Message to Undergraduate Students from Faculty Senate President Jake R. Fox, Ph.D. and Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph P. Scartelli, Ph.D.

Dear Undergraduate Students:

In response to the highly unusual and certainly unanticipated conditions as a result of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, we wish to provide flexibility and options to you as you complete the spring semester. Knowing that almost all students are now taking classes under a different instructional delivery model from the beginning of the semester, the following options are being made available to you for the Spring 2020 semester including: the option to convert classes to ‘credit/no credit’ format; instructions for determining financial aid implications when choosing this option; the deadline for converting classes to ‘credit/no credit;’ and the revised date to withdraw from courses in this current semester. These decisions were made after extensive consultation with the Faculty Senate Executive Council and the Academic Affairs Leadership Team.

Grading Options
Undergraduate students will be able to remain in the traditional ‘A-F’ grading protocol or convert that protocol to the following format.

Students may change any undergraduate course grading from the traditional ‘A-F’ to a ‘credit/no credit’ system. In the ‘credit/no credit’ option, the grades to be assigned are as follows.

CRH (Credit High - representing a grade range of A through C)
CRL (Credit Low - representing a grade range of C- through D-)
NC (No Credit- representing a grade of F)

Under the ‘credit/no credit’ format, grades of CRH and CRL would result in completion of the course and earn the credit hours assigned to that course. The grade of NC will earn no credits for the course. The three grades will not be calculated into your grade point average (GPA). In order to opt for this ‘credit/no-credit’ grading option, the process is as described in the following link: Login to the MyRU portal > click the Academics icon > click Credit/No Credit Grade Mode Option link in the Academic Tools portlet.

It is highly recommended that before making the decision to switch to this ‘credit/no-credit’ option, students consult with their advisors as conversion to the ‘credit/no credit’ grading system is considered. Some factors to consider before making this decision are outlined below.

1. Opting for the proposed ‘credit/no-credit’ option may prevent a student from improving their GPA to what may be needed to gain admission into the desired major, or continue in the same major or even graduate from a particular major. Students who have this concern should first contact their respective advisor for guidance.

2. Having a ‘credit/no-credit’ grade may reflect negatively on students who are planning to apply to a graduate program since some graduate programs may not accept such a grade. Once again, students who have this concern must first contact their respective advisor for guidance.

3. Undergraduate students who are in the following majors leading to licensure, certification, or other credentialing must keep in mind that switching to the ‘credit/no credit’ option may prevent the course from being counted towards entry into the major, continuation within the major, or successful graduation. Therefore, students in these majors must consult with their respective advisor before choosing the ‘credit/no credit’ grade options for any class. Specifically, these majors are as follows.

Allied Health Science
Athletic Training
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Emergency Services
Nursing
Nutrition and Dietetics
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Recreation Therapy
Respiratory Therapy
Social Work
Teacher Education Programs

NOTE: Opting for the ‘credit/no-credit’ grading option may have implications for receiving financial aid in future terms. Therefore, students who have this concern should contact the Financial Aid Office on the main campus at finaid@radford.edu and 540-831-5408) or the Financial Aid Office at Radford University Carilion (RUC) at rucfinancialaid@radford.edu and 540-985-8267 to discuss their status before finalizing their decision.

Additional Temporary Policy Revisions
The existing policy on limiting the number of withdrawals to a maximum of five courses is being waived for Spring 2020.

The existing pass/fail policy remains in place for those students who originally registered for pass/fail grading option in their current Spring 2020 courses. (See Catalog policy at https://catalog.radford.edu/content.php?catoid=44&navoid=1727#Grades_and_Credit.)

Courses that students choose to convert to ‘credit/no-credit’ during the Spring 2020 semester will be exempt from the existing Pass/Fail policy prohibiting repeating a course for a letter grade that was originally completed and graded under the Pass/Fail system. As such, a Spring 2020 course for which the ‘credit/no credit’ option was exercised, may be repeated for a letter grade in a subsequent semester.

The ‘credit/no credit’ option is not available to graduate students. Undergraduate students who are taking graduate courses for graduate credit are not permitted to opt into the ‘credit/no credit’ grading system. However, if an undergraduate student withdraws from a graduate course, the withdrawal will not count against the five course withdrawals permitted to undergraduate students.

Critical Dates
Friday, April 24, 2020: Students may opt into the ‘credit/no credit’ grading system at any point up to Friday, April 24, 2020. The decision beyond that date will be irrevocable.

Friday, April 24, 2020: Last day to withdraw from a class. REMINDER: Course withdrawals will not count against the five course withdrawals permitted to undergraduate students during their degree program.

We, at Radford University, realize that the changes we are currently experiencing are overwhelming. Please know that we are here to support you during this time. As you deliberate these options, as well as all other academic decisions you may have to make, you are strongly encouraged to consult with your faculty and/or college advisor. They are equipped to help you make the most beneficial choices with regard to your degree progress and educational goals. We are here to help!