Dear Students,
We know many of you have expressed interest in pass/fail grading since UTSA moved all Spring 2020 courses online to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
In accordance with the UT System Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations and upon recommendation by the UTSA Faculty Senate and the UTSA Academic Council — which includes the college deans, vice provosts and myself — UTSA will adopt an optional Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) "pass/fail" grading system for undergraduate and graduate courses for the Spring 2020 semester
The mechanics of executing this temporary grading option are still being worked out. The process basically will be as follows:
  • Each of your faculty instructors will determine if his or her course is suitable for a CR/NC grade (i.e., "pass/fail").

  • You will be notified the week of April 6–10 by your instructor whether your course has been designated as eligible for this grading option.

  • Resources and guidance will be provided by Academic Advising, college Student Success Centers and other offices regarding the respective impact of choosing the CR/NC option versus retaining the regular grading system. You also will be able to connect with your advisor for additional consultation.

  • Finally, for those designated courses, you will decide whether you want to receive a letter grade or CR/NC for the course; the tentative deadline for you to make this decision is May 8, the last day of classes. If you do not respond, the default will be the traditional grading scale.
To be clear, this temporary procedure will replace the regular grading system only for those of you who opt in. For each eligible course, you will be free to choose between CR/NC or a letter grade.
This same temporary adjustment is being implemented at many other universities across the country that, like UTSA, have had to transition to online instruction in response to the pandemic. Other UT System institutions also are adopting similar temporary grading adjustments.  
We now are working on the specific processes and timeline for how this temporary system will be implemented. We thank you for your patience as we do so. As soon as details are finalized, they will be shared with you via email and on the website, utsa.edu/coronavirus.
Additionally, I am asking your faculty instructors to review their plans for final examinations; any final exams originally planned to be conducted in person and on campus will now need to be re-examined and reformatted as a part of our move to online instruction. The colleges will be working with faculty to provide ideas, guidance and advice for conducting final exams remotely. Your instructor will notify you as soon as is practical, and I again thank you for your patience as we work through this process.
In the meantime, we hope this news brings a level of relief to our students. Your faculty are committed to your success and, throughout this semester, have kept your best interests at the center of their decision making.  
This is a challenging time for all of us, Roadrunners. In addition to your studies, please be sure to take care of yourself, connect with your families and loved ones, and focus on finishing this semester strong. 
Sincerely,
Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D.
Peter T. Flawn Distinguished Professor
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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