Colleges and Universities exist to serve the student body and with covid-19 still at its all time high, students are suffering. Last semester HCC did right by their student body by implementing pass/fail for 2020, now its time for them to do it again.

Students have tried to talk to administrators about this however the administration are saying that last semester was unexpected, while this semester (fall 2020) students should have adjusted to virtual learning. This is a horrible statement. All summer long HCC constantly projected that fall semester would likely be on campus. However, with Covid-19 cases rising, they rescinded that offer. This disproves the statement that students should have been expecting and adjusting to online learning, since they were falsely under the impression that it was only for Spring 2020, and by Fall things would return to normal.

Here are 3 simple and necessary reasons for HCC to offer pass fail.

1. Nobody should be punished during a pandemic especially underprivileged community college students. While not giving Pass/fail may not feel like a punishment to the administration, it truly does to the student body. No student deserves for their GPA to drop because they were not able to perform well due to a pandemic out of their control. Plain and simple.
2. The quality of education being received currently is simply not the same as the quality of education being received during normal circumstances. It is incredibly unfair to expect students to make high quality grades while receiving lower quality education. Of course we understand that the professors are doing everything in their power in order to make this a seamless learning experience, however this situation is out of their control. While we appreciate their efforts its time to look into alternate ways for students to succeed without sabotaging their education.
3. Many students are struggling to balance their personal lives and education. Whereas previously, student's were able to step into class and give their undivided attention to their professors, it is simply impossible for that to happen during virtual learning. There are students who have busy work schedules or large families, or lack of computer equipment that hinders the process of ideal virtual learning.

Community College is an amazing availability because it accommodates for students of so many different backgrounds and situations! However it makes no sense, for 4 year colleges such as University of Houston, UHD, or TSU for being able to offer pass fail, but Houston Community College (who pride themselves on serving the underprivileged) to deny that opportunity. I am so grateful for community college education to exist, and allow students to have flexible schedules, smaller classes, and freedom to explore their majors. However, its saddening that at a time so trivial, and dangerous in our world, for this institution to not consider a policy that would help so many students. I hope HCC follows in the footsteps of other educational institutions of the Houston Area and makes the decision that does right by the student body by providing Pass/Fail grading alternatives for Fall 2020!