April 1, 2020
Guidance on A/Pass/Fail grade option for spring 2020
Dear K-State Students,
I am writing to announce an important change in our universitywide grading policy for the spring 2020 semester. We are in our second week of remote learning and we are deeply aware of the challenges many students are experiencing in adjusting to new learning platforms and conditions. Some of you are managing divided responsibilities, intermittent to no internet access, increased financial pressures, and separation from the support network and resources on which you could rely on campus. As we moved into remote instruction, we established a guiding principle to focus on the well-being, health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and communities.
In recognition of the above factors and after considering the perspectives of students, faculty, and academic administrators, we are relaxing current catalog policies and the following universitywide grading policies will be in effect for spring 2020:
- For all students, undergraduate and graduate, we are extending the deadline for selecting to have a course graded A/Pass/Fail to Friday, May 8.
- The default option is for students to receive a letter grade. Students need to notify the Office of the Registrar only if they want the A/Pass/Fail option for a particular course.
- Students may choose the A/Pass/Fail option for individual courses; that is, an A/Pass/Fail selection does not apply to all courses taken by the student this semester.
- Students who choose the A/Pass/Fail option will need to submit the A/P/F Agreement Form to the Office of the Registrar. The form will require the signature of the academic advisor for undergraduate students and the advisor/major professor and program director for graduate students.
- Students who wish to change their selected grading option back to the original grade will be directed to submit an appeal form to the Office of the Registrar.
- Program/Graduation restrictions on the allowable number of A/Pass/Fail courses shall be waived for courses taken during this term.
- "Pass" grades will not be included in any GPA calculations (either cumulative or term) or in determinations of undergraduate Honors and of academic standing. "A" and "F" grades, however, will be included in GPA calculations and with respect to the policies concerning GPA requirements.
- Consistent with our current practice, faculty will still be required to enter a letter grade that will be converted to A, P or F.
- A grade of D or better is required for a Pass in all undergraduate courses. A grade of C or better is required for a Pass in all graduate courses.
- For students who select the A/Pass/Fail option, the university will not provide or verify the letter grade submitted.
- The option is exclusively the choice of the student. Faculty may not convert the entire class to an A/Pass/Fail option.
- Faculty will not be notified of a student's choice. The decision by a student to use the A/Pass/Fail option is treated with strict confidentiality.
- Some courses may need to be taken for a letter grade to satisfy licensure or other external requirements.
- Undergraduate students should reach out to advisors with questions regarding the adjusted universitywide grading policies. Graduate students should reach out to their advisor/major professors or graduate program director if they have questions.
We are committed to providing you the opportunity to make a well-informed decision and to equip your advisor with information to successfully guide you. Additional information is also available in the FAQ section of the Office of the Registrar website.
Our students, faculty and staff have shown a tremendous amount of resolve in their commitment to supporting the important work of teaching, learning, advising, scholarship, creative work, and engagement during this time of disruption. The shift to remote delivery of instruction and work has not been easy, and it is inspiring to see the many ways our university community has shown strength in meeting our challenges.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to evaluate the many important questions and key processes that affect your academic success and well-being. Please continue to take care of yourself and each other as we stay #kstatestrong.
Sincerely,
Chuck Taber
Provost and executive vice president