Close menu Resources for... William & Mary
W&M menu close William & Mary

Fall 2020 Pass/Fail Policy

This page outlines the temporary adjustments to the undergraduate pass/fail policy that were enacted in Fall 2020.

Undergraduate Students

In acknowledgement of the increased level of academic and environmental stressors students face daily and the understanding that this semester has continued to provide significant challenges to learning, the decision was made to modify the Pass/Fail policy in the Fall 2020 semester,  which applies to undergraduate classes only:

Fall 2020 Undergraduate Pass/Fail Policy
  • Pass/Fail grading will be available for undergraduate courses, and any degree-seeking undergraduate student may select this grading option.
  • Students may select P/F grading for up to two (2) standard-graded courses, in addition to any classes that are designated as Pass/Fail only. Students may also choose not to change any courses to P/F grade mode. 
  • Courses with a "P" grade may be used to fulfill major, minor, proficiency, COLL, and other graduation requirements. 
  • At the end of the finals period, faculty will submit standard grades for standard-graded courses.
  • Grades of D- or higher will be converted to “P” for students who have chosen that option for that course.
  • Students must exercise the P/F option by Monday, December 7, 2020 at 11:59 pm.
    • Students will elect P/F grading mode in Banner Self-Service through Friday, November 13 at 7:59 am.
    • Beginning on Friday, November 13 at 8:00 am, students electing to change grade modes may do so using a Qualtrics election form that will be available on the University Registrar’s Office website through December 7, 2020.
  • Dean’s List criteria remain unchanged; that is, students must have 12 standard-graded credits to be eligible for consideration.
Fall 2020 Undergraduate Incomplete Grade Policy

For Fall 2020 grades of “I” (incomplete), degree-seeking undergraduate students may elect to change passing grades (D- or higher) in courses to “P” (or from “P” to the earned grade) within one week of receiving the final grade. Elections may be made before, but must be made no later than one week after, the final grade is assigned by the professor. Students must email their elections to [[w|grades]] from their W&M email address. Please include full name, ID#, course prefix, number, CRN. Please allow at least one business day for processing.

Fall 2020 Undergraduate Winter Term Courses

For most undergraduate students enrolled in winter program courses, registration is included in the Fall 2020 term. If a degree-seeking undergraduate student is registered in a Fall 2020 winter program course, the fall pass/fail policy will apply. Elections may be made before, but must be made no later than one week after, the final grade is assigned by the professor. 

  • Students registered in winter program courses are able to elect pass/fail in Banner Self Service until Friday, November 13 at 7:59 am.
  • Starting at 8:00 am on Friday, November 13, and through December 7 at 11:59 pm, students that choose to elect pass/fail for winter program courses will use the Qualtrics election form available on the University Registrar's Website to make their election(s).
  • After December 7, students that wish to elect pass/fail for winter program courses must email their elections to [[w|grades]] from their W&M email address. Please include full name, ID#, course prefix, number, CRN. Please allow at least one business day for processing.
Fall 2020 Undergraduate Transcript Notation

A Fall 2020 notation will be made on transcripts for all undergraduate students that elect to take a standard-graded course as pass/fail. The notation will explain the temporary changes to academic policy.

Graduate Students

Graduate students in the School of Education can find information about the Fall 2020 Graduate Education Pass/Fail policy online. Students in the other graduate schools will receive guidance from their schools and programs, should any changes to grade mode policies be enacted. Please contact the appropriate Graduate Registrar if you have questions regarding their policies.