Coronavirus Information

Dear Students,

Please visit the Coronavirus Information page for important information and updates from the university.  Also, please see the departments policy regarding COVID grading options and additional resources listed below.

Thank you,

Undergraduate Advising Office

COVID-era Spaces to Gather

COVID-era spaces to gather: Looking for a space to study on your own or with a few socially distanced others? Need a quiet space to zoom into class? A private place to have a telemedicine appointment? Check availability and reserve spaces across Grounds at: https://25live.collegenet.com/virginia/scheduling.html#/home

Advising Principles for Grading Options - Details on CR/GC/NC Options

With three regular semesters of an available CR/NC/GC grading option, undergraduate students and their advisors will want to consider the implications of selecting or not selecting the CR/NC/GC grading option for some or all classes. This resource, which was compiled with advice from representatives from the University’s schools, Career Center, and other relevant offices, aspires to provide such guidance.  Advising Principles for Grading Options Details on CR/GC/NC Options

Grading Options - J Term 2021 / Spring 2021 / Summer 2021

November 9, 2020

The fall 2020 grading policy of COVID Grading CR/GC/NC has been extended for the J-term 2021, spring 2021, and summer 2021 semesters. 

Choosing your grade option - deadlines: The CR/NC/GC grading option was and is visible to students as they register for spring 2021 classes.  They were asked to select a grading option for each class when they enrolled. Whether they choose Graded (A-F grades) or COVID Credit/GenCredit/NoCre when they enroll, they can change their minds through the Add deadline (February 16) by using Edit Enrollment in SIS. 

SIS will re-open from April 23 to April 30, 2021, to change grade option if students wish. The final grading option decision must be made by April 30, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Visit the link below for information and instructions on HOW to update your grading options in SIS.

CR = yes for major or minor: The Department of Psychology faculty has decided to give credit for the major or minor for courses with grades of CR (which corresponds to a C or higher).  This is consistent with our standard requirement of a C or higher for courses to count for major or minor credit.  This will also apply for the one non-PSYC course required for our major, STAT-1601.

GC = no for major or minor: The Department will not accept GC grades for credit toward the psychology major or minor this semester.  While recognizing that many hardships continue, the departmental consensus is that this semester (and last summer) proceeded with a general understanding of a "new normal" of largely online instruction for the time being.  The emergency decision to accept GC grades for the major/minor was limited to the spring 2020 semester and was meant to cushion the shock of the mid-semester upheaval and dislocation that occurred for most students.  Remember that GC grades still have the benefit of counting for general University degree requirements and will not affect your GPA.

If you are struggling in any of your courses, please reach out to your professor.  They are eager to assist and are best positioned to point you to effective learning approaches in their course.

Grading Options - Summer 2020/Fall 2020

October 19, 2020 

Greetings all,

I'm sure you've heard that the Provost has once again offered students the option to choose a COVID Grading option (CR/GC/NC) for Fall 2020 courses. Please review each grade option below for clarification on how these grades will be considered for the Psychology Major and Minor for the Fall 2020 semester.

CR = yes for major or minor: The Department of Psychology faculty has decided to give credit for the major or minor for courses with grades of CR (which corresponds to a C or higher).  This is consistent with our standard requirement of a C or higher for courses to count for major or minor credit.  This will also apply for the one non-PSYC course required for our major, STAT-1601.

GC = no for major or minor: The Department will not accept GC grades for credit toward the psychology major or minor this semester.  While recognizing that many hardships continue, the departmental consensus is that this semester (and last summer) proceeded with a general understanding of a "new normal" of largely online instruction for the time being.  The emergency decision to accept GC grades for the major/minor was limited to the spring 2020 semester and was meant to cushion the shock of the mid-semester upheaval and dislocation that occurred for most students.  Remember that GC grades still have the benefit of counting for general University degree requirements and will not affect your GPA.

If you are struggling in any of your courses, please reach out to your professor.  They are eager to assist and are best positioned to point you to effective learning approaches in their course.

Wishing you well,

Fred Smyth

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Psychology

How to change your grading option for Fall 2020:

Students can make a change starting November 2, 2020, and the deadline to make your final decision for each class will be 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, November 6, 2020. You will not be able to change your grading option once the deadline passes.

Visit the link below for information and instructions on HOW to update your grading options in SIS to a letter grade, otherwise, no action is needed.


Grading Options - Spring 2020

April 20, 2020

Dear Psychology Majors and Minors,

The faculty of the Department of Psychology has decided to allow COVID grading options - grades of GC (General Credit) to count toward major and minor course requirements in psychology this semester.  That is, for course work in psychology (PSYC) this spring, grades of either CR or GC will count for credit toward the psychology major or the psychology minor.  Under the University system this semester, CR grades correspond to A+ through C, and GC grades correspond to C- through D-.  As usual, none of these grades,  whether CR, GC, or NC, will factor into your GPA.  

 Your decision procedures, as outlined in the Associate Provost's letter last week, remain the same:

On Friday, April 24, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. EDT, all of your classes will be converted to the default grading option of Cred/GenCred/NoCred Spring 2020. At that time, you may, if you wish, change any (or all) of your classes back to the standard grading option (A through F).

You will have until Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EDT to make this decision and you may change your mind for any class up until the deadline. You will not be able to change the grading option for any class after 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 28, 2020.

All undergraduate transcripts for the Spring 2020 term will note that CR/GC/NC grading was the default grading option for UVA undergraduate classes in response to the global pandemic. 

The Department of Psychology Undergraduate Office will ensure that grades of GC in PSYC courses in the spring 2020 semester are treated as satisfying major and minor course requirements.

Best wishes,

Fred Smyth

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Psychology

How to change your grading option for Spring 2020:

Please note the deadlines and instructions regarding changing your grading options for spring 2020:

April 24, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Vist the link below for information and instructions on HOW to update your grading options in SIS to a letter grade, otherwise, no action is needed.