On behalf of Engineering students who have experienced challenges from the Math Department at the University of Manitoba, I am starting this petition to address a critical issue that affects many engineering students like myself. Most engineering departments require MATH 2130, 2132, and 3132, the three Mathematical Analysis for Engineers courses. These three courses are primary pre-requisites for future courses. The evaluation system that is commonly used by instructors for these courses places an excessive emphasis on final exams, which often account for more than 60% of the overall grade. This unfair assessment method not only adds unnecessary stress but also hinders students' academic progress and success.

There are countless students who have had to repeat one or two of these courses multiple times despite having promising results on their midterms. Hard-working students that have put effort into the course often end up receiving a grade of D or F despite spending hours of studying and doing well on term tests. I have personally taken MATH 2132 twice already and still did not pass despite performing well in both midterms. A cumulative final worth 60% or 70% inevitably decides the fate of the students grade, it does not matter how well they perform on the midterms. This is also the case for hundreds of students. We as students input time, stress and money into these courses hoping to move forward. However, despite hours of effort, we are still having to retake these courses due to heavily weighted finals. We can not advance forward with our core engineering courses if we are stuck in an endless loop of repeating math requirements that can not be waived.

Oftentimes there are third and fourth-year students still taking these courses for the third or fourth time. Somehow this become normalized within the engineering students community and we feel that we will never be heard. Lower than expected final exam scores cause instructors to significantly curve the grade cut-offs. This should not be normalised.  Instead, the exam weightage and difficulty should be such that curving is minimal or not necessary. There are three such courses to complete which are often taught by the same few instructors who re-use the exact same grading evaluation.  We are exhausted, sleep-deprived, and frustrated at the fact that we are working so hard only to see it go down the drain. It is as if we are flailing our hands and feet only to keep our head above the water. There is also the constant worry that too many D's and F's from these courses will cause us to be removed from the engineering program.

These courses become particularly more difficult during the summer months. We understand that courses are condensed into 3 weeks, however the instructors are often not able to teach all the material and often rush through the last few important units due to a limited time frame. The overwhelming amount of content covered within a short period makes it extremely difficult for students to fully grasp and retain all the necessary information. There is an unfair disadvantage on final exams where everything is condensed into one cumulative high-stakes assessment. This leads to increased anxiety levels among students, negatively impacting their performance. This results in significantly poor final exam scores.

Considering the personal experience of many hardworking students facing similar challenges, it is evident that there is an urgent need for change within the Math Department's assessment practices at the University of Manitoba for the three engineering courses (MATH 2130, 2132, 3132). Therefore, through this petition, we urge the department to take immediate action by requiring the instructors to implement fairer assessment methods. Specifically, we request that final exams be limited to a maximum weightage of 50% in order to provide students with a more balanced evaluation approach.

By reducing the overwhelming pressure associated with final exams, students will have a better chance to demonstrate their true understanding of the course material and showcase their overall abilities. Doing so will ensure that midterms also have a sufficient weightage on the overall grade and aren't insignificant. This change will not only alleviate stress but also promote a healthier learning environment that fosters academic growth and success.

Together, let us advocate for fair assessment practices within the University of Manitoba. Sign this petition to support our cause and ensure that future generations of students are given an equal opportunity to excel without unnecessary obstacles hindering their progress.

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