On November 21, 2022, UVA Provost Ian Baucom announced that for Fall 2022, undergraduate students will have a special grading option.  

In January, after completing your courses and seeing your grades, you will have the option to keep the grade that you earned or, for some or all of your classes, choose the Credit (CR) / General Credit (GC) / No Credit (NC) grading option. 

CR is awarded for a grade of C or higher and meets all degree requirements; GC is awarded for a passing grade below C (C-, D+, D, or D-) and meets any degree requirement that is satisfied by a passing grade below C; NC is for a non-passing grade (that is, F). The following notation will be included on undergraduate transcripts: “University-wide disruption. Student had option to select CR/GC/NC grading rubric. CR meets all degree requirements; GC meets limited requirements; NC is no credit (F). CR/GC/NC not included in GPA calculation.” Classes with the CR/GC/NC option are not considered in the GPA calculations. Please note that some graduate classes have a different grading scale. 

If you are not graduating in December 2022, you will receive an email on January 16 with instructions about how to select the CR/GC/NC option, and you will have until January 20 to select that option. If you are graduating in December 2022, you will receive an email on January 2 with instructions about how to select the CR/GC/NC option, and your deadline for selecting that option is January 6. (Your official degree conferral date will remain December 16, 2022.) If you are graduating, do not wish to convert any of your grades to CR/GC/NC, and need your degree conferred earlier because of extenuating circumstances, please contact your school registrar. 

The decision about selecting or not selecting the CR/NC/GC grading option may have important consequences. This document provides guidance to enable you to make an informed choice. This guidance is intended for undergraduate students. Some graduate and professional students also have this grading option; graduate and professional students should contact their academic advisor, department, or school for guidance.  

No one can predict exactly how students’ future professional and educational aspirations may be affected by their decisions to select or not select the CR/NC/GC grading option. In contrast with the situation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when many universities offered alternative grading options, the tragic events of November 13, 2022 were specific to UVA. It is important that students speak with their advisors and conduct their own research to better understand the choices they are making. University leadership, and all of those who work with students, encourage students to put their own health and wellness first and focus on their needs in this challenging time.  

What Choosing CR/GC/NC Means for a Student’s Time at UVA 

GPA

A grade of CR/GC/NC does not factor into a student’s GPA. Therefore, while taking a grade of CR/GC/NC will not adversely affect your GPA, it will also limit your ability to raise your GPA. As a general rule, students who have performed well in a class should choose to take a letter grade for that class.  

Financial Aid 

Students whose GPA falls below 2.0 and who are receiving financial aid could risk losing eligibility for future aid. If a student’s GPA is below 2.0, they may need to choose a letter grade for some classes in order to raise their GPA and remain eligible. Students who entered UVA in Fall 2022 and who select all CR/GC/NC grades will not have a GPA: SFS will issue a warning to these students. They will still be eligible for aid, but they will need to achieve a GPA above 2.0 in the spring to avoid financial aid suspension. Choosing CR/GC/NC will not impair student eligibility for work-study. For more information, contact Student Financial Services.  

Good Academic Standing 

While choosing CR/GC/NC will not, by itself, jeopardize students’ good academic standing, earning NC or multiple GC grades could hinder students from making good academic progress toward their degree (similar to the effect of multiple grades of C-, D, or F on being able to satisfy requirements for a major). If you are concerned about your academic standing, you should talk to your school’s academic advising office. College students should contact their Association Dean in Monroe Hall. 

Students in programs that lead to licensure should contact their department for more information about how choosing the CR/GC/NC grading option might affect their ability to be licensed upon graduation. Students should especially consider how licensure-granting offices and professional accreditation organizations may count a grade of CR vs a grade of GC. 

Graduation

The minimum GPA requirement for graduating from the University has not been waived. If a student’s GPA is below 2.0, they may need to choose a letter grade for some classes in order to raise their GPA and remain eligible for graduation. If you are concerned about your eligibility for graduation, you should contact your school’s academic advising office. Students in the College should contact their Association Dean. 

Applying for a Major (Including a Distinguished Major Program) 

Departments that require a GPA as part of their admission process will still allow students to apply, even if they have chosen a CR/GC/NC grading basis in the required pre-requisite classes. These departments may develop alternative strategies for assessing student ability to be successful in the major. Students with questions about a particular major should contact the department directly.  

Applying or Transferring to Other Schools within UVA 

All schools at the University are committed to a holistic review of student applications. Students who choose a CR/GC/NC grading basis in one or more of their classes, including pre-requisites, should do so based on their personal circumstances. Applications to UVA schools provide students with the opportunity to explain their choice of grading option and any special circumstances relevant to the outcome of the semester. For more information about the requirements for application or transfer to a particular school or major at UVA, contact the admissions office (or undergraduate dean’s office) of the school of interest.  

School and Departmental Limits to CR/NC 

Grades of CR/GC/NC earned during the spring 2020, fall 2020, J-term 2021, spring 2021, and fall 2022 terms do not count against the maximum number of credits that may be earned on a CR/NC basis that is imposed by schools and departments.  

International Students and UVA Students Studying Abroad  

For international students in residence at UVA, choosing CR/GC/NC, on its own, will not affect visa status. However, international students should be able to demonstrate that they are continuing to make expected academic progress, which is defined by the students’ departments and schools of enrollment.  

UVA students studying abroad in fall 2022 also have this grading option. For those interested in studying abroad, choosing CR/GC/NC in some or all classes will not affect the ability to study abroad during an upcoming term. However, there is a minimum GPA requirement (2.5) for UVA students to study abroad, and some outside programs (approved non-UVA managed programs) and exchange options have a higher GPA requirement. Students whose GPAs don’t meet those requirements should choose a letter grade for classes in which they have performed well (note, there is a petition process which allows a student with a GPA below 2.5 to request permission to study abroad from their school of enrollment).  

For further guidance, visit the ISO website. 

Military Educational Benefits 

The University expects the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue to support benefit recipients who utilize the CR/GC/NC option in fall 2022 and does not anticipate any negative impact to recipients’ current tuition and fee payments. If a student receives NC at the end of the term, the University is obligated to report that to the VA, the same as when a student receives a failing grade. For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar.  

Student Athletes 

NCAA competition requires student athletes to maintain a minimum GPA to be eligible to complete. If a student’s GPA doesn’t meet those requirements for their year, then they should choose letter grades for classes in which they have performed well. For new students, compliance will not check GPA after one semester, so taking all classes CR/GC/NC will not harm eligibility. After the first year, unique situations will be dealt with individually as they arise, such as having no GPA. For more information, contact the Compliance Office in the Department of Athletics. 

External Scholarships and Fellowships 

In most instances, students who plan to apply for external scholarships or fellowships should exercise caution in selecting the CR/GC/NC option. It is important to consider the perspective of those who will review transcripts as part of an application. Some fellowships require minimum GPAs. However, some reviewers may look unfavorably on the choice not to take courses for a letter grade because it signals potential risk aversion by the student. While the note on the transcript will explain the options available to the student, it will not explain why the student made their decisions. The good news is that perfect grades are not a requirement to compete for fellowships, and often outliers on a transcript are merely opportunities for conversation. Contact the Office of Citizen Scholar Development for additional guidance. 

Academic Honors and Distinctions 

Graduation honors are bestowed primarily at the school level, and schools have varying criteria for determining eligibility. Students who are concerned about their eligibility for graduation honors should contact the director or dean of undergraduate programs in their school. Although some of the requirements for Dean’s List vary by school, the University requires at least 15 credits of graded coursework to be eligible for Dean’s List. Grades of CR, GC, or NC will not count towards these 15 credits. For information about Dean’s List requirements, consult the Academic Rules section of your school’s portion of the Undergraduate Record.   

What Choosing CR/GC/NC Means after UVA Graduation

Applying to Medical School 

While medical schools set their own criteria for admission, there has been a national trend towards taking a holistic approach to admissions and many schools accepted CR/GC/NC grades earned at the height of the pandemic. Less is known about how medical school admissions will treat CR/GC/NC grades earned after spring 2021. Students are encouraged to take a letter grade in basic science and lab courses. Students are encouraged to contact a pre-health advisor at the University Career Center for guidance on admissions policies at specific medical schools.

Students who are interested in applying to medical school should look for ways to demonstrate content knowledge, an ability to successfully manage a heavy course load, and showcase clinical experiences and/or research. Students and faculty might consider more independent studies to engage students in undergraduate research.  

Applying to Law School 

While law schools set their own criteria for admission, there is currently a national trend towards taking a holistic approach to admissions. Students interested in applying to law school should consider taking a letter grade in classes where they have performed well. Students are encouraged to contact a pre-law advisor at the University Career Center for guidance on particular circumstances.  

Applying to Business School 

While business schools set their own criteria for admission, there is currently a national trend towards taking a holistic approach to admissions. Students interested in applying to business school are encouraged to take a letter grade in classes where they have performed well and to demonstrate necessary skills. While the national trend has been moving towards holistic admissions, less is known on how business school admissions will treat CR/GC/NC grades after spring 2021. 

Applying to Graduate School 

While graduate schools set their own criteria for admission, there is currently a national trend towards taking a holistic approach to graduate admissions, including placing less emphasis on GRE scores. Students interested in applying to graduate school should consider discipline-specific criteria and expectations, such as laboratory experiences, writing samples, or portfolio development. Undergraduate students are encouraged to speak with an academic dean or the director of graduate studies in the school or department of their intended discipline for further guidance.  

Students who are interested in applying to graduate school should look for ways to demonstrate content knowledge and an ability to successfully manage a heavy course load, and to showcase research experiences (click here for more information on undergraduate research opportunities). Students and faculty might consider more independent studies to engage students in undergraduate research.  

Applying for a Job After Graduation  

Prospective employers are likely to take a holistic approach in evaluating job candidates, of which GPA will only be one part of the consideration. Employers will be looking for skills, knowledge, and experiences that students gained both inside and outside the classroom. Experiences such as internships, shadowing, project-based learning, independent study, and public service will be significant in students’ personal and professional development. Skills and experiences are likely to have a more significant impact on students’ future opportunities than simply grades. Students should therefore focus on developing relevant skills and knowledge, preparing their job application, and getting ready for the interview, in addition to maintaining a high GPA.