Pass/Fail

Read the Full Policy (click to expand)

Actively enrolled degree-seeking undergraduates may select up to four standard-grade elective courses in Arts & Sciences and Education as Pass/Fail. The selection occurs when a student is a social junior or senior.

A maximum of two courses may change to Pass/Fail from any one semester. Up to two of the four Pass/Fail selections may be applied retroactively to courses that have already received a letter grade. The remainder must be selected by the published deadline of the current semester. The selection of any retroactive Pass/Fail grades must occur by the published deadline of the student's last semester. The published deadlines shall not be earlier than the withdrawal deadline in the given semester. Deadlines will be listed on the Office of the University Registrar undergraduate academic calendar.

A student's decision to designate courses as Pass/Fail is irrevocable. For this reason, when changing a graded course to a Pass, students are required to consult with their Major Advisor or Department Chair/Program Director.

The following guidelines apply to Pass/Fail designations:

• COLL curriculum requirements, proficiency requirements (Arts, Math, and Foreign Language), and major/minor course requirements are ineligible for Pass/Fail, except where courses are designated as pass/fail only.
• Pass/Fail courses count toward the minimum enrollment requirement of 12 credits, but do not count toward the 12-credit hour Dean's List requirement. Retroactive grade changes could result in a change to Dean's List status for a prior semester.
• Students may not elect Pass/Fail when found responsible for an Honor Code violation in that course if the student receives a grade consequence because of the violation.
• A successful Pass will not count toward a student's GPA, but a Fail will count toward the GPA.

Exceptions to the policy should be submitted to the Committee on Degrees. 

When does the election form open and close for fall and spring?

The form will be available after add/drop has ended for the current term. The form closes when the withdrawal period for the current term ends.

Specific dates are available on the undergraduate academic calendar.

When does the election form open and close for summer?

Electing pass/fail for courses taken during the summer term depends on the session that your course(s) take place. The form will be available through the withdrawal period for Summer Session Two (S2), but whether your pass/fail election is considered a current term election or a retroactive election depends on the summer session your course is in and the date you submit the form. If you have questions about a specific course, email [[w|grades]]. 

Specific dates are available on the undergraduate academic calendar.

How many courses can I pass/fail?

• Students can select up to four standard-grade elective courses in Arts & Sciences and Education as Pass/Fail
• A maximum of two courses may change to pass/fail for any one semester
• Up to two of the four Pass/Fail selections may be applied retroactively to courses that have already received a letter grade

Where can I view current semester pass/fail elections in Banner?

Once processed, pass/fail elections for the current term will be available for students to view in Banner Self-Service under the Student tab > Registration > Banner 9 Register for Classes:

• Register, Add/Drop & Withdraw: select the current term from the drop-down menu, select the "Schedule & Options" tab, then review the Grade Mode column for the course
• View Registration Information: available in two locations
  • "Look up a Schedule" tab - select the current term and review the Grade Mode column for the course
  • "Active Registrations" find your course in the list, then review the Grade Mode line for the course

Where can I view retroactive pass/fail elections in Banner?

Once processed, retroactive pass/fail elections will be available for students to view in Banner Self-Service under the Student tab > Student Records > Student Profile in two locations:

• Unofficial W&M Academic Transcript: select the transcript level and transcript type (web self-service), then scroll to the appropriate term and review the grade for the course
• View Grades: select the term and course level, then review the Final Grade column for the course

My course starts after the election form closes for the semester but I'm not sure yet if I want to elect to pass/fail it. What can I do?

W&M has a few courses each semester that are considered non-standard. These courses end earlier or start later in the semester than typical courses. If you are registered in a late starting course, you have until the withdrawal deadline for that specific course to elect to pass/fail it. If the election form is not available, email grades@wm.edu to inquire about electing that course as pass/fail. 

Does a retroactive pass/fail change my Dean's List status?

Retroactive pass/fail elections may result in a change to Dean's List status for a prior semester. Students should consult with an advisor before making any retroactive pass/fail elections.

Does a pass or fail grade impact my W&M GPA?

A successful Pass will not count toward a student's GPA, but a Fail will count toward the GPA.