This is an attempt to resolve some of the confusion that exists among faculty and staff regarding the differences in grading policies between Dietrich School graduate courses and undergraduate courses.
The following policies apply to graduate courses and to Dietrich School students in undergraduate Dietrich School courses.
Find information here on the COVID-19 Grading Update, 2020 Spring Term.
Grading Options
The following are the principle grading options used for graduate courses:
- LG – Letter grades only
- N – Audit/No credit (this option exists for all courses regardless of the grading option)
- S/NC – Satisfactory/No Credit grades only
- LGSNC – Letter grades or Satisfactory/No credit grades
Dietrich School Graduate Courses
- Thesis, dissertation and independent study courses can only be listed as S/NC at the graduate level.
- Other courses can be listed by the department as LG only, S/NC only or LGSNC. For these courses, the instructor can assign either a letter grade or an S/NC depending.
Instructors should announce their grading policies at the beginning of the term. A student may request the N (audit) grading option informally with the instructor or in writing by requesting a Grade Option Audit form from asgrad@pitt.edu. The form is used as a reminder for the instructor; it is not submitted to the registrar or the Graduate Studies Office. It is up to the discretion of the instructor to grant the grade option.
Dietrich School Undergraduate Courses
Students requesting an S/NC or N option for a Dietrich School undergraduate course must obtain the form from the undergraduate dean's office by emailing studentrecords@as.pitt.edu. There are deadlines for submission of the grade option form to the undergraduate dean's office. Students should check the Academic Calendar for the appropriate deadlines. If a Dietrich School graduate student misses the deadline, they must bring their undergraduate form to asgrad@pitt.edu.
Letter Grades and Grade (Quality) Points
A graduate student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (B average) or better to remain in good standing, to be appointed to a Teaching Assistantship/Fellowship, Predoctoral Fellowship, Graduate Student Assistantship, to sit any milestones, and to graduate.
S/NC and N (Satisfactory Credit/Audit) Grading
SNC is the grading option for thesis, dissertation, and independent study courses. Other courses as deemed appropriate by the department may carry this option as well. Please note: to audit a course, a student must register and pay tuition for the course. The N grade is not counted toward graduation or the GPA. Other schools in the University have very restrictive policies on the issuing of N grades, and Dietrich School students who wish to audit courses in those schools (e.g. Swanson School of Engineering) should check with the graduate office of that school.
I and G (Incomplete) Grades
I grades are used for incomplete work in dissertation research, thesis, and similar courses where the scope of the student's project may require more than one term for its proper completion. I grades for thesis or dissertation research should be removed when the thesis or dissertation has been approved. I grades given for other courses must be removed within one year. If the grade is changed after one year, it must be accompanied by a letter of explanation from the instructor for the time delay in completion of the course work.
G grades are used for incomplete work in an academic course. G grades must be removed within one year. If the grade is changed after one year, it must be accompanied by a letter of explanation from the instructor for the time delay in completion of the course work.
I and G grades do not affect the GPA and if not removed will remain on the student's transcript without credit. A student may graduate with I and G grades providing that the department certifies that those courses are not necessary for the degree on the certification memo.
W (Withdrawal) Grades
W grades cannot be put on the final grade roster by the instructor. A student who wishes to withdraw from a course must submit a Monitored Withdrawal form (signed by the instructor) to the appropriate dean's office for the course. For Dietrich School graduate courses the form must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, asgrad@pitt.edu. We will accept monitored withdrawal forms until the last day of classes. For Dietrich School graduate students in Dietrich School undergraduate courses the forms must be submitted to 140 Thackeray by the appropriate deadline. Students should check the Academic Calendar for the appropriate deadlines. If a Dietrich School graduate student misses the undergraduate deadline, they must submit their undergraduate form to asgrad@pitt.edu.
F Grades
Students who have unofficially withdrawn from a course or never attended must receive a grade of F. If a student has dropped out of a graduate course without requesting the W grade, there are other options available to instructors who do not wish to give an F grade.
- The instructor can contact the student and ask the student to fill out the Monitored Withdrawal form.
- The instructor can submit a temporary grade of G until hearing from the student. The G can then be changed to a W.
Changing Grades
An instructor can change a grade by submitting a grade change request through PeopleSoft only until the University returns to normal operations. The ability to change a grade is limited to instructors and is available in the Faculty Center. To access the Faculty Center, log into my.pitt.edu with Pitt credentials, select Faculty Center from the icons on the right side of the screen, and navigate to the Grade Change Request folder: Self-Service > Faculty Center > Grade Change Request. I and G grades should be changed within the time limits indicated above or the instructor should write a letter addressed to the Dean explaining the circumstances for the delay in changing the grade. This letter should be emailed to alf189@pitt.edu at the same time that the grade change request is submitted through PeopleSoft. Grade changes cannot be submitted for students who do not appear on the final grade roster. In that case, the student must contact the Registrar’s office to submit evidence of being in the course; a late enrollment will then be processed. The Registrar will then submit a Supplemental Grade Card to the instructor so that the appropriate grade can be recorded.
Late Grades
The instructor is responsible for posting course grades in PeopleSoft by the stated deadlines. Late grades can prevent a student from graduating.