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Loyola University Maryland

Academic Advising and Support Center

Advising News and Updates

Advising Students Regarding P/NC Option for Spring 2020

What is in this document?

  1. Background information on how students access the P/NC option
  2. Talking points when discussing the P/NC option
  3. Talking with a student about the W option.
  4. Link to advising students on financial aid
  5. Important resources for students as they work through the P/NC option
  6. Academic resources for students
  7. Wellness resources for students

 a. Background information on how students will access the P/NC grading option:

  • The student must complete an electronic form identifying which courses they want moved to the P/NC option. Their electronic signature on the form will authorize the Records Office to make these changes. Students will not need their advisor’s signature on the form. However, we will encourage students to discuss the pros and cons of choosing the P/NC option with their advisor.  (See below: “How should I advise students?). Students will need to know the course code (e.g., BL121.03) for the form; students can find this for Loyola courses by going to:  inside.loyola > WebAdvisor for Students > Registration > My Class Schedule and choose term 20/SP.
  •  The form for students enrolled in Loyola courses is titled Pass/No Credit Grading Option, Spring 2020, Global Health Emergency. The form will be available beginning April 10, 2020, through 5:00 pm April 28, 2020 at: https://transform-prod.ec.loyola.edu/iFiller/iFiller.jsp?fref=b48ae5b7-eacb-46d0-90ed-4e5818c098ce
  • Study Abroad students currently continuing their course work through their Study Abroad University will be sent a different P/NC form directly by the Office of International Programs. The Office of International programs will be sending its own P/NC selection form to all study-abroad students who are still studying with partner institutions, with directions on how to complete the form for study-abroad courses whose grades they would like converted to P/NC. Students will submit this form directly to OIP. Once OIP receives the study-abroad grades for Loyola students, they will convert them to P/NC.
  • The P grade is equivalent to a minimum of a grade of C (2.000) or above. Credits for these courses are counted in the credits earned for the term and cumulative total credits but are NOT calculated into the term or cumulative GPA. The NC grade is equivalent to a grade of C- (1.670), D+ (1.333), D (1.000) or F (0.000). Credits for these courses are not counted in credits earned or completed for the term and cumulative totals and are NOT calculated into the term or cumulative GPA.  

 

b. Talking points for advising a student who is undecided about whether to take a traditional grade for a class or choose the P/NC option.

  •  If students are likely to do well in the course, they should be encouraged to retain the letter grade option and to have the grade appear on their transcript. Some students will want to receive the grade because they want to raise their GPA or because they may need to demonstrate to graduate or professional schools or to employers their competency in particular courses.  
  • If the student is likely to pass a course, but could receive a D, D+ or C-, remind them that they may want to stay in the course in order to satisfy a degree requirement and potentially avoid being behind in the 40-course requirement for graduation.
  • Consequences of a grade of NC:  Courses with a grade of NC are not counted as course/credits completed toward the degree or included in the calculation of the GPA. Students will need to retake that course (if it is a required course) or take another course to continue making progress toward their degree. Moreover, a course with a grade of NC does not satisfy prerequisite requirements for upper- level courses. AASC will remove students from any pre-registered courses for the fall that have a prerequisite course with a grade of NC.  
  • What about those students hovering around a C?If a student will be receiving a satisfactory grade (C or better), encourage them to not choose the P/NC option for that course. This will require some deep discernment if they are close to the C/C- cutoff because if they chose P/NC and end up with a C-, they will not receive credit for the course.  
  • Students are often concerned with grades for other reasons – impact on Latin honors, impact on probation, impact on study abroad GPA requirements. If a student seems distressed about the possibility of a “poor” grade, and is leaning toward choosing all courses as P/NC, you are encouraged to dig deeper to find out why. We have not decided yet about how we are going to consider GPA in determining probation status; please have current students on probation contact their probation advisor.  Check back at this site later to see if we have made a decision about grade review/ dismissal for spring 2020.
  • The student transcript already describes the grade of P as equating to a grade of C and up to A; Records will add a definition of NC to the transcript.
  • Most importantly, students cannot change their mind once they have elected the P/NC option for a particular course. Students should not complete this form until they are sure this is the best option. Determining whether this is the best option may require a student to consult with their academic advisor, athletic advisor, pre-professional advisor and/or the Academic Advising and Support Center. In addition, students should also consult with a financial aid counselor if they receive financial aid, or with Sununda Bhatia, the international student advisor, if they are a student on an F-1 student visa. Students have until April 28, 2020 at 5:00 pm to make this decision.
  • There is no limit on the number of Spring 2020 courses/credits allowed to be taken Pass/No Credit.
  • Graduating seniors are only encouraged to choose the P/NC option if they are sure that they will receive a C or better in a course; the P/NC option could result in the unhappy event of earning a C- or below, resulting in an NC, no credit for the course (and no May graduation.)

 c. Advising students to withdraw Recall that the withdraw deadline this semester is 5 PM on the last day of classes, and, for this semester only, the student does not need advisor or professor signature to withdraw.

  • Students who are likely to receive a grade of D, D+, or C- should consider withdrawing from a course if their GPA is hovering around 2.0 or below. In this situation a student needs to be cognizant of the need to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better (GPA of 1.8 or better for first year students) to remain in good academic standing. Students with a C or better should be encouraged to remain in the class.
  •  If graduating seniors are taking a course that absolutely is not needed for graduation, they may in this instance want to consider taking a W.

 d. Advising students concerning financial aid

 e. Important resources for students: encourage your advisees to…

  • Talk with someone in the Academic Advising and Support Center (AASC) about impact on graduation date as well as course selection: Phone: 410-617-5050 Email: aasc@loyola.edu
  • Talk with financial aid staff about the impact on certain scholarships and financial aid. Phone: 410-617-2576 orfinancialaid@loyola.edu.
  •  Talk with their advisor and mentors about admission requirements for graduate and professional programs.
  • Talk with staff in Student-Athlete Support Services about student-athlete eligibility.
  • Talk with the Office of Undergraduate Studies if students need additional help. Phone 410-617-2849 or 410-617-5547.
  • Talk with Ms. Sunanda Bhatia, Director of International Student Services, about student visa requirements. Phone: 410-617-5245. Email: skbhatia@loyola.edu
  • Talk with the Career Center about information that may be requested by future employers. Students can  login to Handshake to schedule an appointment with a Career Services team member.

 f. What other resources to support academic success remotely?

g. And here are some resources if your student is struggling with wellness issues:

 

AASC Newsletter

AASC Newsletter - Spring 2020

Advising FAQ's

AASC has created an Advising FAQs page with answers to our most commonly asked questions concerning course registration, summer/winter courses, degree audit, and majors/minors.  Please check it out and let us know if you’d like to see any items added.

Below, please find worksheets that were distributed at previous Advising Workshops: 

Resources