Important Information About the Pass/D/Fail Policy

Dear Columbia College Students:

Please note that Thursday, 15 November is the last day to elect to take a course for a grade of Pass/D/Fail for the fall term. As you consider whether or not to utilize this grading option I want to remind you of the terms of the new Pass/D/Fail policy that is in effect starting this semester.

All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect to take one course each semester for a grade of Pass/D/Fail. This is in addition to any courses that are offered only on a Pass/Fail basis. Students who do not utilize both Pass/D/Fail options during the academic year may elect, in the summer immediately following, to take one Summer Term course on a Pass/D/Fail basis.

When considering the P/D/F option, students should be aware that courses with the grade of P may not be used to satisfy any Core Curriculum requirement with the exception of Physical Education which is graded strictly on a Pass/Fail basis.

Further, the Pass/D/Fail option cannot be elected for the following Core Curriculum courses under any circumstances:

• C1001-C1002 Literature Humanities
• C1101-C1102 Contemporary Civilization
• C1020 African Civilization
• C1010 University Writing
• C1121 Art Humanities
• C1123 Music Humanities
• C1000 Frontiers of Science

The Pass/D/Fail option also may not be elected for language instruction courses regardless of whether they are being taken to fulfill Core or major requirements, or as electives.

Students should also be aware that courses with the grade of P:

• Cannot be used to satisfy a major or concentration requirement, including related courses, except the first such one-term course taken by the student in his or her eventual major. However, certain departments do NOT allow any course taken for a grade of P to count toward the major or concentration and state this policy under the major requirements in the Bulletin. Please review department policies when considering whether to take a course for a grade of P;
• Cannot be used to satisfy science or math courses in fulfillment of premedical requirements.

Beginning with courses taken in the Fall 2007 semester you are allowed to uncover the grade of Pass within two weeks of the start of the semester immediately following that in which the grade of Pass was received. You will be informed by the Registrar of the letter grade covered by the Pass in order to help you decide whether or not to uncover the grade.

You will have until Tuesday, February 5, 2008 to exercise the uncovering option for fall courses. You may not uncover the grade in courses taken prior to Fall 2007.

Please note that regardless of whether or not you elect to uncover the grade of Pass it will still count as one of your two Pass/D/Fail courses for the academic year. Courses in which a grade of Pass is uncovered can be used to meet the Science Requirement and the Major Cultures Requirement (which require a letter grade of D or above).

Whether or not a course in which a grade is uncovered can be counted toward your major or concentration requirements is at the discretion of the department. You should meet with your major adviser or the director of undergraduate studies in your department to determine if a course with an uncovered grade can count toward your major requirements before November 15.

The grade of Pass will not be used in calculating your grade point average; the grades of D and Fail will be so used. Likewise, if you elect to uncover the grade of Pass the letter grade will be used in calculating grade point average.

The Columbia College Pass/D/Fail policy can be found in the on-line Bulletin at http://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/programs_of_study/exam_grades.php

Sincerely,
Kathryn B. Yatrakis
Dean of Academic Affairs, Columbia College