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“S/U” Grading

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading allows students the option to receive an “S/U” grade instead of a standard letter grade (“A”-“F”) or Pass/Fail grade.

  • “S/U” is a student-selected option that replaces the faculty-assigned letter grade with an “S” or “U.”
  • “S” and “U” grades do not impact a student’s GPA. They also do not count for the Dean’s List or Latin Honors.
  • “S/U” courses may not be used to satisfy general education (UB Curriculum) or major requirements.
  • “S/U” courses may not be used for a course that a student is repeating.
  • Students may request, at any time, to recover their letter grade using the S/U tool (UBITName and password required).

Instructors Submit Letter Grades for Undergraduate Students at the End of the Term

Instructors are not notified when a student selects the “S/U” option. For any student who elected “S/U” as follows, the Office of the Registrar will convert the instructor-assigned letter grade to the “S/U” as follows:

  • “A”-“C” and “P” will convert to an “S.”
  • “C-” and below and “F” will convert to a “U.”

It is critical that instructors maintain a mechanism to compute a letter grade for all students, as this will be the only option when submitting final grades. “S” and “U” will not be an option in the drop-down menu used to select undergraduate grades in HUB. Only “A”-“F” (or “P/F” for a course approved for that grading basis) are available in the drop-down menu.

“S/U” vs. “P/F” for Undergraduate Students
“S/U” “P/F”
“S/U” grading is a student-selected option for a course that is normally designated with A-F or P/F grading. The course instructor does not know if a student selects a course for S/U grading. “P/F” grading is designated at the course level, and faculty assign all students enrolled in such a course either a “P” or “F” grade at the end of the term. Students may not elect this option.
“S/U” grades do not factor into the GPA. A grade of “F” (failure) is included in the GPA.
Once grades have been assigned for the term, a student can reclaim the letter grade that the instructor assigned. When a letter grade is reclaimed, the “S/U” is replaced by the letter grade that the faculty member originally submitted, and the letter grade is factored into the GPA. The “P” does not correspond to any specific letter grade; rather, it is an indication that the student has passed the course. There are no grade points associated with a “P,” but the credit hours are earned. The course instructor submits the appropriate letter or “P/F” grade at the end of the term.
“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

More Information about Undergraduate “S/U” Grading on the Main Registrar Website
  • Other options for students instead of “S/U” grades.
  • How students can recover the letter grade for an “S/U” graded course.

> View the “S/U” undergraduate grading page on the main Registrar website

  • Students can select the “S/U” option in lieu of receiving a letter grade. 
  • Students who wish to be graded on a basis different from the one announced by the instructor must submit a written request to the instructor. The instructor’s decision will be final and will be transmitted to the student in writing.
  • “S/U” Grades do not count for GPA, Dean’s List or Latin Honors.
  • “S” and “U” grades do not affect a student’s GPA.

Instructors Submit “S/U” Grades for Graduate Students at the End of the Term

Instructors submit “S/U” grades for approved students at the end of the term as follows:

  • “A”-“B” and “P” should be converted to “S.”
  • “B-” and below should be converted to “U.”
“S/U” vs. “P/F” for Graduate Students
“S/U” “P/F”
“S/U” grading is a student-selected option for a course that is normally designated with A-F or P/F grading.
 “P/F” grading is designated at the course-level, and all students enrolled in such a course receive either a “P” or “F” grade at the end of the term. Students may not elect this option. 
“S/U” grades do not factor into the GPA. The grade of “F” (failure) is included in the GPA.
  The “P” does not correspond to any specific letter grade; rather, it is an indication that the student has passed the course. There are no grade points associated with a “P,” but the credit hours are earned.
View the Graduate School Policy Library for more information about “S/U” grading