April 9 Student Communication - Emergency Grading

April 9 Student Communication


I am hopeful that your studies continue to go well. Please know that our faculty and staff are working hard to support you as we have transitioned to this unique spring semester.

Our entire college community has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and we recognize that the impact goes beyond the changes to our academic delivery of courses and closure of our college buildings. As a result, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges has approved Emergency Grading Options for the Spring 2020 semester. The options are outlined below.

As you consider these grading options, I encourage you to speak to your instructor and your academic advisor or navigator as they can assist you in determining the best option for your coursework. Our goal continues to be your successful completion of your spring course(s) and academic goals.

Stay safe and finish strong.

Dr. Jeremy Pickard
Dean of Instruction
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Muscatine Community College
jpickard@eicc.edu

Ann Lawler
Dean of Instruction
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Scott Community College
alawler@eicc.edu

Gabe Knight
Interim Dean of Instruction
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Clinton Community College
gknight@eicc.edu

Emergency Grading Options for Spring 2020


For classes with end dates after March 13, EICC students will have the following grade options: 

Standard Letter Grading

  • Faculty will grade students as usual and submit a letter grade (A-F) to the Registrar's Office, according to the grading scale outlined in their course syllabus.

 

Pass Option


Students should consult with their instructor and academic advisor or navigator about these possibilities and whether they may be a good option for their coursework and potential impact on aid/assistance programs (financial aid, VA, etc).

  • Students may opt to take courses for Pass rather than a letter grade by submitting a request by the deadlines below. A Pass grade does not calculate into a student’s GPA. A form to request a pass option can be found here.

    • Courses taken with P grading may count towards curricular, academic program, academic progress and graduation requirements. Students in certain Career and Technical programs may want to confer with an academic advisor, navigator, or their program faculty to ensure a P course will meet a required prerequisite or graduation requirement.

    • In the P option, a letter grade of C- or higher will translate to a passing grade (P), while a letter grade of D+ or lower will be recorded as the earned letter grade (D+, D, D- or F). A student may also opt to withdraw rather than accept the D+ or lower grade.

 

  • We have extended the dates to request a Pass (P) grade for Spring 2020 courses:

    • For On Campus* 16, 12, & 2nd 8 week courses: Thursday, May 14 deadline
    • For Online 16, 12, & 2nd 8 week courses: Monday, April 27 deadline

    • For courses with extended end dates**, 5 school days prior to the scheduled end of course extension will be the deadline

    • Deadlines may be extended by instructor approval

    • To request the “P” option for Spring 2020 courses, students can submit the “P” option request form here.

 

Requesting an Incomplete


Students should consult with their instructor and academic advisor or navigator about these possibilities and whether they may be a good option for their coursework and potential impact on aid/assistance programs (financial aid, VA, etc).

  • Students may request an “I” -Incomplete by contacting their instructor. Instructors will review the request and if approved will provide options to complete the course.  The instructor and the student will establish a date for completion of the course.

    • Students wishing to request an “I” should contact their instructor to discuss the possibility and make the formal request.

  • The college and instructor may identify courses (or portions of courses) for which course requirements cannot be completed within the term. In these cases, the college will communicate plans to students including class make-up schedules and timelines.  Students will not incur additional costs related to any extension of courses. 

 

Withdrawal – Extended Deadline


Students should consult with their instructor and academic advisor or navigator about these possibilities and whether they may be a good option for their coursework and potential impact on aid/assistance programs (financial aid, VA, etc).

  • We have extended the deadline to Withdraw from Spring 2020 courses:

    • For On Campus* 16, 12, & 2nd 8 week courses: Thursday, May 14 deadline

    • For Online 16, 12, & 2nd 8 week courses: Monday, April 27 deadline

    • For courses with extended end dates**, 5 school days prior to the scheduled end of the course will be the deadline.

    • Students are encouraged to check with their instructor on their progress and options prior to contacting their advisor to initiate a withdrawal from a class.

    • Deadlines may be extended upon instructor approval

 

*On Campus includes courses transitioned to online on March 25, 2020.

**This refers to any course with an end date extended beyond the original posted end of the term date.