Concordia University students kindly ask the university to consider reinstalling the OPTIONAL temporary change in our grading system. Given the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19 and the forced-upon switch to online classes, we would like to have the option of receiving a pass/fail grade or, like some universities have adopted, NRC (No Record Covid). Institutions such as Georgetown University, Duke University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Michigan have already established this optional change for their Fall 2020 term. Ohio University is also offering another alternative: students may opt to receive a satisfactory mark rather than a letter grade.

We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone, and we all are adapting to sudden changes. But the emotional consequences the Coronavirus is having on many of the students is already jeopardizing our learning and consequentially our performance. Unfortunately, isolation can be an anxiety-provoking factor, especially for students who are easily distracted at home or by online learning platforms. We believe that having the option of a pass/fail grading system, or NRC, will lessen the stress and allow us to better engage in our classes and ultimately be able to learn more. Furthermore, many international students are having to return to their homes, and in addition to the stress of having to study online and keep up with their assignments, they are having to pack everything, sell their things, and deal with documentations to move across the world. It is very time-consuming and overwhelming, added to the stressful uncertainty of whether borders will remain open. Additionally, if the pass/fail system is an option, it respects both the students who are comfortable maintaining a letter grade and the students who believe a pass/fail / NRC system would help them through this stressful situation. 

We thank Concordia University for taking our suggestion into consideration.

Interesting links:

https://www.georgetown.edu/news/grading-policy-for-fall-2020/

https://coronavirus.duke.edu/2020/08/update-to-trinity-s-u-grading-policy-this-fall-semester/

https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/news/fall-2020-pass-fail-policy

https://ro.umich.edu/records-registration/covid-19-fall20-winter21-grading

https://www.ohio.edu/registrar/satisfactory-grade-opt-process#:~:text=In%20an%20effort%20to%20ensure,of%20S%20for%20C%2D