In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, on Tuesday, March 24, the George Mason University Faculty Senate approved an alternative grading mode for active undergraduate classes in spring 2020. On Friday, March 27, Graduate Council enacted the same for active graduate courses. The following academic policy and/or procedural changes are ONLY FOR ACTIVE SPRING 2020 CLASSES. Classes that ended on or before March 9, 2020 are not eligible for these changes .

Students in A-F graded classes are able to select the alternative grade mode on a class-by-class basis through FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020. Simply submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form. Multiple sections can be submitted simultaneously. Students will need to include the Subject, Course Number, and Section Number for each course. The submission deadline has been extended through FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 to align with the deadline for grade submission.

Students who have previously designated a section for the alternative grade mode may also submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form to change that section back to A-F grading.

The Change of Grade Mode Request form comes directly to the Office of the University Registrar for processing, it does not go to the faculty for review or approval. All forms submitted by the deadline of May 22, 2020, will be processed. Depending on the volume of forms submitted, processing time may vary.

!! Students are not selecting a specific grade for each section, they are selecting the overall grade mode. Students still need to complete work in the class and have it graded in order for the faculty member to assess your learning and assign an appropriate letter grade, which will then be converted to the corresponding alternative grade mode grade.

If the alternative grade mode is selected, classes receiving those grades will not count in the GPA.

For Undergraduate Classes (numbered 100-499):

The deadline for selecting the alternative grade mode is FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 .

. Through the deadline of FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 , students who wish to select the alternative grade mode must submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form for sections they want to designate.

, students who wish to select the alternative grade mode must submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form for sections they want to designate. None of the classes graded with the alternative grade mode for spring 2020 count against the undergraduate academic policy of only 6 credits taken as Satisfactory/No Credit (AP 3.3).

There will not be a Dean’s List for Spring 2020 for undergraduates.

Selective Withdrawal has been extended through the last day of classes. Students who withdraw from a class between March 9, 2020 and May 11, 2020 will receive an XW grade on their transcript. Theses withdrawals will not count against the undergraduate academic policy of only 3 Selective Withdrawals over the course of the academic career. (AP 1.5.1)

For Graduate Classes (numbered 500-999):

The deadline for selecting the alternative grade mode is FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 .

. Through the deadline of FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 , students who wish to select the alternative grade mode must submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form for each section they want to designate.

, students who wish to select the alternative grade mode must submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form for each section they want to designate. Classes that ended on or before March 9, 2020 are not eligible for the alternative grading mode.

Students may withdraw from any graduate course or courses in which they are enrolled in Spring 2020 by May 11, 2020, or until a final grade is submitted, whichever is earlier, or following the specific deadlines for selecting the alternative grade mode detailed in the chart below. These withdrawals will appear with the notation “XW” on their official transcript.

The academic termination policy has been altered for all graduate students. All letter grades “C” or the equivalent alternative grade “XP” received in graduate courses will not count towards the number of unsatisfactory grades stated under AP.6.6.2 Academic Termination. Graduate students who may receive letter grade “F” or the equivalent alternative grade “XN” should consider the available withdrawal option as the effect of these non-passing grades on AP.6.6.2 Academic Termination will remain unaltered.

Some graduate programs’ classes end prior to the end of the term, and therefore the deadline to select the alternative grade mode may differ.

Program / Session Deadline for Alternative Grade Mode Selection or Withdrawing from Course BU-MBA-BUAD – MBA BU-MS-ACCT – MS in Accounting BU-MS-MGMT – MS in Management BU-MS-TECM – MS in Technology Management BU-CERG-FACC – graduate certificate in Forensic Accounting BU-CERG-GACT – graduate certificate in Government Accounting BU-CERG-ACAN – graduate certificate in Accounting Analytics BU-CERG-ITDT – graduate certificate in IT Strategy and Digital Transformation BU-CERG-GITL – graduate certificate in Global IT Leadership 8-Week Session 2 4/26/2020 BU-CERG-BUSF – graduate certificate in Business Fundamentals 5/10/2020 7.5 Week Session 2 5/12/2020 CEHD Modular, Contract Cohort, or Abbreviated Semester Courses Last Day of Class

The grades included in the alternative grading mode for Spring 2020 classes are:

XS (Extraordinary Circumstances – Satisfactory) – The student earns credit in the course by meeting a minimum grade threshold; at the undergraduate level that would be a C or higher, at the graduate level it would be a B- or higher.

XP (Extraordinary Circumstances – Pass) – The student earns credit in the course but has not met a minimum grade threshold to apply the course to requirements with a minimum grade requirement; at the undergraduate level this would be a C- or D, at the graduate level it would be a C.

XN (Extraordinary Circumstances – No Credit) – The student does not earn credit in the course.

XW (Extraordinary Circumstances – Withdrawal) – The student withdraws from the class as a result of difficulties arising from Covid-19. No credit is earned in the class. The deadline to withdraw from a class is Monday, May 11, 2020. Students are not able to withdraw from a class once a final grade has been submitted.

Note: There will be a transcript notation for Spring 2020 indicating the change in grade schemes.

Eligible students are now able to submit the Change of Grade Mode Request form, through FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020.

The University’s COVID-19 website is found here.

Additional information specifically relating to graduate students can be found on the Graduate Education website.