Last week, we informed you that the CUNY Board of Trustees approved a Credit/No Credit policy implementation (*with limited exclusions) at the College of Staten Island for the fall 2020 term. The community realizes that our students continue to face many challenges this term, balancing work, family life, and their education. We sincerely hope that the implementation of this policy can help some of you maintain forward momentum in your college education. Last week, following consultation with the Executive Committees of the Faculty Senate and College Council, the Personnel and Budget Committee, the Deans, and President Fritz, the campus exempted 58 majors-only courses in Nursing, Social Work, and Physical Therapy from the policy. A Credit/No Credit option is available for all other CSI courses for the fall semester. 

Thus, after final grades for the Fall 2020 semester are posted to their CUNYfirst accounts, students will have the option of choosing Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) for individual credit-bearing, graded courses in CUNYfirst until Sunday, Jan. 10. 2021. 

However, before making this decision, students should speak with their academic advisor and financial aid counselor, as implications for opting in vary based on academic program and financial aid eligibility.

If, after appropriate consultation, you decide to take advantage of this policy in CUNYfirst, then: 

  • Selected courses in which you received an B+ through D will be converted to CR. 
  • Selected courses in which your received an F will be converted to NC.   

The College has put together a comprehensive online list of FAQs regarding this policy.

Some important points to consider when making your decision about CR/NC:

  • Once selected, the CR/NC option cannot be reversed.
  • ​Courses taken for a letter grade will continue to be included in the semester and overall GPA calculations, while courses taken for Credit/No Credit will be excluded from calculation into the GPA.​ 
  • Credits for Fall courses with NC/W grades will be excluded from attempted credits used in the federal SAP calculation (Satisfactory Academic Progress).
  • Students will have until Jan. 10 to opt-in if they choose to do so.

​If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email CRNCfall@csi.cuny.edu​ so that we can assist you.

Wishing you all good health.

By Michael Parrish