Extending the option to change grade basis for spring 2020 undergraduate courses

Dear Students,

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we permitted students to choose the S/N grading option in any Twin Cities undergraduate course. A student petition and the Minnesota Student Association have now requested that we delay the date by which students must decide on this option until after grades are posted.

I have agreed to this additional delay. With this decision, we recognize the significant stress that this pandemic and the necessary transition to alternative instruction has caused in many of your lives.

This extension permits students to change an A/F grading basis to S/N after grades are submitted. It does not allow students who have chosen S/N to earn a letter grade after grades are submitted.

If you previously took advantage of the S/N option and wish to change to A/F to take advantage of the extended time frame, please do so through MyU: Academics before 11:59 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2020. If you elect to change your grading basis from A-F to S/N, grades of C- or higher will be changed to S on the grade roster. Grades below a C- will be recorded as N.

To request a change of grading basis after grades are posted in your full-term or B-term undergraduate course(s) on the Twin Cities campus, email One Stop Student Services ([email protected]) from your University of Minnesota email address. In your request, please include the following information:

• A statement that you wish to change the grading basis from A-F to S/N
• Course subject and number (for example: Chemistry 1015)
• 5 Digit Class Number

Requests for multiple courses may be sent in a single email. The email request must be received by One Stop Student Services no later than 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, May 22, 2020. Please note that once you have made a request to One Stop, the S/N grade cannot be switched back.

For more information, review the Twin Cities S/N grading basis FAQ. While you do not need permission from your advisor to make this change, we strongly encourage you to carefully consider your option to change to S/N and consult with your academic advisor to determine if electing the S/N grading basis is best for you and your future academic plans.

Sincerely yours,

Robert B. McMaster
Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and after consultation with faculty and faculty governance, we decided to permit students to choose the S/N grading option in any Twin Cities undergraduate course. Since that initial decision, both a student petition and the Minnesota Student Association have requested that we delay the date by which students must decide on this option until after grades are posted.

We have agreed to this additional delay. We should note that this change aligns our policies with many of our peer institutions. With this decision, we continue providing leeway and grace to our students during this challenging time.

Beginning May 1, any University of Minnesota Twin Cities undergraduate student may submit an email request to One Stop Student Services to opt into the S/N grading basis once the final grade in their undergraduate level course is posted. No action is required on your part; the requests will be managed by students and One Stop.

As a result of this change, it is particularly imperative that Spring 2020 grades are entered in a timely manner. The deadline to enter grades for regular session spring classes is Monday, May 18, 2020, by 11:59 p.m. CDT. The new deadline for students to request a grade basis change is Friday, May 22.

Consistent with the current policy, grades of C- or higher will be recorded as S on the grade roster by One Stop staff. Grades below a C- will be recorded as N. Instructors will not need to submit a grade change request.

The majority of grade rosters will be available for you to enter grades on May 4. If you are ready to grade a class prior to then, please contact [email protected] to have a grade roster generated.

Thank you again for your resilience, your extraordinary effort, and your flexibility on behalf of our students.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

Robert B. McMaster
Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education