Courses: Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory Grading Option

Previously known as Pass/Fail, the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option is intended to encourage students to explore courses they might not otherwise take. S/U courses can count towards general education requirements (curriculum codes).

*NOTE* This policy and form is for undergraduate students ONLY!

  • Quad Advisors will review voluntary S/U requests for undeclared majors.
  • Academic Deans will review voluntary S/U requests for declared majors.

IMPORTANT: Changing the grading basis to S/U will not be approved by your Quad Advisor or Academic Dean if:

  • a disciplinary action is pending/has been initiated.
  • a Faculty-Student Resolution has been completed.
  • a sanction has been imposed by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards related to the course in question.

* Read the S/U policy carefully before submitting the form. That is your responsibility!

What do you need to know before reading the policy?
  • Involuntary S/U: a course for which S/U is mandatory; no letter grades are given
  • Voluntary S/U: a graded course for which a change to S/U necessitates a student-initiated request 

*IMPORTANT* If you are enrolled in courses that are either all graded or a mix of graded and involuntary S/U grading, you may request a grading change to voluntary S/U for only one course credit per semester or summer term.

You must submit your request to your Quad Advisor or Academic Dean by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the withdrawal deadline date. 

Once you choose the S/U option, you CANNOT SWITCH BACK to graded.

If, after you have read the policy points carefully, you still have questions, direct those to your academic dean and/or instructor.

 

S/U REQUEST FORM: Voluntary S/U Grading Basis
  • You must be in a normal course load (at least 4 x 1.0 credit classes) to request to change a class to S/U.
  • NOTE: Even if you are enrolled in an overload in a semester, you may only request a Voluntary S/U for a single 1.0 credit course.
  • To verify that the course allows S/U as a grading option:
    • Go to Dashboard Class Search in DukeHub.
    • Run a search for the class (unclick the search button for open classes only).
    • Check what is written next to Course Attributes.
  • If a letter-graded course does not allow S/U, this will be noted and you will not be allowed to request an S/U change.

S = any grade from a C- to an A+

U = any grade from a D+ to an F

You must check with any relevant major, minor, or certificate program about their policy on counting S/U courses within their set of requirements.

Only four voluntary S/U credits will count toward general graduation requirements, including credit count and curriculum codes.

  • Summer Term courses count toward this total.
  • This total does not include classes that are Involuntary S/U.

Note for students already enrolled during and prior to Fall 2021:

  • This total does not include S/U courses on your transcript from Spring 2020-Fall 2021.
     
You must submit your request to your academic dean by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the withdrawal deadline date. 
  • This is a firm deadline.
  • If you are uncertain, speak with your instructor about your progress. This will help you make a well informed decision.
  • If you have not yet declared a major and the course falls within a discipline you are considering, be mindful that some departments do not count S/U toward their major requirements.

IMPORTANT: Changing the grading basis to S/U will not be approved by your Quad Advisor or Academic Dean if:

  • a disciplinary action is pending.
  • a Faculty-Student Resolution has been completed.
  • a sanction has been imposed by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards related to the course in question.
Once you choose the S/U option, you CANNOT SWITCH BACK to graded.


S/U REQUEST FORM: Declaration of the S/U Grading Basis

You will receive email confirmation if approved. Save this!

 

*SPECIAL NOTE*

  • Courses numbered 500 or higher require permission from the instructor to be taken S/U.
  • Robertson Scholars are not allowed to request a Voluntary S/U grading option for cross-campus courses.
  • No courses used for pre-health requirements should be taken as Voluntary S/U (check with the HPA office if you have any questions

 

See Also:

Do seniors in an underload have the option to request a course S/U?

  • If you are a senior in your final semester of study and are enrolled in an underload or attending part-time, you may request one course S/U as long as you are taking at least one graded 1.0-credit course.

Do we have the option to request S/U in summer terms?

  • Yes, you may request a voluntary S/U for a 1.0 credit course in Summer term 1 and/or Summer term 2 course.

How does the S/U policy apply to Dean’s List?

  • S/U applies in the following ways for Dean’s List eligibility in a semester:
    • If you request an S/U, you must be in at least three graded courses. Involuntary S/U does not count as one of the three graded courses.
    • If you earn a U, you will not be eligible for Dean’s List.

Does Duke accept S/U course transfer credits?

  • Duke does not accept S/U transfer credit from study abroad, domestic study away programs, or other institutions.

Do we have the option to retake courses that we requested as S/U?

  • You may not retake a course if you have already earned an S in it.
  • You may retake a course in which you earned a U.

If I am a prehealth student can I take any of my prehealth classes as S/U?

  • No courses used for pre-health requirements should be taken as Voluntary S/U.

 

 

See Also: