In recognition of the continuing difficulties resulting from the global pandemic, the Emory College Faculty Senate has voted to allow for limited additional flexibility in academic relief options for students in both the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. For the fall 2020 semester, students may opt to change the grading basis for one course from graded to satisfactory-unsatisfactory (S/U) during the final exam period. For the spring 2021 semester, students will have a similar option for changing one course from graded to S/U until the end of classes.
The purpose of allowing students
to change grading basis at this late date is to provide relief to students who
have struggled this semester due to the circumstances related to the pandemic
and online learning. Since S/U grades are not counted in the grade point
average, it can ease the stress of a particular class this semester. If you
apply this to a course you originally planned to use as a GER, you would then
need to take a different class to fulfill that GER in the future. This process may
apply for some major classes too—taking a class this semester as S/U and
replacing it with another class towards the requirement in a future semester
(please check with your major advisor before completing the form). The intent
here is to help provide short-term academic relief for a course that is not going
well this semester while upholding the degree requirements on the long-term.
There are several medical schools and health professional
programs who have a Covid-19 pandemic special notice on their website
that reads taking a pre-requisite pass/fail for the Spring/Summer/Fall 2020
will not be held against an applicant, but we cannot speak unilaterally for all
programs. Each medical school or health professional program will have
the ability to independently be flexible or maintain traditional standards for
prerequisites as it pertains to accepting pass/fail grades. In addition, some
major requirements do not accept pass/fail for science classes. It is advised
to keep your grade in a course, specifically science courses, to maintain
progress for graduation and graduate admission
requirements. Each student must do what is best for them.