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News
March 23, 2020

PASS/FAIL Grading Options for Spring 2020

A Message from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Willard Gingerich.

Posted in: Coronavirus

Office of the Provost

March 23, 2020

Dear Students,

Welcome back to class. As we begin the rest of this term remotely, we want you to know that undergraduates will have the option to choose between receiving traditional letter grades or taking classes as PASS/FAIL this semester, with the exception of a very few courses in accredited programs. You will have until Monday, May 4, 2020 to make your choice.

We heard your concerns, and at your request, we have initiated a flexible policy that will give you the maximum opportunity for success. Other information that you need to know about about this change:

  • More details about tools and processes that we are creating to help you make those choices will be released soon.
  • In most cases, PASS will require a minimum of a D grade.
  • There is no rush to make this decision now: The deadline is Monday, May 4, 2020, and you may decide and/or change your mind based on your progress up until that date.
  • We are encouraging faculty members to update grades in courses in a timely manner so that students understand how they are doing and then can make informed decisions.
  • You should know that letter grades will carry the same points used to calculating your GPA as always. These can be found on the Grades web page. FAIL grades will carry 0.00 points toward calculating your GPA.
  • As always, a PASS grade has no impact on your GPA.

You will also find that many faculty members have revised their syllabi and grading rubrics, understanding that this semester is not a typical one for anyone.

When deciding whether to take each of your classes PASS/FAIL or to receive a traditional letter grade, you should discuss your academic progress with your academic advisor. Be sure to do that in a timely manner and do not wait until the last minute.

We hope that these changes will help you successfully complete this semester and alleviate some of the uncertainty brought on by this unprecedented moment in our history. As more updates become available we will share them with you. Check our coronavirus website frequently for news and updates.

Sincerely,

Willard Gingerich, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs