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Addressing Your Academic Concern With Grading Options

Dear Kent State University Students,

Thank you for your patience during the transition to remote teaching and learning. Please know that your success is our top priority as we continue to honor our Flashes Take Care of Flashes commitment.

We know that many of you are concerned about how you will progress academically this semester. To address this concern, and to add flexibility, we are announcing changes to the existing Pass/Fail and Course Withdrawal policies for Spring Semester 2020. 

We provide an overview of the changes in these two grading options below, but specific details on them, including specific dates and updates, will be available at www.kent.edu/coronavirus/grading by Monday, March 30, the first day after spring break.

Please note that not every option will be available for every course due to accreditation, licensure requirements and/or learning outcomes that must be met. Before making any final decisions, please reach out to your academic advisor and Kent State's One Stop for Student Services or the student services department at the campus you attend to discuss the impact of your choice on your academic progress, enrollment status and financial aid eligibility (see www.kent.edu/coronavirus/grading once available by March 30).

Opt to Take a Course for Pass/Fail

Between now and the end of the semester, you may opt to take your courses on a Pass/Fail basis. This includes undergraduate and graduate courses. There are some situations in which a program has a grade requirement for a prerequisite course, a program course or licensure requirement, and in such cases, the course may not be taken Pass/Fail. Please discuss this with an advisor before taking action in order to best understand the consequences of taking a course for Pass/Fail. Taking a course for Pass/Fail will not impact your grade point average (GPA). You will receive credit for the Pass grade and no credit for the Fail grade. The Pass (Y) grade and Fail (Z) grade will be posted on your transcript. 

Withdraw From a Course

Between now and the end of the semester, you may opt to withdraw from a course. This will NOT affect your GPA; however, it may impact your eligibility for future financial aid. Visit www.kent.edu/financialaid/SAP to learn about requirements related to financial aid, and if you have questions, please discuss these potential implications with the One Stop or the student services department at the campus you attend before taking action in order to best understand the consequences of withdrawing from the course.

All other grading policies will remain in effect.

Thank you for working through this challenging time with your faculty and with your peers. We're all in this together! Please stick with your coursework so that you are making good progress toward your degree. And reach out for help if you need it. Contact your faculty member and go to www.kent.edu/keeponlearning for support, and contact your peers to see if they need a little help. Remember, Flashes Take Care of Flashes!

All my best,

Melody Tankersley, Ph.D.
Interim Senior Vice President and Provost

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Questions

• If you have questions regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 please call 1-833-4ASKODH (1-833-427-5634) or email coronavirus@kent.edu.
• Kent State University's One Stop for Student Services is taking calls to answer questions and concerns at 330-672-6000.

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