We have been listening to student concerns and working with our partner organizations to make our policy demands more comprehensive in supporting ALL of our students. We want to emphasize that this is a living movement, not a monolith of ideas. In light of the unforeseen academic changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we, the undergraduate student body of Wesleyan University, respectfully petition the Provost’s Office, the Dean’s Offices, the Registrar’s Office, and the President of the College to implement a system in which Wesleyan students automatically take ALL Spring 2020 classes Pass/Fail, in a “Universal Pass/Fail” (UPF) system. We ask that, in order to do so, all committees and departments relevant to the decision call meetings within the next two weeks. By adopting a UPF system, the University ensures that no student is penalized for factors outside of their control. 

Following the suspension of in-person classes for the remainder of the semester, students are struggling with a wide range of issues including, but are not limited to, access to safe and secure housing, regular meals, internet/computer access, financial support, different time zones, as well as child and eldercare. Students are grappling with these changes while also dealing with the existential threat of COVID-19.

Due to the shutdown of campus, students no longer have access to many of the vital resources and support networks they rely on during the typical semester. While the University has offered technical support to students through Information Technology Services (ITS), we have experienced and anticipate future technological difficulties that will inhibit students’ ability to learn online. Some Wesleyan students do not have access to the Internet or a personal computer. Some students do not have access to any spaces with computers because public libraries have closed or there are limited available services. Other students have only one computer in their household and have to share the device with family. Additionally, many of our students live in drastically different time zones and are forced to wake up at unreasonable hours in order to attend their classes. Furthermore, myriad of classes are not conducive to online-distance learning including laboratories, dance and music lessons, and studio art courses; many students have found themselves struggling in such courses given the abrupt transposition. With these extreme changes in students’ learning settings and living conditions, a UPF system would alleviate stress on students during this already difficult time. 

We ALL deserve the right to continue our academic pursuits and passions this semester without worrying about our grades potentially slipping. A UPF system not only benefits students of differing socioeconomic status, but the student body holistically. Some Wesleyan professors have already announced that they will adopt an A/A- grading system for their classes, in which students receive an A or A- for the class no matter what. This phenomenon obviously puts some Wesleyan students at an unfair advantage over others, highlighting the exigency to universalize a Pass/Fail model. We believe UPF is the most equitable response, as it allows students to prioritize their health and safety above all.

With graduate programs, including medical and law schools, as well as employers requiring letter grades on transcripts, we request that Wesleyan include a grade of “P” on students’ transcripts with a notation that explains the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. After reaching out to graduate schools, we have found that, while many are understanding and will accept a chosen Pass/Fail grade, many of the most elite graduate programs will only accept a “P” if it was the universal policy of the University. The implication is that Wesleyan students taking Pass/Fail will NOT be able to apply to these graduate programs because our policy is not universal. Thus, we ask that the UPF grading system be applied to ALL courses at Wesleyan, including major/minor, distribution, and Honors requirements.  

Furthermore, the University ought to implement a dean-reviewed petition system where a limited number of students may request to have letter grades for the semester. This policy would apply to students in extenuating circumstances who are in scholarship and military programs that require letter grades to be reported in order for them to maintain their status. This is an important clarification from an optional Credit/No-Credit policy because these scholarships have already been EARNED. With these changes, a shift to Universal Pass/Fail will not put any student's employment or standing at the University in jeopardy. Future students, the University, other institutions, or even employers cannot demand access to grades beyond the presented Universal Pass/Fail.

Our request for a UPF system stems largely from student advocacy at other universities. When asked why Universal Pass/Fail or UPF is more equitable than an opt-in Pass/Fail system like the one that Wesleyan currently has in place, Yale students provide the following response: “the optional route discriminates against students who are struggling outside of Yale. Having a difference between Pass/Fail and letter grades creates a stigma around choosing Pass/Fail. When employers or grad schools compare students it will seem like students who choose Pass/Fail are less deserving of the position. That stigma will fall on socioeconomic lines.” We would also like to acknowledge how helpful Swarthmore Students for Universal Pass (SSUP) were in compiling this petition.

As students of Wesleyan University, we care deeply about our education and are passionate about our coursework. We do not believe that introducing UPF will inhibit students’ effort in their courses. Rather, it will encourage students to continue to work hard without fear of being penalized for factors outside of their control. By adopting the UPF system, the Wesleyan administration demonstrates its commitment to educational equity, student health, and community wellbeing. 

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Wesleyan for Universal Pass/Fail (Wes UPF)