Grading of Koç University Courses for the Spring 2020 Semester

Nisan 2, 2020

Dear Students and Faculty,
 
As we are nearing the end of Week 1 of online/remote learning and teaching, we are now fully prepared for the rest of the Spring Semester to be executed completely online/remotely.     Details of the procedures and methods used have long been shared with you from your Colleges, Schools, Graduate INstitutes Koç University Office of Learning & Teaching (KOLT), IT Directorate and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).  
 
We are pleased to see that we are surely finding our way through this new model of education and feel confident that we shall be able to complete the Semester, including all Exams and other requirements,  so that all students can receive proper grading and credit for the courses they are registered for.     
 
Nevertheless, having reached this point does not take away from the stress of our current circumstances for all of us or lessen the challenges of teaching and learning, definitely interrupted and disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has completely overtaken our planet.  
 
Taking these unusual circumstances into consideration, our Academic Council has unanimously decided to offer a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (i.e., ‘Pass/Fail’) grading option for this Semester, effective immediately. Myself and my colleagues believe that it is important to provide our students this flexibility so that, for each class they are enrolled in, they can choose to receive a letter grade or a Pass/Fail grade.
 
Students shall be able to decide if they would like to switch any of their classes to Pass/Fail grading after their final letter grades are posted.
 
Undergraduate Students shall be able to either/or
 
• keep the final letter grade in their transcripts 
• instead receive a grade of “S” – Başarılı (Satisfactory) if their final letter grade is “D” or above
 
Graduate Students shall be able to either/or
 
• keep the final letter grade in their transcripts 
• instead receive a grade of  “S” –  Başarılı (Satisfactory) if their final letter grade is “C” or above
 
Please note that for students who choose letter grades (such as A, A-, B), their Grade Point Averages (GPA) shall continue to be affected by the numerical equivalent of the grade, as is the case currently.   Courses with Pass (‘Satisfactory’) grades shall still count toward degree requirements, with students still receiving credit for Pass, but the grade shall not affect the student GPA.
 
Please also note that this new regulation applies to students who are on Exchange Programs. Our ELC Directorate is currently working to finalize our regulations regarding ELC students and KUEPE Exams, to be communicated in a separate notice.
 
Please contact your Colleges, Schools and VPAA for any questions on the above decision of the Academic Council.
 
As I stated earlier in my March newsletter, we all know that these days too shall pass and I am confident that with the help of all of you, we shall prevail to ensure the continuity of our primary educational and research mission and that we shall in fact emerge out of this difficult period as a stronger institution.
 
My best wishes and regards to you all,
 
—Umran 
 
Umran S. İnan
PRESIDENT