The grade of FN is assigned to students who have ceased attending class but who have not officially withdrawn. Faculty are asked to provide a last date of attendance when assigning this grade. The grade and the last date of attendance are used by the university in advising students, and to establish a withdrawal date for the return of unearned student financial aid. (See FN Policy via the Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs.)

On March 30, 1999, the University Faculty Council adopted the following recommendations regarding the "FN" grade:

• ESTABLISH AN "FN" GRADE ("F" FOR "NON-ATTENDANCE").

  This has been endorsed by the system-wide Academic Officers Committee. As proposed, the "N" part of the grade would not appear on the official academic record, but would appear on internal transcript formats and on registrar data files. This addition to grading policy would allow separation of "F" grades awarded for poor performance in class from "F" grades awarded for students who fail to attend or stop attending (the "unofficial withdrawals"). Since the "FN" grade would provide additional information regarding student performance (or, rather, lack of performance), it might also serve as an aid in advising.

• WHEN "FN" GRADE IS ASSIGNED, REQUIRE THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO TO SUPPLY A LAST DATE OF DOCUMENTED CLASS ATTENDANCE (OR CLASS PARTICIPATION) ON THE GRADE ROSTER.

  This would provide a basis for establishing a "withdrawal date" for return of unearned financial aid.

• REQUIRE FACULTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGISTRAR'S ENROLLMENT AUDIT, NOW CONDUCTED IN THE FIFTH TO SEVENTH* WEEK OF EACH REGULAR SEMESTER.

  See Policy BL-ACA-H32: Grades Given Upon Withdrawal from Courses--Undergratuates Only.

Distinction between FN and FNN grades

The "FN" grade policy requires that an instructor must provide the last date of documented class attendance or participation when awarding the "FN" grade. Examples of documentation of class attendance include "records of a student’s presence at class meetings, examinations, tutorials, computer-assisted instruction, advising or counseling sessions, or study groups."

Please note, effective May 2005, the value of "FNN" should be entered for students who have NEVER attended the class. No date should be provided.

The grade that will appear on the student grade report and academic record when an "FN" or "FNN" grade is assigned will be "F," which remains in compliance with the 1953 Faculty Council policy regarding grades assigned in cases of Absence During Last Weeks of a Semester. (See Policy BL-ACA-H32.)

*Administratively moved to the second to sixth week for the Bloomington campus, beginning Fall 2011.