Quinnipiac University announced in an email Thursday it would be adopting a pass or fail grade policy for eligible courses for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester.
On Tuesday, the faculty senate approved having pass or fail options for classes in a 16-0 vote.
According to an email sent out by Quinnipiac University to the students, there will be no limit to the number of courses or credits students may select as pass or fail for Spring 2020 and grades of “pass” will not affect financial aid eligibility.
This new policy does not apply to School of Medicine or School of Law. Those schools will be administering their own, independent grading system for students.
The eligibility of courses to become pass or fail was based upon the basis of accreditation requirements, academic program progression policies, and industry standards.
Undergraduate students in specific programs will also not be eligible to take pass or fail for specific courses in their programs, even if the course itself is eligible.
Students are pleased to know the University has adopted this policy.
“I think it’s a good option because online learning is drastically different especially when you don’t have access to a library or study room to do your work,” said third-year Anna Buonomo. “Some people don’t have the proper area to focus so if your grades don’t turn out how they normally would in a regular environment, you now have the option for the grade to not affect your GPA.”
Students will receive a regular letter grade at the end of the semester and will have the option then to turn their grade into a pass or fail. A minimum of a C- is required for a “passing” grade, unless a higher grade is noted for a specific course.
Students can then consult their advisor and download a pass grade request form from MyQ under the Registrar’s tab. Then, they can submit the form by emailing it to the registrar’s office. The deadline to submit is Monday, May 18, 2020 by 5 p.m.
“I think considering the circumstances the University did what was best for students. I think being able to have the option of pass or fail will be beneficial because we can decide at the end of the semester,” said third-year Kevin Higgins. “So it is not like we need to decide right now if we want a pass or fail for a specific class.”
Professors are also understanding of the choices the University is making in regards to its students.
”We’re in new territory, an extraordinary semester. No question that faculty and the university as a whole has to respond with flexibility and understanding,” said Marc Wortman, part-time faculty.
But Wortman does not believe pass or fail should only be an option due to the circumstances.
“Grading should be optional for all courses no matter what the circumstances. That will encourage students to explore and take courses outside their areas of strength. Not everything in life has to have a grade,” said Wortman.
And some professors do not think implementing the pass or fail will be fair to all students.
“Looking at it from my perspective, I would say pass or fail is either you come or you don’t. So pass or fail to me is what about that student if they are really doing everything and then you have one student who you haven’t heard from but you know they turn in their work on the last day possible,” said Zachary Smith, part-time faculty. “It is really taking away from the students, not the professors because you are giving a student who does nothing versus the student who does everything the same grade, a P or F.”
But Smith also can see why the University made the decision.
“It is a reasonable understanding of what they have been thrown into. I am not saying it is bad or it is good,” said Smith.
Even now with the option to have a course be pass or fail, some students do not think they will use it.
“Though I think it is a good option the University is letting us decide if we want to pass or fail a course, at the end of the day I think I would rather see a letter grade on my transcript, especially if it was a course pertaining to my major,” said Buonomo.
Students can find a full list of eligible courses here.
