Information for Faculty – Spring 2020
Frequently asked questions regarding academic accommodations and emergency policies for spring 2020
GENERAL FACULTY FAQ
What is the petition process if I wish to convert my course P/LP/F?
You must petition the Curriculum Committee to convert your course from graded to P/LP/F. To do so, you should fill out the form here. On the form, you should identify your department and course information, your Department Chair or Program Director, a rationale for converting your course, and the plan for completing your course.
What are the concerns that should be addressed in the rationale for converting my course?
Faculty may indicate why, given the design of their course and the changing student circumstances, fair and nuanced assessment is not possible. The Curriculum Committee encourages faculty in this position to petition the CC as soon as possible, informing students of the change in grading status in a timely manner. However, the committee has not stated a deadline for this petition, acknowledging that we are heading into unchartered territory, and some faculty may find that their circumstances change over the coming weeks.
Do I need to assign a grade for students if my course is approved to be converted to P/F?
No. You may follow to normal P/LP/F letter-grade conversion practice, or you may specify in the petition that you wish to only enter one of these grades (P, LP, or F) rather than a letter grade for conversion.
Can the students petition for a letter grade if my course is approved to be converted to P/F?
No. If the faculty member has been approved for a P/LP/F conversion, students may not petition for a grade.
What if I have a health, family, or other emergency that will prevent me from completing my teaching responsibilities?
Faculty should notify their Department Chair who will work with the individual faculty member and the Office of the Dean of Faculty to arrange appropriate accommodations.
What if my student cannot finish the work for a course right now, but does not want to drop?
The student should talk to you (as the instructor) and their academic adviser about taking an Incomplete in the course and completing their work at a future date. For the spring 2020 semester only, you may enter a grade of “I,” for incomplete, at your discretion for any student (including those on academic probation). For each Incomplete granted, you must, within 30 business days, file a course completion plan with the course’s department or program, copied to the Registrar’s Office, specifying the remaining work to be completed and designating a backup instructor in the event you are unable to supervise the completion of the work. If this plan is not filed within 30 business days of the incomplete, the student’s grade will revert to an F.
The “I” may remain the official grade up to 365 days, at which point the work must be completed and a grade entered or the grade will be converted to an “F.” Extensions beyond 365 days may only be granted by the Academic Affairs Committee via petition.
Can a student who has completed substantial work for my class, but is unable to complete the course, get partial credit for the work they have done?
With approval from the instructor and the academic adviser, the student may petition the Curriculum Committee to reduce a course by half its credit (i.e., 1 to 0.5; 0.5 to 0.25) and to receive a final grade based on the grade at the midpoint of the semester.
ACADEMIC ADVISER FAQ
What is the process for students to designate courses P/LP/F?
Students should consult their academic adviser to discuss the expanded grading options being offered this semester. The adviser, if there is agreement following this conversation, will lift a “hold,” just as they do during advising week, so that the student can select the P/LP/F option electronically. Specific details about how to do this will become available in April.
If the adviser is unavailable despite attempts by the student to reach them, the hold may be lifted by the department chair or program director (if the student has declared a major). If the student has not declared a major, and they are unable to reach their adviser, the student should contact the Center for Academic Advising.
Will courses taken P/LP/F in Spring 2020 count against the number of classes the student can take P/LP/F for the remainder of their time at Trinity?
No. Courses the student converts to P/LP/F this semester will not count toward the number of courses (4) the student can take with P/LP/F grading during their Trinity career. We still want the students to be able to explore new academic interests in future semesters.
Will courses which my advisee wants to convert to P/LP/F count toward the major requirements?
Information regarding P/F guidelines for each department and program at Trinity is located here.
By when do the students have to decide to convert a course to P/LP/F?
If the students are taking classes based at Trinity’s Hartford campus (now remotely), they have until June 30th to make their decision. If the student is participating in a study-away program, they will have 30 days after their grades have been posted to their Trinity transcript.
How many classes is the student allowed to take P/LP/F?
This semester the student may convert one, some, or all of their courses P/LP/F. These will not count toward the maximum of 4 courses that Trinity students are allotted under non-emergency circumstances.
What if my advisee cannot complete the work required for a particular course?
For the spring 2020 semester only, students will have until April 30 to petition the Academic Affairs Committee for a late drop for one or more courses, with adviser and instructor permission. For the spring 2020 semester only, students may carry a reduced course load without automatically incurring academic probation.
My advisee has completed a substantial amount of work for a class, but cannot complete it. Can they get partial credit for the work they’ve done?
With approval from the instructor and the academic adviser, the student may petition the Curriculum Committee to reduce a course by half its credit (i.e., 1 to 0.5; 0.5 to 0.25) and to receive a final grade based on their grade at the midpoint of the semester. If, as a result of this decision, they would fall below 4 credits, the student must address the impact of the request on their financial aid and/or international student visa in the petition to the CC.
How will dropping a course affect the student’s financial aid or international student visa status?
If dropping a course will place the student below 4 credits, in addition to obtaining adviser and instructor permission, they must check with the financial aid office and/or the international student adviser, prior to petitioning to drop courses. Because each case is distinct, only those offices can give the student’s the most accurate information on how dropping a course will affect their status.
A Senior advisee needs to drop a course, but that will put them below 36 credits. Can they drop the course and remain on track for graduation?
It depends. If the student has otherwise completed all of their major and/or minor requirements, as well as all general education requirements, and will have at least 34.5 credits overall, they can still graduate on time. An appropriate notation regarding the extenuating circumstances will be placed on their transcript.
Questions regarding students on study away programs
Will the P/LP/F and late drop options apply to study away students?
Yes. This policy applies to all students for the spring 2020 semester, both those who began the semester with courses on the Hartford campus and those studying abroad.
What if the transcripts from foreign universities do not arrive until September or October 2020, or there are additional delays?
The Office of Study Away will as usual, receive partner institution transcripts and input student grades. The Registrar’s Office will receive AEP transcripts and process per Trinity’s policies. The student will always have 30 days after their grades have been posted to their Trinity transcripts to make these changes to P/LP/F.
