Temporary Pass/Fail grading option now available for spring courses

Posted: March 27, 2020

Gannon University has adopted a temporary Pass/Fail grading option for Spring 2020 undergraduate courses transitioned to remote instruction, effective immediately.

Having first taking the steps to convert all spring courses to remote delivery we have now taken some time to explore the opportunities and repercussions of offering a Pass/Fail option that will best fit our Gannon students. While we are offering this as an option, please read the details below. For some of our students this short-term solution may have long-term impacts especially when applying to law school, medical school, and other graduate school opportunities.  There may be discipline-specific restrictions that could influence your academic progression related to academic probation and professional accreditation requirements.  Please discuss your options and best path with your academic advisors before making a final decision. 

During Spring 2020, undergraduate students are eligible to choose a Pass/Fail (P/F) grading option for most courses that have transitioned to remote delivery.

Details on the Pass/Fail (P/F) grading option:

• There will be no credit limit on the number of P/F credits taken during the Spring 2020 semester.
• The revised P/F option applies to undergraduate courses intended to be in-person throughout Spring 2020, but were changed to remote instruction as a result of COVID-19. Previously scheduled undergraduate online courses may be completed P/F only according to the standard policy found in the Undergraduate Catalog.
• Courses taken for P/F grades during Spring 2020 will count towards curricular, major, academic progress, and graduation requirements.
• Grades of P will not be factored into a student's grade point average (GPA). However, a F grade will have a negative impact on GPA.
• Faculty will grade students as usual during the semester, and submit the letter grade to the Registrar's Office following the standard submission process. Faculty will not be aware of students’ selection of P/F option.
• Students who choose to receive a P/F designation must complete the Spring 2020 Pass/Fail Request Form available on the Advising Center Portal and forward the form to their academic advisor and their major’s Dean’s Office. The form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by Friday May 1st, the last day of scheduled instruction. (This form is being revised and will be available by April 3rd.) If no form is submitted, the letter grade will remain for the course.
• This policy does not apply to any graduate courses. Although undergraduates may enroll in some graduate courses, they are subject to the grading policies of the graduate programs.
• A grade of P (Pass) will be awarded if you earn the equivalent of a letter grade of D or higher.
• Students must complete at least 12 credits of graded courses to be eligible for the Dean’s List.
• Course credits completed with the P/F option during the Spring 2020 semester will not count toward the 12 credit P/F limit policy per the undergraduate catalog.
• There may be discipline-specific guidelines related to accreditation requirements that will prohibit certain classes to be completed as P/F. Completing the course as a P/F may impact academic progression. Academic programs have the ability to deny a P/F request for specific courses if it violates accreditation standards and is not in the students’ best interests. Please consult your advisor.
• Academic probations will be extended if students currently on academic probation choose P/F options as the grade will not be included in the calculation their GPA.
• P/F grades may impact admission decisions outside Gannon’s control to graduate programs at other institutions including medical school, law school, etc.
• Institutions have varying policies on transferring P/F grades. Many institutions will not accept credit for these courses if you choose to leave Gannon University.
• This policy does not apply to dual enrollment students. If you are a high school student completing Gannon courses we cannot guarantee that other institutions will accept P/F grades and this may impact your ability to transfer credits. In addition, you cannot complete a course P/F if you need a grade in the course for high school requirements.
• This P/F policy does not apply to English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
• Once the form is submitted and letter grades are converted to P/F you may not request to convert back to a letter grade.
• Gannon will include a designation on undergraduate students’ transcripts, indicating the extraordinary circumstances encountered in the present semester.

In order to protect our students we have discussed this policy with faculty, students, parents, accreditation bodies, partner universities, and other education experts. We have tried to give the most up-to-date information possible for you to make an informed decision. Good luck with the successful completion of the semester and please contact your academic advisor if you have questions about your decision on this issue or any others on your mind.