Undergraduate “S/U” Grading

Undergraduate students may be able to have a course graded satisfactory / unsatisfactory (“S/U”) instead of receiving a traditional letter grade or “P/F” grade.

How Letter Grades Convert to “S/U”

Course instructors are not made aware if a student selects “S/U” grading for a course. The course instructor submits the appropriate letter grade or “P/F” grade at the end of the term, and that grade is then converted to the appropriate “S” or “U” grade as follows:

“C” or Better: “S”

  • A grade of “C” or better is converted to an “S.”
  • “S” indicates credit earned.
  • Students must remain engaged in the course and complete appropriate coursework to earn an “S” grade. 
  • Students taking a class pass/fail (“P/F”) who receive a “P” will receive an “S” if they have “S/U” grading.

“C-” and Below: “U”

  • A grade of “C-” or lower is converted to a “U.”
  • “U” indicates no credit earned. 
  • Students taking a class pass/fail (“P/F”) who receive an “F” will receive a “U” if they have “S/U” grading.
“S/U” Grading Cannot Be Used for All Courses

Students cannot select “S/U” grading for:

  • A course that counts toward UB Curriculum or Pathways general education requirements.
  • A course that counts toward major requirements or prerequisite(s) for the major(s).
  • A course that a student is repeating.

In addition, no more than 25 percent of a student’s UB credit can be graded “S/U.”

> View the Undergraduate Catalog for more information about “S/U” grading

Change to “S/U” Grading by the Resign Deadline

Undergraduate students may request “S/U” grading by submitting the S/U Grade Request form by the resign deadline for the course.

“S/U” Grading May Not Be the Best Option
  • If a student needs letter grades in order to meet the institutional GPA requirement for graduation, selecting “S/U” may not be the best option.
  • If a student is counting on a letter grade to boost their GPA and help ensure they retain scholarships and/or progress in their major, an “S/U” grade might not be appropriate.
  • Students may need letter grades in order to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
  • Students may want GPA-impacting course grades in order to be competitive for graduate school admissions (and other purposes external to the program); graduate programs, law schools and medical schools often require letter grades for courses relevant to the discipline.

> Contact an academic advisor with questions about whether “S/U” grading is a good option

“S/U” Grades Do Not Count for GPA, Dean’s List or Latin Honors

Recover the Letter Grade for an “S/U” Graded Course

Once grades have been assigned for the term, a student can opt to recover the letter grade that the instructor assigned. When a student reclaims a letter grade, the letter grade replaces the “S/U” on the student’s record, and the letter grade is factored into their GPA.

Courses Taken Spring 2020 or Later - Use the “S/U” Tool

Students can use the “S/U” tool to recover letter grades for their courses.

Courses Taken Before Spring 2020 - Use the “S/U” Grade Recovery Form

Students can use the recovery form for courses taken prior to spring 2020.

Receive an Incomplete for an “S/U” Graded Course

If a student requested “S/U” grading for a course, they can also request and be granted an incomplete (“I”) for that course, as long as they meet the criteria to request an incomplete grade from the faculty member.

Students may only be granted approval for an “I” grade by their instructor if they have a passing average in the coursework that has been completed and have well-defined parameters to complete the course requirements that could result in a grade better than the default grade.

Graduate Students: View the Graduate School Policy Library

Graduate students should refer to the Graduate School website for more information on graduate “S/U” grading.

> Graduate School Policy Library

Grading Definitions & Policies

For more information about grades, including definitions of grades and related policies, please view:

Faculty: Grading Information

Important grading information for faculty, including grading deadlines for current and upcoming terms and links to helpful resources, can be found on our Faculty/Staff Grading page.

Visit the Faculty Grading Page