COVID-19 Resources for Students

Special Credit/No Credit Flexible Grading Policy for the Fall 2020 Semester

• Flexible Grading Policy – Key Information
• Credit/No-Credit Policy FAQ
• 12 Things to Know About the Fall 2020 Credit/No Credit Flexible Grading Policy
• Student Opt-in How-To

As part of The City University of New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during the Fall 2020 semester, all students shall have the option to convert any or all of the (B-F) letter grades they earn in their classes, to Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading.

1. During the Fall 2020 semester, all students shall have the option to convert any or all of the (B-F) letter grades they earn in their classes, to Credit/No Credit grading.
2. Students shall be able to make this decision up to 20 business days after the University’s final grade submission deadline. Once selected, the CR/NC option cannot be cannot be reversed.
3. If a student chooses to exercise this option, a passing letter grade (B+, B, B-, C+, or C) will convert to ‘CR’ with credit for the class being awarded, while a failing grade (F) will convert to ‘NC’, with no credit awarded. Credit/No Credit grades will not impact the student’s GPA.
4. Courses taken for a letter grade will continue to be included in the semester and general GPA, while courses taken for a Credit/Non-credit grade will be excluded, just as is the case with such courses taken at a student’s home institution.
5. If a student exercises the option of Credit/No Credit, the Credit (CR) grade will not negatively impact the student’s satisfactory progress toward degree completion.
6. Students with Credit/No Credit grades will be able to transfer those courses across colleges within CUNY, per current CUNY policy.
7. The Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy shall apply to coursework completed on Permit and will not affect Board of Trustees Policy 1.14 – Policy on Coursework Completed on Permit.
8. Students placed on academic probation by their institution at the start of the Fall 2020 semester shall not be penalized with academic dismissal based upon their grades earned this semester.
9. The Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy shall not affect the University standards of student retention and progress in accordance with Board of Trustees Policy 1.26.
10. Before choosing this grading option for one or more of their classes, students shall consult with their academic and financial aid advisors regarding potential impact to their financial aid, licensure requirements, and graduate school admissions.
11. The Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy shall supersede and override all undergraduate and graduate program-level grading policies currently in effect at CUNY colleges and schools, including those related to required and elective courses within the major, minor, general education (Pathways), pre-requisite courses, honors courses, courses taken on permit and maximum number of credits that a student can earn with Credit/No Credit grades.
12. The grade glossary, attached to each transcript, will be updated to include a notation denoting that all Fall 2020 grades, including CR or NC, were earned during a major disruption to instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
13. The Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy shall apply to all CUNY colleges and schools, except the School of Law and the School of Medicine, which may develop their own Pass/Fail policies, subject to approval of the Board of Trustees, to conform to norms in legal and medical education.
14. The Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy shall be codified in the Manual of General Policy as Policy 1.4. and cannot be overwritten by any individual units of the University, including presidents, provosts, or college councils.

The policy will remain in effect for the Fall 2020 semester and will be reviewed by the Chancellor and extended as necessary to meet public health emergency policies and practices.

Please see CUNY’s Credit/No Credit Policy page for more information.

Please see the COVID-19 Information Technology Resources page for information on how to contact the Helpdesk, obtaining hardware and software for distance learning, Blackboard and Zoom resources, free or low-cost internet service, and assistive technology services.

We will continue to provide student advisement, writing, and quantitative tutoring services via phone/email and through use of digital platforms like Zoom. Please refer to the Student Advising, Writing Assistance, and Quantitative Tutoring pages for more information on these services.

Please check the Fieldwork page for the latest info for students planning to complete their fieldwork in Fall 2020.

Please check the COVID-19 Updates for International Students page for the latest information.

Students who are in need of financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, may apply for a grant from the CUNY SPH Student Emergency Fund. The CUNY SPH Student Emergency Fund is a year round fund which provides grants on a case-by-case basis to students facing acute catastrophic financial hardship. Individuals who apply may be asked to submit supporting documentation to demonstrate their financial need. For more information and to apply, click here.