Important Grading Changes for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021

Dear Students:

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. In response to these materials I have consulted with MSA leadership and with numerous faculty governance bodies, advisors, Deans and Associate Deans. I am grateful to all who shared their perspectives.

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.

S/N grading basis

First, I have encouraged instructors who have not yet done so to consider adding the S/N grading option to their course. I have requested that these additions be completed by November 13. You can check the status of your classes by searching for the specific course in Schedule Builder. Once you find the class, click on “View details” to see the grading basis.  

Because your options may change, if you are taking an undergraduate-level class that allows for S/N grading, you may change your grade basis until 11:59 p.m. on November 30 for fall regular term and second 7-week session classes. To change your grade basis, you will need to log into MyU and adjust the grade basis. Step-by-step instructions are available on the One Stop Student Services website.

I strongly urge you to check your APAS report, review the fact sheet on the One Stop website, and/or consult with your academic advisor before making any of these changes. There are often important future considerations when changing from A-F to S/N, including potential implications for financial aid, graduate school applications, and eligibility for scholarships. 

Importantly, there are no changes this year to the regular policies that limit your total S/N credits in your degree and that require A-F grades to meet program requirements. Your advisor can help you understand how to request exceptions or submit a petition if you have extenuating circumstances. Additional details and impacts are detailed in the fact sheet.

A-F grading basis

We are making an additional change that applies to any Twin Cities undergraduate-level classes you take on the A-F grading basis. Any F grades you receive in these classes will be automatically converted to an N. This means that your GPA will not be impacted by F grades. For additional information, consult the fact sheet.

Because grades of D are credit-bearing and count toward elective courses and liberal education requirements, this change will not be automatically applied to any D grades. However, you may request to have a D converted into an N by emailing One Stop Student Services from your university email account. You should talk to One Stop Student Services and/or your academic advisor about whether such a conversion would impede your academic progress or endanger your financial aid, scholarship eligibility, or other aspects of your personal situation. 

As mentioned above, these changes will apply to both Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.

Withdrawing from a class

Finally, for Fall 2020, we have extended the last day to withdraw from classes without approval to December 1.

While I have heard from some students who prefer the distanced modalities, I have heard from others who are struggling with the loss of in-person instruction necessitated by the pandemic. If you need extra support in any of your classes, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the many campus resources available to you, and especially to reach out to your advisor who can help you navigate through your personal educational journey.

I greatly appreciate the input and feedback I received on this matter. Thank you for sharing your perspectives, and advocating for the needs of yourself and your colleagues.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

Message sent to all Twin Cities undergraduate students taking undergraduate-level courses in fall regular session and/or second 7-week session courses on October 30, 2020.