Who We Are

Advocates for Student Equity strives to find equitable solutions for university concerns, while also creating an opportunity for students to be heard as part of the USD Community. We wish to create collaboration with all stakeholders of the university. As graduate students ourselves, we understand the hesitation to broadcast our situations to the faculty and student body, and thus formed a coalition in hope of giving students impacted by COVID-19 an avenue to voice their concerns regarding the grading policy for Spring 2020. Direct communication with students regarding their concerns and circumstances has informed the content on this website.

We advocate for students during this catastrophic time, and seek to provide representation during the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19. We acknowledge the impacts of COVID-19 on all members of our community, but we particularly empathize with students now facing greater and unanticipated disparity.

Such disparity may take shape in the form of: 1) Sudden Caregiving Responsibilities; 2) Childcare; 3) Financial Impact; 4) Mental or Physical Health Challenges; 5) Challenges Associated with Remote Working; and 6) Inability to Study Due to Living Arrangements.

We also understand that the outcome that we advocate for does not benefit every student. The students on this team come together from a variety of different backgrounds, current situations, years in school, and GPAs. However, what we all have in common, and hope that the USD community will find, is that times like these are not opportunities to springboard off the backs of those less fortunate than ourselves. We recognize that any reward we would receive during this global pandemic would be tarnished by knowing that somone else suffered.

Through careful (and copious) consideration and conversation surrounding USD student situations, we explored various options regarding current equity issues. We believe that unprecedented situations call for unprecedented solutions. COVID-19 is impacting all students differently, and calls for a response.

Therefore, the Advocates for Student Equity conclude that the best path forward to promote inclusivity and equity at the University of San Diego would be to adopt alternative grading procedures for the Spring 2020 semester.

In community,

Your classmates,

Advocates for Student Equity