Members of the Campus Community,
The past few weeks have been unprecedented in nature as our communities, our states, and countries around the world continue to work through the complexities of COVID-19. The University of Mount Union has taken many proactive measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus and protecting the health and well-being of the campus community. We are also taking steps to ensure the continued academic success of our students in an effort to keep them on track for graduation.
As part of this commitment and with the support of the University, Faculty Senate has made the decision to extend both the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) and withdrawal (W) deadlines to the last day of regular classes for the 2020 Spring Semester – Wednesday, May 6, 2020. During this temporary change in academic policy, for the 2020 Spring Semester only, students can choose to change any regularly graded course to an S/U option or elect to withdraw with a W grade up to this date. Neither option will adversely affect a student’s term or cumulative GPA.
Please note the S/U option is not available for the following programs: Master of Education, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, and Doctor of Physical Therapy.
We made this decision in hopes of easing any anxiety students may experience during these uncertain times and to provide flexibility as they pursue their educational journeys at Mount Union. With that being said, students should strongly consider the pros and cons of taking the S/U and W options. These options, while appealing in the short term, may not be the right fit depending upon an individual student’s program and future educational and professional goals.
Choosing the S/U or W option could have serious impacts on your future educational and professional plans, including:
- Notation on transcripts for licensure and graduate school admission
- Challenges with meeting prerequisites for other courses
- Transfer to other institutions
- Scholarship and grant requirements
- Athletic eligibility
- Financial aid
Taking the S/U or W grade option will impact the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) completion rate that determines athletic and financial aid eligibility. If students are utilizing federal aid, they should also consult with the Office of Student Financial Aid before choosing the W option, as this could impact a student’s ability to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
Regardless of the decision, students should consult with their academic advisors, department chairs, and program directors prior to choosing this option.
Students who wish to pursue these options must complete the forms below and submit them to the Office of the University Registrar no later than Wednesday, May 6 at 5 p.m. Please note that you will need to download the forms in order to sign the forms digitally.
