Pass-Fail Guide

CSCU COMMUNITY COLLEGES PASS / FAIL (CREDIT / NO CREDIT) OPTION FOR FALL 2020, WINTER 2020, AND SPRING 2021

This option is available to students for all courses completed during the fall 2020, winter 2020, and spring 2021 terms. It does not apply to courses for which a student applied for and received an incomplete.

As part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Connecticut Community College students shall have the option to convert any grades they earn in any or all of their classes completed during the fall 2020, winter 2020, and spring 2021 terms to Credit for Transfer (CRT) / Credit (CR) / No Credit (NCE) grading.

Students can apply through MyCommnet for CRT / CR / NCE grades for all courses completed in the fall 2020, winter 2020, and spring 2021 terms during the dates noted below or until a credential is awarded, whichever date is earlier.

• For courses completed fall 2020: application is open between December 23, 2020 and January 8, 2021 or until a credential is awarded, whichever is earlier
• For courses completed winter 2020: application is open between January 25 and February 8, 2021 or until a credential is awarded, whichever is earlier
• For courses completed spring 2021: application is open between May 25 and June 8, 2021 or until a credential is awarded, whichever is earlier

Requests to change the grading method to the CR / CRT / NCE option may be made after final grades are posted.

In this option, at the student’s request, a grade in a course will convert to one of the following:
• • A grade of C or better will convert to CRT, or Credit for Transfer, with credit for the class being awarded.
  • A grade of D- to C- will convert to CR, or Credit, with credit for the class being awarded.
  • A grade of F will convert to NCE, with no credit being awarded.
  • In a course for which a student had previously selected a Pass / Fail option, a Pass will remain a Pass and a Fail will convert to NCE, with no credit being awarded.
• Courses for which students earn a CRT grade count in approved majors as well as for general education courses and electives.
• A CRT grade will satisfy prerequisite requirements in most case; in some specialized programs, a grade above a C may be required in some prerequisite course and, in some disciplines a grade above C will gain the student additional advantages, for instance qualify the student to skip a subsequent level. See the FAQ.
• Courses for which students earn a CR grade count for general education courses, but may not meet major course or prerequisite requirements.
• Transfer of CRT / CR grades:
  • Courses for which students earn a CRT grade will transfer and apply to major and general education requirements at any CSCU institution with or without the completion of an associate degree in most cases. There may be exceptions for how a course applies to major requirements in specialized or selective admission programs. See the FAQ. Students are also encouraged to speak with their advisor.
  • Courses for which students earn a CR grade will transfer to a CSCU institution with a completed associate degree, although applicability of a CR may vary in programs that require a grade of C or above in specific courses.
• Courses for which students earn an NCE grade will not fulfill any requirements.
• CRT, CR, and NCE grades will not have an impact on the student’s GPA.
• Grade glossary, attached to each transcript, will be updated to include notation denoting fall 2020, winter 2020, and spring 2021 grades of CRT, CR, and NCE were earned during a major interruption to in-person instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instructors will submit a letter grade for each of their students at the time of submitting final grades. Both grades will be maintained in the student record for courses converted to CRT / CR / NCE grading, though only the CRT / CR / NCE grade will appear on an official transcript.

Important note:

• A limit of 25% of courses with CR / CRT grades from spring 2020, fall 2020, winter 2020, and spring 2021 can be applied to a credential. CR /CRT grades are distinct from Pass grades. Policies and procedures for Pass / Fail grades remain separate and continue to follow each college’s practice. Students pursuing low-credit certificates and who may already have exceeded the 25% maximum should be audited by each college to ensure that they have reasonably met the 2.00 requirement, by letter grade or award of CRT (C and above) notations. Students in these certificate programs should be encouraged to contact the email listed on the Grade Conversion webpage: https://www.ct.edu/academics/convert
• Students must have a GPA of 2.00 or above to be awarded a credential.

Each college will implement an appeals process for exceptions to the procedure.