Implement pass/no-pass for Fall 2020 at Carnegie Mellon University
The Issue
- Pass/No-pass Option for COVID-19/Hybrid Semesters at CMU
- The Corona Virus Pandemic is changing lives like never before. CMU is recognized for being a very prestigious university, but let’s not forget—CMU is also very stressful (even before the pandemic)
- Yes, CMU students enjoy stress to some degree (which is probably why we are students here), but the added stress being put on students with COVID-19, the election, injustice in society, and “cabin-fever” is making things more difficult
- I’ve spoken with many peers regarding this topic, and they have all agreed that CMU should implement the same pass/no-pass policy as they did last semester. They do not understand what CMU Administration benefits from not implementing pass/no-pass
- I did hear from one student that having pass/no-pass is a bad idea because some students plan to apply Medical School or Graduate School after graduation and that they are afraid those admissions will see they “passed” a class instead of taking the letter grade and that their application will be tossed out.
- With this pass/no-pass policy, I am not forcing any student to pass/no-pass—if a student wants to take his/her letter grade in all classes, by all means be my guest. I would just like pass/no-pass to be an option to help reduce stress among those students where GPA is important to them, but not necessarily crucial for post-graduation.
- CMU always claims to support student’s mental health, always copying and pasting on syllabi the “Wellness and Mental Health” section, but I feel as though administration doesn’t realize that if students were given a pass/no-pass option (which again, we’re not forcing any student to use it—we would just like it to be an option), many student’s mental health could be changed for the better.
- Other universities throughout the country, including our state rival school University of Pennsylvania, have already implemented pass/no-pass again just like from Spring 2020. Why should CMU not offer that same pass/no-pass option?
- And finally, on a side note: CMU professors have been recommended by administration to “not just have exams but have more smaller stake assignments.” Obviously not every professor is abiding by this recommendation, claiming we are still obtaining the same education (which is not true since many students feel as though they do not learn as well in an online environment, but our tuition is still the same?). And for those professors who grade attendance, I won’t even go there! This just furthers my justification as to why pass/no-pass should be implemented.
CMU StudentPetition Starter
This petition had 1,159 supporters
The Issue
- Pass/No-pass Option for COVID-19/Hybrid Semesters at CMU
- The Corona Virus Pandemic is changing lives like never before. CMU is recognized for being a very prestigious university, but let’s not forget—CMU is also very stressful (even before the pandemic)
- Yes, CMU students enjoy stress to some degree (which is probably why we are students here), but the added stress being put on students with COVID-19, the election, injustice in society, and “cabin-fever” is making things more difficult
- I’ve spoken with many peers regarding this topic, and they have all agreed that CMU should implement the same pass/no-pass policy as they did last semester. They do not understand what CMU Administration benefits from not implementing pass/no-pass
- I did hear from one student that having pass/no-pass is a bad idea because some students plan to apply Medical School or Graduate School after graduation and that they are afraid those admissions will see they “passed” a class instead of taking the letter grade and that their application will be tossed out.
- With this pass/no-pass policy, I am not forcing any student to pass/no-pass—if a student wants to take his/her letter grade in all classes, by all means be my guest. I would just like pass/no-pass to be an option to help reduce stress among those students where GPA is important to them, but not necessarily crucial for post-graduation.
- CMU always claims to support student’s mental health, always copying and pasting on syllabi the “Wellness and Mental Health” section, but I feel as though administration doesn’t realize that if students were given a pass/no-pass option (which again, we’re not forcing any student to use it—we would just like it to be an option), many student’s mental health could be changed for the better.
- Other universities throughout the country, including our state rival school University of Pennsylvania, have already implemented pass/no-pass again just like from Spring 2020. Why should CMU not offer that same pass/no-pass option?
- And finally, on a side note: CMU professors have been recommended by administration to “not just have exams but have more smaller stake assignments.” Obviously not every professor is abiding by this recommendation, claiming we are still obtaining the same education (which is not true since many students feel as though they do not learn as well in an online environment, but our tuition is still the same?). And for those professors who grade attendance, I won’t even go there! This just furthers my justification as to why pass/no-pass should be implemented.
CMU StudentPetition Starter
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Petition created on November 13, 2020