Dear Faculty Teaching Undergraduate Students,
As we near the midpoint of the semester, I want to remind you of the importance of mid-semester grades, which should be recorded in SIS by Monday, Oct. 21, the first day of fall break. This deadline is critical for providing students sufficient time to review their progress, allowing them to make timely adjustments to their course loads.
Why are mid-semester grades important?
-
They empower students to determine if they are on track to successfully complete a course.
-
Advisors use this information to offer personalized guidance and help students plan the rest of the semester.
-
Undergraduate Advising Support identifies students who may need additional resources to ensure they maintain good academic standing.
A few helpful reminders:
-
Although students may see grades in Canvas, posting grades in SIS is crucial, as it allows advisors and four-year advisors to view students' progress and spot any patterns across courses.
-
Incomplete (I) should be avoided for mid-semester evaluations, as it does not accurately reflect a student’s progress. Instead, we want to capture whether they are on track for success in the course.
-
Even if your course is project-based with few graded components, we ask that you assess if a student is making satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) progress at this point.
-
Please submit mid-semester grades even if you believe a student is planning to withdraw—they may not have officially done so or might still be weighing their decision.
-
If you have a student who has been participating in the course but is not on your grade roster, please ask the student to be in touch with their four-year advisor in Undergraduate Advising Support.
Thank you for submitting mid-semester grades by Oct. 21. As always, do not hesitate to reach out to the Undergraduate Advising Support Office if you have any concerns about a student.
Sincerely,
Joy K. Ward
Provost and Executive Vice President