By Sadie Shepherd
Over 14 million college students have been affected by coronavirus-related school closures, as reported by CNBC. This widespread shutdown of in-person classes has led to online learning becoming the only viable option.
While the transition to online learning has been seamless for some students, there are many factors which can make virtual studies less than ideal for others. For students who don’t have access to a stable Wi-Fi network or computer, completing the coursework seems almost impossible, leaving many wondering if they will be able to successfully finish out the semester.
With these concerns in mind, many schools have taken initiative to relieve some of the stress students face while dealing with such big changes to their educational workflow. Colleges and universities across the United States are switching from a letter grading system to pass/no credit (P/NC) grading.
P/NC grading allows for any grade considered “passing”, traditionally C- or above, to be shown on transcripts as a P for pass rather than an actual letter grade. If a grade drops below the threshold to be considered passing, transcripts will reflect the grade as NC for no credit without affecting the grade point average.
Charissa Urbano, professor of biology at Delta, is a strong advocate of colleges and universities adopting a P/NC grading system in light of COVID-19.
“It provides students with some flexibility and reduces the uncertainty of what to expect at the end of the semester,” says Urbano. “I’m very concerned about the disruption and uncertainty in our daily lives at this moment in time and think that any proactive, student-centered decision that can be made to reduce anxiety is warranted.”
Locally, Saginaw Valley State University and the University of Michigan are giving students the option at the end of the semester to choose whether they want their grade reflected as P/NC or as a traditional letter grade.
At Delta, the P/NC grading policy is already similar to those just now being enacted by other schools, according to Denise Hill, professor of English.
“[…] Part of the Delta P/NC policy always allowed students to reverse their P/NC after the end of the semester once they saw their grades,” says Hill. “Not all schools I’ve worked for have offered that, and I always thought it was a generous policy that benefits students.”
Still, many students say that expanding P/NC grading options isn’t the answer. While some students support policies to mandate that everyone passes, others want to retain their letter grades to ensure their transcripts are well-received by graduate programs.
Regardless of which side you’re on, maintaining open lines of communication with your professors is key.
“When students express their concerns to faculty, we are listening and we are continually taking these concerns to our leadership to find solutions,” says Hill. “I appreciate our students for all they are doing to work through these kinds of issues with their faculty.”
