Virtual Campus

All your live “synchronous” classes will take place on the same day and same time (Eastern Daylight Time) as they would have normally been held on campus. A number of our courses will have asynchronous aspects to the class and typically live sessions will be recorded.

We are grateful that we have students around the corner, across the United States, and spanning the globe. This will provide some challenges regarding time zones but we are asking you to do your part to support your learning and the academic continuity of the College. This will mean, when noted by the professor’s expectations for class participation and group work, that you may need to engage in time zone shifting for the six weeks remaining in the semester followed by finals week.

For some of you, this will mean getting up early and for others staying up late. In other words, you may need to be on Eastern Daylight Time for learning and adjusting your sleeping patterns and life accordingly to the best of your abilities. If you are having major issues resulting from the difference in time zone, please discuss this with your professor in a timely manner.

For the Spring 2020 semester you can:

• Continue to earn letter grades for all of your courses; or
• Select any or all of your courses to be taken using pass-fail grades.
  
  

Next Steps

If you seek letter grades for all of your courses, no further action is needed.

If you would like to select course(s) to be taken pass/fail, here are the steps you need to take:

1. Log in to the Babson student portal.
2. Select the quick link button “Spring 2020 Pass/Fail Course Request.”
3. Select the course(s) from your enrolled classes and then hit “submit.”

You will receive an email receipt of your selection(s). You may make changes to your selection(s) up until the deadline of midnight (EDT) on April 29.

If you have already submitted your request via the email procedure no further action is required. However, you remain eligible to change your request using the new system. We have now turned off the old process.

If you are unable to engage in a course and complete course requirements, please discuss your situation in a timely manner with your professor and class dean to determine if an “incomplete” should be taken.

For the Spring 2020 semester you can continue to earn letter grades for all of your courses, or select any or all of your courses to be taken using pass/fail grades.

Next Steps

If you wish to earn letter grades for all of your courses, no further action is needed.

If you would like to select course(s) to be taken pass/fail, please read through the additional considerations carefully before completing the required next steps. 

Additional Considerations

Carefully review any individual considerations that may impact your decision such as GPA or letter grade requirements for scholarships, employer reimbursements, or employment opportunities. Students are strongly advised to confer with their faculty before making a decision if they have any questions around their individual academic progress.

A “pass” grade in a course earns credits toward your degree, as appropriate meets academic requirements, but does not affect your GPA. Students currently on academic probation are strongly advised to meet with Graduate Academic Services to determine how a pass/fail choice may impact their academic standing.

A grade of “fail” has the same significant impact as an “F” letter grade, it will lower your GPA and credits will not be applied toward your degree.

Your professor’s course level grading rubric and expectations for learning still apply. To earn a “pass” grade you must earn the equivalent of a passing letter grade. The minimum passing grade at the graduate level is C-. If your performance is below the level of a C- you will earn a “fail” in the selected pass/fail course.

Half-semester courses that ended before we shifted to all courses being online are not eligible for retroactive pass-fail grading.

Pass grades are not factored into GPA and therefore are not considered for honors or valedictorian status.

If you are unable to engage in a course and complete the course requirements, please discuss your situation in a timely manner with your faculty to determine if an “incomplete” should be taken. Please note: if you are in your final semester there will be implications to your graduation date and/or to starting OPT. Please consult with Graduate Academic Services for more information if you are planning to graduate in May and think you may need an Incomplete grade in one or more courses.

How to Select Pass/Fail

1. Login to the Babson student portal.
2. Select the quick link button “Spring 2020 Pass/Fail Course Request.”
3. Select the course(s) from your enrolled classes and then hit “submit.”

You will receive an email receipt of your selection(s).  You may make changes to your selection(s) up until the deadline of midnight (EDT) on April 29.

Essential to the mission of Babson College is the commitment to the principles of intellectual honesty and integrity. Academic integrity is important for two reasons. First, independent and original scholarship ensures that students derive the most they can from their educational experience and the pursuit of knowledge. Second, academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and diminishes the achievements of the entire college community.

Students are encouraged to review the Babson College’s Community Standards 2019-2020 (pdf) to re-familiarize themselves with the Academic Integrity Standards, which begin on page 48. While your coursework may look different, your commitment to your Academic Integrity should remain. As you proceed to engage with your coursework in the virtual setting, ask yourself the following questions:

“Does this course of action give me an unfair advantage?”
“Is the work that I am about to submit free from unauthorized aid?”

If you are unsure what constitutes an unfair advantage or unauthorized aid, ASK. Your professors and the staff in Community Standards are here to help guide you.