WE SP20 PA/NP grading option for graduate students
Statement from WE GSC
Dear WE Graduate Students,
The university has put in place for SP20 an alternate grading option for students taking letter-graded (A, B, C, D, E) courses. Students may chose to receive a grade of "Pass" or "Non-Pass" (PA/NP) instead of a letter grade (more about the university's decisions below). The Graduate School has set the minimum grade needed to receive a "PA" (Pass) in SP20 to be C- or greater. The Welding Engineering Graduate Studies Committee would like to provide the following guidelines with regard to how PA/NP graded courses will be applied to the WE graduate degree requirements.
- A student must opt in to receive a PA/NP grade. By default, a letter grade will be assigned for a graded course unless the student requests to be graded PA/NP. Please use this form to request the PA/NP grading option for a given course.
- A course in which a student receives a "PA" (Pass) will be counted, as appropriate, toward the student's degree requirements. A grade of "NP" will not count toward meeting the student's degree requirements.
- MS with Thesis and MS Non-Thesis students may use any number of Core courses in which a "PA" is received toward meeting the Core requirement.
- PhD students may use no more than one Core course in which a grade of "PA" is received toward meeting the Core requirement. In such cases, the Core GPA will be calculated using the grades of the other three Core courses (minimum Core GPA remains 3.0).
- During a Candidacy Exam, any Core courses in which a "PA" grade is earned will be examined with the understanding that the student has a "B" level command of the subject matter.
- Instead of PA/NP, with the instructors’ permission you may seek an “Incomplete” in a given course. You would then have until July 10, 2020 to meet course requirements in order to receive a grade. *
Sincerely,
Boian Alexandrov
Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, Welding Engineering
Research Associate Professor, Welding Engineering
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request the PA/NP option for a course?
By April 17 please complete this form to request the PA/NP grading option for a SP20 course. You'll be asked for the course dept & course number, class number, and your student ID number. Upon submission the form will go to Mark Cooper who will collect the responses and forward them to the Grad School for processing. A copy of the request will be sent to the email provided on the form. A student must opt in to be evaluated under the PA/NP grading option.
How do I receive a letter grade for my course?
Do nothing. By default any letter-graded (A, B, C, D, E) course will receive a letter grade at the end of SP20. A student must opt in to be evaluated under the PA/NP grading option. Please use the form at the link above to opt in.
What is the minimum grade required to receive a "Pass" in SP20?
The Graduate School has set the minimum grade needed to receive a "PA" (Pass) in SP20 to be C- or greater.
I'm enrolled in a graded grad course to meet my elective requirement, how will the PA/NP be applied?
Courses in which a grade of "PA" (Pass) is received will be applied as a successfully completed graded grad course and applied toward fulfillment of the appropriate degree requirements.
How will my GPA be affected by a grade of PA or NP?
Grades of PA or NP will not be used toward the calculation of the student's cumulative GPA.
Do I have the option to revert to letter grading after selecting the PA/NP option?
No, once the PA/NP option is selected for a course the resulting grade--PA or NP--will be assigned for that course on the student's transcript.
* How do I request an "Incomplete" for a SP20 course?
Students may, at the discretion of a course instructor, request an "Incomplete" grade for a SP20 course. The student will have until July 10, 2020 to complete any requirements for the course. If the student does not complete the course requirements by July 10, a default grade will post to the student's transcript. This default grade would be that which would be awarded based on coursework completed as of the end of Spring Semester (4/24/20).
- A student must receive instructor permission to receive an Incomplete for an SP20 course. There is no university form to complete but the student must communicate with, and receive approval from, his/her course instructor to pursue the Incomplete option. The student would be wise to clarify with the instructor exactly what must be completed in order to receive a grade for the course.
- The deadline to request PA/NP is 4/17; a student cannot pursue an Incomplete and then sometime after 4/17 request to be graded PA/NP.
University grading policy changes for Spring 2020
From the Office of Academic Affairs
In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, most Ohio State students will have the option to obtain a Pass/No Pass grade for courses they are taking in the Spring 2020 semester. These changes will not apply to subsequent terms. [more]
Includes PA/NP option, Incomplete option, and withdraw options.
College of Engineering policy
From Dean Williams, 3/27/20
College of Engineering Policy on Pass/No-Pass (PA/NP) grading for SP2020:
- Consistent with the university resolution, the PA/NP option is extended to all major and minor courses (i.e. all degree requirements) for undergraduate and graduate programs in COE and KSA.
- Students will have until April 17 to make this choice known to their academic advisor.
- [Undergraduates] Admission to major decisions will still be made based on letter grades earned in accordance with policies already in place. Students may wish to weigh that when considering P/NP.
- To further mediate the impact of this unusual situation the College of Engineering emphasizes that the “I” (incomplete) may be an appropriate option to allow extra time for completing work, and the completion deadline for Sp2020 has been extended from the 6th Friday of Summer Term to the 10th Friday.