Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Response Policies

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Response Policies

as of May 15, 2020

Academic Regulations - Undergraduate

• Emergency Academic Regulations: On March 26, 2020 the University announced temporary emergency academic regulations that are in effect during spring 2020. This means we are implementing some fundamental changes in the delivery of our academic programs that include modification of our grading policy as well as an extension of the period during which students may withdraw from courses without academic penalty.  For full details about grading, pass/fail and course withdrawal visit https://www.udel.edu/home/coronavirus/academic-regulations.
• Summer Session: The University is moving all summer instruction to online delivery. Registration for Summer 2020 sessions is now open. Course grading will return to the regular University grading policy for the summer 2020 term. The academic calendar has been updated to reflect an extended drop period. Registration for Summer 2020 sessions will now begin on April 20, 2020.
• Grading: The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in spring 2020 only. Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is Monday, June 1, 2020. Between that date and Tuesday, June 9, 2020, undergraduate students will have the option to request a change from a letter grade to a modified Pass/No Credit grading option.  
  • Change in Pass/Fail Limit - The following changes pertain to undergraduate students in spring 2020 only and supersede the usual rule limiting students to only one Pass/Fail course per semester.  Normally, the total number of credits earned on a pass/fail basis may not exceed 24 in the baccalaureate degree program, excluding those courses that are graded pass/fail only.  Any classes taken in spring 2020 under the modified pass/no credit grading option will not count toward this 24 credit maximum.
  • Modified Pass/Fail grading option - Please note that changing grade options may have implications for students. Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should review the Undergraduate Grade Change FAQ and consult with their assistant dean’s office before making the change. Students may choose the modified Pass/No Credit option for spring 2020 for electives and courses that are required for their degree. 
    The modified Pass/No Credit option consists of four grade possibilities - none of which impact the student’s GPA:
    • High Pass equals grades from A through B-. 
      • A grade of “High Pass” will satisfy the minimum grade requirement for all courses taken to meet graduation requirements and will satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses (regardless of the minimum grade required).
    • Mid Pass equals grades from C+ through C-. 
      • A grade of “Mid Pass” will satisfy the minimum grade needed for courses that require a C- or higher for graduation and will satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses that require a minimum grade of C- or better.
    • Low Pass equals grades from D+ through D-. 
      • A grade of “Low Pass” will satisfy the minimum grade needed for courses that require a D- or higher for graduation and will be satisfy the prerequisite grade for subsequent courses that have a minimum requirement of D+ through D-.
    • No Credit replaces an F. 
      • With a grade of “No Credit,” the student does not earn credit for the course.  
  • Courses that only have Pass/Fail as a grading option - Students who elected to change their grading option to pass/fail prior to the university moving spring 2020 classes online will be returned to the standard grading option. This will allow the student to see the course letter grade and decide whether or not to opt into the modified pass/no credit option. Students will have an opportunity to opt in between June 1, 2020 and June 9, 2020, after final grades have been assigned.
  • Students already in Pass/Fail student option - In courses for which Pass/Fail is the only grading option, if students earn a “Pass” that grade will remain “Pass.”  However, if a student earns a “Fail,” the “Fail” will automatically be converted into “No Credit.”
  • “Z” grades - Normally when students stop attending or participating in class without officially withdrawing a grade of Z is posted at the end of the term, computing in the GPA the same as a grade of F does.  For spring 2020, if a student earns a Z, that grade will convert to No Credit.
  • “X” grades - A grade of X indicates class failure due to academic dishonesty.  For spring 2020, there will be no change; a grade of X will remain an X.
  • Probation Process - Students who are in the probation process may switch to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  If students in the probation process do not reduce their total number of quality deficit points this semester, they will remain in the probation process, and they will not be considered for academic dismissal.  This includes students who are in the Special Probation process.
  • International Students - International students holding F-1 or J-1 visa status at UD must consult with an Immigration Services Advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) before withdrawing from a class or requesting the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass option.
  • Sponsored Students - Students who are sponsored by foreign governments or other entities must check with their sponsor before changing to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit grading to ensure that the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass course grades will be recognized by their sponsor.
  • Student Athletes - Student athletes must consult with their Student Services for Athletes advisor before making a change to their grading option.
  • Students seeking to meet certification or licensing requirements - Students in pre-professional programs (e.g., teaching, engineering, business) should speak with their advisors to make sure that changing to the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading system will not affect their ability to meet certification or licensing requirements.  Many health professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary) will not accept Pass/No Credit grades for key courses. The nursing program is seeking advice from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and from the Delaware State Board of Nursing before allowing the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading option for the didactic nursing courses .
  • Undergraduate students taking graduate courses - As long as the student is an undergraduate student (i.e., the baccalaureate degree has not been conferred), the student may choose the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass grading option for graduate-level courses in which they are currently enrolled.
  • Graduate Education - We encourage students who are planning to apply to a graduate program, medical or other health professions program (e.g., dental, physician’s assistant), veterinary school, law school, and other postbaccalaureate programs to contact their advisor before the end of the semester to discuss the implications of changing from letter grades to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  We have been advised by medical schools that they will not accept Pass/Fail grades for required science courses.
  • Students who may transfer to another institution - Students who may in the future transfer to another institution need to be aware that most institutions will only accept transfer credits for courses earning a grade of C or better.    
• Withdrawal: Should students wish to withdraw from a course rather than selecting the modified Pass/No Credit option at the end of the term, the University of Delaware is extending the period during which students may withdraw from courses with no academic penalty to Friday, May 1, 2020.  Students will not be charged the usual $25 fee for withdrawing from a course.  Withdrawn courses will appear with the normal grade of “W” on the transcript.  Please note that if withdrawing from courses results in the student being enrolled in fewer than 12 credits (i.e., moving from full-time to part-time status) there are implications for student financial aid, as has always been the case.  Consequently, students should read the Undergraduate Withdrawal from Course FAQ and consult with Student Financial Services to inform their decision.
  • Scholarships - Students who receive UD scholarships that require them to successfully complete 12 credits per term need to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits to receive their full scholarship at the time of disbursement.  If the scholarship has not disbursed, and by withdrawing from a course, such students fall below 12 credits, their scholarship will be prorated based on the total number of credits the student is enrolled in.
  • Federal Pell Grants - The amount a student receives for a federal Pell Grant will be determined by the number of credits the student is enrolled for at the time of disbursement.  If a student is enrolled for less than 12 credits at the time of disbursement, the Pell Grant will be prorated based on the total number of credits the student is enrolled in.
  • International Students - International students holding F-1 or J-1 visa status at UD must consult with an Immigration Services Advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) before withdrawing from a class or requesting the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass option.
  • Student Athletes - Student athletes must consult with their Student Services for Athletes advisor before withdrawing from a class.

Academic Regulations - Graduate

• Emergency Academic Regulations: These regulations reflect consideration for the special circumstances pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the UD spring 2020 semester. They are modeled on the policy developed for undergraduate students, though they are different in significant ways.
• Grading: The following changes pertain to graduate students in spring 2020 only and supersede the usual rule that courses must be taken for a grade to count toward a graduate degree.
  • Timeframe - The following changes pertain to graduate students in spring 2020 only.  Professors will assign letter grades as usual. The last date for posting grades to UDSIS is Monday, June 1, 2020.  Between that date and Tuesday, June 9, 2020, graduate students will have the option to request that their spring 2020 course grades be changed to the modified Pass/No Credit option.
  • Modified Pass/Fail grading option - Grading option changes for all classes (A-term, B-term, and full semester classes) will be available at the end of the semester after the final grade deadline for all classes. If the modified Pass/No Credit option is chosen, the course will not be included in the GPA. Courses will appear on the student’s transcript regardless of the option chosen.
    • High Pass corresponds to grades from A through B-.
      • Courses completed with a High Pass will be allowed to count toward a course requirement for any graduate degree program.
    • Mid Pass corresponds to grades from C+ through C-.
      • Courses completed with a Mid Pass can only be counted toward a degree in programs that do not require a minimum grade of B- or higher.
    • No Credit corresponds to grades from D+ through F.
      • Courses completed with a grade of No Credit cannot be counted toward a course requirement for a graduate degree.
    • EXCEPTIONS: The modified Pass/No Credit option will not be available for 868/968 (research), 869 (master’s thesis) or 969 (dissertation) courses.
  • Implications - Please note that choosing the Pass/No Credit grade option may have additional consequences for some students. For example, 
    • Students must still have an overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation, though courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option will not be included in the GPA calculation.
    • Students on Academic Probation will not be able to use courses taken with the Pass/No Credit option to increase their GPA.
    • Students in accredited programs and in programs involving external licensing/certification regulations may need to have standard letter grades for their courses. 
    • Students who are considering a change to the modified Pass/No Credit grading option should consult with their program directors or advisors before making the change.
• Withdrawal: The University of Delaware is extending the period during which students may withdraw from courses or change to Listener status, with no academic penalty, to Friday, May 1, 2020. While standard tuition charges apply, students will not be charged the usual $25 fee for withdrawing from a course.

COVID-19 Related Discrimination

• These types of actions are not in line with our community values. Mental health support is available 24 hours a day and if you would like to speak with a clinician, we encourage you to call 302-831-2141 to connect with our Center for Counseling and Student Development. After-hours support is available by calling 302-831-1001 or texting UDTEXT to 741741. If you would like to officially report this incident, please visit udel.edu/oei to file a complaint with the Office of Equity and Inclusion. If this is potentially a criminal matter, UDPD can assist at 302-831-2222.

Student Financials and Fees

• Tuition: No tuition refunds or discounts as a result of on-line classes. No tuition changes for out-of-state students as result of on-line classes other than that for Summer Session 2020.
• Calculation for refunds: A prorated portion of those fees (Comprehensive fee/Student Center fee) was refunded based on the variety of programs supported by the fees and the fact that students were not able to use some of those services for the latter part of the semester. Student Financial Services can provide a detailed explanation of an individual student’s refund; contact them at askSFS.  No refund of the Student Health fee.
• CARES Emergency Grant: Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, UD received funding for students financially impacted by the COVID-19 situation.  These funds were designed to provide direct financial support to students for expenses related to COVID-19 and the disruption of on-campus services.
• Will UD refund students’ money for room and board? Yes, a prorated student account adjustment for unused University housing, dining and other fees will be issued.   Although many fees are being refunding, the Student Health Services and Counseling fee has not been waived as those services are still available virtually.  The University is not refunding or discounting tuition for online courses. Online instruction will continue to prioritize the learning outcomes that faculty established for the courses. Online instruction typically costs more than traditional face-to-face instruction.
• Scholarships: Students who receive UD scholarships that require them to successfully complete 12 credits per term with a specific minimum GPA may change to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit without penalty.  This semester’s GPA will not be considered in our review of a student’s eligibility for renewal of their scholarship.  Students who had a cumulative GPA below 3.0 at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester and had hoped to use this semester to bring their GPA up to meet the required minimum GPA will not lose their scholarship if their cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring 2020 semester remains below the required minimum.  However, students who begin the 2020-2021 academic year with a GPA below the required minimum GPA for their scholarship will need to bring their GPA up to meet the GPA requirement by the end of Spring 2021 in order to keep their scholarship for the following year.
• Title IV Federal Aid: Students who receive federal financial aid (e.g., Pell Grants) must be enrolled in at least six credits. Students may change to High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass/No Credit.  However, they must earn credit (i.e., receive a passing grade) for at least one course. Students who do not earn credit for any courses are considered as having unofficially withdrawn from college. If students who receive federal aid do not earn credit for at least one course, the University may be required to return a percentage of the aid received to the federal government.

Student Health

• Mandatory quarantine: Students, faculty and staff who are returning to the United States from a CDC Level 3 country are required to undergo quarantine at their permanent home residence for at least 14 days. They should NOT return to campus. If you do not have the ability to self-quarantine for 14 days, please do not travel.
• Identifying those who test positive for COVID-19: In order to protect the privacy of our community members, the University is not able to share the identities of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.  The Delaware Division of Public Health interviews each individual who tests positive for COVID-19 to determine those people with whom they have had close contact.  If you are considered to be at risk because you were in close contact with one of those individuals, the Division of Public Health will contact you.

Students Off-Campus

• If you choose to continue living off-campus during this time, please keep in mind requirements associated with the State Order will be strictly enforced. The City of Newark has also instituted an emergency ordinance that limits the size of social gatherings. The University of Delaware and Newark Police Departments are working together to ensure the safety of our community. In addition to the legal process and fines, students who violate current laws and ordinances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. If you must return to your off-campus housing, please know campus support resources will continue to be available and we encourage you to reach out for any assistance you may need.

Students On-Campus

• Petition the University for permission to stay.
• Modified and limited meal options will be provided to students who petition and receive permission to remain on campus.
• While a final determination has not yet been made, it is likely that all students who receive permission to stay on campus will be asked to relocate to one or two residence halls, so that services and support to these students can be centrally provided.
• If you need to remain on campus, please reach out to reslife-housing@udel.edu. UDIT continues to work with state and local partners to identify broadband options for our students. Visit the Learning Remotely site for more information.  Also, please know that many broadband and wifi providers are offering free and/or reduced access to students who are impacted by the coronavirus situation.

Study Abroad

• Due to unprecedented measures to restrict travel and limit the spread of COVID-19, UD has canceled all summer 2020 and fall 2020 study abroad programs. 
• The Institute for Global Studies continues to closely monitor guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), University Leadership and the Delaware Division of Public Health, and are communicating regularly with students, faculty, staff and families. Our students’ health and safety are our top priorities. 
• As of March 13, 2020 based upon raised travel advisories from the CDC, UD has canceled its spring study abroad programs in Athens, Australia, Cayman Islands, Copenhagen, Granada, Limerick, Madrid, Rome and Washington, D.C. and advised students to return to their homes immediately. In addition, students have also been advised to return home from their exchange programs in France and Germany.

Transcript Information

• In order to permit students to change to these modified grading options, there will be a one- to two-week delay in posting spring 2020 course information to official transcripts. Transcripts will have a notation in the legend indicating that the spring 2020 semester was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transfer Information

• For Spring 2020, undergraduate courses that receive a grade of “Passing,” or “Credit,” or a similar non-standard letter grade may be eligible for transfer to UD. The non-letter grade must be equivalent to a C- (1.7 on a 4.0 scale) or better at the institution. This must be clearly stated in the transcript legend, on the institution’s website, or in a letter that accompanies the student’s paper transcript.

Veterans Information

• All students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill and enrolled in on-campus coursework, which are now moved to online, will be paid at the on-campus BAH rate per VA information. For more information, please contact Brooks Raup, Student Veteran Services Coordinator, at braup@udel.edu.