ANN ARBOR, MI — The University of Michigan announced Friday the Ann Arbor and Dearborn campuses will be altering their grading policies for the semester due to classes being online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new grading policy, which does not yet affect the Flint campus, is a pass/no record format, according to a release from UM. Faculty will enter traditional letter grades, but undergraduate students will receive either a “pass” or “no record covid” on their permanent transcripts, the release said.

Undergraduates on the Ann Arbor campus who pass their class will receive the full course credit, the release said. The grade cut-off for a "P" will be the same as the traditional grade minimum for students to receive the course credit, which is a C-minus.

According to the release, more information will come for students who want their pass to be converted to a letter grade. Requests for that must be done by July 1.

Students who receive a “no record covid,” or NRC, will not receive course credit but their grade point average will not be affected, the release said. Acting Provost Susan Collins said in the release that language will be added to transcripts this term explaining the university’s policy.

On the Ann Arbor campus, the policy applies to all undergraduate students as well as undergraduate students in graduate courses, according to the release. It also does not apply to classes graded before March 10, according to a message from Collins.

“While other institutions across the nation have adopted similar policies on grading, it is undoubtedly an unprecedented step for the University of Michigan. But these are unprecedented times, and I appreciate your flexibility,” Collins said in the release.

UM moved all of its classes online March 16 due to coronavirus concerns. The university has also asked all of its students to moved back home if they are able to do so and canceled spring commencement ceremonies.

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According to the release, UM-Dearborn Provost Sue Alcock emailed faculty and staff announcing that the campus’ governing faculty approved the option for undergraduate and graduate students to convert some or all of their winter courses to a pass/fail grading mode.

UM also announced it’s instituting a more flexible withdrawal policy, allowing students to withdraw from a course until April 21 and not have the course appear on their transcript. UM-Dearborn extended its “selective drop period” to April 8.

The release said students at UM-Dearborn students will be encouraged to speak with their faculty adviser before deciding to switch a course to a pass/fail so they can fully understand the impact on their academic progress. The deadline for students to switch will be April 8.

Collins and Alcock said in the release that more details will be available in the coming weeks.

The release also said UM-Flint is considering a similar approach.

Students from both UM and Michigan State University created petitions to make classes pass/fail or credit/no credit, saying the current circumstances shouldn’t have any impact on students’ GPAs. The MSU petition has more than 10,000 signatures, but MSU has not announced any changes to its grading policies.

University of Michigan, Michigan State students petition for credit/no-credit classes

Read more about coronavirus here.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

· It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

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