In light of the unique challenges posed to students by the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of William & Mary made pass/fail grading available for any undergraduate course in both the Spring and Fall semesters of 2020. Now, nearly a year after colleges across the country sent students home, the situation has barely changed: many classes continue to meet virtually, facilities remain heavily restricted, and many at-risk and international students continue to take classes hundreds or thousands of miles from Williamsburg. 

And yet, students in Spring 2021 have not been offered the same generous policy that they were in the last two semesters. The reality of being a student during a pandemic has not changed a bit, but students are still expected to operate at an acute educational disadvantage without any leeway whatsoever.

Reinstating the same pass/fail policy from previous semesters would relieve a great deal of the stress experienced by all William & Mary students during this difficult time. We, the undersigned, are calling on the College administration to do so.