Pass / No Credit and Course Withdrawal Extension Policy in Response to a Global Public Health Pandemic April 3, 2020 In order to support students during these challenging times, William Paterson University will allow the following one-time exception to current policy with respect to the Spring 2020 semester only. PASS / NO CREDIT Option Students may choose a Pass / No Credit grading option for individual courses. Pass grades will count toward major, minor, UCC requirements but will not be factored into GPAs. No Credit grades are similar to F grades and therefore will not count towards graduation requirements or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). However, unlike an F, the No Credit grade will not be factored into the GPA. Students may choose the above option for any or all of their spring 2020 courses. Students may choose this option by submitting an online form on the Registrar’s website designating which course(s) they wish to be graded Pass / No Credit. The form will be made available to them beginning May 1st and will be available until June 1, 2020. Faculty will still submit grades for all students for the spring 2020 semester. Therefore, students who choose the Pass / No Credit option will be expected to fully participate in the course. For undergraduate students who choose this option, grades of D or better will be converted to a Pass, grades of F will be converted to No Credit. For graduate students who choose this option, grades of C or better will be converted to Pass and grades of D or F will be converted to No Credit. If students are already enrolled in a Pass/Fail course, they must choose the Pass /No Credit option if they desire a No Credit grade to replace an F. Students who fail to maintain good academic standing by the end of the spring 2020 semester will be notified and all will be invited to return for the fall 2020 semester. Probation and Dismissal policies will be held in abeyance for this semester only. Programs for which external exam pass rates are considered for accreditation purposes such as nursing and athletic training may use original grades for determination of progression, probation and dismissal actions even if a student has chosen the Pass / No credit option. Students who have been awarded Merit Scholarships are normally required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. For the Spring 2020 semester, we are suspending that requirement. As long as students are in academic good standing, they will retain their merit scholarships for the Fall 2020 semester. For undergraduate students, minimum grade requirements above a “D” (e.g., to progress or count toward a major or for a course prerequisite) are waived. Students who choose the Pass / No Credit option based on a final grade below what would otherwise be a minimum grade requirement are advised to consult with their faculty advisor or department chair for advice on additional preparation in anticipation of subsequent course work. Programs for which external exam pass rates are considered for accreditation purposes such as nursing, athletic training and the doctor of clinical psychology may use original grades for determination of course repeat, progression, probation and dismissal actions even if a student has chosen the Pass / No credit option. Student requests for the Pass / No Credit option may be denied if found to negatively impact their financial aid, pending consultation with a financial aid advisor. Deans will have the discretion to approve a change to Pass / No Credit after the June 1st deadline based on extenuating circumstances. Extension of the Course Withdrawal Deadline The spring 2020 deadline for withdrawing from a course with a WD grade and no refund will be extended from April 9th to April 30th. Links to Request Form and FAQ Request for P/NC form (under construction) P/NC FAQ
