[Faculty] Temporary SDSU Senate Approved Academic Changes for Engineering Students during Spring 2020 Semester

[Theresa Garcia]

Dear College of Engineering Faculty and Staff,



First, I hope that you are staying healthy and doing well.



As announced on 4/15/2020, the University Senate approved temporary changes
which provide students with greater academic flexibility in the spring 2020
semester. This includes a simplified course withdrawal process and the
option to change the grading basis of a course from letter grade to
credit/no credit (CR/NC). Students will be receiving several emails
regarding these changes.  However, I understand that students may be
reaching out to you with questions about withdrawals and CR/NC grading
options. Each student has an individual academic and financial aid
situation, so *it is very important that they speak with academic and
financial aid advisors if they have questions before making final decisions*.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to speak with their *Departmental
Advisor or the Center for Student Success in Engineering.
<https://csse.sdsu.edu/>  *I have scheduled a meeting to discuss the
information below with my staff and you, CoE faculty and staff are invited
to join https://SDSU.zoom.us/j/98787752052
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://SDSU.zoom.us/j/98787752052&sa=D&ust=1587775400218000&usg=AOvVaw1MEAhC_zLPZ0WEQBNY7ASf>
if you like on Wednesday, 4/22 from 2pm – 330pm.



The following information was just sent to *CoE students* via the CoE
Homeroom on Blackboard to make them aware of the policy changes, to
highlight their options, and to offer guidance before making decisions.
Information for graduate students is forthcoming as the details are worked
out and become available.  As CoE faculty and staff, we want you to be
aware that this communication was sent to students and to alert you that
class rosters may change as students submit requests to withdraw from
classes or change to a CR/NC grading basis; please read all details below
as the CR/NC option applies differently to engineering course vs
non-engineering courses.


A flowchart that describes this information in an easy to read manner will
be available soon.



---------------------------------------Message sent to CoE students via
Blackboard Emails---------------

SUBJ: Temp. Univ. Senate Approved Academic Changes for Undergraduate
Students during spring 2020 Semester



Dear College of Engineering Students,



First, I hope that you are staying healthy and doing well.



As announced on April 15, 2020, the University Senate has approved
temporary changes which provide greater academic flexibility in the spring
2020 semester. This includes a simplified course withdrawal process and the
option to change the grading basis of a course from letter grade to CR/NC
(meaning Credit/No Credit; different from pass/fail). Before making a
decision about either of these options, it is important that you understand
potential academic and financial aid impacts. READ INFORMATION BELOW IN ITS
ENTIRETY.  Still have questions? Join CoE Student Affairs at
https://SDSU.zoom.us/j/975464589 <https://sdsu.zoom.us/j/975464589> on Wed,
4/22 from 10am to noon.



*Change in grading basis for the spring 2020 semester:*

●      Students are able to request to change the grading basis of a course
from letter grade to credit/no credit (CR/NC) through *petition
<https://registrar.sdsu.edu/students/academic_status/withdrawal>* as
allowed below. *NOTE:* Faculty signatures, a personal statement, and
supporting documentation are *not* needed. The $20.00 processing fee is
also waived. The form will be updated soon to reflect these changes but
until then you can submit the current Late Schedule Adjustment form.

●      Petitions must be submitted by *May 1, 2020 (7:59pm)* to the
Registrar’s Office by emailing the completed form to: *registrar at sdsu.edu
<registrar at sdsu.edu>*

●      Grades of credit (CR) will *not* be approved for College of
Engineering courses which are required to satisfy (1) preparation for the
major, (2) major, and (3) minor requirements for any majors or minors
*within* the College of Engineering. Students who either have a second
major or a minor *outside* of the College of Engineering, or who wish to
have a grade of credit applied towards the second major or the minor, must
obtain approval from that specific department. For required courses outside
of engineering such as Math, Chem, or Physics, the college will accept the
decision made by those departments.

●      You may only change the grading basis of a course one time.

●      If you receive "no credit" in a course, it may impact your future
financial aid eligibility negatively, if overall, during the academic year
(summer 2019, fall 2019, spring 2020) you did not complete 75% of your
courses. Please consult with a financial aid advisor if you have individual
questions.

●      Again, these changes apply only to the spring 2020 semester.



*IMPORTANT notes below when considering a change of grading basis to CR/NC.
If you have any questions about your individual situation, please seek
guidance from your Departmental Advisor or the Center for Student Success
in Engineering. <https://csse.sdsu.edu/>*


●      For undergraduate-level courses, a credit (CR) is awarded for work
equivalent to grades which earn 2.0 or more grade points (letter grade A
through C); a no credit (NC) is awarded for work equivalent to all grades
which earn less than 2.0 grades points (letter grade C- through F).

●      For graduate-level courses, a credit (CR) is awarded for work
equivalent to grades which earn 3.0 or more grade points (letter grade A
through B); a no credit (NC) is awarded for work equivalent to all grades
which earn less than 3.0 grade points (letter grade B-through F).

●      For many undergraduate courses, grades of C-, D+, D, and D- are
passing. If the grading basis is converted to an NC, this is no longer a
passing grade and you must repeat the course.

●      For graduate courses, grades of C or better are passing.  If the
grading basis is converted to an NC, this is no longer a passing grade and
you must repeat the course.

●      CR/NC grades are not calculated into your grade point average.



*Probation: *

●      You will not go on academic probation as a result of this semester,
if your GPA falls below 2.0 for undergraduate students and below 2.85 for
graduate students.

●      If you are already on probation

○      This semester will not count as one of your three allowable semesters

○      This semester will not count if you would otherwise be disqualified
for not earning a 2.0 GPA while on probation (for undergraduate students
only)

○      However, you will *be* moved *off* probation if you earn the
required 2.0 GPA (for undergraduate students only)



*Withdrawals during the spring 2020 semester:*

●      Students are allowed to withdraw from one or more classes
through *petition
<https://registrar.sdsu.edu/students/academic_status/withdrawal>*. *NOTE:*
Faculty signatures, a personal statement, and supporting documentation are *not
*needed. The $20.00 processing fee is also waived. The form will be updated
soon to reflect these changes but until then you can submit the current
form.

●      Petitions must be submitted by *May 7, 2020* to the Registrar’s
Office by emailing the completed form to: *registrar at sdsu.edu
<registrar at sdsu.edu>*

●      For most students, withdrawals will not negatively impact financial
aid status.

●      Again, these changes apply only to the spring 2020 semester.



*Retroactive Withdrawals for the spring 2020 semester:*

●      After the last day of the spring 2020 term (May 22, 2020), students
are allowed to request to withdraw from individual classes or a full
semester’s work.

●      More information to follow with instructions on requesting
retroactive withdrawals.

●      In some cases, this option may offer the greatest flexibility as you
will know your final grade when making a decision, however, it could
negatively impact your financial aid. Please contact the *Office of
Financial Aid <https://sa.sdsu.edu/financial-aid>* for further guidance.



*Transcript notation:*

●      All SDSU transcripts will have a brief statement for the spring 2020
semester that refers to this particular semester as being the COVID-19
global pandemic. This will put into context your academic record from this
semester, such as additional withdrawals, or grades of CR/NC, etc.



Please do not hesitate to *contact <https://csse.sdsu.edu/>* us if you have
any questions about these temporary academic changes.



Genuinely,



Theresa M. Garcia

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Student Affairs



Dr. Yusuf Ozturk

Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies



Dr. Temesgen Garoma

Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies



Dr. Eugene Olevsky

Dean


*Note:  We are working remotely and look forward to assisting you via
email/zoom/phone.  Stay up to date by checking your emails for updates
from SDSU, visiting ** The Coronavirus (COVID-19) site
<https://sa.sdsu.edu/student-health-services/coronavirus>, and specifically
for engineering students, logging into the College of Engineering Homeroom
in Blackboard.*
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