With COVOID-19 spreading and a level of concern growing, Northern Vermont University has decided to move to an online classroom format for all classes until April 6 (but likely to be the remainder of the semester). Though I understand that this was a tough decision for the administration, it is evident that this will have a negative academic impact for the students who have no choice but online instruction. Many students rely deeply on the face to face, hands on interaction that in person instruction brings, and fear the future of the semester in an online format. 

It is of no one's fault that NVU was forced to move instruction to online, but it is important to give recognition, flexibility and validation to students who are unemployed, displaced, dealing with family members who may be sick, and now have no choice but online instruction. 

I am calling to Northern Vermont University to create an opt-in option for a pass/fail grading system for the remainder of mandatory online instruction due COVOID-19. This system will increase fairness to students who struggle with online classes all the while decreasing students fears in the uncertainty of COVOID-19. Adding this option, we would be positively following in the footsteps of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Smith College, who both recently made the switch to a pass/fail grading system.

By having this system be an opt-in pass/fail, it would allow students who want their GPA to be affected by this semester remain that way. 

NVU is built on community values and together we can unify to have our voices heard and needs met during this time of change.