The University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor and Dearborn campuses are altering their course grading policies for the remainder of the winter semester due to the unique challenges associated with U-M’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting Provost Susan Collins emailed Ann Arbor faculty and students March 20 informing them that, under the alternative grading policy, faculty will enter traditional letter grades, but undergraduate students will receive either “Pass,” or “No Record Covid” on their permanent transcripts.
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“While other institutions across the nation have adopted similar policies on grading, it is undoubtedly an unprecedented step for the University of Michigan. But these are unprecedented times, and I appreciate your flexibility,” Collins said.
UM-Dearborn Provost Sue Alcock emailed faculty and staff announcing that the campus’ governing faculty approved the option for undergraduate and graduate students to convert some or all of their winter courses to a Pass/Fail grading mode.
UM-Dearborn Provost Sue Alcock emailed faculty and staff announcing that the campus’ governing faculty approved the option for undergraduate and graduate students to convert some or all of their winter courses to a Pass/Fail grading mode.
And UM-Flint Interim Provost Keith Moreland and University Registrar Karen Arnold emailed that campus’ students March 23 giving them the option to convert “any, all or none” of their winter semester courses to a Pass/Fail grading method.
President Mark Schlissel announced March 11 that all in-person classes would be taught remotely, in alternative formats, for the rest of the winter semester. Students have been encouraged to leave campus and return to their permanent residences.
On the Ann Arbor campus, the new grading policy also applies to undergraduates enrolled in graduate courses, but would not apply to classes graded before March 10, Collins said.
The university also will institute a more flexible withdrawal policy, allowing students to withdraw from a course until April 21 and not have the course appear on their transcript.
UM-Dearborn has extended its “selective drop period” to April 8, and UM-Flint will allow students to drop any of their courses through 5 p.m. April 17.
Additional information regarding Ann Arbor graduate and professional coursework grading policies will be shared next week, Collins said.
Under the new policy, undergraduates at the Ann Arbor campus who receive a “Pass,” or “P,” will receive the full course credit. The grade cut-off for a “P” will be the same as the traditional grade minimum for students to receive course credit, which is a C-.
Students who are interested will be able to request that their “P” for a course be converted to a letter grade through a process that will be described in greater detail in the weeks to come. Such requests must be made by July 1.
Students who receive “No Record Covid,” or “NRC,” will receive no course credit, but their grade point average will not be affected. Language will be added to transcripts explaining the university’s policy this term, Collins said.
She said students should expect to receive additional information and guidance from their school or college within the week.
Students at the Flint and Dearborn campuses are encouraged to speak with an academic or faculty adviser before deciding to switch a course grade to Pass/Fail so they can fully understand the impact of the switch on their academic progress.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated from an earlier version to reflect changes at UM-Flint.
