Important Grading Changes for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021

Dear Twin Cities faculty and instructors,

I am writing to update you on a few important changes to grading for this academic year. These changes were spurred by a resolution from MSA, and a student-led petition, both requesting a return to S/N grading policies from Spring 2020.

In response to these materials I have consulted with MSA leadership and with the Faculty Consultative Committee (FCC), participated in two special meetings of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy (SCEP), and received extremely constructive and thoughtful input from advisors and from the relevant Associate Deans. I have discussed this topic with the Vice Provosts and the Twin Cities Dean’s Council, and have benchmarked against similar decisions in our Big10 peers.

All the audiences with whom I spoke expressed concern for a subset of students who are struggling during this challenging time, and especially how these struggles are exacerbated by other at-risk identities like first-generation, Pell-eligible and BIPOC students. At the same time, faculty and student-facing staff shared concerns about academic rigor, and whether the changes requested by the resolution and petition would truly serve our students. I am grateful to all who shared their perspectives; those consultations helped me to develop and consider compromises that could meet the most important needs of most of the parties.

The changes described in this message apply to undergraduate-level classes on the Twin Cities campus. These changes will apply to both Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.

First, I continue to rely on my core principle of faculty autonomy. Faculty are most familiar with the learning objectives and processes used in their classes, and should be empowered to select the grading modality they feel is most appropriate. With this in mind:

  • If you are teaching an undergraduate course that is not currently set up to allow for S/N grading, and you would like to extend this option to students, you may do so by contacting your department scheduler by November 13 to have your class grading basis updated.
    • Please coordinate across all class sections as it would be useful if the grading basis options were the same course-wide (e.g., lecture and labs, lecture and discussion sections, or multiple instructors teaching different sections of the same course).
    • A message is being sent to department schedulers regarding the process for making these updates.
    • If you add the S/N option to your course, please consider an announcement to your students so they know that they now have the option to select it.
  • Because grading options for some courses may change, we are extending the deadline for undergraduate students to continue to change their grading basis option until November 30.
  • Our existing policies limiting the number of total S/N credits, and not accepting S/N credits for program requirements, still apply.
  • We strongly recommend that students consult with One Stop Student Services and/or their academic advisors prior to changing from A-F to S/N grading to identify potential complications for this decision, including potential implications for financial aid, graduate or professional school applications, and eligibility for scholarships.

Second, I want to ease the burden on students who are struggling the most during this challenging time. With this in mind:

  • For undergraduate students taking Twin Cities undergraduate classes on the A-F grading basis, F grades earned in undergraduate-level classes automatically will be converted to N grades. This will minimize the negative impacts to students’ GPAs in the event they earn an F.
  • Because D grades earn credit(s) and can fulfill liberal education requirements and N grades do not, D grades will not be automatically converted. Undergraduate students taking Twin Cities undergraduate classes will be able to submit a request to One Stop Student Services to convert a D grade to an N.

Finally, I am extending the deadline by which students may withdraw from a class to December 1, to provide additional time if students who are struggling wish to utilize this option.

This memo is oriented toward undergraduate classes, the only change that applies to graduate and professional courses is that individuals teaching graduate or professional classes may also adjust their grading options in consultation with unit leadership. The same deadlines apply.

Thank you all for your continued flexibility and resilience, and especially your support of our students in these difficult times.

If you have any questions regarding these grading changes or making changes to your course, please feel free to contact Academic Support Resources Training & Support at [email protected]. Of course, I welcome your input as well at [email protected].

Sincerely yours,

Rachel Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

Message sent to Twin Cities faculty and instructors on October 30, 2020