In 1967 the Faculty Senate first authorized eligible juniors and seniors to take certain courses under a Pass/Fail grading system in order to encourage students to take courses outside their fields of special competence with less pressure or competition for grades. That system has evolved to the Satisfactory/No Credit (S/NC) grading device, which is an alternative to the standard grading system (A, B, C, D, and F). An S is equivalent to a grade of C or better; an NC is equivalent to a D or F. Neither the S nor the NC was to be counted in the grade point average. Students could elect the alternative grading system except in curriculum courses, major and minor requirements, and major or minor prerequisites.