WSU Student Union | Photo by Grace Ramsdell | The Wright State Guardian
Due to the ongoing pandemic and virtual learning, Wright State University (WSU) Faculty Senate has passed a resolution to reinstate the P/U grade options for Spring 2021.
Overview
It has been just about a year since the global pandemic began. Despite an end in sight with the new vaccines, risk and restrictions are still in place, and online learning is here to stay for a little while longer.
Starting in March 2020, WSU gave students the opportunity to choose pass/ fail as grading options due to the sudden switch to online. As online learning continued into fall 2020, the administration gave students the option to change their fail or incomplete grades to U/UX grades. U/UX grades have no effect on a students’ GPA whereas F/X grades do.
Current and upcoming semesters
The WSU Office of the Registrar reported that for the fall semester 1,584, or about 13%, of students converted at least one F/X grade to a U/UX grade.
Due to these high numbers and continued online learning, WSU Faculty Senate passed a resolution to convert failing grades to U (unsatisfactory) grades and all X grades to XU (course not completed) grades for the Spring 2021 semester. This will protect students' GPA and hours will be counted as “attempted.”
“Recognizing the difficulties many students have faced this semester that may have impacted their best ability to perform at their best level, Wright State University is providing an automatic conversion of failing grades for undergraduate students that we hope will minimize long term damage to these student’s GPAs as a result of a less than ideal semester,” the Faculty Senate wrote in a released brief.
Student opinions
Quite a few students expressed their usage or interest in grade accommodations due to increased difficulty and stress of online learning.
“Having classes online has been really difficult for me. It’s difficult for me to even know if I’m understanding the subject,” Pierce Gravenstine, a junior marketing major said.
Different programs have used several methods of online learning such as synchronous or asynchronous courses, both of which do not hold the same interactive element of an in-person class. This can affect students' focus, understanding and motivation in classes.
Gravenstine reported that they used the pass/fail option in spring 2020 and would have used the F/X to U/UX grade option for fall semester had they been aware of this option.
“I’m really glad they decided to bring that option back. I know it definitely relieves some stress for me,” Gravenstine said.
