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Tiered grading for pass/fail considered
by Shana D. Lebowitz
Features Editor
News | 11/14/06
Posted online at 6:02 AM EST on 11/14/06
/ Last updated at 9:14 PM EST on 11/14/06
"Personally, I think it's a good change," Strauss said, because some faculty members find D- too low of a standard for allowing a passing grade.
Although no formal UCC proposal has been drafted yet, once it's ready, Strauss said the faculty will vote on it twice at two consecutive meetings for approval.
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Chair Prof. David Wright said uncovering the "D" would unnecessarily penalize students who just want to explore a new subject "outside their frame of comfortability."
Wright said when he knows a student in his class is taking the course pass/fail, he "takes in stride the student's imperfect performance."
Strauss said the UCC does not aim to "penalize people for Ds or make it harder for people to take a class pass/fail." Rather, a new grading system would alleviate faculty confusion over how to best evaluate pass/fail students.
Prof. Edward Goldstein (MATH) said it's "reasonable" to uncover grades below C-, adding that many of his pass/fail students have passed with a C-anyway.
Dana Hall '07 said because many students take five courses and use the pass/fail option as a "safety net," the current pass/fail system shouldn't change.
Although no formal UCC proposal has been drafted yet, once it's ready, Strauss said the faculty will vote on it twice at two consecutive meetings for approval.
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Chair Prof. David Wright said uncovering the "D" would unnecessarily penalize students who just want to explore a new subject "outside their frame of comfortability."
Wright said when he knows a student in his class is taking the course pass/fail, he "takes in stride the student's imperfect performance."
Strauss said the UCC does not aim to "penalize people for Ds or make it harder for people to take a class pass/fail." Rather, a new grading system would alleviate faculty confusion over how to best evaluate pass/fail students.
Prof. Edward Goldstein (MATH) said it's "reasonable" to uncover grades below C-, adding that many of his pass/fail students have passed with a C-anyway.
Dana Hall '07 said because many students take five courses and use the pass/fail option as a "safety net," the current pass/fail system shouldn't change.
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