begin with grades awarded for class taken during Fall 2007.
What number values are assigned to each letter grade?
Grades are distributed on a 4.0 scale:
| A |
4.0 |
| A- |
3.7 |
| B+ |
3.3 |
| B |
3.0 |
| B- |
2.7 |
| C+ |
2.3 |
| C |
2.0 |
| C- |
1.7 |
| D+ |
1.3 |
| D |
1.0 |
What will student transcripts look like under the new system?
Any grades awarded prior to Fall 2007 will appear on a student's transcript in numerical form. Grades awarded as of the end of that semester (and beyond) will appear as letters. Thus, starting in Spring 2008, the classes of 2008 and 2009 have transcripts that include both letter and number grades. Though we realize this results in a "hybrid" system over the short-term, the faculty felt this was the most appropriate way to phase in a new system. We will be happy to help you decipher this hybrid system if you have questions.
Will students still have a cumulative Grade Point Average?
Yes. GPAs are computed continually as grades for individual classes are finalized and placed on the transcript. Letter grades are assigned numerical values (as listed above) when GPAs are calculated.
What system is in place for ranking students?
Because the system of individually ranking the entire class is being phased out, each current class is affected differently, as described below. Because of the differences in classes as this is phased in, an employer might see a resume or transcript from a student in one class that looks substantially different from that of a student from another class.
Class of 2009 and classes after that: No individual rankings will be released except for the top 10 students in each class who will be notified of their individual rank -- at the end of the first academic year, and twice yearly (after spring and fall semester grades are in) thereafter. For all other members of the class, no individual rankings will be released.
Class of 2008: Individual class ranks will be distributed based on grades computed after Spring 2007 grades are in, again after Fall 2007 grades are in, and one final time at graduation after Spring 2008 grades are in.
What other information on ranking will be available?
The School of Law computes the grade cutoff points for the top ten percent, top third, and top half of each class, at the end of the first academic year, and twice yearly (after spring and fall semester grades are in) thereafter. This information should be available by mid-summer and mid-March, respectively, and will be posted on the law school's website (see below for current cutoffs). Except for the class of 2008, as explained above, no additional information about rankings will be available.
How will these changes affect the awarding of honors and Dean's List?
There is no change in awarding honors. The top one-third of the class is recognized after graduation by a degree with honors, the top ten percent by a degree with high honors, and any student with a 3.9 or above by a degree with highest honors. Order of the Coif designation is for those students who graduate in the top ten percent of the class. Starting at the end of the Fall semester, 2007, all students who receive a semester GPA of 3.25 and above will be named to the Dean's List.
Who can I contact with questions?
Please contact the UNC School of Law Career Services Office at 919-962-8102.
Grade cutoff points after Fall 2007:
Class of 2008
(for this class only, students are individually ranked)
Top ten percent = 3.598
Top one-third = 3.356
Top one-half = 3.219
Class of 2009 & 2010
UNC School of Law Ranking Chart
(After Spring Semester 2008)