Embedded Files
A University of San Diego graduate student initiative designed to promote student inclusion and equity in USD leadership decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic
We invite the University of San Diego leadership to collaborate with students and faculty to implement alternative grading strategies for the Spring 2020 semester
We invite the University of San Diego leadership to collaborate with students and faculty to implement alternative grading strategies for the Spring 2020 semester
Why Alternative Grading is
an equitable policy
Why Alternative Grading is
an equitable policy
Standard graded student performance in the Spring 2020 finals is more likely to reflect student privilege than true student capability.
Standard graded student performance in the Spring 2020 finals is more likely to reflect student privilege than true student capability.
Many students are food and housing insecure, and are struggling to fulfill basic needs. These students also tend to benefit most from on-campus facilities, most of which are
no longer accessible.
Transitioning to remote learning has been difficult
for students and
faculty alike.
Transitioning to remote learning has been difficult
for students and
faculty alike.
While this mode of learning is less than optimal for everyone, it has additional impact on students with learning disabilities, mental health concerns, physical illness, increased caregiving and/or childcare responsibilities, and lack of access to quiet study spaces.
COVID-19 is directly impacting students,
but not always in
the same way.
COVID-19 is directly impacting students,
but not always in
the same way.
Students themselves, as well as their family members, might be in a high-risk category, are essential workers, or already sick with the virus.
COVID-19 cases are spiking globally
and locally.
COVID-19 cases are spiking globally
and locally.
While California has been slow to
test those who even qualify, USD community members include international students, study abroad participants, and family members who may live and/or have traveled
to impacted areas. Their health
and well-being may be at risk
Pass/Fail policies are quickly becoming the grading standard for Spring 2020.
Pass/Fail policies are quickly becoming the grading standard for Spring 2020.
The highest percentage of schools are deciding to deliver alternative grading. Leading institutions like Stanford, UPenn, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, University of San Francisco, USC, Pepperdine, and others have already adopted alternative grading.
Employers and Admissions will continue to recruit
USD students during this time of shared hardship.
Employers and Admissions will continue to recruit
USD students during this time of shared hardship.
Companies and firms will follow the standards set by academic institutions and not penalize the candidate in light of an unprecedented but necessary institutional decision.
Research
Research
Which universities have adopted alternative grading policies?
Which universities have adopted alternative grading policies?
(ALPHABETICAL LIST)
Barnard
Berkeley
Carnegie Mellon
College Park
Columbia
Cornell
Duke University
Emory
Georgetown
Harvard
John Hopkins
Loyola Marymount
Metropolitan State University of Denver
MIT
NC State
Northwestern University
Notre Dame
NYU
Ohio State
Pepperdine
Rice University
Rochester
Santa Clara
Smith
Stanford
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
UCLA
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of San Francisco (peer)
University of South Florida
University of Wisconsin-Madison
USC (peer)
Vanderbilt
Yale
Which U.S. law schools have adopted alternative grading strategies?
Which U.S. law schools have adopted alternative grading strategies?
Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit (Mandatory)
University of Alabama School of Law
University of Arkansas William H. Bowen
University of Arkansas
Arizona State (Optional with Approval)
University of Arizona
Berkeley Law
California Western School of Law (CA)
Chapman University Fowler School of Law (CA) – High Pass/Pass/Fail
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (CA)
Santa Clara (CA)
Stanford (Excludes Paper Classes) (CA)
UC Davis (CA)
UC Irvine (CA)
UCLA (Carveouts for 2L/3L Clinical Classes) (CA)
USC Gould (CA)
Thomas Jefferson School of Law (CA)
University of Colorado
University of Denver Sturm College of Law (Honors/Pass/Fail)
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Yale
American University (Exceptions for experiential credits and graduation requirements)
George Washington
Howard University
Widener Delaware Law School
Barry University College of Law
Florida State University
University of Miami (Except clinics)
University of Florida Levin College of Law (Optional for LLM and SJD Students)
Stetson University
Emory
University of Hawaii - Manoa
Drake University
The University of Iowa
University of Idaho College of Law
Loyola University of Chicago
Northwestern University
University of Illinois College of Law (Urbana-Champaign) – HP/P/F
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Washburn University
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
Tulane (High Pass/Pass/Fail)
Boston College
Boston University School of Law
Harvard
New England Law Boston
University of Baltimore
University of Maryland
University of Detroit Mercy
Wayne State University in Detroit (LWR still graded)
University of Minnesota Law
University of St. Thomas Law (High Pass/Pass/Fail with no GPA Impact)
Washington University in St. Louis
Saint Louis University
University of Montana
Duke (Legal Writing Optional)
University of North Carolina
Wake Forest University
Rutgers
Seton hall
The City University of New York
Columbia Law (Dean's Scholar/Pass/Fail)
Cornell Law
Brooklyn Law School
Fordham
Hofstra
New York University
Touro Law Center
University at Buffalo
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Ohio State Moritz College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Oklahoma in Norman
University of Tulsa
Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland (Opt Out)
University of Oregon
Dickinson Law
Drexel Kline
Penn State Law University
Villanova
Temple University
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Roger Williams University School of Law
University of Tennessee
University of South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Southern Methodist University
Texas A&M Law School
St. Mary's University School of Law (HP/P/F)
University of Houston Law Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Brigham Young University
University of Richmond School of Law
University of Virginia
Washington & Lee University
William and Mary
Seattle University
University of Washington (Spring Quarter is Pass/Fail)
University of Wisconsin (Labeled COVID P/F)
West Virginia University
University of Wyoming
Optional Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit
University of the Pacific
Florida International University
Notre Dame
Loyola University of New Orleans
Michigan State
Creighton School of Law
Pace
Cardozo
St. John's
Widener Commonwealth
University of Utah
Optional Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit After Grades
McGeorge School of Law (CA)
UC Hastings (CA)
Southwestern University
Catholic University
University of Connecticut
Georgetown (Reconsidering)
University of the District of Columbia
Suffolk University Law School
University of Maine School of Law
University of Michigan Law School
Mitchell Hamline
North Carolina Central University
Albany Law
Cardozo Law
New York Law School
Duquesne Law School
Syracuse University
George Mason
Letter Grades with Adjusted Curve
University of Georgia
Georgia State University
Other
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. (Reconsidering)
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
UIC
University of Dayton
Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon
No Change
University of Chicago
Baylor
Texas Tech
Appalachian School of Law
Charleston School of Law
Update Pending
Golden Gate University (CA)
Pepperdine (CA)
University of San Diego School of Law (CA)
Northern Illinois University
Southern Illinois School of Law
Campbell Law School
Nebraska Law
Capital University Law School
UNT Dallas
Marquette University in Milwaukee
Student Stories
Student Stories
How Can I Help?
How Can I Help?
1) Contact your USD stakeholders (faculty, administration, student services, trustees) and share your concerns.
1) Contact your USD stakeholders (faculty, administration, student services, trustees) and share your concerns.
3) Share this website with your classmates and colleagues.
3) Share this website with your classmates and colleagues.
4) Contact us if you have a big idea or want to help!
4) Contact us if you have a big idea or want to help!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse