The Provost has introduced a broad set of academic supports to help offset the effects of the disruption to the semester caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to submit your request for P/NP or S/U grading has passed.

Students were able to request P/NP (S/U for graduate students and some other student groups) grading until noon EDT on May 14, 2020. Students are responsible for understanding the consequences of choosing to convert a graded course to P/NP (or S/U for some student groups) this semester. If you are in a program leading to licensure, you need to pay special attention to the grade requirements for your program.

In addition to reading the following FAQs, as a first step students are strongly advised to consult with advisors in their Office of Student Services/Student Success, and any college, school, or program-specific guidance materials. Your home college will be sending you a communication on how to consider your grading options for Spring 2020, as well as who your first point(s) of contact will be for discussing these implications. Please note the following contact information for your Student Services/Student Success Office:

CALS Student Services: calsstudentservices@uvm.eduMore information for CALS students
CAS Student Services: cas@uvm.eduMore information for CAS students
CEMS Student Services: cems.student.services@uvm.eduMore information for CEMS students
CESS Student Services: cessstsv@uvm.eduMore information for CESS students
CNHS Student Services: cnhs@uvm.eduMore information for CNHS students
Continuing Education: learn@uvm.edu 
Global Gateway Program: ggpstudents@uvm.edu 
Graduate College: gradcoll@uvm.eduMore information for GRAD students
GSB Center for Student Success: gsbcss@uvm.eduMore information for GSB students
RSENR Student Services: rsenr@uvm.eduMore information for RSENR students

 

Please see the FAQ below that corresponds to your student group:

  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students
  • International Exchange Students and Global Gateway Program Students
  • Continuing Education/Non-degree Students

FAQ for Undergraduate Students

What is the process for requesting courses be moved to P/NP grading? When can I do this?

Starting April 15, 2020 the Registrar’s Office website will have a web-based form available to request P/NP for one or more courses. Students may submit the form more than once within the April 15-May 14 window if they decide to request additional P/NP courses during that time. All requests must be entered before noon EDT on May 14, 2020. Once requests are submitted, the P/NP selection cannot be reversed.

How will I know my form was received and processed?

Students will receive a confirmation of their form submission. As grade reports become visible at the end of the semester, P/NP selected courses will show the P/NP grade. If a course has been selected P/NP but does not show up correctly, please wait 24 hours and then contact the Registrar's Office.

Can I choose which classes to take P/NP during Spring 2020?

Yes. You can choose to take one, some, or none of your Spring 2020 classes P/NP. We strongly encourage you to look beyond this semester when making this decision. Check information specific to your college/major, talk to an advisor or your college/school Student Services Office, and think carefully before choosing to take classes required for your major P/NP. Use the guidance and tools that will be linked from this FAQ site soon to think through the consequences of taking a class P/NP.

Are there any grades that cannot be changed to P/NP?

Yes. Grades of AU (audit), SP (satisfactory progress), UP (unsatisfactory progress), W (withdrew), XF (academic dishonesty) will not be changed.

Are there some classes that require a letter grade?

Yes, but which classes, and the minimum letter grade, depend on your degree program. Each school and college will provide guidance outlining what the consequences of taking specific classes or degree requirements P/NP would be. Some classes also have specific grade prerequisites. For example, CS 110 has the prerequisite of passing CS 20 or 21 with a grade of C- or better.

I am in a pre-professional program, such as Nursing, Business Administration, Engineering, or Education. How can I tell which classes I can take P/NP?

Each school or college will send out information to their students in early April, outlining GPA and course grade requirements to move forward in their programs. Keep in mind that in some cases, P/NP may not be a good choice for certain courses.

Can I really see my Spring 2020 grades before deciding which classes to take P/NP?

Yes. We encourage students to wait for their grades before deciding to take advantage of these academic accommodations. Some courses have grade standards for prerequisites, and many majors require you to achieve particular letter grades in courses required for your degree.

If I choose P/NP for a course right now, does this mean I will never see my letter grade?

Yes. If you choose P/NP before the end of the semester, you will only see the P or NP on your grade report.

I am taking an incomplete (INC) in a class this semester. Can I still request P/NP?

Yes, but only before the May 14 deadline. If you process a P/NP request for this course before May 14, at a later date when your work is complete your professor will put in a grade, but you will only see a P or NP. Please remember that you cannot switch from P/NP to a grade if you choose to request P/NP for this course. After May 14, you will not have the option to choose P/NP, so you should decide now whether you will take the grade when you finish the incomplete course, or would like P/NP.

What is the minimum grade to get a "Pass"? How does getting a grade of NP affect my GPA?

Any grade D- or better will convert to a grade of P; an F will convert to a grade of NP. P/NP courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for P courses, and no credit for NP courses, but neither P nor NP courses are included at all in calculating your GPA.

Will classes I take P/NP still count towards my GPA?

P/NP courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for P courses, and no credit for NP courses, but neither P nor NP courses are included at all in calculating your GPA.

How will choosing P/NP grades affect my GPA?

P/NP and S/U grades are considered "non-graded credits" and are not included at all in your GPA calculation. That means your GPA will be affected in different ways depending on how many courses you move to P/NP, what your remaining Spring 2020 grades are, what your original GPA is, and how many credits you have already taken. Your Dean’s Office can help you determine how choosing P/NP could affect your overall and major GPA. You can also use this GPA calculator to run some different scenarios; when using the calculator, do NOT include courses where you might choose a P - those courses will not be included in your GPA calculation and therefore the calculator will not accept them.

Can my college or someone outside UVM "see" my original grade? If I change my mind later and want to uncover my original grade, can I do that?

No. Once you choose P/NP, the decision is permanent. Letter grades cannot be uncovered, at any point in time, even if you ask for your decision to be reversed. That is why it is so important to understand how choosing P/NP might affect your ability to progress in your degree program before making this choice.

Will there be a notation on my transcript regarding COVID-19 academic accommodations for Spring 2020?

Yes, a notation that grading policies were changed in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19 will appear on all transcripts.

I’m a first year student. Can I still take classes P/NP this semester?

Yes. This academic accommodation is available to all UVM students for Spring 2020. Note that graduate students, international exchange students, Global Gateway Program students, and non-degree students can choose S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) grades, since P/NP is not available to these groups.

I am an Honors College student. Can I take an Honors College course P/NP?

Students may take HCOL 086 or 186 for P/NP, and a grade of P will allow students to move forward in the curriculum. Honors College students are strongly encouraged to consult their Honors College advisors about any additional considerations before choosing P/NP in an Honors College course.

I am an undergraduate taking graduate coursework as part of my Accelerated Master’s Program. Can I choose P/NP for these courses?

Yes, but it will be S/U rather than P/NP because P/NP is not valid for a graduate program. The course will count towards your Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP). However, you should check with the graduate program director to determine whether this choice is advisable, depending on the letter grade you anticipate (or receive) in the course.

I looked up the P/NP policy and it says that students can only take 6 classes P/NP while at UVM. Do Spring 2020 classes count towards this total?

No. Spring 2020 courses will not count towards this limit.

Can I repeat a course if I am dissatisfied with my grade, need a higher grade to progress in my program, or don't want a P/NP on my transcript?

Yes. Starting in Fall 2020, undergraduate students will be able to replace a letter grade or P/NP on their transcript with an R by repeating the course at UVM. The new grade will be used to calculate your GPA instead of the old grade, and the original grade will be replaced with an R (for "repeated course") on the transcript.

Will my eligibility for the Dean's list or graduation honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude), or my class rank be affected by choosing to take classes P/NP this semester?

Potentially, yes. GPA calculations do not include P/NP courses, and graduation honors, dean’s list, and rank in class all use GPA. Dean’s list requires 12 graded credits for the term. If your P/NP request(s) result in you not having 12 graded credits this term, you will not be eligible for dean’s list. Graduation honors (Summa, Magna, Cum) require 60 graded credits. P/NP are not graded credits. If your P/NP request(s) result in you not having 60 graded credits, you will not be eligible for graduation honors.

I am pre-med, pre-vet, pre-health, or pre-law. Can I choose P/NP for required courses?

This is not recommended, although you should consult your pre-health or pre-law advisor for specific guidance. If you choose to do this, or if you are worried your grade is too low, talk to your advisor about the possibility of retaking the class at UVM for a higher grade. As of Fall 2020, the new course repeat policy allows you to retake a UVM class; your new grade will replace your old grade in your GPA calculation and a grade of R will cover the old grade.

To maintain my UVM scholarship, I need to have a certain GPA. Will choosing classes P/NP impact my scholarship eligibility?

For UVM scholarships impacted by GPA, a one-time allowance will be made as follows. The cumulative GPA (calculated by excluding credits for which P/NP was selected) will be evaluated for each student at the end of the Spring 2020 term. For students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA at that time, the Spring 2020 term GPA will be removed and the cumulative GPA will be recalculated without it. If the recalculated cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or higher, the student will maintain scholarship eligibility. For all future reviews, the Spring 2020 GPA (calculated by excluding credits for which P/NP was selected) will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.

Will my Spring 2020 GPA, or choosing P/NP for specific courses, affect my financial aid eligibility, such as for federal loans?

For UVM scholarships, see the information in the previous FAQ. If you have questions about loans or other financial aid, keep in mind that each student’s case is different. We recommend that all students with financial aid questions related to their academic performance in Spring 2020 contact Student Financial Services directly. Please include your specific questions in your email (e.g., "I would like to change 6 credits of actual grades to P/NP. How will this affect my aid eligibility?").

Can I transfer in credits (from either a domestic or foreign/study abroad institution) for a course in which I earned a grade of "PASS" for the Spring 2020 semester?

All students will be granted transfer credit for a grade of "PASS" for credits earned during the Spring 2020 semester as long as the course is equivalent to a UVM offering. Any transfer credit approved to fulfill General Education requirements or elective credit will continue to count. Each UVM College/School will determine whether the transfer credit fulfills major or minor requirements. If you are on track to earn a grade of C or higher, it is recommended that you accept the grade and it will transfer under the traditional transfer standards and can continue to be reviewed for any and all UVM requirements. As a reminder, grades from transfer credits do not impact your UVM GPA. Students who earn a grade of "PASS" for a class that is a major or minor requirement may not be able to apply the credit towards their major or minor and may find that the course needs to be repeated at UVM for a letter grade. Please review the College/School requirements for additional information and/or contact your College/School for additional guidance.

FAQ for Graduate Students

I am a graduate student. Is P/NP available to me this semester?

Graduate students can elect S/U instead of P/NP this semester using the same process. For graduate students, a grade of C- or higher becomes an S, and an F will be recorded as U. Graduate students should check with their advisor before choosing to transform a grade into S/U.

I am an undergraduate taking graduate coursework as part of my Accelerated Master's Program. Can I choose P/NP for these courses?

Yes. Courses taken in Spring 2020 as P/NP will count towards your Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP). However, you should check with the graduate program director to determine whether this choice is advisable, depending on the letter grade you anticipate/receive in the course.

What is the process for requesting courses be moved to S/U grading? When can I do this?

Starting April 15, 2020 the Registrar’s Office website will have a web-based form available to request S/U for one or more courses. Students may submit the form more than once within the April 15-May 14 window if they decide to request additional S/U courses during that time. All requests must be entered before noon EDT on May 14, 2020. Once requests are submitted, the S/U selection cannot be reversed.

Are there any grades that cannot be changed to S/U?

Yes. Grades of AU (audit), SP (satisfactory progress), UP (unsatisfactory progress), W (withdrew), XF (academic dishonesty) will not be changed.

How will I know my form was received?

Students will receive a confirmation of their form submission. As grade reports become visible at the end of the semester, initially, your grade will appear. However, S/U selected courses should soon switch over to showing the S/U grade. If a course has been selected S/U but does not show up correctly, please wait 24 hours and then contact the Registrar's Office.

Can I choose which classes to take S/U during Spring 2020?

Yes. You can choose to take one, some, or none of your Spring 2020 classes S/U. We strongly encourage you to look beyond this semester when making this decision. Check information specific to your college/major, talk to your program director or advisor, and think carefully before choosing to take classes required for your major S/U. Use the guidance and tools that will be linked from this FAQ site soon to think through the consequences of taking a class S/U.

Are there some classes that require a letter grade?

Yes, but which classes, and the minimum letter grade, depend on your degree program. Each graduate program will provide guidance outlining what the consequences of taking specific classes or degree requirements S/U would be. Some classes also have specific grade prerequisites. For example, STAT 241 has the prerequisite of passing STAT 251 with a grade of C or better.

I am in a professional program, such as Nursing, Communication Science and Disorders, Physical Therapy, Business Administration, Engineering, or Education. How can I tell which classes I can take S/U?

Each graduate program will send out information to their students in early April, outlining GPA and course grade requirements to move forward in their programs. Keep in mind that in some cases, S/U may not be a good choice for certain courses.

Can I really see my Spring 2020 grades before deciding which classes to take S/U?

Yes. We encourage students to wait for their grades before deciding to take advantage of these academic accommodations. Some courses have grade standards for prerequisites, and many graduate programs require you to achieve particular letter grades in courses required for your degree.

If I choose S/U for a course right now, does this mean I will never see my letter grade?

No. All S/U requests must be changed after grades are submitted, so there will be a brief period when your original grade appears, before it is replaced by S/U. However, if you submit an S/U request prior to the grading period, that request cannot be reversed, even if you are satisfied with the grade you received.

I am taking an incomplete (INC) in a class this semester. Can I still request S/U?

Yes, but only before the May 14 deadline. If you process a S/U request for this course before May 14, at a later date when your work is complete your professor will put in a grade, but you will only see an S or U. Please remember that you cannot switch from S/U to a grade if you choose to request P/NP for this course. After May 14, you will not have the option to choose S/U, so you should decide now whether you will take the grade when you finish the incomplete course, or would like S/U.

What is the minimum grade to get a "Satisfactory"? How does getting an Unsatisfactory grade affect my GPA?

Any grade C- or better will convert to an S; any grade of F will convert to a U. S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for S courses, and no credit for U courses.

Will classes I take S/U still count towards my GPA?

S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for S courses, and no credit for U courses, but neither S nor U courses are included at all in calculating your GPA.

How will choosing P/NP or S/U grades affect my GPA?

P/NP and S/U grades are considered "non-graded credits" and are not included at all in your GPA calculation. That means your GPA will be affected in different ways depending on how many courses you move to S/U, what your remaining Spring 2020 grades are, what your original GPA is, and how many credits you have already taken. Your Dean’s Office can help you determine how choosing S/U could affect your overall and major GPA. You can also use this GPA calculator to run some different scenarios.

I am a graduate student. If I receive a letter grade of F in Spring 2020, should I change it to S/U?

No. Graduate students may only repeat a course for which they received an F. When they repeat the course, the new grade will replace the grade of F in the GPA calculation.

Can I repeat a course if I am dissatisfied with my grade, need a higher grade to progress in my program, or don't want an S/U on my transcript?

No, unless the course grade is an F. Graduate students may only repeat a course for which they received an F. When they repeat the course, the new grade will replace the grade of F in the GPA calculation.

I am a graduate student. Will a grade of "S" count towards the 15 graded credits I need to be eligible for graduation (with a GPA of 3.0 or better)?

No. Courses with a grade of S do not contribute to the GPA and will not count towards the required 15 graded credits for graduation.

Can my college or someone outside UVM "see" my original grade? If I change my mind later and want to uncover my original grade, can I do that?

No. Once you choose S/U grading, the decision is permanent. Letter grades cannot be uncovered at any point in time, even if you ask for your decision to be reversed. That is why it is so important to understand how choosing S/U grading might affect your ability to progress in your degree program before making this choice.

Will there be a notation on my transcript regarding COVID-19 academic accommodations for Spring 2020?

Yes, a notation that grading policies were changed in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19 will appear on all transcripts.

To maintain my scholarship, I need to have a certain GPA. Will choosing classes S/U impact my scholarship eligibility?

For UVM scholarships impacted by GPA, a one-time allowance will be made as follows. The cumulative GPA (calculated by excluding credits for which S/U was selected) will be evaluated for each student at the end of the Spring 2020 term. For students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA at that time, the Spring 2020 term GPA will be removed and the cumulative GPA will be recalculated without it. If the recalculated cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or higher, the student will maintain scholarship eligibility. For all future reviews, the Spring 2020 GPA (calculated by excluding credits for which S/U was selected) will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.

Will my Spring 2020 GPA, or choosing S/U for specific courses, affect my financial aid eligibility, such as for federal loans?

For UVM scholarships, see the information in the previous FAQ. If you have questions about loans and other financial aid, keep in mind that each student’s case is different. We recommend that all students with financial aid questions related to their academic performance in Spring 2020 contact Student Financial Services directly. Please include your specific questions in your email (e.g., "I would like to change 6 credits of actual grades to S/U. How will this affect my aid eligibility?").

FAQ for International Exchange Students and Global Gateway Program Students

I am an international exchange student or Global Gateway Program student. Can I choose P/NP this semester?

International exchange and GGP students cannot receive P/NP grades, but they can choose S/U ("satisfactory/unsatisfactory") using the same process. For international exchange students and GGP students, a grade of D- or higher will become an S, and an F will be recorded as a U.

What is the process for requesting courses be moved to S/U grading? When can I do this?

Starting April 15, 2020, the Registrar’s Office website will have a web-based form available to request S/U for one or more courses. Students may submit more than once within the April15-May 14 window if they decide to request additional S/U courses during that time. All requests must be entered before noon EDT on May 14, 2020. Once requests are submitted, the S/U selection cannot be reversed.

Are there any grades that cannot be changed to S/U?

Yes. Grades of AU (audit), SP (satisfactory progress), UP (unsatisfactory progress), W (withdrew), XF (academic dishonesty) will not be changed.

How will I know my form was received?

Students will receive a confirmation of their form submission. As grade reports become visible at the end of the semester, initially, your grade will appear. However, S/U selected courses should soon switch over to showing the S/U grade. If a course has been selected S/U but does not show up correctly, please wait 24 hours and then contact the Registrar's Office.

Can I choose which classes to take S/U during Spring 2020?

Yes. You can choose to take one, some, or none of your Spring 2020 classes S/U. We strongly encourage you to look beyond this semester when making this decision. Check information specific to your college/major, talk to your program director or advisor, and think carefully before choosing to take classes required for your major S/U. Use the guidance and tools that will be linked from this FAQ site soon to think through the consequences of taking a class S/U.

Can I really see my Spring 2020 grades before deciding which classes to take S/U?

Yes. We encourage students to wait for their grades before deciding to take advantage of these academic accommodations.

If I choose S/U for a course right now, does this mean I will never see my letter grade?

No. All S/U requests must be changed after grades are submitted, so there will be a brief period when your original grade appears, before it is replaced by S/U. However, if you submit an S/U request prior to the grading period, that request cannot be reversed, even if you are satisfied with the grade you received.

I am taking an incomplete (INC) in a class this semester. Can I still request S/U?

Yes, but only before the May 14 deadline. If you process a S/U request for this course before May 14, at a later date when your work is complete your professor will put in a grade, but you will only see an S or U. Please remember that you cannot switch from S/U to a grade if you choose to request P/NP for this course. After May 14, you will not have the option to choose S/U, so you should decide now whether you will take the grade when you finish the incomplete course, or would like S/U.

What is the minimum grade to get a "Satisfactory"? How does getting an "Unsatisfactory" grade affect my GPA?

Any grade of D- or above will convert to an S; an F will convert to a U. S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for S courses, and no credit for U courses.

Are there some classes that require a letter grade?

Yes, but which classes, and the minimum letter grade, depend on your degree program. Each school and college will provide guidance outlining what the consequences of taking specific classes or degree requirements S/U would be. Some classes also have specific grade prerequisites. For example, CS 110 has the prerequisite of passing CS 20 or 21 with a grade of C- or better.

I am taking courses relevant to a pre-professional or professional program, such as Nursing, Business Administration, Engineering, or Education. How can I tell which classes I can take S/U?

Each school or college will send out information to their students in early April, outlining GPA and course grade requirements to move forward in their programs. Keep in mind that in some cases, S/U may not be a good choice for certain courses.

Will classes I take S/U still count towards my semester GPA?

S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards graduation for S courses, and no credit for U courses, but neither S nor U courses are included at all in calculating your GPA.

I am taking a graduate course. If I receive a letter grade of F in Spring 2020, should I change it to S/U?

No. Graduate students may only repeat a course for which they received an F. When they repeat the course, the new grade will replace the grade of F in the GPA calculation.

Can my college or someone outside UVM "see" my original grade? If I change my mind later and want to uncover my original grade, can I do that?

No. Once you choose S/U, the decision is permanent. Letter grades cannot be uncovered, at any point in time, even if you ask for your decision to be reversed. That is why it is so important to understand how choosing S/U might affect your ability to progress in your degree program before making this choice.

Will there be a notation on my transcript regarding COVID-19 academic accommodations for Spring 2020?

Yes, a notation that grading policies were changed in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19 will appear on all transcripts.

FAQ for Continuing Education/Non-degree Students

I am a non-degree student. Can I choose P/NP this semester?

Non-degree students cannot receive P/NP grades, but they can choose S/U ("satisfactory/unsatisfactory") using the same process and online form. If you are in a graduate course, you will receive an S for a grade of C- or higher, and a U for a grade of D+ or lower.

What is the process for requesting courses be moved to S/U grading? When can I do this?

Starting April 15, 2020 the Registrar’s Office website will have a web-based form available to request S/U for one or more courses. Students may submit the form more than once within the April 15-May 14 window if they decide to request additional S/U courses during that time. All requests must be entered before noon EDT on May 14, 2020. Once requests are submitted, the S/U selection cannot be reversed.

Are there any grades that cannot be changed to S/U?

Yes. Grades of AU (audit), SP (satisfactory progress), UP (unsatisfactory progress), W (withdrew), XF (academic dishonesty) will not be changed.

How will I know my form was received?

Students will receive a confirmation of their form submission. As grade reports become visible at the end of the semester, initially, your grade will appear. However, S/U selected courses should soon switch over to showing the S/U grade. If a course has been selected S/U but does not show up correctly, please wait 24 hours and then contact the Registrar’s Office.

Can I choose which classes to take S/U during Spring 2020?

Yes. You can choose to take one, some, or none of your Spring 2020 classes S/U. We strongly encourage you to look beyond this semester when making this decision. Check information specific to your program, talk to your program director or advisor, and think carefully before choosing to take classes required for your major S/U. Use the guidance and tools that will be linked from this FAQ site soon to think through the consequences of taking a class S/U.

Can I really see my Spring 2020 grades before deciding which classes to take S/U?

Yes. We encourage students to wait for their grades before deciding to take advantage of these academic accommodations.

If I choose S/U for a course right now, does this mean I will never see my letter grade?

No. All S/U requests must be changed after grades are submitted, so there will be a brief period when your original grade appears, before it is replaced by S/U. However, if you submit an S/U request prior to the grading period, that request cannot be reversed, even if you are satisfied with the grade you received.

I am taking an incomplete (INC) in a class this semester. Can I still request S/U?

Yes, but only before the May 14 deadline. If you process a S/U request for this course before May 14, at a later date when your work is complete your professor will put in a grade, but you will only see an S or U. Please remember that you cannot switch from S/U to a grade if you choose to request P/NP for this course. After May 14, you will not have the option to choose S/U, so you should decide now whether you will take the grade when you finish the incomplete course, or would like S/U.

What is the minimum grade to get a “Satisfactory”? How does getting an “Unsatisfactory” grade affect my GPA?

For undergraduate courses, any grade of D- or better will convert to an S; an F will convert to a U. For graduate courses, any grade of C- or better will convert to an S; grades of D+ or lower will convert to a U. S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards program completion for S courses, and no credit for U courses.

Will classes I take S/U still count towards my semester GPA?

S/U courses are considered "non-graded credits". That means that you receive credit towards program completion for S courses, and no credit for U courses, but neither S or U courses are included at all in calculating your GPA.

I am taking a graduate course. If I receive a letter grade of F in Spring 2020, should I change it to S/U?

No. Graduate students at UVM may only repeat a course for which they received an F. When they repeat the course, the new grade will replace the grade of F in the GPA calculation. This is important to you, as a CE student, if you ever plan to pursue a graduate program.

Can my college or someone outside UVM "see" my original grade? If I change my mind later and want to uncover my original grade, can I do that?

No. Once you choose S/U, the decision is permanent. Letter grades cannot be uncovered, at any point in time, even if you ask for your decision to be reversed.

Will there be a notation on my transcript regarding COVID-19 academic accommodations for Spring 2020?

Yes, a notation that grading policies were changed in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19 will appear on all transcripts.

Will my Spring 2020 GPA, or choosing S/U for specific courses, affect my financial aid eligibility, such as for federal loans?

If you have questions about loans and other financial aid, keep in mind that each student’s case is different. We recommend that all students with financial aid questions related to their academic performance in Spring 2020 contact Student Financial Services directly. Please include your specific questions in your email (e.g., "I would like to change 6 credits of actual grades to S/U. How will this affect my aid eligibility?").