A message from Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer:
I hope that this communication finds you healthy and moving forward with your spring semester classes. As we have said before, but I want to say again, Virginia Western is committed to supporting you and helping you to complete these classes with the needed learning to successfully move on to future classes or graduate. COVID-19 had forced us to deliver your classes in ways that none of us intended. For this reason, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) had made some emergency policy changes only for Spring Semester 2020 to help the colleges and our students. These changes can be found at https://www.virginiawestern.edu/covid19/grading/.
The changes and what you need to do are listed below:
- Withdrawal Deadline
The Withdrawal deadline has been extended to May 8, 2020 for all but third four-week classes. The withdrawal deadline for third four-week classes is April 17.
- To
withdraw from a class up until the deadline, you will go into the Student
Information System through MyVWCC and withdraw from the class. This process is
the same as it has been in the past with the exception of the deadline. Instructions on how to do this can be found at https://www.virginiawestern.edu/iet-services/myvwcc-help/withdraw-from-a-class/
- Guidance
on Withdrawals:
- A “W” grade does not count towards your GPA but does appear on your Virginia Western transcript.
- A class with a “W” graded does not count towards graduation requirements
- If you are on financial aid, a “W” grade could impact future financial aid. Please note that the financial aid office will approach all appeals (impacts) with leniency and expedited turn around during this time.
- Students are only allowed to repeat a class three times. A “W” grade counts as one of these repeats.
- Guidance
on Withdrawals:
- Grading Scale
The default grading scale for spring semester will be the P+, P- W scale. Unless students select the A-F scale, faculty will use the default grading scale. The “WC” grade will be treated the same as a “W” grade.
| Letter Grade | What does the Grade Mean? | How does it Apply? |
| P+ | Pass with a grade of “C” or higher | Applies to college transfer and technical education courses. A grade of P+ will not impact a student’s GPA. A grade of P+ will transfer. |
| P- | Pass with a grade of “D” | Applies to college transfer and technical education courses. A grade of P- will not impact a student’s GPA. Will count towards Virginia Western graduation but will not transfer. |
| W WC | Withdraw Withdraw/COVID-19 | A student-initiated withdrawal through the revised deadline of May 8, 2020 A faculty member may award a WC for a student who did not initiate the withdrawal or did not pass. |
| I | Incomplete | The faculty member and student may agree to a plan to complete the remaining course requirements. The College has waived the requirement that students must complete 60% of course competencies and attendance requirements in order to receive a grade of Incomplete. The Colleges has also agreed to allow students up to two semesters to complete the requirements for the course. |
- Students
may opt for the standard A-F grading scale.
- An
assignment will be added to all Canvas shells that gives students the opportunity
to select the A-F scale. This assignment will not count toward your grade for
the class but is simply designed to give you this option. The option will be
the only question on the assignment. If you select the A-F option:
- You must do so by May 8, 2020
- You may only do this once. Once it is done, you have selected the option and can’t change it. You will receive a grade on the A-F scale rather than the COVID-19 P+, P-, W grading scale above.
- Guidance on when you might want to consider this
option:
- If
you are transferring to UVA, an out of state college, or a private college that
has not agreed to accept the P+ grade in transfer. Please check with your
transfer institution.
- Please note than when a course transfers, it only transfers for course credit and does not impact a student’s GPA at the transfer institution.
- If you are a veteran and are concerned about the impact of a “W” on benefits. Please contact your veteran’s advisor for advising.
- If you are trying to raise your GPA for graduation or academic standing purposes.
- If you simply want a letter grade.
- If
you are transferring to UVA, an out of state college, or a private college that
has not agreed to accept the P+ grade in transfer. Please check with your
transfer institution.
- An
assignment will be added to all Canvas shells that gives students the opportunity
to select the A-F scale. This assignment will not count toward your grade for
the class but is simply designed to give you this option. The option will be
the only question on the assignment. If you select the A-F option:
- Incomplete
Grade
- If
your class is not completed this semester, an incomplete is an option. This
option must be agreed upon for just reason by both the faculty member and the
student. All normal paperwork processes for documenting the incomplete should
be followed. The exceptions are that the requirement that 60% of the work has
been completed has been waived and the deadline has been extended to the last
day of classes for Fall 2020.
- Students in hands-on classes or clinicals where the class has not been able to meet in-person to complete the necessary in-person requirements of the class will receive an incomplete. We will ensure that you have the opportunity to complete this instruction to remove this incomplete. Your instructor will provide additional guidance as more information is available regarding when we can resume in-person classes.
- Other students with extenuating circumstances should contact your instructor and follow the normal process with the two above exceptions.
- If
your class is not completed this semester, an incomplete is an option. This
option must be agreed upon for just reason by both the faculty member and the
student. All normal paperwork processes for documenting the incomplete should
be followed. The exceptions are that the requirement that 60% of the work has
been completed has been waived and the deadline has been extended to the last
day of classes for Fall 2020.
Sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer
Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Virginia Western Community College
