Illinois State University Policy Web Site

Initiating body: University Counsel
Contact: Vice President and Provost 438-7018
Revised on: 08/07/1968

2.1.12 Pass/Fail - Credit/No Credit

Policy

The Academic Standards Committee is recommending a pass/fail program for the following reasons:

  1. A pass/fail system would allow greater course selection for the student. It would encourage students to enroll in courses they otherwise would not take. For example, students majoring in sociology might be reluctant to take a course in mathematics because they would have to compete with mathematics majors. But under a pass/fail program, they could take such a course without fear of the competition from mathematics majors. Hopefully, then students would explore new fields and broaden the base of their education.
  2. The pass/fail possibility may help students to see that educational growth may be measured by their own growth in knowledge, attitudes, and appreciations rather than a single letter grade. The constant pressure on grades would be reduced by this system.
  3. Laboratory or skill level courses are sometimes difficult to grade on an A, B, C grade level. For the same reason, research and thesis work would be well suited to a pass/fail system.
  4. A pass/fail system would allow another possibility for removing deficiencies for graduate entrance requirements since such courses might be taken on a pass/fail basis.
  5. The pass/fail program has been successfully instituted at several universities: Millikin University, the University of Iowa, Yale University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Tufts University of California (Berkeley), Syracuse University, Pennsylvania State University, Pomona College and Grinnell College.

Recommendations for Pass/Fail Program

Undergraduate

  1. A maximum of 25 semester hours may be taken for Pass/Fail credit and be accepted for graduation.
  2. A maximum of five semester hours may be taken for Pass/Fail credit per semester.*
  3. No courses used in completing a student's major or minor may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
  4. Students registered in courses on the Pass/Fail basis should be so identified on the regular class enrollment lists.**
  5. Pass/Fail courses will not affect the grade-point average of the student. However, an entry of "credit" or "noncredit" will be entered on the student's record.
  6. All undergraduate students (excluding first semester Freshmen) in good standing may enroll for Pass/Fail credit.
  7. The option of changing from Grade-Credit to Pass/Fail or vice versa is available until the end of the usual registration period only.

Graduate

  1. No recommendation as to the number of graduate hours is being made by this committee. This should be determined by each department with the approval of the Graduate Council.
  2. The courses recommended for Pass/Fail credit should be designated by each department with Graduate Council approval.

Evaluation

An evaluation study is recommended at both undergraduate and graduate levels after one year, but not later than two years, after the Pass/Fail program has been inaugurated. The successes and failures of the program should be ascertained, and any recommendations for strengthening the program should be forwarded to the Provost.

Note

The following interpretations were promulgated by the Office of the Provost.

  1. All undergraduate students (excluding first semester Freshmen) in good standing may enroll for Pass/Fail Credit.
  2. The option of changing from Grade-Credit to Pass/Fail or vice versa is available until the end of the usual registration period only.***
  3. A maximum of five semester hours may be taken per semester.*
  4. A maximum of twenty-five semester hours may be taken for Pass/Fail credit and be accepted for graduation.
  5. No courses used in completing a student's major or minor may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
  6. Pass/Fail courses will not affect the grade-point average of the student. However, an entry of "credit" or "noncredit" will be entered on the student's record.
  7. Students registered in courses on the Pass/Fail basis should be so identified on the regular class enrollment lists.**

*The Academic Senate on June 23, 1971, expanded the allowable maximum hours on Pass/Fail during a semester from 5 to 6 hours.

**The University Council on June 4, 1969, amended recommendation 4 by striking it so that students registered in courses in the Pass/Fail basis are not so identified on class enrollment lists.

***The University Council on January 21, 1970, amended the policy so that students who elect the option are permitted to return to the letter grade basis until the latest date for withdrawal from courses.