UC Santa Barbara extended the deadline from Nov. 17 to Dec. 8 for students to change the grading option for Fall Quarter 2023 courses from a letter grade to a passed/not passed grade.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Education Michael Miller announced the change in a Nov. 1 email to undergraduate students in the College of Letters & Science.

Students now have until the last day of instruction for fall quarter to decide their preferred grading option for each of their fall courses instead of the previous deadline of the end of Week 7. 

“This change, recently approved by the UC Santa Barbara Faculty Legislature, provides you with more time and flexibility to assess your progress in courses and make informed decisions about whether or not to complete a course for a letter grade or passed/not passed (P/NP),” the email read. “We believe that this extension will help you make choices that align with your educational goals and well-being.”

UCSB has previously extended the grading option deadline in the academic quarters following the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, in Fall Quarter 2023 due to academic uncertainty following the higher education strike across the UC system.

Miller encouraged students in the email to speak with an advisor when deciding which grading option to use for each course. 

“We encourage you to consult with your advisors about which grading option is best for you,” Miller said in the email. 

He also reminded students that the P/NP grading option is only eligible for non-major courses.

“Please remember that all major courses — including pre-major courses, courses in the preparation for a major, and upper division major courses as well as courses for a minor — must be taken for letter grades, and optional grading is not allowed for all courses,” Miller said in the email. 

Miller noted that intercollegiate athletes should confirm with advisors whether a NP grade will affect their eligibility and that students receiving veterans benefits should check with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if a NP grade could impact their financial benefits. 

Students can find out more about taking courses with the P/NP option on the College of Letters & Science website.

A version of this article appeared on p. 3 of the Nov. 9, 2023, print edition of the Daily Nexus.

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Alex Levin
Alex Levin (he/him) is the University News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Levin was the Assistant News Editor for the 2022-2023 school year. He can be reached at alexlevin@dailynexus.com.