Dear Undergraduate Students: 

We want to follow up on the earlier communication about the difficult news that a student passed away last night. This news, coupled with the loss of two other students in recent weeks and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, weighs heavy on all of our hearts. We write to provide information on key resources of support available to you, and to advise you of an important change in academic policy regarding the Pass/No Pass grading option. 

Mental Health

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is located in the Cowell Center. Their office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 408-554-4501.  Drop-in hours are available daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A CAPS counselor is available for students in crisis via its after-hours crisis line, which can be accessed through Campus Safety Services at (408) 554-4441. 

Additionally, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has partnered to have a 24/7 support line available to all students during this critical time.  You can call 408-554-5220 to access  licensed clinicians and patient navigators anytime -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Academic Leniency 

The University will be modifying the Pass/No Pass policy for undergraduates for the remainder of the fall 2021 academic term:   

• All undergraduates, regardless of class standing, may select the pass/no pass option for any undergraduate course. The pass/no pass grading option is permitted for all core, major, minor, elective, and prerequisite courses. 
•  A grade of "P" signifies that the quality of work done is equivalent to a letter grade of "C" or higher, while a grade of "NP" denotes work at the level of "C-" or lower.
• The deadline for selecting the pass/no pass option has been extended to the end of week 10 (Sunday, December 5). 
• Courses taken pass/no pass in fall 2021 will not count toward the limit of 6 pass/no pass courses taken in total at Santa Clara.  
• Requests for the pass/no pass grading option can be made directly in eCampus Enrollment from Tuesday, November 30, through Sunday, December 5, at 11:59 pm. Click on “My Academics” to make the change. 

Per the Undergraduate Bulletin, a passing (P) grade is equivalent to a letter grade of "C" or better. Students who are considering a pass/no pass option should note that a pass/no pass grade is not factored into a student’s grade point average. Additionally, students who receive a grade of “no pass” (NP) will not earn academic credit for the course, whereas credit is earned for a letter grade between C- and D-.  Finally, it is important to note that some external organizations (external funders, study abroad programs, graduate and professional schools, post-graduate fellowships) have specific letter grade requirements. 

P/NP grading may have implications for international students, students with ROTC or GI Bill scholarships, student athletes, and some students with privately funded scholarships. Therefore, we encourage you to consult with these relevant offices before opting to switch from letter grades to P/NP: International Students (iss@scu.edu), Athletics (jeverhart@scu.edu), or ROTC (408-554-4781). 

Finally, we are grateful to the many faculty who have sought meaningful ways to provide flexibility in their classes.  We encourage students to reach out to their instructors to discuss expectations for the remainder of the quarter. Students may also reach out to the Drahmann Academic Advising Center, Office of the Registrar, or the Dean’s Office in their College or School with questions or concerns regarding your academic coursework.  

Sincerely,

Kate Morris and Ed Ryan
Acting Provosts