Although taking that odd elective class for pass/fail credit may seem like a good idea to the average student, not all faculty members are sold on the value of the practice.

“At the undergraduate level, faculty generally aren’t recommending that students take classes pass/not pass,” said Lisa Larson, professor of psychology.

Larson said that a more positive impression is given when a letter grade appears on students’ transcripts.

The option to take classes on a pass/not pass basis began at Iowa State in the 1970s as a way to encourage students to try new classes without worrying about grades, said Registrar Kathy Jones.

Larson said she would not recommend pass/not pass grading — even for classes outside a student’s major — because it can give the impression that a student didn’t attend classes.

Samantha Huston, freshman in liberal arts and sciences-open option, said she didn’t think such a judgment was fair.

Huston said a pass on a transcript should not be interpreted more negatively than a letter grade.

“I think [pass/not pass grading] encourages students to take classes they’d normally not take,” Huston said.

Kate Brown, sophomore in art and design, agreed.

“I think a lot of students use pass/not pass for science classes and other things that are not in their major,” Brown said.

In spring 2004, 673 students used the pass/not pass grading option in 834 courses, Jones said.

Certain restrictions do apply to the grading option. No more than nine credits may be taken pass/not pass.

Students on temporary enrollment are ineligible to register for pass/not pass grading, and classes on a satisfactory/fail basis may not be graded pass/not pass.

Veronica Dark, associate professor of psychology, said student performances in classes where they are not given letter grades can very widely.

“I can envision people who know they won’t put much work into a course deciding to take it pass/not pass,” Dark said.

Dark said when she was an undergraduate, taking a class on a pass/not pass basis didn’t do anything to affect her motivation to do well.

To register a class for pass/not pass grading, students need to have their adviser sign the approval section of the schedule change or restriction waiver.

The last day to change a class pass/not pass is Oct. 29.