Mount Holyoke College must help its students by allowing them to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances without fear of academic consequences. When our housing, income, and safety are all uncertain, the last thing we should have to worry about is our grades. In light of the extenuating circumstances, we are asking that Mount Holyoke implement the Double A policy for the equity of all students during this global pandemic. Students at Harvard, Yale, and colleges across the country are already successfully pushing for this to be the policy at their institutions. Mount Holyoke ought to do the same.

---

Adapted from the HarvardForAll Resource Page

What is the Double A Grading system?

Under a Double A system, students would receive credit for all of their courses and a grade of either “A” or “A-” on their transcript. Faculty can distribute between these two A grades at their own discretion, with no mandated distribution requirements. No student will be penalized for factors and circumstances outside of their control. Every student at Mount Holyoke College will receive one of these grades in all of their courses and receive credit towards their concentration, distributional requirements, and graduation. In the context of graduate program and employment applications, students have the option to ask for a transcript annotation explaining the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic that led to the college-wide grading distribution. Faculty recommenders will also be instructed on best practices to address this semester in their letters for students in the upcoming years. Additionally, this policy can alleviate some of the immense pressure on teachers to create online grading rubrics for classes that were previously mainly discussion-based / in-person. By Adopting this policy Mount Holyoke College would be maintaining its promise to remaining a fair and equitable institution amidst this global crisis.

Why is this more equitable than giving students the option to take classes Pass/Fail?

The optional route discriminates against students who are struggling while outside of Mount Holyoke College. If Mount Holyoke allows options between a Pass/Fail and a letter grade, this creates a stigma around choosing Pass/Fail. When employers or graduate schools compare students, students who chose the Pass/Fail option could be perceived as less deserving of the position than those who opted into receiving a letter grade. This is a false choice for many, with the most disadvantaged not having the option to get a high letter grade due to hardships caused by a global pandemic. That stigma will fall on lines of socioeconomic status, disability, mental health concerns, race, sexual orientation, documentation status, and other familial circumstances. Students without internet access, stable housing, or food security may be forced to choose Pass/Fail because of their unique situation. Alternatively, students who don't have the ability to stay academically afloat during this crisis may still feel pressured to display a letter grade that is not representative of their full potential for fear of the stigma associated with Pass/Fail. This will again result in students being penalized academically for circumstances beyond their control. This option is not one of equal opportunity or understanding.

For more information on the Double A policy here is a link to the HarvardForAll FAQ Doc