The deadline to change the grading status of a course is Tuesday, November 16. If you have concerns about any of your current courses, speak with an advisor as soon as possible. You can schedule a meeting with your UST advisor or you can stop by our drop-ins. From November 11 through November 17, all UST advisors will be on all drop-ins.
Here are the different options for changing your grading status:
- WITHDRAWAL
- Similar to dropping a class, but it stays on your transcript with a grade of W.
- Good option if you are struggling in a class you don’t necessarily need (e.g. a breadth requirement that can be satisfied with a different course).
- PASS/FAIL
- If you earn a passing grade, you will have a P that does not affect your GPA, and the credits count as a free elective but do not satisfy any requirements.
- If you earn a failing grade, you will have an F that does affect your GPA.
- Good option if you feel you can pass the class but don’t want a low grade to affect your GPA, and you don’t necessarily need the class (i.e. you won’t need to repeat it with standard grading).
- You can only change one class per semester to pass/fail.
- AUDIT
- You attend the class but don’t have to do the assignments, don’t earn credits, and earn a grade of L (listener) which does not affect your GPA.
- Good option if you are struggling in a class you will need to repeat.
There are more considerations to take into account when deciding what to do about a class, like if it will drop you below full-time status or affect your financial aid, scholarships, student visa, etc. Make sure to contact the appropriate office/department to find out how it will affect you before making any changes. When in doubt, contact your academic advisor.
Remember that midterm grades are not always an accurate reflection of how well you might be doing in a course. It is best to take into account what went into the midterm grade and how much it affects your final grade. If you have concerns about a course, speak with your professor and/or academic advisor to explore your options. If you are not able to change the grading status of a course you are not doing as well in as you hoped, we also recommend utilizing the various tutoring and academic support resources, which you can find on the Office of Academic Enrichment’s website.
You can also view the recording of our Academic Management Workshop for information on grading status changes, how to calculate GPA and quality points, and more:
