Pass/Fail Option
Learn more about Merrimack’s Pass/Fail options.
Pass/Fail Form
It is strongly recommended that you speak with an advisor or success coach before you make the decision to pass/fail a course. If you are unsure who to speak with, please contact the Academic Success Center at asc@merrimack.edu.
Spring 2021 Semester
The College has approved three temporary changes to undergraduate and graduate course grading policies for the spring 2021 semester that we hope will alleviate some of the stress and anxiety students may be experiencing. These temporary changes are as follows:
- Extended deadline for course withdrawal
- Conversion of “F” grades to “NC” (no credit)
- Conversion to pass/fail.
Extended Deadline for Course Withdrawal
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate students have extended time to withdraw from a course and receive the grade of “W.” If you wish to withdraw from a course after the end of the drop/add period, you may do so and receive a grade of “W” (for “Withdrawn”) at any point up to and including the last regular class meeting of the spring 2021 semester (Monday, May 3, 2021).
- If you wish to withdraw from a course, you must consult with your academic adviser first. You will then fill out an online withdrawal form.
- Once the form is completed and submitted, the Registrar will forward your withdrawal request to your academic adviser for formal approval.
Graduate Students
- Graduate students have extended time to withdraw from a course and receive the grade of “W” (for “Withdrawn”). For full-semester courses, the deadline is now May 3, 2021. For the second eight-week session courses, the deadline will be May 3, 2021. For students in the first eight-week session courses, petitions can be made to the Graduate Academic Board to change a grade to “W” by the deadline of May 3, 2021.
- If you wish to withdraw from a course, you must consult with your program director to do so. You will then fill out an online withdrawal form.
- Once the form is completed and submitted, the Registrar will forward your withdrawal request to your program director for formal approval. Students who withdraw from a course or courses will receive a grade of “W” for the course.
Conversion of “F” grades to “NC” (for “No Credit”)
All “F” grades earned for spring 2021 undergraduate and graduate courses shall convert automatically to “NC” (for “No Credit”). The grade “NC” shall NOT be counted in the GPA calculation and shall indicate (as the name implies) that no credit was earned for the corresponding course.
Conversion to Pass/Fail
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduates may take up to 8 credits on a pass/fail basis in the spring 2021 semester, regardless of whether they satisfy major or major cognate requirements, minor requirements, other program requirements or general education requirements.
- Undergraduate departments and programs may opt-out of allowing conversion of parts or all of their curriculum to pass/fail during the spring 2021 semester. The Registrar will publish the complete temporary pass/fail policy including a list of courses and programs that are ineligible for conversion to pass/fail by April 6, 2021.
- Students taking second term eight-week courses must decide whether to convert a grade to pass/fail by the last day of classes, May 3, 2021.
- Students in semester courses must decide whether to convert a grade to pass/fail by the last day of classes, May 3, 2021.
Graduate Students
- Graduate students may take up to 8 credits on a pass/fail basis in spring 2021 semester.
- Courses in which a student has received a grade of “P” (for “Pass”) in spring 2021 shall count toward program requirements.
- No more than 12 credits taken on a pass/fail basis may be counted toward the entire Master’s degree.
- Graduate programs may opt-out of allowing parts or all of their curriculum to be converted to pass/fail during spring 2021, as informed by their curricular structure. The Registrar will publish the full temporary pass/fail policy including a list of courses and programs that are ineligible for conversion to pass/fail by April 6, 2021.
Temporary Changes
Please note, the College has made these accommodations in response to the current pandemic for the spring 2021 semester and not beyond. You should anticipate that we will return to the graduate policies published in the Graduate Academic Catalog starting in Summer 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact your Program Director or the Registrar at registrar@merrimack.edu.