Proposed change to grading policy

Dear Colleagues,

Following up on communications from faculty and students, and after discussions with faculty governance leaders and academic staff and administrators, I write to propose a temporary adjustment of policy concerning the S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) grade option.

First, all undergraduate students on all campuses would have the opportunity to change their grade basis from A/F to S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) for an unlimited number of spring 2020 and/or B-term (second half of term) courses. In addition, courses taken as S/N during this period would be accepted for major (and minor) requirements.

Second, each school, college, and program would determine if (and then which) graduate and professional courses would include an option for students to change their grade basis from A/F to S/N (satisfactory/not satisfactory) for any number of spring 2020 and/or B-term (second half of term) courses. Decisions would be shaped by the nature and needs of each degree program, by accreditation requirements, and by the norms and expectations of the programs. Final decisions for courses at this level would rest with the dean of the school or college offering the courses and programs.

These adjustments would provide greater flexibility to students, certainly to undergraduate students, and yet would allow graduate and professional program faculty to determine if the option is appropriate and prudent for their programs. All students would be encouraged to consult with their program advisors to consider the issues that might bear on a decision to switch to the S/N option.

If you have a concern about the University making this temporary adjustment in policy, please convey it asap-- to me, to your dean, or vice chancellor, or to faculty governance. We'd like to move quickly to adopt and announce details of this policy adjustment, given the anxiety some of these grading issues are causing for faculty and students.

Let me also thank you again for all you are doing to adapt to our difficult circumstances and to deal with the exigencies this pandemic has imposed. The work you've been doing to maintain our academic mission and to serve our students is genuinely heroic. Please take care of yourselves, even as you are taking care of our students and one another.

Sincerely,

Karen Hanson
Executive Vice President and Provost

email sent to all faculty systemwide and Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs on Thursday, March 11 at 1:10 a.m.