Credit/No Credit Option
Effective Spring 2020
Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
The Colleges of the Alamo Colleges District have approved the allowing students to opt for a Credit/ No Credit in place of a letter grade (A, B, C, D, and F). The deadline to complete the petition for Credit/No Credit is July 30, 2020.
What is the procedure for students?
The procedure steps are as follows:
- Faculty will submit grades at the regularly scheduled time end of the semester, using the grading scale identified on their syllabi.
- Once final grades are available, students may begin petitioning for the CR/NC option for any eligible courses.
- Students will need to complete the online grade change form for each course they wish to change to CR/ NC.
- Students will be provided with online directions at the end of the semester on how to complete the process.
How long is the petition period for students?
Students have from May 20—July 30, 2020, to submit the online grade change form for the CR/NC option.
How do we know which courses are eligible for the CR/NC option?
All courses that are not eligible for the CR/NC option will be available online at alamo.edu/gradingfaq. Any courses not listed on this comprehensive web resource will be eligible.
Does a CR/NC count towards a student's GPA?
A Credit/No Credit grade will not count towards a student's GPA calculation.
How will this impact a student's financial aid eligibility?
As of April 15, 2020, this is what we know regarding financial aid:
- SAP (Students’ Academic Progress)—since CR/NC will not count towards GPA calculation, there should be no change in how the SAP calculation process is conducted.
- CPOS (Course Program of Study)—as long as the course(s) counts towards degree completion, normal rules will apply.
- Long-term eligibility at Alamo Colleges—there is no impact to students’ Title IV aid as long as the classes continue to count toward the student’s degree plan.
How will this impact a student who is receiving Veteran’s assistance?
VA benefit payments received for Spring 2020 terms will not be impacted by choosing the CR/NC option due to the exception made by SB 3503 law, which is in effect until December 21, 2020; however, there could be future implications as follows:
- Students that receive CR grades for a course required by their degree program will not be permitted to have benefits awarded for that course at the Alamo Colleges if they choose to take the course again to replace the CR grade with a letter grade.
- Examples of this would be if the student needs a letter grade to transfer to another institution or to raise their GPA
- Students will still exhaust VA benefit entitlement for the course that is graded CR/NC
How does this impact a student upon transferring to a four-year college/ university?
Choosing a Credit/ No Credit option for a grade may affect the student in the following ways:
- Excessive Credit Hour Limitation (150 Hour Rule)—If a CR is awarded the course hours will still apply to the total credit hours taken, this could lead to a student having over 150 hours and having to pay out-of-state tuition in order to complete their degree. However, if students are taking courses that are required as part of the university degree plan, these courses will transfer as degree applicable. The 150 Hour Rule impacts a student when the student takes and completes a course that the university does NOT require as part of the degree requirements.
- Eligibility to get into programs that require certain GPA calculations may be impacted (Examples are Teacher Certifications, and Health Professions. Universities have listed these programs as requiring a letter grade and GPA calculation.)
- Transfer institutions may not accept the award of CR and students may have to retake the course. (Universities within the transfer compact will accept Credit or a letter grade. This does not include all public or private universities in the state of Texas, nor does it include out-of-state institutions. Students should consult with their transfer institutions, professors, the financial aid office, the Veteran’s Affairs office, and academic advisor before petitioning for a Credit/No Credit grade
- Credit will satisfy the “C” or better prerequisite option at the Alamo Colleges—however we do not know that it will satisfy the transfer requirements if the transfer institution has indicated that course was a degree requirement with a “C” or better. (For courses requiring this requirement, universities within the transfer compact will accept Credit or a letter grade as meeting this requirement. This does not include all public or private universities in the state of Texas, nor does it include out-of-state institutions. Students should consult with their transfer institutions, professors, the financial aid office, the Veteran’s Affairs office, and academic advisor before petitioning for a Credit/No Credit grade
Should a student with a passing grade elect for the CR option?
The option to choose a “CR” is intended to allow the student not to include the grade in the calculation of the GPA. If the letter grade received will in fact improve their GPA, it would be best to accept the letter grade.
Can students choose the CR/NC option if they are repeating a course to replace a letter grade?
Yes. Students who are repeating a course in which they previously earned a letter grade may choose the CR/NC option.
Does a student have the ability to change their mind once they have selected the CR/NC option?
No, once a student has submitted the online grade change request form, choosing the CR/NC option for a course, they are no longer able to change their mind.
How could this option impact the student if they are graduating this semester?
If a student receives a D in a course and their overall GPA is a 2.0 they can still graduate. If credit for the course is needed for graduation and the student chooses to receive “NC” instead of a “D”, the degree will be revoked. A No Credit cannot count toward awarding a degree.
What am I required to do as part of the CR/NC submission process?
TThere is nothing that a faculty member is required to do in this process. However, students will appeal to their professors for advice. Please provide any information they may need to help make an informed decision. Students may also be referred to their advisors, to the financial aid office, the Veterans Affairs office, or to their transfer institution for additional accurate information.