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Pass/Fail
Actively enrolled bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students may select up to four undergraduate-level, standard-grade elective courses in Arts & Sciences, CDSP, Education, and Coastal and Marine Sciences as Pass/Fail. The selection occurs when a student is a social junior or senior.
Information about the full policy, a chart of eligible social classes for upcoming academic years, details about the pass/fail election process, and answers to frequently asked questions are included below.
Note: Social junior and senior, non-business students can submit a petition to the School of Business Committee on Admissions, Academic Status, and Degrees (in the Programs, Projects, Petitions section) to request to change a BUAD course to Pass/Fail. Petitions must include a statement explaining extenuating circumstances leading to the request and the signature of the student's advisor. Petitions must be received by the pass/fail deadline for the semester. If approved, the pass/fail counts towards the maximums outlined in the university policy. All questions regarding this petition should be directed to Undergraduate Programs at [[m|bba,Mason School of Business]].
Read the Full PolicyActively enrolled bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students may select up to four standard-grade elective courses in Arts & Sciences, CDSP, Education, and Coastal and Marine Sciences 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:
Exceptions to the policy should be submitted to the Committee on Degrees. |
Process to Elect Pass/Fail (During Fall/Spring Terms)
Students graduating in Spring 2026 must submit their election form(s) by 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2026.
The pass/fail election process will open each fall and spring after add/drop has ended and will close at the end of the withdrawal period. Specific dates are available on the undergraduate academic calendar. When a form is fully submitted, the action will take place immediately in Banner, and a PDF confirmation will be created.
The Spring 2026 pass/fail election was available from February 4 through March 23. The Fall 2026 pass/fail election form will be available mid-September. If you have the form bookmarked, opening the page now will result in a "Service Unavailable" message.
Process to Elect Pass/Fail (During Summer Terms)
Electing pass/fail for courses taken during the summer term depends on the session in which 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]].
Elections will be reviewed and processed by the University Registrar's Office at least twice weekly during the election period. Students should allow up to three business days after submitting their election form for changes to be reflected on their record in Banner Self-Service. Students are encouraged to keep this timing in mind as they are deciding to make their pass/fail elections. Students should review the FAQs section for where current and retroactive elections are available to view in Banner Self-Service.
Summer 2026 UG Pass/Fail Election Form: Open May 26 - July 17, 2026
Summer 2026 UG Pass/Fail Election Form
Summer 2026 Pass/Fail Election Dates & Deadlines
Students graduating in Summer 2026 must have their election form(s) submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 17, 2026. When an election form is fully submitted during the summer term, an email with a copy of the responses will be sent automatically to the student's W&M email address. Pass/fail election forms received in the summer are processed manually during business hours and, therefore, are not available on the student record immediately.
Students can use the form to elect pass/fail for Summer 2026 courses, or for courses taken in a previous semester (for example, a course taken in Fall 2024). For students enrolled in and wishing to pass/fail courses taken this summer, whether the election is considered a current term election or a retroactive election depends on the session the course is in, the last day to withdraw for that session, and the date the student submits the form. Examples:
- A student enrolled in a Summer Session One (S1) course completes the election form for
the course on June 5. The pass/fail election is processed as a current term election. - A student enrolled in a Summer Session One (S1) course completes the election form for the course on June 16. The pass/fail election is processed as a retroactive election.
- A student enrolled in a Summer Session Two (S2) course wishes to pass/fail a summer course on July 18 or later (after the summer deadline). If the student is not graduating in Summer 2026, they must wait until the form opens in Fall 2026 to make a retroactive election.
| Summer Term | Election Considered Current Term Election |
Election Considered Retroactive Election |
|---|---|---|
|
Summer Session One (S1) |
May 26 - June 12, 2026 | June 13 - July 17, 2025 |
| Summer Session Two (S2) | May 26 - July 17, 2026 | n/a |
| Summer Session Three (S3) | May 26 - July 3, 2026 | July 4 - July 17, 2026 |
| Summer courses not in S1-S3 | Contact [[grades]] for deadlines if your course is in a summer term other than S1-S3 | |
| Courses taken in a prior semester (ex: Fall 2024) |
n/a | May 26 - July 17, 2026 |
Eligible Social Classes Based on Academic Year
Eligibility for the pass/fail election process is based on a student's social class. Eligible social classes for upcoming academic years are listed in the chart below.
| Academic Year | Eligible Social Classes |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 - Summer 2026 | 2025, 2026, 2027 |
| Fall 2026 - Summer 2027 | 2026, 2027, 2028 |
| Fall 2027 - Summer 2028 | 2027, 2028, 2029 |
FAQs
How many courses can I pass/fail?
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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 > View Your Schedules & Prepare to Register:
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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:
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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 [[w|grades]] 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. |
Further Questions?
Students with questions should contact the [[w|registrar,Office of the University Registrar]]. Students seeking an exception to the pass/fail policy should submit a petition to the Committee on Degrees.