COVID-19 Updates
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The Academic Senate authorized limited-term exceptions to the Policy on Distance Education Courses to allow for the use of remote instruction in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, 2020-2021 academic year, and 2021-2022 academic year in response to COVID-19.
This page provides details on the quarterly status of Senate educational policies related to Pass/Not Pass and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading and enrollment deadlines from Spring 2020 through Summer 2022.
Enrollment Deadlines (Course Adds/Drops/Change of Grading Option and Quarter Withdrawals)
Status of Enrollment Deadlines from Spring 2020 through Summer Session 2022*
| Deadline | Senate Regulation Reference | Standard Deadline | Spring 2020 | Summer 2020 | Fall 2020 | Winter 2021 | Spring 2021 | Summer 2021-Summer 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline to Change Grading Option or Units | 500.D (P and NP Grades) 500.E (S and U Grades) |
End of Week 4 | Extended to end of Finals Week | Standard deadline | Standard deadline ^ | Extended to end of Week 10 | Extended to end of Week 10 | Standard deadline |
| Deadline to Add a Class | 501.A (Adding a Class) | End of Week 2 | Extended to end of Week 3 | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline |
| Deadline to Drop a Class or Withdraw from the Quarter (without a W) | 501.B (Drop a Class) 501.C (Withdraw from the Quarter) |
End of Week 4 | Extended to end of Week 5 | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline | Standard deadline |
| Deadline to Drop a Class or Withdraw from the Quarter (with a W) | 501.B (Drop a Class) 501.C (Withdraw from the Quarter) |
End of Week 6 (UG) End of Week 9 (GR) |
Extended to end of Week 7 (UG) No change (GR) |
Extended to 90% of the course term (equal to the end of Week 9) (UG) No change (GR) |
Standard deadline | Extended to end of Week 7 (UG) No change (GR) |
Extended to end of Week 7 (UG) No change (GR) |
Standard deadline |
*Last updated: 8/26/2022.
UG: undergraduate students
GR: graduate students
^Undergraduate students were permitted to retroactively petition to change their grading option from Letter to Pass/Not Pass for Fall 2020 courses. This option was available between January 4 - January 29, 2021.
Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grades
Status of Pass/Not Pass (Undergraduate Students) and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (Graduate Students) Exceptions from Spring 2020 through Summer Session 2022*
Values under the quarter columns indicate whether the exception applies in the quarter.
| Pass/Not Pass or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Exception | Senate Regulation Reference | Spring 2020 | Summer 2020 | Fall 2020 | Winter 2021 | Spring 2021 | Summer 2021-Summer 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exclude P/NP grades earned from 25% Limit on the Number of Units that may be Completed on a P/NP Basis (UG) | SD 500.D.1 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| P/NP or S/U allowed if repeating courses previously taken for a letter grade (UG, GR) | SD 505.B | Yes | No | Yes, for retroactive grade change petitions (UG) No (GR) |
Yes | Yes | No |
| P/NP allowed if student not in good academic standing (UG) | SD 500.D.1 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| P/NP allowed for major qualification courses or major requirements S/U allowed for graduate degree requirements |
n/a | At the discretion of the academic unit | At the discretion of the academic unit | At the discretion of the academic unit | At the discretion of the academic unit | At the discretion of the academic unit | At the discretion of the academic unit |
| Instructors may require that course be taken for P/NP or S/U grade if course allows for letter grade option (UG, GR) | n/a | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| P/NP or S/U grades allowed in courses approved for Letter Grade Only (UG, GR) | n/a | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
*Last updated: 8/26/2022.
UG: undergraduate students
GR: graduate students
Petitioning a Retroactive Change of Grading Option (from Letter to Pass/Not Pass) for Fall Quarter 2020 Courses
The Educational Policy Committee offered undergraduate students a one-time only option to petition to retroactively change grading options from Letter to Pass/Not Pass in Fall 2020 classes. These petitions were granted. The option was available to undergraduate students during the first four weeks of Winter 2021: January 4 - January 29, 2021.
Graduate Education
Telepresence for Graduate Master’s and Doctoral Examinations
The Graduate Council authorized a limited-term exception to the general rules approved by the Graduate Council on October 8, 2018 for how master’s and doctoral committee members conduct master’s thesis defenses and doctoral qualifying exams and defenses. Any and/or all members of a master’s or doctoral committee or the student being examined may be telepresent (meaning participation by live video teleconference) for a thesis defense, qualifying examination and final oral examination (the dissertation defense).
*Last updated: 6/29/2021
Doctoral Time Limits
The Graduate Council approved extending time limits by three quarters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council noted that the extensions allow for additional time and eligibility for funding but do not per se provide additional or continued funding, as funding availability is not the purview of the Graduate Council.
*Last updated: 12/16/2020
Accepting "P" Grades from Spring 2020 and 2020-2021 Undergraduate Courses
The Graduate Council approved allowing departments and programs to accept the transfer of P grades earned by UC San Diego undergraduate students in Spring 2020 and AY2020-2021 to a UC San Diego Master’s or PhD degree program.
*Last updated: 1/21/2021