S/F Option
A. Policy
If a student wishes to do so, he or she may take a course in such a way that the only grade appearing on the transcript will be either an S (Satisfactory) or an F (Fail). (See Pass/Fail Grading System.) While neither of these grades will affect the student's cumulative average, the credit earned for the course will count toward graduation. The course instructor is not notified that the student has elected the S/F option. The instructor will assign a grade in the usual way, and this grade will then be converted to an S (if the student receives a grade of A through D-) or an F (if the student receives an E).
The purpose of the S/F option is to enable students to enrich their education by taking challenging courses in areas where they lack confidence in their ability or wish to participate in a course for enjoyment without concern about a grade.
The Satisfactory/Fail option is subject to the following conditions:
- S/F may not be used by students in The College for courses required to meet major, Cluster or college foundation requirements, or requirements for a minor, or for applied music courses, or courses used for most certificate programs.
- Only one course (or four credit hours) per semester may be elected S/F. (A student may elect one S/F course and also carry a course having a mandatory P/F grade.)
- When repeating a course for a grade, the prior grade will be removed from the GPA only if an S is earned.
- The S/F option is not available in the summer.
- Once declared, the S/F option may not be changed or removed except in the case of a change in major or minor, for Cluster or foundation requirements or when requested for graduate or professional school. (See paragraphs C and D.)
B. Declaration
All students declare the option before the end of the fourth week of classes at the Academic Services Counter, except for first-semester freshmen and transfer students in their first semester, who may declare the option through the end of the thirteenth week, and students taking two-credit courses who have until the end of the third week of classes. The student should retain the white copy of the S/F form. Academic Records keeps one copy after it has been processed by the Registrar.
C. Recording and Changing a Satisfactory/Fail Grade
Instructors turn in regular letter grades for all students. The Registrar records only an "S" or an "F" on the student's record and keeps on file the letter grades as reported. Students who have taken a course Satisfactory/Fail but later find this course a requirement for their major or minor may have the grade converted. The student should submit a revised form including the S/F course (signed and accepted by the department) to the Center for Academic Support, and attach a letter asking for conversion of the grade. Students who need a course to meet a Cluster or foundation requirement may ask that the S/F be removed in the senior year. Consent of the Administrative Committee is required in all other cases for a student to declare or remove the S/F option after the deadline set by the faculty. (See Petitions.)
D. Release of S/F Grades
The grade reported by an instructor for a declared S/F course is generally not released to another undergraduate or graduate school. In most cases when another school requests a non-required course grade of S/F to be released, or the student asks for its release, a letter of explanation is sent by the Dean of the College to that school.
Seniors in The College may write to their Administrative Committee requesting that all courses taken on the S/F option be converted on the transcript to the actual letter grades reported. Such requests are routinely approved. The Administrative Committee is unlikely to approve a request for selective changes of S/F course grades.
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