On March 19th, 2020, Emory officially announced that the Pass/Fail deadline would be extended to April 10th, 2020, as the current COVID-19 pandemic has put a tremendous amount of stress upon students and their families. This gives students the option to opt into Pass/Fail grading or remain with the letter grade system. However, this decision puts more stress on students, particularly disadvantaged students. In order to level the playing field in these unprecedented times, classes must be graded on a universal pass basis.

Several institutions such as MIT, Columbia, Dartmouth, Havard, and even Emory Law School have already made some version of Pass/Fail grading mandatory for all students, and Emory must follow. These universities recognize that making Pass/Fail grading optional disadvantages the students who choose to opt-in to this grading system, defeating the purpose of a Pass/Fail grading system. Emory University has given students a choice that may unnecessarily hurt them in the future because of the stigma that comes with making a class Pass/Fail. Medical schools, graduate schools, law schools, or any other post-undergraduate program will question why a student personally chose to take the class Pass/Fail. On Sunday, March 29th, Emory Neuroscience and Behavior Biology (NBB) students received an email from the NBB advising faculty at Emory acknowledging that “many medical schools are making the distinction that while [Pass/Fail grading] is going to be accepted, they are saying only when students had no option to choose a letter grade.” We as students should not be made to feel guilty or face repercussions in our educational careers for taking a class Pass/Fail in situations where we need it most because of circumstances over which we have no control. Emory is privileged to have such a strong connection to the CDC and the expansive network of hospitals throughout Metro-Atlanta, where Emory healthcare professionals are on the forefront of fighting and treating this pandemic. Given this vantage point, we believe that Emory University has a responsibility to set precedent on this issue, as the struggles students are facing are a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. For these reasons, the decision must be made by the university, rather than by individual students.

We first and foremost advocate for a universal “Double-A” grading system, in which every student will receive a letter grade of either an A or an A-. Faculty can distribute between these two A grades at their own discretion, with no mandated distribution requirements. Every student will receive one of these grades in all of their courses and receive credit towards their concentration, distributional requirements, and graduation. The primary benefit of the Double-A system is that no student will be punished given the stressors and circumstances coming out of this pandemic, as well as inadequate, delayed response by Emory University. The Double-A grading System will allow students to survive this global crisis on our own terms. By making this decision, the university would be taking a strong stance to show that it is fully committed to our well-being and the well-being of the communities we all come from.

We also advocate for a universal “4.0 Pass/No Credit” grading system, in which students will receive a 4.0 grade upon passing a class. If students fail, the class will not show up on their academic records at all. This is an alternative to the universal Pass/Fail grading systems being implemented at other universities- it’s primary benefit being that it does not allow students to fail. By changing to one of these universal grading systems, students are relieved of the stress and anxiety that may come with making a class Pass/Fail. Disadvantaged students who are in circumstances that force them to take a class Pass/Fail will not be penalized, and students who have been working hard to raise their grade point averages this semester will not find that their work has gone to waste.

Students, especially those who are on a pre-med, pre-law, or graduate school track, may feel pressure to stay on a letter-grade system in order to be competitive for post-undergraduate school applications. However, it is likely that in these circumstances, the work required to maintain high letter grades is simply not possible. During the current pandemic, students have been forced to go home in conditions that may not be optimal for academic success. Some students are now in conditions without adequate resources such as study spaces, proper internet bandwidth, and/or computer equipment. International students face the responsibility of attending class meetings at absurd hours of the day. All of the resources Emory typically makes available to students in order to foster a learning environment conducive to academic success are now being taken away. Additionally, those who live in unstable home conditions or who are now obligated to be the caretakers for their family will have an extremely difficult time managing their studies. Those who are privileged enough to continue school as normal at home will be able to receive the letter grades they want, while underprivileged students who are forced to take Pass/Fail classes with their circumstances will not. The grading system of choice becomes a system of who has the resources to succeed. In the midst of a global crisis, we must prioritize the wellbeing of all students over our own personal interests.

By making all classes graded on a universal “Double-A” or “4.0 Pass/No Record” basis, it sets the standard across all classes, making this transition fair for all students. We welcome Emory University to set up a public forum where students and Administration can discuss and give their input on which of these systems works the best for the most people. In an unusual time where there is great uncertainty regarding the new remote style of classes and online exams, Emory must fully accommodate for these changes, and ease the burden that has been set upon their most vulnerable students by this current pandemic.

Sincerely,

Emory YDSA

Centro Latinx Advisory Board

Recognizing, Empowering, and Affirming Latinas (REAL) Conference

FemmeBEAT

*This petition was adapted from a similar petition by University of Southern California students.*