Guidance on WN/WU Grades

According to the York College Bulletin (online), the differences between the WN grade and the WU grade are differences of timing, mechanics and permanence.  The WU or “unofficial withdrawal” grade has replaced the SA or “Stopped Attending” grade.

Students who never participated in academically related activity in a class should be assigned a WN grade.  Typically, Instructors effectively will assign this grade within the first two-three weeks of the semester, at the point when the Office of the Registrar deploys the VOE Rosters.  If the Instructor, through the VOE Roster, indicates that a student has not participated in any academically related activity, the Office of the Registrar automatically assigns the WN grade.  The Instructor can reverse the WN grade if there was a mistake and if the student still is able to pass the course.  CUNY has launched a new, electronic platform for grade changes which now includes WN Reversals.

Unlike the WN grade, an Instructor can assign the WU grade at the end of the semester, along with other grades. In essence, the WU grade covers the period after the deployment of the VOE Rosters.  The York College Bulletin indicates that the WU grade is appropriate for a student who participated at least once in an academically related activity and completely stopped participating at any time before the Final Exam.  The June 2024 CUNY Uniform Grade Symbols and Guidelines document, effective Fall 2024, states more fully that a WU grade is applicable “to students who participated in an academic activity related to the class at least once, stopped participating, did not drop the class or receive approval for an incomplete, did not otherwise officially withdraw from the course, and did not complete enough work for the instructor to be able to calculate an earned grade using the criteria delineated in the course syllabus.” This same document cautions that an ‘F’ grade should never be given in place of a ‘WU’ grade. Unlike an INC grade, the implication of university policy is that the WU cannot be changed because it is an indication that there is no reasonable expectation that the effected student can successfully complete the course requirements.

Finally, with regard to the INC grade, both College and University sources note that the INC is to be assigned “by an Instructor in consultation with the student when there is a reasonable expectation that the student can successfully complete the requirements of the course no later than the last day of classes of the following semester.”  Best practice dictates that the student and instructor set up a plan for completion of the course requirements.

Unlike a WU grade, the INC is a temporary grade and can be changed to a letter grade upon the student’s timely completion of any outstanding work for the course.  If a student with an INC fails to complete the outstanding course work prior to the deadline, the INC converts to an FIN grade.