Alternative Grade Option, Spring 2020

Student Populations

Athletes

From an NCAA eligibility standpoint, electing to go with the alternate grading, S, S-, U* in one or more courses will only affect those student-athletes who are attempting to regain their NCAA eligibility (below 2.0 cum GPA) as the lack of grade points for their coursework will not allow them to increase their cumulative GPA. Student-athletes who already have cumulative GPAs above a 2.0 will not be affected if their coursework is graded in the alternate method.

All student-athletes will still need to maintain full-time academic status (minimum enrollment of 12-credits undergraduate / 9-credits graduate) and continuing student athletes must successfully earn 18 credit hours during the regular academic year (Excluding Summer) and first year student athletes must earn 24 credit hours prior to the start of third semester(may include Summer). Overall percent towards degree standards have not changed. Summer coursework may be used to make up for a percent toward degree deficit or supplement the total number of credits earned. All student-athletes should check with their athletic advisor as well as their major advisor.

Further guidance from the NCAA can also be found on the 2020 NCAA Division I COVID-19 Question and Answer Guide.

Honors Program Students

To maintain eligibility and continue in the Honors Program, students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher. Alternative grades do not affect GPA, so they will have no impact on Honors eligibility.

For students who are enrolled in Fall 2020 Honors courses, we will not drop you from your Honors courses unless you fall below a 3.0. For those with a GPA below 3.0, we will make determinations on a case by case basis.

Students graduating in May must have a 3.4 GPA to receive an Honors degree notation on their transcript. However, as long as you have a 3.4, alternative grades will not negatively impact your ability to receive the Honors degree notation.

If you are enrolled in HPR 401 or 402 (Honors project), you may choose alternative grading, and it will not impact your ability to receive an Honors Program notation, as long as you have a minimum 3.4 GPA.

Honors advisors are available to discuss your choices around alternative grading. Go to the Honors homepage to see how to reach an Honors advisors. We recommend that all students discuss their options with an advisor, but especially those students who anticipate applying for a graduate program.

Talent Development Scholars

In order to be eligible to receive the Hardge/Forleo or the College Crusade Grant, Talent Development Scholars must maintain full-time status (12 or more credits) and a semester GPA of a 2.0, 2.3 or 2.5, depending on their enter year. To support our Scholars during this challenging time, all internal Grant eligibility decisions for the Hardge/Forleo or College Crusade Grant will be postponed until after the Fall 2020 semester. TD Scholars will not be penalized for switching to the alternative grading system for the Spring 2020 semester.

Military/ National Guard

STAP Waiver: Students may use the alternative grading option.

Tuition Assistance (TA): Students may use the alternative grading option with some limitations. Tuition Assistance recipients must successfully complete all courses paid for with TA funds. Successful course completion is defined as a final grade of “C” or higher for undergraduate courses, and “B” or higher for graduate courses. If a student does not complete their course successfully, the student will be required to pay back DOD the amount of tuition for the course.

GI Bill Recipients: Any passing grade, including the temporary grading option of Satisfactory (S), or Marginal Satisfactory (S-) can be billed to the VA for payment. The VA is still determining whether a Unsatisfactory (U*) can be paid. Contact The Office of Veteran Affairs and Military Programs for the latest information.

Though not directly related to your decision about choosing a grade scheme, be aware that a law recently passed by Congress authorizes the VA to continue to provide educational assistance through December 21, 2020, for programs of education that have been converted to distance learning due to an emergency or health-related situation. Such assistance includes monthly housing stipends or subsistence allowances.

ROTC Cadets: Please contact the cadre or your ROTC 10 instructor directly for information on how the alternative grading option affects your situation, including commissioning and contracting.

Veterans/Spouses/Dependents

Graduate Students

Graduate Students are required to maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA. As the alternative S/S-/U* grades do not affect GPA, they will not trigger provisional status.

Graduate and Professional School Applicants

URI is not alone in adapting its grading to the COVID-19 situation. Many universities and colleges across the United States are adopting alternative grading using P or S grades and it is very likely that graduate and professional schools will make adaptations for admission, as well. If you have concerns, we recommend you not choose the alternative S, S- or U* grading. We also recommend that you check with a faculty advisor. The URI Graduate School will not discriminate against applicants who have opted for alternative grading in their course work for the Spring 2020 semester.

High School Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Students

High school students taking URI classes through dual or concurrent enrollment should understand that while URI will accept classes/credits with a grade of S or S-, not all colleges may do the same. Thus, students should either check with those colleges OR, as a precaution, earn the traditional grade.

Employees Receiving Tuition Reimbursement

A student expecting to receive tuition reimbursement from their employer should check with the employer before choosing alternative grading. Many tuition reimbursement policies state that a grade of B or better is needed in order to receive tuition reimbursement.

URI Education Abroad and National Student Exchange Participants

Students enrolled in OCS 998 – Off-Campus Study concurrently with URI classes may opt into the alternative grade option scheme.

Students enrolled for OCS 999 – Off-Campus Study status earn transfer credit for their experience so the alternative grade scheme does not apply. Students are graded by their host institution and when URI grants transfer credit, the grade notation is always a “T”. URI will not penalize students who earn an alternative grade scheme from a host institution or School of Record using P or S grades and credit will be awarded as approved on their Education Abroad Prior Approval Form.

International Students studying at URI

The visa status of International students matriculated at URI is not affected by choosing the S/S-/U* grades as long as the student remains enrolled full-time and makes normal degree progress. Contact the URI International Student Office for detailed information about visa status. International students visiting URI for the Spring 2020 semester may choose the S/S-/U* grading.

COVID-19 Response

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