Effective Fall 2021: You have until the last day of class the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms to decide whether you want to record a class as Pass/Fail. After the last day of class has passed, you cannot change from Graded to Pass/Fail. Please consult an advisor if you need help thinking through this decision.
Why Consider Choosing to Record a Class as Pass/Fail?
This can be a nice option if you want to take a course that’s not in an area of particular strength for you. Perhaps there’s a distribution course or an elective that’s really interesting, but you don’t have much background in that area. Choosing to record your grade as pass/fail for such a class will allow you to explore the breadth of the LSA curriculum without being as concerned about the impact on your GPA.
How Does the Pass/Fail Option Work?
Instructors do not know you’re choosing to record their class as pass/fail unless you tell them, so they will post a traditional letter grade (i.e., A+ through E). The Registrar’s Office then converts that grade to a “P” or an “F.” Grades of C- or higher are recorded as a P. Grades below C- are recorded as an F and no credit is earned for the course. Either way, it does not figure into your GPA.
How to Record a Class as Pass/Fail
Weeks 1-3:
Note during this time period, you can switch back and forth between P/F and “graded” (i.e., recording a class for a traditional letter grade) on your own and as many times as you need. However please confirm that your selection is correct before the third week deadline.
Step 1: From your Backpack/Registration page in Wolverine Access select the EDIT tab.
Step 2: Select the course you wish to edit in the drop down menu and click "Next."
Step 3: Select "Optional Pass/Fail" in the drop down menu next to "Grading" and then click "Next."
Step 4: Click "Finish Editing" to complete the process.Need more help? Watch the video.
Week 4 - Last Day of Class:
During this time, you can switch from "graded" to P/F via a Late Edit request. You can only submit this request one time, and you can't move from P/F back to "graded." Please be sure this is the right decision for you, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to consult an advisor for help.
Step 1: From the Student Center, click Backpack/Registration.
Step 2: On the Edit tab, select the class from your schedule to be edited and click the "Proceed to Step 2 of 3" button.
Step 3: Change the grading and/or units as needed, then click the "Next" button.
Step 4: Confirm the edits to your enrollment options and click the "Finish Editing" button.
Step 5: If you are eligible to submit a Late Edit request form electronically, a "Request for Late Edit" button displays. Click the button to access the form. If you are not eligible to submit a request, an error message is displayed.
Are There Any Restrictions on Pass/Fail?
- You cannot record courses in your major or minor as pass/fail.
- You cannot record fourth-semester language courses being used to satisfy the LSA Language Requirement as pass/fail.
- You can count a maximum of 30 credits of ungraded work toward your degree. This includes courses that you choose to record as Pass/Fail, as well as courses that are mandatory Credit/No Credit and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Note: COVID P/NRC grades do not count towards the 30 credit limit.
What Other Factors Should I Consider When Deciding Whether to Record a Class Pass/Fail?
- Remember that you have until the last of class to decide to switch from recording a class with a letter grade to pass/fail. However after the third week of a full term, you cannot go in the other direction (i.e., decide to switch from P/F to a letter grade). Therefore, if there's any doubt, we strongly recommend that you keep your grading modality as "graded" and reevaluate whether it makes sense to switch to Pass/Fail closer to the end of the semester.
- It’s not a good idea to record a class Pass/Fail if there’s any chance it could be related to graduate school, professional school, or career plans. Pre-med students, for example, are strongly advised not to record any of their science classes Pass/Fail.
- Consider your personal habits and work style. Will you be tempted to put off or ignore assignments for your Pass/Fail class? You’ll need to be sure you’ll still work hard enough to get the Pass.
- If you’re sending out a transcript and you want someone to see the grade “under” the Pass, you can pay a fee to have the Registrar prepare a special attachment which will show that grade.
The complete College of LSA's policies on ungraded coursework can be found here.
