In Support of Alternative Grading Options for SF State Students During the COVID-19 Crisis

Resolution Number: RS20-396

April, 2020

Whereas:

RATIONALE: As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic reaching San Francisco, SF State suspended (on March 11, 2020) in-person classes and directed that faculty move to remote instruction. While these changes were instituted for good public health reasons, they have necessarily disrupted the normal pedagogy and processes of the University. We recognize that while other CSU campuses have handled some of these issues differently, the level of staffing that exists in SF State’s Enrollment Management division and the need for manual processing of graduation applications at SF State restricts our response in ways aren’t present on other campuses.

Whereas:

the global COVID-19 pandemic constitutes serious and compelling circumstances in the life of SF State students; and

Whereas:

many students are struggling to complete their coursework in a remote modality; and

Whereas:

students should be given the maximum flexibility possible to make choices about grading and withdrawal from courses; and

Whereas:

the sudden transition to remote instruction may make students unclear about the expectations for their courses and how their learning will be assessed; be it therefore

Resolved:

that all classes offered in spring 2020 and summer 2020 have the grading options shown in the table below; and be it further Grading Option Undergraduates Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Students Credit (CR)/No Credit (NC) CR, NC CR, NC Letter Grades Graded (A, B, C, D, NC) Graded (A, B, C, D, NC) Letter Grades/No Credit A, B, C, NC for a D or below A, B, NC for a grade of C or below

Resolved:

that all withdrawals from courses initiated by students or faculty in spring 2020 be approved automatically without the need for supporting documents; and be it further

Resolved:

that there be no Withdrawal Unauthorized (WU) grades issued in spring 2020; and be it further

Resolved:

that courses taken in spring 2020 not contribute to any unit or course limits in policy or in Executive Order 1037 (e.g. W, CR, course repeat, grade forgiveness); and be it further resolved

Resolved:

that the Academic Senate calls on all faculty to make grades available to their students before the deadline to select a grading option and direct their students to advising resources describing the potential impacts of a non-letter grade and that those advising resources be clearly communicated to students and faculty; and be it further

Resolved:

that faculty consider as much as possible limiting high stakes assessments this semester, particularly at the end of the semester; and be it further

Resolved:

that this resolution be distributed to President Mahoney, Provost Summit, University Registrar Landy, AVP for Faculty Affairs Mandolfo, College Deans, Department Chairs, School and Program Directors, and the Associated Students Board.