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For Students: Spring 2021 Ungraded Option Policy FAQ

How will Spring 2021 courses be graded?

Spring 2021 courses will be graded as indicated in the course syllabus at the start of the semester. Unless a previously approved arrangement exists, you will earn a letter grade recorded by your instructors. Under the Spring 2021 Ungraded Option policy, you are allowed to choose one Spring 2021 course to appear as Ungraded on your transcript, within certain limits and restrictions.

What happens if I choose the Ungraded Option for a course?

The temporary Spring 2021 Ungraded Option policy allows you to request one of your Spring 2021 courses to be Ungraded. To choose the Ungraded Option for a course, you must submit the appropriate form to the Office of Records and Registration no later than April 16, 2021. If your request for the Ungraded Option is approved, instructors will still enter a letter grade in PAWS, but that grade will not appear on your transcript or count toward your GPA.

Undergraduate Courses: If you choose the Ungraded Option for an eligible undergraduate course and you earn a “D” or better grade, a “CD” (credit) grade will appear on your transcript. A “CD” will count toward graduation, but it will not count toward your GPA. Instructors will still submit a letter grade for the course, and although that letter grade will not appear on the transcript, it will be used to enforce minimum grade requirements, such as for prerequisite courses and program entrance and retention. If you do not earn a passing grade, you will receive an “ND” (no credit) grade. An “ND” will appear on your transcript; that course will not count toward your graduation requirements or your GPA.

Graduate Courses: If you choose the Ungraded Option for an eligible graduate course and you earn a “C” or better grade, a “CD” (credit) grade will appear on your transcript. A “CD” will count toward graduation, but it will not count toward your GPA. Instructors will still submit a letter grade for the course, and although that letter grade will not appear on the transcript, it will be used to enforce minimum grade requirements, if applicable. If you do not earn a passing grade, you will receive an “ND” (no credit) grade. An “ND” will appear on your transcript; that course will not count toward your graduation requirements or your GPA.

When and where will the Ungraded Option form be available?

Students may select the Ungraded Option for one Spring 2021 class by completing and submitting a form no later than April 16, 2021. The Office of Records and Registration (R&R) will make available the Spring 2021 Ungraded Option Qualtrics form on the R&R Forms page from April 1, 2021 through April 16, 2021.

Once I submit my request to convert my graded course to Ungraded, can I change my mind and switch back?

You may ask to rescind your request for a course to be Ungraded through April 16, 2021 by emailing Records and Registration at recreg@tcnj.edu.

Email Subject: Rescind Spring 2021 Ungraded Option

Please include the following in the email to recreg@tcnj.edu

  • Your Name
  • Your PAWS ID
  • Your Class Information: Subject, Catalog Number, section (example MAT 127. 01)
  • Your Instructor’s Name

Who can participate in the Spring 2021 Ungraded Option?

All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in TCNJ courses during Spring 2021 who will otherwise receive a grade may choose an Ungraded Option, with the following limits and exceptions:

  1. Some courses, such as capstones and clinicals, may not be taken as Ungraded. A list of courses excluded from the Ungraded Option will be available on the Records and Registration forms page. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisors or assistant/associate dean for more information.
  2. If a course has certain minimum grade requirements, then students who choose the Ungraded Option will need to meet the minimum grade if they want to use the course to meet the requirement (for example, to move to the next course in a sequence, to change majors, or to count towards a major). For information about prerequisite courses and specific program requirements, students are advised to review their PAWS academic requirements report and the program requirements listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin and the Graduate Bulletin, as applicable. Students who are interested in changing majors are advised to review the Change of Major information, as applicable. Students who have questions about applying the Ungraded Option to a course with a minimum grade requirement are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisors for more information.

Will choosing the Spring 2021 Ungraded Option impact my financial aid?

No, choosing the Ungraded Option has no impact on financial aid.

Is it true that no more than four Ungraded course units can be applied to a baccalaureate degree?

Courses taken as Ungraded under either the Spring 2020 emergency policy or the Spring 2021 emergency policy will not count towards this four course unit limit.

What if I am repeating a class?

Under this temporary policy, you may choose the Ungraded Option when repeating a course for which you previously received a failing grade or a withdrawal (“W”). You are encouraged to consult with your academic advisors regarding the implications of repeating a class and using the Ungraded Option.

What happens if I choose the Ungraded Option for a class with a higher minimum grade requirement than the letter grade my Instructor enters in PAWS?

If you choose the Ungraded Option for an eligible course and earn a passing grade, then a “CD” (credit) grade will appear on your transcript. The assigned letter grades along with the CD/ND grades are available for review by the Department Chairs. If the course has a higher minimum grade requirement than your assigned letter grade, then the department will prevent you from using the course to meet that requirement (for example, to move on to the next course or to count towards the program). In that case, to meet the requirement, you may need to repeat the course, and the Repeating Courses policy would apply. For more information, students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisors.

If I choose the Ungraded Option, will I still be able to see my letter grade in PAWS?

If you choose the Ungraded Option, you will not be able to see your letter grade. PAWS will display the CD/ND grade only. If you would like to know your letter grade, please contact the course Instructor or the Office of Records and Registration.

Will Ungraded courses be accepted as transfer credit?

If you are planning to transfer a course, you are strongly encouraged to consult with the institutions where you plan to transfer regarding whether they will accept pass/fail or Ungraded courses. The college will not be able to calculate or communicate alternative grades.

How will Ungraded courses affect my graduate school or other external applications?

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your academic advisors and the institutions to which you plan to apply regarding their assessment of pass/fail and Ungraded courses. The college will not be able to calculate or communicate alternative grades.

How will this change affect my GPA? 

Only courses that are graded will enter into GPA calculations. Courses for which you select the Ungraded Option will not factor into your GPA. The college will not be able to calculate or communicate alternative GPAs.

How will this option affect the 3.0 requirement for NJ teacher certification?

The state of New Jersey still requires students to have a 3.0 GPA in order to earn CEAS (Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing) certification. Ungraded courses will not be factored into your GPA. If you do not yet have a 3.0, you will still need grades in your spring courses to raise your GPA, particularly if you are close to graduation.

TCNJ requires you to have a 2.75 GPA before beginning advanced fieldwork. Students who have not attained that 2.75 GPA because of Ungraded course work should contact their advisor and the Support for Teacher Education Programs office for individual consultation.

If at the end of Spring 2021 I have failed to achieve or maintain academic good standing, what happens next?

If you fail to achieve or maintain academic good standing (i.e., at risk of academic suspension or dismissal) by the end of spring semester, you will be notified. The Probation, Dismissal, and Academic Standing policy will apply for the Spring 2021 semester.

Will choosing the Ungraded Option affect my ability to make Dean’s List?

As per TCNJ policy, students must take three graded course units to be eligible for Dean’s List and earn a 3.5 GPA. (Pass/Fail and Ungraded Options do not count.) Therefore, if you have a four-unit course load and take one course as Ungraded, you would still be eligible for Dean’s List because you have three graded courses.

Will choosing the Ungraded Option affect my ability to graduate with honors?

You must earn at least 16 graded course units to be eligible for graduation with honors. As per TCNJ policy, “These units may not include courses taken on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis or Credit/No Credit or additive credit or units earned through the college’s credit-by-examination process.” Therefore, it is your responsibility to determine if you have enough graded units to be eligible for graduation with honors, as courses with Ungraded Options do not count toward the 16 required graded units.

What other factors should I consider when deciding if I want to convert a course to Ungraded?

You are encouraged to consult with your academic advisors if you have questions about converting courses to Ungraded.

What is the deadline for deciding if I want to receive a letter grade or apply for the Ungraded Option?

Students may request or rescind the ungraded option by completing the Spring 2021 Ungraded Option Qualtrics form on the R&R Forms page from April 1 through April 16, 2021. Exceptional circumstances for submissions after that date will be handled on a case-by-case basis no later than May 7, 2021 with requests communicated via email directly to the Assistant or Associate Dean.

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