Elective Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory Option

This plan is designed to encourage students to broaden their education by taking courses outside their primary areas. Students may take courses with grades of “S” (satisfactory) and “U” (unsatisfactory), rather than the traditional grades of “A” through “F” subject to the following guidelines:

  1. A grade of “S” grants credit toward graduation but does not affect the student’s GPA. A grade of “U” neither grants credit nor affects the GPA.
  2. Freshmen may not elect to take courses on an “Elective S-U” basis.
  3. No more than 15 semester hours of “Elective S-U” grades will count toward the bachelor’s degree. No more than 7 semester hours will count toward the associate degree.
  4. After the normal period for adding a course the student may not change to, or from, an “Elective S-U” choice.
  5. Only courses outside the major, minor, professional education, general education, or other program requirements may be taken for an “Elective S-U” grade. Students choosing to major or minor in a field in which they have completed a course on an "S-U" basis may request the department to accept the "S" grade, but the department may require that the grade be changed to a regular letter grade, or the student may take a substitute course. 
  6. Some courses in a student’s major or minor may be offered only on an “S-U” basis. Also, Service Learning courses and Competency Based Credit-Earning are graded "S-U." These courses are not counted toward the "Elective S-U" 15 hour limit. Departments wishing to offer “S-U” courses must receive prior approval from the Curriculum Council.
  7. In “S-U” courses, work of “C” level or better is required to receive an “S” grade.

For further information, contact the Office of Academic Records.