Wellness Center

March 27 - Information Regarding Revised S/U Grading Option

Dear Students,

We have heard your concerns about grading for this semester due to the disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. We understand the change to remote instruction may require a different approach to grading, one that takes into consideration this unprecedented change and all of its unanticipated consequences. Our commitment to you is simple: that every student should have the option to choose a grading system that reflects your work and accommodates this unique situation we all find ourselves in.

This semester, we are temporarily changing that system so that individual students may choose a revised “S/U” grading option on a course by course basis:

- The mark of “S” signifies that a student has earned course credits at any passing grade D- and above. In terms of GPA calculation, an “S” is not included in the computation of a student’s average.

- The mark of U is calculated into the student’s average as an “F” (0.0).

The exact revised catalog statement can be found at https://go.ursinus.edu/FAQsForStudents, which will be updated this evening, as well as other details regarding this choice.

The deadline for students to choose the S/U option is April 29, and we will share more details about how to choose this option over the coming weeks. For courses in which students do not choose this option, they will receive a traditional letter grade. Know that students who decide this “S/U” option for a course will not be able to revoke it.

We hope that this option provides students with some relief and agency in this extreme situation. If you think you will choose the S/U option, we encourage you to use this time to discuss your standing in courses with your professors and make a plan with your adviser. You can also consult with a member of the Institute for Student Success if you have questions about how choosing an S/U designation will affect your GPA.

Thank you for your patience as we decided how best to accommodate the request to adopt a revised “S/U” plan for this semester.

Best,

Mark

Mark B. Schneider
Dean of the College
Ursinus College
mschneider@ursinus.edu
https://smallcollegebigideas.wordpress.com
he/him/his