Courses have been shifting between hybrid in-person and fully-online modalities leading into and during the semester, and students, faculty members, and instructional staff may be going in and out of quarantine or isolation due to the pandemic. This creates a level of stress and uncertainty atypical for a traditional semester. While last semester's response to the pandemic resulted in a credit/no credit option as the solution, the Stout Student Association is not calling for a specific policy solution; rather, SSA is asking the Educational Activities Committee, Faculty Senate, and UW-Stout administration to do the following:
- Solicit and gather feedback from stakeholders including but not limited to students, instructors, and program directors to identify the options that can best support students.
- Develop a temporary grading policy that considers the unexpected and extraordinary impacts of COVID-19 on the learning environment and addresses the real and valid concerns that students have with how their transcript may be affected.
- This policy should show compassion and flexibility to students who face unforeseen circumstances during the semester, and not have arbitrary and unsubstantiated deadlines for decisions.
- Clearly communicate this policy to all students and be willing to revisit the policy if need be if it is discovered that alternative solutions can better fit the needs of students.
Stout Student Association (SSA) is the collective body representing all undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Founded in 1923 and 8,000+ members strong, SSA is elevating student voices. SSA represents students to faculty, staff, administration, and all levels of government and allocates the spending of $500,000+ annualy.
Questions can be directed to the Director of Communications at ssacommunications@uwstout.edu.
510403_Support_for_a_Temporary_Grading_Policy_for_Fall_2020.pdf