I am a diligent student in the Nursing Program at Bronx Community College. The demanding nature of our course and the rigorous grading system have caused many of my intelligent, hardworking classmates to struggle unnecessarily. The current system requires us to achieve a minimum grade of C+ to pass, which has impeded the progress of many promising future nurses, and unfairly so. The American Nurses Association states that 'Nursing is an art and a science personified through communication and relationship development' (American Nurses Association, 2010). By pushing students out of the program because they fall slightly short of a C+, we are potentially losing compassionate, communicative, and dedicated nurses who may fully understand the art of nursing but struggle slightly with the science part, as often reflected in theoretical examinations.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports that, nationwide, the standard passing grade in most nursing programs is a C (AAMC, 2020). We deserve the opportunity to progress in our nursing careers, even if we sometimes fall a fraction short of a C+. We therefore ask Bronx Community College to reconsider its grading policy and lower the minimum passing grade from a C+ to a C, aligning with the majority of nursing programs across the U.S.

Please sign this petition if you believe in fair education policies and helping dedicated nursing students progress in their careers.