Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Trinity College’s campus has been shut down for the rest of the Spring 2020 semester along with most other colleges in the U.S. and internationally. This means that college students are no longer participating in face-to-face instruction as classes have moved online. Students, parents, and faculty all understand that moving online was necessary during this crisis, however, online instruction is very different and completely changes the way in which people are learning during this time. Because of this, students of Trinity College would like for the administration to consider making a pass/fail option for Spring 2020 semester grades. With the chaos that has hit higher education institutions because of COVID-19, we all recognize the way we learn and participate in “college life” has changed. Many other universities are taking this route and we would like Trinity College to follow. Smith College said that they are changing to Pass/Fail classes “to recognize the extraordinary character of current circumstances. As we move instruction into alternative modes, we are necessarily changing our agreements about expectations and assessments. In a new and unfamiliar environment, we cannot hold faculty and students to expectations constructed in and for a different instructional experience." Northwestern University said “Undergraduates will also be given the option to change their winter term grade from a quality assessment (a letter grade) to Pass/Fail. That retroactive change can be pursued in the spring quarter and with the consultation of your academic advisor.” Grinnell College also declared “In the wake of Grinnell’s decision to transition temporarily to a distance education model, the Grinnell College Executive Council has determined to provide students with expanded access to the S/D/F grading option for the spring 2020 semester. For those unfamiliar with the S/D/F grade mode, it is Grinnell’s version of Pass/Fail grading.... There is no limit on the numbers of spring 2020 courses/credits allowed to be taken S/D/F. Courses graded S/D/F may satisfy major and concentration requirements, including minimum credit requirements.”  Boston College wrote that “All graduate and undergraduate students will be able to designate courses taken this semester as Pass/Fail through Thursday, April 30. The limit on the number of courses that can be taken Pass/Fail in a single semester is suspended for this semester.” These are just a few examples.

We are not asking for the College to change all classes and grades to Pass/Fail but to give students the option for those who believe it will help them during this stressful time. We find that it would be much better for students to graduate with P’s on their transcripts than grades that bring down their GPA and don’t accurately reflect the hard work they have done up to this semester which could hinder someone’s graduate school and/or employment opportunities.

Being at school gives students many privileges they might not have at home such as printing access, wireless connection, and the ability to meet with professors and teaching assistants in person. Moving home and trying to make the conditions of your environment align with what it was like being at Trinity is impossible. A lot of us are realizing that not only are we stressed and concerned about COVID-19, but that it’s impossible to study and have real focus when we are trapped in the same environment for all hours of the day. There are no public libraries, coffee shops, or work spaces to go to because of the recommendation from the CDC to stay inside and not gather in public spaces.

Another concern is for the students who are no longer in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. These students participating in online classes are studying and working during hours of the day that are unnatural such as the middle of the night which is unfair compared to those in the same time zone as Trinity. For example, people who had 8am classes at Trinity but live in California would have to be online for class at 5am.

We appreciate the actions being taken by the College and the sympathy we have received, but the ability to change to Pass/Fail classes would help level the playing field more for its students. The limitations that students are facing from online learning at home is only increasing the distress that we are dealing with. We are not asking for Pass/Fail grades to make this semester easier, but to give students some leeway who took on a heavy course load this semester not realizing that they would not have the resources available to them that they usually do.