CECH Grading Policy

In Spring 2020 and Summer 2020, CECH graduate and undergraduate students will be given the option to convert a class grade to “P” (pass). Instructors will continue to submit letter grades for classes. Only grades of “C-” or better will have the option of being converted to a “P” grade. For spring 2020, students will be given until May 13, 2020 to request that a grade be converted to a “P”. A student may choose this option on a class-by-class basis, and there is not a limit to the number of grades that can be converted. Specific instructions for completing this process in Catalyst are provided by the Office of the Registrar. A deadline date for summer 2020 courses will be announced in late July/early August.

Important Information

Visit the information page provided by the Office of the Registrar for:

Instructions on using Catalyst to covert one or more of your grades to a “P”.
A GPA calculator to project the effects of selecting a “P” grade for one or more of your classes on your semester and cumulative GPAs.

For graduate students expecting to graduate in spring 2020: to avoid delays in processing your graduation certification, we highly recommend that you request any Pass (P) grades in Catalyst by Friday, May 8 at 9 a.m.

Student FAQs

How does choosing a “P” affect my GPA?

A “P” has a neutral effect on your GPA – it neither raises it nor lowers it. It has no quality points attached. An “F” in the P/F grading scale is still an “F” and carries a 0.0 GPA.

I am going to receive a “D”. Why doesn’t the Pass option apply to me? What options are available?

For Spring and Summer 2020, the university decided that only grades of “C-” or better would be included in the automatic Pass (P) option. If you are concerned that your grade will be less than a “C-” due to the hardships you have incurred while learning remotely, please discuss this issue with your professor now.

Are all grades now P/F?

No. Instructors will continue to submit letter grades for courses, and students have the OPTION to convert grades of “C-” or better on a case -by-case basis to a “P”.

Is the conversion to a “P” automatic for grades of “C-” or better?

No. Students must initiate the change themselves in Catalyst for courses they wish to convert to a “P”. In many cases, keeping the letter grade awarded may make most sense for students. Instructions for how to complete this process in Catalyst are provided by the Registrar’s Office. Students will have until 11:59 p.m. on May 13th to elect to change a grade to a “P”.

I don’t want “P” grades. They will impede my ability to raise my GPA, get reimbursed by my employer, or they may impact my ability to maintain scholarships or get into graduate school. Do I have to take Pass/Fail grades?

No. CECH has chosen to give students the option to switch to Pass (P) in courses where they’ve earned a “C-” or higher – no one must switch. Each student can decide what is best for their individual goals and circumstances. After the grading deadline, you will have through May 13 to make changes in Catalyst, if you chose to do so. Instructions will be forthcoming once the new programming in Catalyst has happened.

Can I change grades for more than one class?

After the grading deadline, you will be able to log into Catalyst and make a case-by-case decision for every course on your schedule where you have earned a “C-” or better. Grades of “D” or “F” will not have the option to be changed.

I am a CECH major, taking a course in another college. How will I be graded?

The CECH decision to give CECH students a choice of changing a grade of “C-” or better to a Pass (P) follows you, regardless of the course in which you are enrolled. So, in your case, you would have the option to change your grade of “C-” or better to a Pass (P) although the course itself is in a different college.

I had applied for a Grade Replacement for this semester. How will this affect me?

Changing from a grade of “C-” or better to a Pass (P) may impact your grade replacement request. Please work with your advisor before making any changes to your Spring grades.

I am currently on Academic Alert or Probation. Should I take a “P”?

If you are on academic alert of probation, you should work with your advisor to be aware of the impact of choosing a “P” on your academic progression status.

Will a “P” count for degree progress or course pre-requisites?

For all CECH programs, a “P” will satisfy degree program and pre-requisite requirements. This decision may vary in other colleges.

How many classes can I change to a “P” before I am ineligible for the Dean’s List?

Provided you earn at least six credit hours and a 3.4 for the semester, you will be eligible for the Dean’s List regardless of how many grades you convert to a “P”.

If I am applying to graduate schools, is it better to take a “P”, or a “B” that will lower my 3.8 GPA?

Please use the GPA calculator to anticipate the impact of switching your grade to a “P” versus keeping the assigned letter grade.

What if I elect to change my grade to a “P” grade, but later change my mind? Can I revert my grade back to the original letter grade?

You will need to ask the original instructor to restore the original grade. Instructors can only change grades for up to one year in Catalyst. You are encouraged to complete this change within one year, otherwise tracking instructors down and using the paper grade change form may be challenging.

Could you show me an example of courses and grades, and how you might decide what action to take?

Here’s a sample schedule, with final grades and options you could choose:

JUDC2028: “A-“ (do not convert to Pass (P), keep the “A-“!)
CJ3027: “B-“ (you may or may not convert to Pass (P))
CHEM1040: “C” (After talking to your advisor, you may want to convert to “P”. That grade will count as the pre-req for CHEM1041.)
SPAN1001: “D” (you do not have the option to make a change)

Key Takeaways for CECH Students

The CECH Pass/Fail option is just that for students: an option. Traditional letter grades are the default.
The Office of the Registrar has provided more information about how to complete this process in Catalyst, in addition to a GPA calculator to examine the impact of grade changes to your GPA.
The CECH Pass/Fail option is an option that can be enacted on a class-by-class basis, and there is not a limit to the number of classes in which a grade can be converted to a “P”.
Only grades of “C-“ or better can be converted to a “P” grade.
Most important, you do not need to make any decisions or do anything until grades are posted. For spring 2020, once your instructors have submitted your final grades, you may log in to Catalyst to change grades for one or more of your classes to the "P" grade. This option will only be available for spring 2020 grades from Friday, May 1, 2020 at 8:00 am EST through Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm EST.