It is unfortunately very clear that everyone is stressed out, professors and students alike. The COVID-19 disaster pushed many of us through a sudden and rough transition to online learning. Isolated from friends, professors and colleagues whilst virtually trapped in our houses, our mindsets have shifted to constant ruminating: stress regarding ill family members and friends, possibly ill family members and friends, and the impending threat of the virus our government is struggling to get under control. Our minds are collectively elsewhere and fixated on our health as it should be. 

To add to the hectic and dangerous conditions, many of us don't have calm environments that our dorms and facilities at Rutgers provided us. There are no peaceful libraries to go to or silent academic buildings to study efficiently in. It is unfair to assume the majority of us have gone home to peaceful families with an environment free of toxicity. We are all aware of the mental health effects that hectic environments can have which has a domino effect onto our ability to concentrate on our studies. There are no known solutions to this unfortunate circumstance; however there is a clear way to effectively reduce a majority of the stress for these students. These following changes should be implemented: Reformatting all quizzes and assignments to be open note via Canvas/E-Learning and enacting the no lower than current grade policy, an optional final at the end of the semester open to all students. Other changes: eliminate Proctortrack, more time on quizzes, being able to go back to previous questions on quizzes and all changes as stated in the accompanying email.

These will allow everyone peace of mind during this difficult time. 

As professors, it will always be your priority to want your students to pass with academic integrity. This priority will still be honored when making all quizzes and assignments open note as other departments at Rutgers have done. In addition, we are all aware that even when a quiz or assignment is open note, it is still crucial to be familiar with the content of the notes. As we have a mass amount of information in organic chemistry, making everything open notes will not eliminate students from studying and familiarizing themselves with the material. As with any form of school work, what good is it to have notes if you do not understand them? As Exam 1, which was taken fairly and in a standardized manner, is going to be worth approximately a third of our grade, this open note policy will help us students to pass while maintaining who are the true top-performing students. This solution offers to balance out the unfortunate circumstances many of us our facing from poor access to Wi-Fi and quality technology to stressful, toxic home environments. The changes as mentioned above in bold will benefit everyone. It improves the probability of giving all students the best chances of having the energy and motivation to do their best during this difficult, exceptional time. 

Thank you and best regards, 

Spring 2020 Orgo 308 Students