In an effort to maximize our service capabilities, we are collecting service requests via the Registrar Support form instead of email. Once your request is submitted, our staff will work on your request and follow up with you. Thank you for your patience during our transition
Q: How will I select/make changes to the P/MP/U grading option for my Spring 2020 class schedule?
A: You do not need to do anything at this time. You will receive a communication from the Office of the University Registrar with instructions on how to make any desired changes to grading for your Spring 2020 class schedule. The self-service feature is currently being designed and built, and we will make it available to students as soon as possible.
Q: How will I know which of my Spring 2020 classes can be changed to P/MP/U?
A: The self-service page we are building will only allow you to change grading schemes for the courses for which this option is available. You will be able to select the P/MP/U grading scheme for any class that has not already been graded in the Spring 2020 term, and requires a grade. Courses that are non-graded, courses for which you previously elected an audit grade scheme (not common), and courses which have already been graded with a final grade in the Spring 2020 term will not have an option to select the new grade scheme of P/MP/U.
Q: How will Spring 2020 classes be graded if I choose the P/MP/U option?
A: Faculty members will continue to record letter grades for all students who had not previously selected an S/U or audit grading options. Faculty will not be informed of which students have chosen the P/MP/U grading scheme. For students who have elected the P/MP/U grading scheme, letter grades will be automatically translated to P/MP/U by the Registrar’s Office when posting the grade to the student’s record.
Q: How will Spring 2020 grades appear on my transcript?
A: For students who elect the new Spring 2020 grading scheme, only P (Pass) / MP (Minimal Pass) / U (Unsatisfactory) will appear on the transcript, with pass indicating a letter grade C- or above, MP a letter grade of D- to D+ and U a grade of F. For all other grading schemes, there is no change to how grades will appear on the transcript.
Q: Is there a limit on the number of courses I can take with the P/MP/U option?
A: No, students can take as many of their current classes P/MP/U as they like, including courses in their major or minor and courses that meet their core requirements.
Q: Will P/MP/U grades count in my GPA?
A: While academic credit will be offered for grades of P or MP, none of these grades, whether P, MP, or U, will be factored into GPA calculations.
Q: How does this new Spring 2020 grade option satisfy pre-requisites and graduation requirements?
A: If a course must be completed with a grade of C- or better to satisfy a pre-requisite or graduation requirement, a student must earn a P to satisfy the requirement. If a course must be completed with a grade of D- or better to satisfy a requirement, then a student must earn an MP or P to satisfy the requirement.
Q: Will opting into the P/MP/U grading scheme negatively impact my financial aid?
A: At this time, we are not aware of any negative impact your grade selection will have on current or future financial aid. Federal regulations requiring Tulane to review a student’s academic performance to assure that a student is meeting satisfactory academic progress will still be adhered to using which ever grading scheme you select.
Q: My Tulane scholarship requires that I maintain a minimum grade point average in order to retain eligibility for receipt of the scholarship in the future. Will my grade scheme selection impact the evaluation of my eligibility for scholarship retention?
A: At this time, we are not aware of any impact that your grade selection will have on determining your eligibility for retention of your institutional scholarship. It is important to note that future receipt of need-based scholarship requires that continued demonstration of financial need as determined via the applicable aid applications and supporting materials.
Q: What are my grading options if I am enrolled in an approved Tulane study abroad program in the Spring 2020 term?
A: Students enrolled in an approved Tulane study abroad program in the Spring 2020 term will have the option to elect the new grading scheme once grades from the Study Abroad partner are received. Students should bear in mind that Study Abroad grades already do not count in the Tulane GPA as the established study abroad policy is that letter grades appear on your transcript but do not factor into the Tulane GPA.
Q: What if I already elected the S/U or audit grading options?
A: If you have elected the audit grade option for a course, you cannot change this election. If you have already elected the S/U grade scheme for a course, you will have the opportunity to switch to the P/MP/U grade scheme. Key differences are:
Q: Am I still required to take 12 credit hours for a letter-grade?
A: No. You may select an alternate grading scheme for all of your classes for the Spring 2020 semester unless the course has already been graded. Please keep in mind that if you are a Newcomb-Tulane College student, you will need to be enrolled in 12 credit hours (regardless of grading scheme) in order to maintain full-time enrollment.
Q. Will courses taken under the new Spring 2020 grading scheme count against any limits on the number of credits that can be taken for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade?
A: No. Classes for which you select the P/MP/U option for the Spring 2020 semester will not count toward any limits on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory courses or number of credits that may count towards your degree.
Q: Can I elect the new Spring 2020 grading scheme on a course that is already graded in the Spring 2020 term?
A: No, any Spring 2020 course graded before March 23, 2020 is not eligible for the P/MP/U grading scheme.
Q: Can I elect the new Spring 2020 grading scheme on a course in the Summer 2020 term?
A: No, at this time the new grade mode of P/MP/U is only for Spring 2020 at this time.
Q: Will the P/MP/U grading option be available in future semesters beyond Spring 2020?
A: No, these changes are for the Spring 2020 semester only, due to the impact of COVID-19.
Q: Will courses taken for a P/MP/U grade count toward my degree requirements?
A: Yes. If you select the P/MP/U grading option, a passing grade in the course will ensure that it will count toward all appropriate degree, major, and minor requirements as if you had taken it on a graded basis. The degree audit will be updated to reflect this new grading scheme for the Spring 2020 semester.
Q: How will the changes to P/MP/U affect the ability to repeat a course?
A: If you earn a P or an MP for a non-repeatable course, you may not repeat the course. If you earn a U for a non-repeatable course, you may repeat the course as you did not earn credit for the course.
Q: What if letter grades are required for graduate school or professional program applications or for employment?
A: Because letter grades will be recorded under the P/MP/U option, it will be possible for students to request an official letter from the Registrar’s Office certifying the corresponding letter grades, should that be necessary. We will ensure that those who need evidence of your Spring 2020 academic achievements will be able to get it.
Q: I am considering applying to Law School or Medical School. Can I choose the P/MP/U grading basis for my classes?
A: Please speak with your academic advisor or the pre-professional advisor. Know that because letter grades will be recorded, it will be possible for students to request an official letter from the Registrar’s Office certifying the corresponding letter grades, should that be necessary.
Q: How will the new P/MP/U grading option affect Latin honors?
A: Because P/MP/U grades do not factor into the GPA, these grades will not be factored into the GPA calculations for Latin Honors.
Q: What If I am on Academic Probation? How will the new Spring 2020 P/MP/U grading option affect my standing?
A- Each student who is in danger of being placed on academic probation or suspended for sustained poor academic performance will be evaluated individually. If a student’s GPA in Spring 2020 brings their cumulative GPA up enough to put them in good academic standing, the student will be taken off academic probation. If a student improves but not enough to be taken off academic probation, they will be continued on academic probation rather than suspended. A student who takes all their courses P/MP/U and earns Ps in all courses is unlikely to be suspended, as those Ps indicate improvement. Every student will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Q: If I receive a high letter grade in a course that I have designated for P/MP/U, may I later ask to earn the letter grade?
A: You can reverse your decision to elect the new grading option until the published deadline of May 11, 2020 for graduating students or May 21, 2020 for all other undergraduates. Changes to the grading scheme may not be made after the published deadlines.
Q: What is the deadline for selecting P/MP/U options for my Spring 2020 class schedule?
A: The deadline for changing grading options is May 11 for graduating students and May 21 for all other undergraduates. Changes to the grading scheme may not be made after the published deadlines.
Q: I am an international student. Will changing my classes to the P/MP/U grading scheme for the Spring 2020 impact my visa status?
A: As long as you remain enrolled as a full-time student, changing your enrollments to P/MP/U grading scheme for the Spring 2020 semester will not impact your status.
Q: I am enrolled at Tulane as a consortium student. Would the P/MP/U grading scheme impact my course of study at my home institution?
A: Students whose home institution is Loyola University, Dillard University, Xavier University, Delgado University (ROTC), UNO (ROTC), or Holy Cross College (ROTC) will not be able to choose the P/MP/U grade mode using the self-service option. You must contact your home institution to determine how courses graded on a P/MP/U grading scheme may count toward your course of study at your home institution. If you determine that this is an option you would like to elect, please forward approval from your home institution with the relevant student and course information to registrar@tulane.edu. Please place in the subject line, “Consortium student grade scheme request.” If you are a graduating student, the deadline for the receipt of this email is May 11, 2020. If you are not a graduating student, the deadline for the receipt of this email is May 21, 2020.
Q: I am undergraduate student and am taking graduate coursework that will apply to my undergraduate degree only. May I use the P/MP/U grade-type for these graduate courses? Similarly, if I am taking graduate courses to double-count in both an undergraduate and graduate program, is the P/MP/U grade-type available to me for the graduate courses?
A: Graduate coursework taken for undergraduate credit will be eligible for the new grading scheme. Coursework taken for Graduate Credit will be subject to the grading rules of that School.
Q: Who do I contact if I have further questions about the grading options for the Spring 2020 semester?
A: Please email registrar@tulane.edu with any questions regarding grading options for Spring 2020.
Q: How will electing the P/MP/U Grading Scheme affect the Dean’s List?
A: The Dean’s List will be issued at the end of the semester, as always, based on final course grades. It includes all full-time degree seeking students in Newcomb-Tulane College who have a grade point average of 3.7 or better and who have earned no grade below a “C” during the same semester (excluding courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis and courses taken on the temporary pass/minimal pass/unsatisfactory grading scale). Students will be notified via email of their inclusion on the Dean’s List.
Q: If I take classes P/MP/U, am I still eligible for the NTC Dean’s List?
A: The NTC Dean’s List is calculated on the basis of earned grades which factor into the GPA. If you take any classes for letter grades this spring and earn 3.7 or higher in them, you will be eligible for Dean’s List. You won’t be eligible if you take all your classes P/MP/U or S/U since those grades do not factor into your GPA.
Q: I am using VA education benefits in the Spring 2020 semester. How would electing the P/MP/U grading scheme impact me?
A: The Department of Veteran Affairs defines a non-punitive grade as a grade that does not count as earned credit and is not calculated into the grade point average. If a student elects the new P/MP/U grading option and completes a course with a grade of U, this will be considered a non-punitive grade and must be reported to VA. You may be required to repay any funds received for this course.
The following is a summary of how your VA benefits would be impacted when/if certain grades are earned:
| Grade | Counted in Earned Credits | Counted in GPA | VA Repayment Required |
| P | Yes | No | No |
| MP | Yes | No | No |
| U | No | No | Yes |
If you have questions about your specific circumstance, please contact the Education Call Center at: 1-888-442-4551 between 8 AM and 7 PM Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.
Q: How will the alternate grading scheme affect my ability to order a transcript?
A: If you graduate in Spring 2020, there will be no effect. If you are not graduating in Spring 2020, and you are enrolled in courses which are eligible for the COVID-19 modified grading scheme, any transcript order will be held until May 22 when the deadline to elect the alternate grading scheme has passed. Orders will then be processed automatically.
