Fall 2020 > FAQs > Classes and Academics for Students

Classes and Academics for Students

Academic support and resources

​Yes. For more information on DePaul's academic advising services this fall including in-person hours and advising offices by college, please visit the Student Success website. ​​

​Yes! Many of the same academic support services DePaul has always offered will be available virtually. This includes:
Please visit the Student Services and Engagement FAQs for the most up-to-date information.​

​Yes, please contact your professors at least five business days before your exams to inform them of your accommodations and that you would like to use them for the upcoming exam.

​Yes, please contact the CSD at csd@depaul.edu, or call 312-362-8002 or 773-325-1677.

​Please contact CSD at csd@depaul.edu, or call 312-362-8002 or 773-325-1677. A CSD staff member will reply to your concern as soon as possible.​

Our current interpretation of the regulations indicate that courses that were forced to change their modality from in-person or TBD to online because of COVID-19 will receive full benefits as though they are residential or in-person.  

Furthermore, fall classes that were always planned to be hosted online will continue to receive reduced benefits. If you need help determining if a course’s modality was changed as a result of the pandemic or was always planned to be hosted online, please email veteransaffairs@depaul.edu.

Fall and winter learning

​With few exceptions for pedagogical reasons, the vast majority of courses will now be delivered online in the fall and winter quarters. Students will be notified if there will be changes to their courses’ modalities.

External factors that are beyond DePaul’s control have changed the environment in which we hoped to return. Given our Vincentian values to take care of one another and our community, we do not believe that currently there is a reasonable way to open the campus to the full extent we originally had planned and continue to effectively manage the potential health risks to the university and local community.​

​To learn more about DePaul's winter quarter plans, please read ​​the October 5 message to students, and faculty and staff. ​​

We have spent the summer working hard to provide the best experience and further strengthening our online capabilities. DePaul has delivered quality online learning for more than a decade, and now we’re even better. More than 200 faculty members completed DePaul’s award-winning training to prepare for teaching courses online, bringing the total to more than 1,000. Technology was upgraded in more than 100 classrooms to better facilitate online learning.​

For financial assistance with technology purchases, please contact Financial Aid at dpcl@depaul.edu or 312-362-8610.​

Start by ​going to Desire2Learn, or D2L, our course management system, to see information about your classes. You can log into D2L with your Campus Connect credentials. Once logged in, you will see your classes appearing as tiles in the “My Courses” part of the home page. Click on any of the tiles to access that course information.

For those of you taking classes that include synchronous meetings online, the link you need to access most classes will be posted on the D2L course site; if not, your instructor will send you the link. Each D2L course site includes a tab labeled “Content” where course materials are found; click there to find information about the first few weeks. Please note that D2L sites for specific courses may not be available until just before the start of classes. In addition, your instructor may email you with specific instructions about your course.

Learn more about accessing online courses in this Aug. 28 Newsline article.

Many DePaul resources are available to support your learning experience. DePaul’s Student Success website is a valuable starting point. We highly encourage you to review this site’s crowd-sourced tips for succeeding as a remote student, as well as information on access to technology tools and services. You also should review instructions on Zoom​, the online video and audio communications service we expect you will be using frequently in your Spring and Summer courses. ​

Faculty will list required course materials in the course syllabus or on the course's D2L page. You can also search for course material on the DePaul bookstore website​​.

Search for materials on the Lincoln Park Campus bookstore website if you are taking courses based in one of these colleges:

  • College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
  • College of Science and Health
  • The Theatre School
  • College of Education
  • School of Music

Search for materials on the Loop Campus bookstore website if you are taking courses based in these colleges:

  • College of Law
  • College of Computing and Digital Media
  • College of Communication
  • Driehaus College of Business
  • School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Try searching both bookstore sites if your course materials aren't listed where you expect them to appear.

Anyone wi​th a scholarship or financial aid should talk to Financial Aid about the ramifications of withdrawing from all classes or not enrolling.

Temporary Pass/D/Fail policy

Students in all undergraduate classes, with the exception of those in CEO cohort programs, may opt to change the grading basis for any or all of their courses to Pass/D/Fail.

A grade of Pass (P) will indicate that the student's work met expectations for a grade of at least C-. Work that would merit a grade of D+ or D in the traditional grading basis would still earn a D+ or D. Work that does not merit a passing grade will earn an Fail (F).

For summer, fall and December intersession 2020 courses only, the temporary Pass/D/Fail grading option may apply to any graduation requirement, including courses in the major, minor, Liberal Studies Program or open electives.

Colleges will determine whether or not any or all graduate or CEO programs will institute a Pass/D/Fail option for students in all courses, as described above for general undergraduate courses. Students should consider the factors listed further down this page when deciding whether to opt for Pass/D/Fail over the traditional A through F grading scale.

The deadline for adopting the Pass/D/Fail grading basis is: 

  • Fall Quarter: 11:59 pm on December 5 
  • December Intersession: 11:59 pm on January 8 ​
These deadlines allow students three days after grades are posted each quarter to determine whether they want to adopt the Pass/D/Fail grading basis.

Grading basis 
 Description 
 Explanation 
 Self-elected option 
Last date to elect for Fall
 Last date to elect for Dec. Intersession
ANC 
 ABC/NC Grading
 Default grading basis for undergraduate courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to PDF grading basis if they choose.
 Yes
 ​
11:59 p.m. on 12/5/20
11:59 p.m. on 1/8/21
GRD
 ABC/NC Grading
 Default grading basis for graduate courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to PDF grading basis if they choose.
 Yes


11:59 p.m. on 12/5/20
11:59 p.m. on 1/8/21
PDF
 Pass/D/Fail
 Students initially elected the grading basis. After viewing their grade, they will now have the option to leave it as is or elect to keep the grade.  
 Yes
11:59 p.m. on 12/5/20
11:59 p.m. on 1/8/21
RGD
 Research Graduate
 Default grading basis for graduate research courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to PDF grading basis if they choose.
 Yes


11:59 p.m. on 12/5/20
11:59 p.m. on 1/8/21
PNP 
 ​Pass/Not Pass
 Traditional Pass/Fail option. Administered when course is created or when student notifies the college's office that they want this as an option on an eligible course.
 Yes
Depends on the college Depends on the college

​A link entitled “Elect or Unelect PA Grade" is available on Campus Connect. Here is what you do:

  • Go to Campus Connect and click on the “Academic Records" tile.
  • Select “Elect or Unelect PA Grade." PA means pass.
  • Select the course you would like to to have a letter grade instead.
  • Follow further directions on the page.

A link entitled “Elect or Unelect PA Grade" is available on Campus Connect. Here is what you do:

  • Go to Campus Connect and click on the “Academic Records" tile.
  • Select “Elect or Unelect PA Grade." PA means pass.
  • Select the course you would like to to have a letter grade instead.
  • Follow further directions on the page.​

As always, you have two quarters to complete the work. Once your letter grade appears in Campus Connect, and as long as the letter grade is a C- or higher, you will have three days to notify the Office of the University Registrar that you would like to change the grade to Pass. Please contact the Office of the University Registrar at URSupport@depaul.edu.

Please click here​ for the Office of the Registrar instructions for how to declare your intention to opt for the Pass/D/Fail grading through Campus Connect. If you do nothing, you will stay with the standard grading basis with letter grades A through F.

Note that given the new deadline, you may want to wait until you review your grades and then follow the new instructions. The original instructions listed here remain in place until the last day of classes. ​

You can change your mind as many times as you would like prior to the deadlines listed in the table above. It may be easiest to wait until you know your final course grade before making a decision.​

Except for students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies program with Fraternal Order of Police, all undergraduate students may opt for Pass/D/Fail for any of their courses.  

However, any student whose tuition is reimbursed by their employer​ should check with them to determine what is reimbursable. In addition, students should check the COVID-19 website FAQs ​regarding other factors that may impact this decision. If you have further questions about your specific situation, make an appointment to talk to your academic advisor or a Financial Aid counselor.​​

Also please note that your Degree Progress Report will need to be adjusted to reflect this change of policy. Summer courses Degree Progress Reports will be updated by the end of Fall Quarter.​

​The table below shows how the Pass/D/Fail grades will impact your GPA and satisfy your graduation requirements.

​Grade
​Earns credit 
​Factors into your GPA 
​​Satisfies specific graduation requirement 
​Pass (P) 
​Yes 
​No 
​Yes 
​D or D+ ​
​Yes 
​Yes 
​For some yes, but not all. ​Check catalogue for grade requirements attached to specific program's course(s).
Fail (F) 
​No 
​Yes 
​No 


Students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies ​ program for the Fraternal Order of Police cannot opt into the temporary Pass/D/Fail grading basis. Students in other Corporate Partnership programs should check with their employer to determine what is available for reimbursement.  

In addition, students should check the COVID-19 website FAQs ​regarding other factors that may impact this decision. If you have further questions about your specific situation, make an appointment to talk to your academic advisor or a Financial Aid counselor.​​​

Except for students in the School of Nursing, all graduate students can opt into the temporary Pass/D/Fail grading basis. However, any student whose tuition is reimbursed by their employer should check with their employer to determine what is available for reimbursement.

In addition, students should check the COVID-19 website FAQs ​regarding other factors that may impact this decision. If you have further questions about your specific situation, make an appointment to talk to your academic advisor or a Financial Aid counselor.​​​

Please consult with the College of Law, which has a separate policy.​

There are several differences between DePaul's standard Pass/Fail policy and the temporary Pass/D/Fail policy enacted in response to our current health crisis.  

The standard policy was created to encourage students to use open electives to explore unfamiliar areas of learning without worrying about the grade. The policy stipulates that “grades A through D represent passing performance" but it applies only to open electives and includes many additional restrictions.  

The temporary Pass/D/Fail policy was enacted to address the universal move to remote learning and other stressors as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Students may opt for the Pass/D/Fail grading basis to apply to any of their courses including courses in their major, minor, Liberal Studies and/or open electives. There is no limit on the number of courses that can carry the Pass/D/Fail grading basis during the Summer, Fall or December Intersession 2020 terms. At the same time, because this grading basis may apply so widely, only grades A through C- will be classified as Pass.​

If you already opted to take one course using the standard Pass/Fail grading basis, you can leave it as is. You can also opt to take any of your other Fall courses using the Pass/D/Fail option. These instructions also will apply to December Intersession 2020 courses.  

​Every student will have to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each grading system for themselves. Some of the factors to consider:
  • Does your degree lead to any sort of external licensure? Check to see if the license requires a letter grade.
  • Will you be applying to graduate school? If so, check to see if the program(s) where you plan to apply will accept grades of Pass.
  • Are you applying for a scholarship, whether at DePaul or elsewhere? Check to see if there are GPA requirements.
  • Are you trying to improve your GPA to get off probation? It may be to your advantage to stay with the traditional letter grades. Please schedule an appointment with an academic advisor in your college for specific GPA calculations.
  • Do you receive financial aid? If you are not meeting minimum GPA requirements, as outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, for financial aid then you will need to earn favorable letter grades to improve your GPA. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions. 
  • Does your employer reimburse you for tuition? If so check to see if they require a letter grade.

If you are uncertain about your own situation please schedule a conversation with your academic advisor​ to determine the possible implications of your choice.  ​

On-campus resources

For the most current list of DePaul buildings that are closed or restricted, visit the Building Closures website.

Please give serious consideration to the necessity of visiting campus. If it is necessary for you to visit campus, DePaul’s buildings will operate in controlled access mode, requiring an ID card swipe or sign in for entry. Access will be available from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.​

General purpose computer labs will be open on both campuses once Fall Quarter classes begin. Please visit the Student Success website for the most up-to-date list of locations, hours, and labs with ADA-accessible equipment. 

​Furthmore, spaces in the DePaul University Library are now open to current students, fac​ulty and staff for independent study and computer use. For more information, please visit Newsline. ​

Submit a question

If you can’t find an answer that you’re looking for, submit a question to our COVID-19 response team.

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