PROVO — A Brigham Young University student has tested positive for COVID-19, the university announced Monday on its website and in an email to students.
Meanwhile, BYU announced a change in its grading system for the current semester. Faculty will submit the standard letter grade, but students then will have the choice to keep that grade or have their record reflect a pass/fail notation.
The university learned about the positive COVID-19 test on Monday. The student has returned home, it said. The student lived off campus and the property manager has contacted the other residents.
“The Utah County Health Department is conducting contact tracing and will make the appropriate notifications,” the university release said, adding that, “To BYU’s knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in our campus community who was studying or working on campus this semester.”
Grading changes
The university’s homepage on Monday trumpeted the news that “BYU made a big change to Winter semester grades.” The move was prompted by the changes brought from the pandemic that is gripping the world.
Students who receive an A, B or C in a class may choose to have their transcript reflect a Pass, instead, which will count as a completed academic credit.
A Fail chosen over a D or F grade will not adversely affect GPA, for this semester only.
“We’ve received many questions concerning fair evaluation of final grades at the end of this altered 2020 Winter semester,” Academic Vice President Shane Reese said in a statement.
Further details about deadlines, logistics and more will be released later.
“We hope this provides you some options and that it helps reduce some of the stress you may be feeling,” Reese said.
On March 12, BYU announced that it had canceled classes on March 13, 16 and 17 based on health recommendations designed to fight then curve the pandemic. Virtual classes resumed on Wednesday with students encouraged to leave campus housing and continue their studies from their homes.
BYU has prohibited all gatherings of more than 10 people, in accordance with the Utah state health order.