Spring 2021 Pass/Fail Frequently Asked Questions
Overview:
For the spring 2021 term, each student may request to designate up to two courses to be graded as Pass/D/Fail through 4:30 pm ET on April 9, 2021. Requests may be made by students from any class year and all requests received by the deadline will be honored.
During spring 2021, courses taken Pass/D/Fail (assuming they are not failed) will count toward all University requirements including major requirements, minor requirements and general education requirements. Courses taken Pass/D/Fail do not count toward a student's GPA. Courses taken Pass/D/Fail during the spring 2021 will not count toward the usual limit on the number of pass/fail enrollments each student is permitted during their DePauw career. Students should consult with their advisors before requesting that a course be converted to Pass/D/Fail.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What grades may be assigned when a course is taken Pass/D/Fail?
Grades for a pass/fail enrollment are assigned using a P-D-F scale. P indicates performance at the C- level or above. D indicates passing performance below the C- level. F indicates failure. Grades of P or D earn credit. Grades of F do not earn credit. Grades earned in a Pass/D/Fail course do not count toward the student's GPA.
Q. Who can request courses to be graded Pass/D/Fail?
Normally, only juniors and seniors can take a course pass/fail. For the spring 2021 term, every student can request that at most two or of their courses be graded pass/fail.
Q. How do I make the request for a course to be Pass/D/Fail, and what is the deadline?
Instructions for requesting Pass/D/Fail status for a course will be shared with the student body later this fall. Requests must be received by 4:30 pm ET on April 9, 2021. It is highly recommended that you try your hardest in all of your courses this fall and delay a decision to convert a course to Pass/D/Fail status until after you have received significant feedback from your instructor. Converting a course to Pass/D/Fail status early may lead you to slack off in the course and that can lead to poor performance that is hard to recover from.
Q. Do I need signatures or approvals in order to take a course Pass/D/Fail?
For spring 2021 only, you do not need signatures or approvals to take a course Pass/D/Fail. However, you are encouraged to consult with your professor and advisor before making the final decision to take a course Pass/D/Fail.
Q. How many courses can I take Pass/D/Fail?
Each student may designate a zero, one or two courses to be graded Pass/D/Fail for spring 2021.
Q. If I take a course Pass/D/Fail, how will that affect my grade point average (GPA)?
Pass/D/Fail courses are not calculated in your cumulative or major GPA. However, for spring 2021 these credit(s) will apply towards the major or minor and for general education requirements.
Q. If I take a course Pass/D/Fail, will it affect my applications for jobs or for graduate schools or professional schools?
Many universities have relaxed their pass/fail policies. Therefore, we expect that many employers, graduate schools, and professional schools will be flexible in accepting pass/fail courses taken during the 2020-2021 academic year. We expect fewer schools and employers will be as flexible in spring 2021 but it is difficult to be certain of this as it may depend on how the pandemic progresses.
DePauw is not responsible for other institutions’ academic or admissions policies. If there is a specific program you are interested in, you should check directly with the school for guidance. In general, it may not be wise to take courses Pass/D/Fail when the courses are directly related to graduate programs you may be interested in.
Q. With whom should I check if I have general questions whether I should take a course Pass/D/Fail?
In many cases you will want to start by talking with the professor for your course. You are also encouraged to seek general advice from your academic advisor about pass/fail options.
Q. Whom should I ask if I have questions about taking courses Pass/D/Fail if those courses may relate to my plans after graduation?
You are encouraged to seek general advice from your academic advisor about pass/fail options. Advisors for Pre-health (Colleen McCracken-Renick), Pre-law (Nicole Burts), and Pre-engineering (Howard Brooks) are good resources if you are interested in these specific areas of study.
Q. Which courses can be taken as Pass/D/Fail?
Any course can be taken as pass/fail during spring 2021. Courses with grades of "Pass" or “D” will fulfill all University requirements including degree requirements, major requirements, minor requirements, and general education requirements (Distribution Areas, Language, and Competence - W, Q, S).
Q. If I take a class Pass/D/Fail, how does that affect W, Q, or S competencies?
In spring 2021, a competency can be fulfilled with a Pass/D/Fail course, as long as you complete the specified requirements for the competency. Check the course syllabus or ask your instructor to see what is required to earn a competency in a specific course.
Q. What if a course footnote in the Schedule of Classes says the course cannot be taken pass/fail? May I still take the course Pass/D/Fail?
Yes. For spring 2021 any course may be taken pass/fail by any student.
Q. Can .25 and .5 credit courses be taken Pass/D/Fail?
Yes. All courses may be taken Pass/D/Fail in spring 2021 up to a total of two courses per student. Note that a student who takes two .25 credit courses on a Pass/D/Fail basis will reach the maximum of course Pass/D/Fail courses even though the courses are partial credit.
Q. How quickly should I decide to take a course Pass/D/Fail?
You have until 4:30 pm on April 9, 2021, to convert your courses to Pass/D/Fail grading. Therefore, it may be a good idea to give yourself through at least late October before making a decision to convert a course to Pass/D/Fail grading.
Q. Do I have to take my courses Pass/D/Fail?
No. Your courses will be graded on the A-F scale unless you request otherwise or unless you are enrolled in a special course that is only graded on a Pass/D/Fail basis.
Q. If I take several courses as Pass/D/Fail this term, does that mean I cannot take any more Pass/D/Fail courses at DePauw?
No. For spring 2021 any courses you request to be graded as pass/fail will not count towards the three-course limit described in the DePauw Course Catalog.
Q. What is the University’s Pass/D/Fail policy other than during spring 2021?
DePauw’s standard pass/fail policy is available in the University Catalog.
Q. Whom should I contact if I have additional questions?
Send an email to registrarsoffice@depauw.edu.