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A new pass/no credit policy aims to enforce consistency across all the academic departments on campus, the director of the Registrar's Office said.

Patrick Miller, registrar and director of enrollment management of the Registrar's Office, said colleges and schools on campus had different pass/no credit rules in the past, and students and advisers were both confused about these rules.

Starting this fall, all students will be limited to two pass/no credit courses in their time at TCU, Miller said. No courses in a major, minor or associated requirements - such as business, teacher certification and English as a second language courses - may be taken pass/no credit, he said.

Michael Butler, associate dean of the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, said before the new policy, the pass/no credit rules were determined by departments.

"A pre-major student comes into my office and asks me if he should take this class for pass/no credit," Butler said. "I couldn't give him an answer because until he declared a major I wouldn't know what policy was going to apply to him."

Butler said the new policy will apply to all students, even if they change their majors.

Miller said the policy was passed two years ago by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and the University Council, but it took a year to implement the necessary computer programs.

"Before, once you've made the decision then it's irrevocable," Miller said. "Now you can always change your mind before the deadline."

Students can apply the pass/no credit grading option online via the "edit classes option" on www.my.tcu.edu. The option is available until until Oct. 23.

Butler said the pass/no credit policy gives students the chance to step out of their comfort zone to explore classes that are not required for their majors.

"A business major may be interested in taking an art history course and doesn't have to worry about affecting his GPA," he said.

Jenighi Powell, a senior international relations major, said she likes the new policy because it was unfair how some majors could take more pass/no credit classes than other majors.

Josh Gill, a sophomore engineering major, said he is taking a professional business speaking class after he has already taken the required basic speech communication class.

"I enjoy taking this class," Gill said. "But if I'm not doing too well in this class I will take it for pass/no credit."

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