In response to the growing challenges and obstacles students have been dealing with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Southern University will implement a temporary grading option for graduate and undergraduate programs (excluding the Law School and Professional Pharmacy Program) for the Spring 2020 semester.
This option allows students more flexibility given our emergency state and provides options that prevent student GPAs from being negatively impacted due to circumstances beyond their control. Feedback was received from various members of the TSU community, including academic deans, Faculty Senate, student leaders, and TSU Interim President Ken Huewitt.
All shared the common goal of doing what was fair and in the best interest of students and the university. Provided with these common goals, an interim plan was devised that consists of allowing students to receive either their regular letter grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) or opt into a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading system (as explained in the attached FAQ sheet) by April 30, 2020.
In addition, the deadline date for students to drop one or more classes has been extended to April 30, 2020 (also found in the FAQ). We appreciate the support received from the TSU community during this challenging time. As most institutions across the country have now moved online, and many institutions throughout Texas have started adopting similar grading models, we all stand unified in working to provide what is in the best interest of our students. Additional guidance on how to opt-in to P/NP within MyTSU will be provided within the next week.
For additional information regarding the P/NP grading policy, please review the attached FAQ sheet.
In summary:
- Students have the option to receive their regular letter grade. Students have the “option” to opt into the P/NP grade system for individual courses.
- Students have until April 30 to drop a course.
- P/NP is not calculated in the grade point average (GPA).
- Students have until April 30 to select the P/NP option. If an option is not selected, they will receive their regular grade earned in the course. Students may pick and choose for which class(es) they would like to receive the P/NP grade.