Summer 2020 Undergraduate Pass/Fail FAQ
Q: Does the pass/fail grading option for Summer 2020 undergraduate students apply to students in all four undergraduate schools?
A: The pass/fail grading option extended to students during Spring 2020 will also apply for Maymester and summer courses offered by the Blair School of Music, the College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College taken by students in those schools. Students in those schools pursuing a second major or minor in the School of Engineering must take courses for that major or minor on a graded basis.
School of Engineering students will have the normal pass/fail grading option available to them as described in the School of Engineering’s section of the 2019/2020 Undergraduate Catalog (p. 293-294), with the exception that a student need not take 12 graded credit hours in the summer in order to be able to exercise the pass/fail option.
Q: My school does not allow students who are on academic probation to take classes on a pass/fail basis. Does that rule still apply?
A: The pass/fail option is available for students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College for the Summer 2020 term, regardless of their current academic standing for the Summer 2020 term.
Students in the School of Engineering must be in good academic standing to take a course pass/fail.
Q: How will Summer 2020 classes be graded?
A: Faculty members will continue to record letter grades. For any classes for which you select the pass/fail option, any grade of D- or above will be reflected on your record as a P. Any classes for which an F has been assigned will appear as such.
Q: Am I still required to take 12 credit hours on a graded basis to be eligible to make pass/fail selections for my Summer 2020 undergraduate schedule?
A: No, that rule has been waived for the Summer 2020 term.
Q. Will these courses count against any limits on pass/fail classes?
A: For students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College, classes for which you select the pass/fail option for the Summer 2020 term will not count toward any limits on pass/fail classes that your school may have—either semester limits or limits for the undergraduate career.
For students in the School of Engineering, courses taken pass/fail in the summer 2020 term will count toward the limit on total pass/fail courses.
Q: Does this opportunity have any effect on classes that are set up to be graded as pass/fail (e.g., internships, practica, etc.)?
A: No, these changes to rules and limits associated with pass/fail options do not apply to classes that are set up to be graded as pass/fail.
Q: Will these courses count toward my degree requirements?
A: For students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College, classes for which you select the pass/fail option for the Summer 2020 term will count toward all appropriate degree requirements for programs in those schools as if you had taken them on a graded basis. This also applies to major/minor requirements for programs in those schools. The degree audit will be updated to reflect the change in pass/fail rules for the Summer 2020 term.
Students pursuing any major or minor in the School of Engineering should refer to the pass/fail information on p. 293-294 of the 2019/2020 Undergraduate Catalog.
Q: How will the changes to pass/fail affect repeated credit?
A: If you are repeating a course and select the pass/fail grading basis for your repeated course, the grade for your previous attempt will no longer be factored into your GPA and any credits earned will be removed. If you earn a grade of F under the pass/fail option this semester, the F will be factored into your GPA.
Students in the School of Engineering repeating a course must take it on a graded basis as noted on page 294 of the 2019/2020 Undergraduate Catalog.
Q: What if students require letter grades for professional programs, employment or graduate studies?
A: Students should consider the impact of selecting pass/fail options for their summer enrollments. If a letter grade is required for future study or employment, students should not select the pass/fail option.
Q: I am considering applying to Law School or Medical School. Can I choose the pass/fail grading basis for my classes?
A: Please speak with your adviser and/or the pre-professional advising resources.
Q: How will this change affect my GPA?
A: The P grade is not counted in the grade point average nor used in the determination of honors. The grade of F earned under the pass/fail option is included in the calculation of the grade point average.
Q: How will this change affect Dean's List for Summer 2020?
A: Dean’s List is not awarded for the summer term.
Q: How will this change affect Latin honors?
A: Any course for which you select the pass/fail grading basis for the Summer 2020 term will not be factored into the GPA calculations for Latin honors unless you earn an F.
Q: If I receive a high final grade in a course that I have designated for pass/fail, may I later ask to substitute that grade for the grade of P?
A: No, once you have asked for pass/fail status in a course, you cannot later change to a letter grade.
Q: If I select pass/fail grading for a class during the Summer 2020 term, will I be able to repeat the course for a letter grade in a future semester?
A: Students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College, will be able to repeat a course in a future term for which they select the pass/fail grading option during the Summer 2020 term, as long as they meet all other requirements for repeating a course.
Students in the School of Engineering should refer to the pass/fail information on p. 293-294 of the 2019/2020 Undergraduate Catalog.
Q: What is the deadline for selecting pass/fail options for my Summer 2020 class schedule?
A: The deadlines are as follows:
Maymester--May 18
Full Session--July 9
First Half--June 17
Second Half--July 22
Q: How will I make changes to pass/fail for my Summer 2020 class schedule?
A: Students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College will receive a communication from the Office of the University Registrar in advance of each session deadline with instructions on how to make any desired changes to pass/fail grading for their Summer 2020 class schedule in advance of each session deadline.
Students in the School of Engineering should contact the Engineering Office of Academic Services for assistance with making pass/fail selections: engineering-oas@vanderbilt.edu .
Q: How will I know which of my Summer 2020 classes can be changed to pass/fail?
A: Students in the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, and Peabody College will be able to select the pass/fail grading basis for any class not offered by the School of Engineering.
Students in the School of Engineering should refer to the pass/fail information on p. 293-294 of the 2019/2020 Undergraduate Catalog.
Q: Are these changes to pass/fail grading for Summer 2020 also applicable to post-baccalaureate students who are enrolled in undergraduate classes during the Summer 2020 term?
A: Post-baccalaureate students should check with their school’s Dean’s Office for information on pass/fail options for Summer 2020.
Q: I am enrolled at Vanderbilt as a consortium, 3+2, or visiting student. How will the pass/fail option impact my course of study at my home institution?
A: It is important that you contact your home institution to determine if and/or how courses graded on a pass/fail basis can count toward your course of study at your home institution.
Q: Who do I contact I have further questions about the changes to pass/fail options for the Summer 2020 semester?
A: Please contact your school’s Office of Academic Services.
Blair School of Music: rachel.hobbs@vanderbilt.edu
College of Arts and Science: arts-sci-records@vanderbilt.edu
Peabody College: malina.c.halman@vanderbilt.edu
School of Engineering: engineering-oas@vanderbilt.edu