Ariel Bondarenko and Megan Tomoney

With the semester coming to a close, many schools are offering alternative grading options. For example, Yale University changed its grading policy for the Fall of 2020 after students and parents contacted the university. The claim made was not unfamiliar to students today; how are students able to properly learn and excel in their classes during a global pandemic? Yale responded by changing their grading to a pass or fail policy rather than letter grades.

Penn State has followed the same path after the Faculty Senate voted to continue the grading policy used in Spring 2020. For the fall of this year, Penn State will institute an optional alternative route for what shows up on students grading reports. If you think the alternative grading option may be for you, then here is a run down of everything you may be wondering when it comes to the entire process.

As a way to take some of the burden off of students’ shoulders that may be heavily weighed down as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Penn State University is giving all students the option to select an alternate grading option for any of their classes taken during the Fall 2020 semester. The alternative grading selection will open up in LionPath on December 23, with the deadline for all alternate grading class selections being by midnight on January 12, 2021.

The alternative grade selection process involves the ability for a student to choose to either stick with the letter grade given in a course, or to choose from three different types of alternative “grades”: SAT (satisfactory), V (pass), or Z (no grade). Note that choosing the alternative grading option means that the course or courses selected for alternative grading will not count towards a student’s cumulative or term GPA, but will count towards accumulating credits and required prerequisites for future courses.

What do the three alternative grades mean though? How are we supposed to know which one corresponds with what letter grade? Here is a brief overview of everything you need to know about each alternative grade:

• SAT (satisfactory): A satisfactory grade can be applied to a course where a student has earned a C grade or better. This alternative grade also counts towards classes needed as prerequisites for future courses that require a letter grade of C or above.
• V (pass): A passing grade can be applied to a course where a student has earned a D grade or better. Although corresponding with a D letter grade, which does not typically count as a passing grade in many courses, this alternative grading option gives a student the credits for the course taken in which they received a D or higher. This grading option also gives a student the opportunity to meet requirements for classes in which a D letter grade is deemed acceptable. This grading option, however, will not meet requirements for any courses that require a C letter grade or higher.
• Z (no grade): A “no grade” grading option can be applied to a course in which a student receives an F or better in the course. A Z grading option is treated the same as if a student late-dropped a course. This means that choosing a Z grade will not give any credit towards and will not fulfill any prerequisites for future courses.

When it comes to financial aid, Penn State wants to reassure its students that choosing an alternative grade option for a class will not hinder the university’s ability to review and determine a student’s financial aid eligibility or amount; selecting an alternative grade for a class will only impact what classes go into GPA calculation and satisfying credits/prerequisites, as mentioned previously. Penn State emphasizes that any decision to select alternate grading for a class should not be accompanied with fear of losing financial aid, but should instead be solely in the academic interest of the student.

Although alternative grading may sound like a beneficial option, some students may have to rethink utilizing this grading tool if they are planning on applying to a post-bacc program such as graduate school, medical school, or anything of that sort. There have been rumored cases of certain higher-ed institutions refusing to accept credits from a class that has been selected for alternative grading. Selecting alternative grades can also have a negative impact on internships and future employment opportunities. That is why, regardless of what future plans may be, students should strive to obtain the best grades possible in all the courses they are taking. The university strongly advises students to meet with their advisors to discuss whether or not the alternative grading option is for them.

Additionally, for any students wondering how alternative grading selections can impact them in terms of honors, it is important to recognize that choosing to select alternative grades for courses will remove you from the Dean’s List for the semester, assuming you already possessed Dean’s List status. This is because of the fact that in order to be eligible for Dean’s List, at least 12 credits’ worth of classes will need to have a letter grade so that academic performance can be assessed as accurately as possible.

All of the questions answered here, along with any more questions you may have, can be found on this page. All of the dates and grading descriptions discussed can be found on this article posted on the Penn State News. The information reported on here is as of November 11, 2020, meaning it is important to keep yourself updated with any changes that may arise in the alternative grading process.

So, although the alternate grading system is a great way to take the weight off of stressed and anxious students, it is crucial to consider all factors that may come as a consequence of the alternate grades placed on courses. Regardless, it is important that we all finish strong and ready to have a relaxing, Zoom-free holiday break!