Recognizing the difficulties many students have faced that may have impacted their ability to perform at their best level, Wright State University is providing an automatic conversion of failing grades for undergraduate students that we hope will minimize long term damage to these students’ GPAs as a result of the continued challenges we face during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of spring and summer 2021, all faculty will submit their course grades (A, B, C, D, F, X, or NR) by the grading deadline. After the deadline, all grades of F will be automatically converted to U. All grades of X will be automatically converted to XU. F-grades received as a result of an academic integrity violation will be converted back to an F-grade by the registrar upon consultation with the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct.
Grading Deadline:
- Spring 2021: Noon, Wednesday, May 5
- Summer 2021: Noon, Wednesday, August 4
Similar to the impact of an F or X grade, the grade of U or XU does not confer credit. The U or XU grade will not be factored into the student’s grade point average. Hours are still counted as attempted, but not earned, and have the same impact on completion and maximum timeframe for financial aid satisfactory academic progress.
FAQs:
Q: Do I have to request this option?
A: No; it will be an automatic conversion completed by the Registrar’s Office after final grades are processed.
Q: How will this impact my GPA?
A: F and X grades lower your GPA. Converting these failing grades protects your GPA, since U or XU grades are not calculated in the grade point average.
Q: Will this impact my eligibility for financial aid or scholarships?
A. There are limits to the amount and timeframe in which you can receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Courses in which credit is not earned (conferred) may need to be repeated, delaying your degree completion and potentially exhausting your financial aid eligibility. You can view the limits to various types of aid programs online at wright.edu/financial-aid or by speaking with RaiderConnect at 937-775-4000 or raiderconnect@wright.edu.
Q. What is a X or XU grade and how does it impact my financial aid?
A. Both the X and XU grade denote that a student attended or participated in a course effort but did not complete the course or officially withdraw. Meaning at some point during the semester the student stopped participating in the course. If a student receives a X or XU grade in combination with all other grades being a combination of W, N, NR, NU, W, and K, they are considered to have unofficially withdrawn and are subject to Return of Title IV.
Q: Which grade will appear on my transcript?
A: After final grades are processed, if you earned an F or an X grade for the semester, this grade will be converted to either U (for F) or XU (for X) and only this newly converted grade will appear on the transcript.
Q: Are my Incomplete (I) grades eligible for this conversion?
A: No. An Incomplete grade from this or any term will not be converted under this plan. An Incomplete grade from a prior semester course will not be eligible for retroactive conversion to U/XU.
Q: Is this process available for graduate students?
A: This option is not available for graduate students.
Q: Do faculty members need to submit their grades any differently than they have in the past?
A: No. Faculty will continue to submit grades using the system they always follow. The Registrar's Office staff will complete a batch conversion of any F or X grades to U or XU within 24 hours of the final grading deadline.
If you have questions about anything related to grading, please see your advisor.
Best regard,
Oliver H. Evans, Ph.D.
Interim Provost
