Grading Exception for Spring 2020 Semester: Pass/Fail Grading Option & Revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar

Grading Exception for Spring 2020 Semester: Pass/Fail Grading Option and Revised Academic Calendar/ Withdrawals Dates Due to COVID

April 7, 2020

Background:

As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, North Carolina Central University transitioned to online or remote instruction as the format for all courses, effective March 23, 2020. This mid-semester transition is likely to have unanticipated adverse impacts on student performance in courses; these impacts stem from a variety of causes, some of which might not be related to instructional changes. The additional grading option applies only to courses in which the student is enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester.

Purpose:

The purpose of adding the Pass/Fail grading option for courses is to avoid penalizing students who are adversely impacted by instructional or other changes which occur as a result of COVID-19.

Exceptions:

1. The Pass/Fail grading option in a course is not available to students who are repeating a course to improve the grade in the course and their overall grade point average (GPA). In these situations, a letter grade must be issued for the course.
2. The Pass/Fail grading option in a course does not apply to courses that were completed by March 23, 2020.
3. Due to NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) requirements, student athletes might not be eligible to select the Pass/Fail grading option for their courses.
4. Students enrolled in professional school programs should consult with their advisors or program directors regarding licensure or accreditation requirements.

Implementation:

1. Instructors will continue to assign letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) based on the student’s performance in the course.
2. Students will have the option of requesting a Pass/Fail grade in each course.  The request for a course grade to be converted to a Pass/Fail grade must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by 11:59 p.m. on May 5, 2020, for graduating students. Graduating students will be sent the Pass/Fail/Withdrawal Spring 2020 (COVID-19) Form on Monday, April 27, 2020. The completed form will be sent to the Registrar’s Office at the following email address: [email protected]u.
3. For non-graduating students, the request for a course grade to be converted to a Pass/Fail grade must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2020. The Pass/Fail/Withdrawal Spring 2020 (COVID-19) Form will be sent to the non-graduating students on Monday, May 4, 2020. The completed form will be sent to the Registrar’s Office at the following email address: [email protected]u.
4. Emergency grading change

For undergraduate students:

1. General Education Curriculum Courses and Elective Courses
   1. A letter grade of A, B, C or D is equivalent to a grade of Pass.
   2. A letter grade of F is equivalent to a grade of Fail.
2. Courses in the major or courses with grade pre-requisites
   1. A letter grade of A, B or C converts to a grade of Pass.
   2. A letter grade of D remains a D and the student may be required to retake the course.
   3. A letter grade of F is equivalent to a grade of Fail.

For graduate and professional students, this policy applies to ALL courses:

1. 1. A letter grade of A, B, or C converts to a Pass grade.
   2. A letter grade of F converts to a Fail grade.

     Impact on Grade Point Average/Credit Hours

1. 1. A Pass Grade gives credit for the course but does not impact the GPA. There are no quality points associated with the Pass grade.
   2. The letter grades of A, B or C will be calculated into the student’s GPA.
   3. A letter grade of D will remain D with no impact on the GPA
   4. A Fail grade or a grade of F will remain F with no impact on the GPA.
   5. The hours associated with the Pass Grade in the course will count towards the hours required for the student’s degree. If the student earns a D grade in a course, the hours may or may not count towards the earned hours required for the degree, nor will these count as attempted hours.
   6. If a student selects the Pass Grading option in the course, and receives an “I” grade at the end of the semester, the Pass grade will be awarded upon completion of the work required to receive a grade in the course.

Revised Academic Calendar/Withdrawals Dates due to COVID-19

Spring 2020

Below is the revised academic calendar for the spring 2020 semester. The dates for pass/fail submissions and withdrawal requests are noted.

Approved at APC: April 3, 2020