Program and College FAQs Regarding Pass/No Pass Grading
College of Sciences
Purpose Frequently asked questions in the different colleges are addressed below.
Department of Biology
Please visit: https://www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/grades-and-transcripts/grading/index.htm
Per UTRGV guidelines, grades of A, B or C count as ‘Pass’; grades of D or F would be considered ‘Not Pass’.
You may send an email to the department email account, biology@utrgv.edu, or you may contact the department Chair, Dr. Kristine Lowe, at kristine.lowe@utrgv.edu for general information. For specific degree plans and programs, please contact the program coordinator or advisor from the list below.
| Degree Program | Contact Person | Contact Email |
| BS in Biology with a Minor | Dr. Kathryn Perez | kathryn.perez@utrgv.edu |
| BS in Biology: Concentration in Biological Sciences | Dr. Kathryn Perez | kathryn.perez@utrgv.edu |
| BS in Life Science (UTeach 7-12) Edinburg campus | Ms. Monica Yates | monica.yates@utrgv.edu |
| BS in Life Science (UTeach 7-12) Brownsville campus | Ms. Danuta Mogilska | danuta.mogilska@utrgv.edu |
| BIS in Middle School Science (UTeach 4-8) Edinburg campus | Ms. Monica Yates | monica.yates@utrgv.edu |
| BIS in Middle School Science (UTeach 4-8) Edinburg campus |
Ms. Danuta Mogilska | danuta.mogilska@utrgv.edu |
| MS in Biology | Dr. Robert Dearth | robert.dearth@utrgv.edu |
The Pass/No Pass option will not affect your major or minor GPA; however, students will
still need to maintain the minimum required GPA for their program in order to graduate.
Biology students must receive a grade of C or better in BIOL-1406 and 1407, and CHEM
1311/1111 and 1312/1112. To receive the ‘Pass’, students have to receive a C or better, thus, the
Pass option would satisfy this.
Taking an earned D will let you complete a course and graduate unless the core or
program explicitly requires a C or better in that course. If you choose ‘No Pass’ that course isn’t
complete and you will have to re-take it.
Graduate schools, medical schools and other professional schools have minimum
prerequisites and GPA requirements. Please contact them directly to determine if the Pass/No
Pass option applies to these requirements.
Department of Chemistry
There is no limit on how many chemistry classes you can select for pass/no pass grading
Selecting a passing grade for core chemistry course(s) will earn you credits and therefore allow you to graduate.
The degree requirements will not change for BS in chemistry, you still have to complete all degree requirements.
Yes, you can select pass/no pass in chemistry problem course. If you select no pass you will be required to retake this course because it is a core course.
If you select for pass grade, you will earn the credit for that course, therefore, like other UTRGV courses this course credit should be transferable to other institutions. If you select no pass the course credit it will not be transferable.
| Area of contact | Contact | Campus | Phone | |
| B.S. Chemistry | Dr. Hassan Ahmad | Edinburg | Hassan.ahmad@utrgv.edu | (956) 665-3372 |
| B.S. Chemistry | Ms. Zora Azim | Brownsville | zohra.azim@utrgv.edu | 956-882-6743 |
| B.S. Chemistry (UTEACH) | Dr. Chris Smith | Edinburg/Brownsville | kenneth.smith@utrgv.edu | 956-665-2063 |
| M.S. Chemistry | Dr. Javier Macossay-Torres | Edinburg/Brownsville | javier.macossaytorres@utrgv.edu | 956-665-3377 |
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Obviously, if you have a letter grade A there is no need to change it to a Pass. However, if you have B or C you are strongly advised to contact your advisor before taking any action.
On the Edinburg Campus:
- Nicolas A. Pereyra (Physics & Astronomy Undergraduate Advisor) nicolas.pereyra@utrgv.edu
- If you are in the Educational Physics Concentration you may also contact
- Monica Yates (UTeach Advisor) monica.yates@utrgv.edu
On the Brownsville Campus:
- Ahmed Touhami (Physics & Astronomy Undergraduate Advisor) ahmed.touhami@utrgv.edu
- If you are in the Educational Physics Concentration you may also contact
- Danuta Mogilska (UTeach Advisor) danuta.mogilska@utrgv.edu
Hamidreza Ramezani (Physics & Astronomy Graduate Committee) hamidreza.ramezani@utrgv.edu
Edgar Corpuz (Physics & Astronomy Graduate Committee) edgar.corpuz@utrgv.edu
School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences
Contact Owen Temby, Academic Program Coordinator at owen.temby@utrgv.edu.
The AESS MS program is offering students flexibility to complete their non-thesis capstone requirements with alternative comparable work for credit. Students needing to complete an internship for credit and seeking an alternative should contact the AESS program coordinator.
Yes. Pass will satisfy requirements, so long as students maintain the minimum GPA required by the Graduate College.
Yes. Pass will satisfy requirements, so long as students maintain the minimum GPA required by the Graduate College.
A student on a F-1 visa should contact the DSO (Designated School Official) at the Office of International Programs before making any decision. The situation is very fluid and ICE.gov is coming up with new academic advisories for all international students. Typically, these are relayed to all the DSOs at all SEVIS-approved US schools. But it is paramount that students discuss this with the DSO before choosing for this Pass/Fail option.
Contact the Academic Program Coordinators.
David Hicks (Undergraduate Advisor) david.hicks@utrgv.edu
and
Hudson DeYoe (Undergraduate Advisor) hudson.deyoe@utrgv.edu
If you have a letter grade A there is no need to change it to a Pass. However, if you have B or C you are strongly advised to contact your advisor before taking any action.
Diego Figueroa (Graduate Committee) diego.figueroa@utrgv.edu
Yes, so long as you maintain all university-defined minimum GPA requirements. Please note, however, that some required courses have minimum letter grade requirements for prerequisite courses, so selecting Pass/No Pass may affect your eligibility to enroll in certain courses. All prerequisite information may be found
on the UTRGV Course Catalogue (https://mywebsis.utrgv.edu/PROD/bwckctlg.p_disp_dyn_ctlg).
Students with additional questions about course prerequisites can also contact Academic Advising (https://www.utrgv.edu/advising/).
The SAFS BS capstone courses focused on community-engaged scholarship face a variety of challenges posed by social distancing and shelter-at-home requirements, but Pass/No Pass grading will not affect these courses.
Students awarded a grade of Pass in any SAFS capstone course will be eligible for all subsequent capstone courses and will meet program-specific graduation requirements.
Students with questions about EEMS 4381 or EEMS 4382 (or CESL 3301/3302) should contact the instructor of record for those courses for more information about how to fulfill course requirements given current restrictions on travel or interpersonal contact.
Students with general questions about SAFS capstone coursework can contact Dr. Chris Gabler, the SAFS BS Academic Program Coordinator (christopher.gabler@utrgv.edu).
School of Mathematical Statistical Sciences (SMSS)/No PASS FAQ
Recommendations for Students and FAQs about the Pass/No Pass Option for Spring 2020
Points to Consider:
- Once students receive their final letter grades, they will be able to decide whether they want to keep their final letter grade, or whether they want to opt for a Pass or No Pass option.
- Students will be provided with a link to your Pass/No Pass Selection Portal the week of May 4. Selections will be made between Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13. Changes won’t be permitted after the deadline of May 13.
- Letter grades of A, B, or C fall into the Pass category; letter grades of D or F fall into the No Pass category.
- Some courses require a prerequisite of a C; grades of A, B, or C, or the Pass option, would fulfill this requirement.
- Some courses require a particular course as a prerequisite; the Pass option would fulfill this requirement.
- Letter grades are factored into a student’s GPA; Pass or No Pass outcomes are not factored into a student’s GPA.
- There is no limit on the number of courses in Spring 2020 for which students can select the Pass/No Pass option.
- The Pass/No Pass option applies to traditional undergraduate and graduate courses taken in Spring 2020. It does not apply to courses in accelerated online programs.
Recommendations for Students Pursuing Teaching-Related Degrees:
- If you are applying to the UTRGV Teacher Education Program this semester, keep in mind that you must meet certain GPA admission requirements. Also keep in mind that letter grades are factored into your GPA, while Pass or No Pass options are not factored into your GPA.
- If you are applying to Clinical Teaching for Fall 2020, keep in mind that you must meet certain GPA admission requirements. Also keep in mind that letter grades are factored into your GPA, while Pass or No Pass options are not factored into your GPA.
- If you have a question about whether you should take a particular letter grade or the Pass/No Pass option, see the FAQs below.
A, B, and C letter grades count as a Pass; D and F letter grades count as a No Pass.
You can make your decision after the final letter grades become available on May 12. Selections can be made on the portal until Wednesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. After that time, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.
Letter grades will be released on May 12.
The letter grades assigned by your instructor will be applied to your academic record.
Yes.
There is no limit on the number of courses for which you can select the Pass/No Pass option for the Spring 2020 semester.
Letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) are factored into your GPA; Pass/No Pass options are not
factored into your GPA and therefore do not affect your GPA.
If you have a letter grade A there is no need to change it to a Pass. However, if you have B or C you are advised to contact your advisor about the impact on your GPA.
It is your decision on whether to keep the D or to select the No Pass option. If you keep the D letter grade, it will be factored into your GPA. A letter grade of D may lower your GPA. If you select the No Pass option, it will not be factored into your GPA. If passing your current course is a prerequisite for a future course and you select the No Pass option, you will not have fulfilled the prerequisite for the future course.
It depends. If your financial aid requires you maintain a certain GPA in the spring, you may need to take at least one class with the letter grade option that satisfies the GPA requirement. If you are considering moving from a standard letter grading option to pass/no pass, you should seek guidance from Financial Aid to understand the implications related to your financial aid satisfactory academic progress.
Please be sure to do this as soon as you receive your grades on May 11. Selections for pass / no pass options must be made between Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13. Changes won’t be permitted after the deadline of May 13.
Grades appeals can still be submitted according to the procedure outlined in the UTRGV Student Handbook.
Yes, but the pass/no pass is distinct from an Incomplete. Documented requests for incomplete must be made to your instructor before the Final exam.
You can log back into the Pass/No Pass Selection Portal and cancel your request there until Wednesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. After that time, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.
Timothy J. Huber, School Director: timothy.huber@utrgv.edu
Vesselin Vatchev, Associate School Director: vesselin.vatchev@utrgv.edu
Zhijun Qiao, Graduate Program Coordinator: zhijun.qiao@utrgv.edu
Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Undergraduate Program Coordinator: eleftherios.gkioulekas@utrgv.edu
Tamer Oraby, Undergraduate Program Coordinator for B.S in Statistics: santanu.chakraborty@utrgv.edu
Jerzy Mogilski, Undergraduate and Graduate Co-Advisor: jerzy.mogilski@utrgv.edu
Danuta Mogilska, UTeach Advisor: danuta.mogilska@utrgv.edu
UTRGV Mathematics and Science Academy FAQ
UTRGV Mathematics and Science Academy students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester will have the option to select a Pass/No Pass grading option after seeing their final grades in May 2020.
A no passing grade will have no effect on your MSA GPA, but the course will be placed on your high school transcript along with the grade of NP. Credit for the course will not be received.
A passing grade will have no effect on your MSA GPA, but it will indicate credit earned on your MSA transcript.
Yes! You will have the chance to see your earned letter grades first, then opt for Pass/No Pass or the letter grade. With the Pass/No Pass grading option, grades of A, B, and C will equate to a passing grade of P, and grades of D and F will equate to a no-passing grade of NP on your MSA transcript.
If you declare a letter grade for a core course (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), the letter grade will be reflected on your MSA GPA on your MSA transcript. If you declare a letter grade for a non-core course, the letter grade for the course will be reflected on your MSA transcript, but it will not have any effect on your MSA GPA.
MSA counselors will be available to assist students with their decision to adopt either the letter grade, Pass/No Pass, or combination of both grading options once final grades for the semester are posted. Counselors will be able to help each student calculate the impact their chosen grading option(s) would on their high school graduation plans, as well as on their respective MSA and UTRGV transcripts.
For additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Barrera at ana.m.barrera@utrgv.edu or Mrs. Marroquin at Tjeannette.marroquin@utrgv.edu.