Volume 03 | Issue 04|December 2020
THE DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AT BEHREND - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Have You Scheduled for Spring Yet?

The ACPC is here for you virtually!

Please call the ACPC (814-898-6164) or go to Starfish to schedule an appointment with your DUS advisers, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm via zoom or phone. Zoom into virtual drop-ins Monday through Friday from 12:00-4:00 pm.

To access our drop-ins, please do the following:
1. Log into psu.zoom.us using your Penn State account information.
2. Select "Join Meeting" at the top of the page.
3. Enter the meeting ID: 814 898 6112.

WE ARE... Here to help!
ALTERNATIVE GRADING FOR FALL 2020 SEMESTER
Penn State is once again offering an alternative grading option for undergraduate students who encounter significant challenges beyond their control this semester:

  • SAT (Satisfactory). This grade option will be available if you earn a C or better in a course. This option is to be used very sparingly and an adviser should be consulted before electing.
  • V (Pass). This grade, which will be available if you earn a D in a course, will be considered a passing grade. You will earn credits for the course, and a V grade can be used to meet requirements for which a D is an acceptable grade.
  • Z (No Grade). This grade will be available if you earn an F in a course. Z can be used to replace an F grade and will be treated similar to Late Drop (LD).

Alternative Grading GPA Calculator - Click here.

All three of these alternative grades will have no impact on your GPA calculation, and you will be able to see your final grades before deciding whether or not to take an alternative grade in any or all of your classes for the semester.

Students should use alternative grading very cautiously and with a lot of attention to the potential long-term implications of this decision, especially for the selection of SAT grades. Academic transcripts represent the full record of each student’s academic achievements, and all C-or-better grades indicate that undergraduate students have successfully achieved the learning outcomes for those courses. Masking this achievement with an SAT grade may be interpreted negatively by outside entities such as graduate schools and employers, some of which are likely to recalculate GPAs, making their own assumptions about what is behind an SAT grade. While the use of some form of pass/fail grading was common across higher education in spring 2020, it is much less common in fall, and we therefore urge students to think carefully about their selections, especially for SAT grades.

There are still good reasons to keep a letter grade—i.e., the grade is required for entrance to major, you continue to perform well, you are taking a class for professional licensure, or you are considering going to graduate, law, or medical school in the future. Be sure to speak with your adviser before making any decisions about using the alternative grading options.

More information on Alternative Grading can be found here.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
  • December 11 at 5:00 PM (ET): Withdrawal Deadline
  • December 11: Classes end
  • December 14 - 18: Final Exams
  • January 15: Leave of Absence Deadline
  • January 19: First day of the Spring 2021 Semester
  • January 24: Regular Drop Deadline at 11:59 PM (ET)
  • January 25: Regular Add Deadline at 11:59 PM (ET)
RESOURCES ACROSS CAMPUS
To read the most up to date information on how COVID-19 is impacting the Behrend community, check out this website frequently.

While learning will go remote from November 20th through the end of the Fall 2020 semester, that doesn't mean that instructors and student support offices are unavailable to you! Keep reading to learn how you can get help with your academics (for a full list, please click here).

The Penn State Keep learning website also has a ton of helpful information. Click here for answers to some commonly asked questions!
#FindYourFuture - School Events Across Campus
Attending campus-specific events and participating in volunteer experiences are great ways to connect with faculty, students, and campus partners to gain insight into a major of interest. Check out November's upcoming events (hyperlinked) to learn more about a variety of disciplines!
SCHOOL EVENTS ACROSS CAMPUS:


(Co-curricular activities for the Black School of Business are also posted in Behrend Sync under "Black School of Business").





The Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) is the academic home for students exploring multiple academic programs before committing to a course of study. Academic advisers in DUS teach students how to:

  • Understand the purposes of higher education
  • Make connections between personal interests, life goals, and academic opportunities
  • Think critically and question common assumptions about majors and careers
  • Find educational opportunities such as study abroad programs, research assistantships, leadership activities, and internships

 
Thank you,
 
The DUS Advisers