2020-2021 Academic Year COVID-19 Alternative Grading Policy
COVID-19 Alternative Grading Policy
The University understands that impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated and, in many ways, has increased in its disruption since the start of the fall semester. We realize that the stresses of this reality are causing students to be more anxious and stressed than ever before. When we implemented the COVID-19 grading policy this past spring, we found that students ultimately ended up performing better when compared to previous springs semesters. Many of us believe that this was because the policy provided students with the opportunity to focus on learning instead of worrying so much about their grades. It is in this context that we are announcing that the COVID-19 Alternative Grading Policy adopted for the spring 2020 semester will be applied to the entire 2020-2021 academic year (fall 2020, winter 2020/21, spring 2021, and summer 2021 terms).
The registrar's website provides information on the timeline and other details.
Our shared governance groups have come together to support the adoption and implementation of this policy, and we could not be prouder of the faculty and staff who worked to author this document. From a procedural perspective, this was approved by the Curriculum and Academic Policies Council Executive Committee, a group empowered to make decisions between the body’s Assembly meetings. The University’s primary shared governance leadership was also consulted, including the President of the WCU Chapter of APSCUF, the Faculty Senate President and Immediate Past President, and the Chair and Co-Chair of the Council of Chairs.
Highlights of this policy can be found in the information provided below for undergraduate students and graduate students.
FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
On a course-by-course basis, and one week after grades have been posted, undergraduate students will have the option to select one of the following grading options:
Option 1:
- A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C- will continue to be recorded and will impact a student’s GPA.
Option 2:
- A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C- will be recorded as “satisfactory” and will not impact a student’s GPA.
In addition, the following will be applicable for all undergraduate students:
- D+, D, and D- will automatically be converted to “credit earned,” will count as credit earned for the course and have no impact on a student’s GPA. If the course serves as a prerequisite and has a minimum grade requirement for future courses, “credit earned” will not satisfy those minimum grade requirements.
- F will automatically be converted to “no credit earned,” will not count as having successfully completed the course and have no impact on a student’s GPA.
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
On a course-by-course basis, and one week after grades have been posted, graduate students will have the option to select one of the following grading options:
Option 1:
- A, A-, B+, B, and B- will continue to be recorded and will impact a student’s GPA.
Option 2:
- A-, B+, B, and B- will be recorded as “satisfactory” and will not impact a student’s GPA.
The following will be applicable for all students regardless of the option they select:
- C+, C, and C- will automatically be converted to “credit earned,” will count as credit earned for the course and have no impact on a student’s GPA. If the course serves as a prerequisite and has a minimum grade requirement for future courses, “credit earned” will not satisfy those minimum grade requirements.
- F will automatically be converted to “no credit earned,” will not count as having successfully completed the course and have no impact on a student’s GPA. However, an F will still result in an automatic dismissal. Upon petition by the student or the approval of the Graduate Coordinator, the automatic dismissal may be waived.