Spring 2020 COVID-19 FAQ's Regarding Credit/No Credit and Withdrawing from Classes
The Office is working as quickly as we can on the high volume CR/NC requests that have been submitted by the April 10th deadline. Students will receive an email to their UMail account with notification that the requests have been processed.
If you no longer wish to elect a course CR/NC please review the following steps:
- If you have selected the CR/NC option, and received notification that the request was processed, you have until April 17 to change your decision. Please follow these Instructions to Revoke the CR/NC Option.
- If you have NOT received email notification that your CR/NC option has been processed and you wish to Revoke the request, please first logon to your CIS account and try to Revoke the class(es) you no longer wish to be CR/NC, if you cannot do the process through CIS, then email registrar@utah.edu from your UMAIL account and indicate which class(es) you no longer wish to elect CR/NC by the April 17 deadline.
Please review the questions and answers below prior to electing the CR/NC Option in CIS.
Credit/NoCredit or Traditional Letter Grade- What is my best option?
Beginning Monday, March 23, you will be able to select from two options for each of your courses:
- Keep a traditional letter grade, or
- Elect a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grade
If you do not want to change your current grading option, you do not have to take any action.
If you are unsure about moving forward, or would like someone to walk through these steps with you, contact a Student Success Advocate (SSA) to assist you through the process.
Here are 4 steps for deciding whether the CR/NC option will work for you:
Step 1: Talk to your instructor about how you are doing in the class. You might be doing better than you think!
Step 2: Consider the implications of the CR/NC option for your longer-term academic and professional goals. Your major advisor, pre-professional advisor, and graduate schools or professional licensing agencies are good resources for this.
Step 3: Weigh the financial implications of the CR/NC option. If you have federal financial aid, a scholarship from an on- or off-campus entity, or are receiving services on campus, check with those areas to see if there are particular requirements around letter grades for the support you’re receiving.
University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Center for Disability and Access
International Student and Scholar Services
Step 4: Once these important considerations have been taken into account, make a decision regarding your options on or before Friday, April 10th.
A C- or above will result in receiving credit (CR) for the course; a D+ or lower will not receive credit (NC).
If you select the CR/NC option, the grade will not be included in the calculation of your grade point average. If changing life circumstances and the transition to online education has disrupted your lab work, design projects, or other requirements, the CR/NC option will provide the credit you need toward your degree. The course will still be listed on your University of Utah transcript.
Academic standing is impacted by graded courses only. Courses that are taken as CR/NC do not impact academic standing. However, a C- or lower posted grade and/or grade point average can lead to warning, probation, and suspension.
You can apply the option to some courses, and not others.
If your current performance is substantially lower than your overall average, or you are at risk of not passing the course, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your options with you advisor(s) or faculty mentor(s).
These changes can be explained in graduate school applications and to future employers as part of the extraordinary circumstances of the 2020 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic. Students around the world are facing similar circumstances with accompanying changes to their transcripts as they complete their college educations.
First, take a look at how well you’ve done in the course so far. If you’ve been doing well on the exams, quizzes and other graded assignments, and you are accustomed to taking classes online, you may not want to make any changes.
Regardless of the circumstances, your advisors, faculty members, and Student Success Advocates are very good people to help guide your decision.
This can vary tremendously. If you receive a scholarship that requires you to maintain a particular grade point average, and you aren’t doing as well in a course as you need, it might be the best option. Before you do anything though, talk to the expert- either the scholarship administrator or someone who can review your financial aid package in the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Complete the online form and submit it on/before April 10.
- If you have selected the CR/NC option, you have until April 17 to change your decision. Please follow these Instructions to Revoke the CR/NC Option.
- If you have not received email notification that your CR/NC option has been processed and you wish to cancel the request please email registrar@utah.edu and indicate which classes you no longer wish to be CR/NC.
Beginning Monday March 23, the university will extend the deadline to withdraw from classes to April 10. Withdrawal will be listed on your transcript, but will not affect your GPA; it will not result in a tuition refund. Withdraw from your course(s) via CIS.
Please remember that everyone’s situation is unique, and that the best option for one student might not be ideal for the next. We strongly encourage you to reach out to your advisors, mentors, and campus supports before making a final decision. We are here to support you. If you have questions, please contact your Academic Advisor, your Student Success Advocate, or the Registrar’s Office.
Relevant Policies: