Pass/Fail Grading

Through the pass/fail grading program, you gain the opportunity to secure a broader, more diverse academic experience than is usually possible under the traditional, many-stepped grading program. As a result, you may choose to take courses which are personally or intellectually attractive to you, without the concern about how your performance might negatively affect your grade point average. You may take courses of value outside your major in which your expected performance is not great enough to sustain a high letter grade. You may, in other words, experience learning for its own sake.

Please note, however, not all courses are available for the pass/fail grading option and departments must provide final approval for students to take a department’s course under the pass/fail grading option. Additional restrictions and considerations apply to the pass/fail-grading option for courses. First, you may not take courses in your major that fulfill your major program requirements with a pass/fail grade option unless specifically directed and approved by your major department. Second, you should be aware that pass/fail graded courses may not fulfill the requirements for admission into many professional programs (e.g., nursing or athletic training) and you should discuss your plans with your adviser to be sure a pass/fail graded course will fulfill the requirements for your planned career path. Third, even pass-graded courses may not fulfill the prerequisites for other courses at the university.

Because of the complexities and potential consequences associated with changing a course grade basis to pass/fail, prior to requesting a change to pass/fail grade basis you are strongly encouraged to confer with your advisers to understand the implications (especially to professional program and major requirements) of a pass/fail grade option for a particular course. After discussing with your adviser, using the electronic request form in accesSPoint you may choose the pass/fail option for a course before the end of the eighth day of classes for a full-semester course in a term. Shorter sessions (e.g., 4-week, 8-week, etc.) have a pro-rated deadline that coincide with the end of the Add/Drop Schedule. Requests will be electronically routed for approval by adviser, instructor, and department offering the course. Appeals for late pass/fail grade option requests after the deadline will be evaluated by the Academic Appeals Committee only after all other approvals have been electronically granted and a specific appeal is submitted.

To earn a pass (P) in your pass/fail graded course, you must earn the letter grade equivalent of a C- or better. A P grade means you have passed the course and are granted credit for it. We do not include a grade of P in calculating your grade point average; however, we do apply the credit you earn toward your degree.

If you earn less than a C- grade, you have failed the course and a grade of F will be recorded as your official grade. We do include a grade of F in calculating your grade point average.

At the undergraduate level, you may select up to five pass/fail credits of coursework each semester.

If you are on probation, you may take a course on a pass/fail basis only if the course is offered as pass/fail only.

Office of the Registrar
Room 101, Student Services Center (SSC)
1108 Fremont Street
Phone: 715-346-4301
Email: registrar@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/regrec/