Yes for WOU’s New Grading Policy
Alleyah Forrister, Eagle Hunt, Zion Okano, and The Civil Discourse Program
Western Oregon University recently announced that they are changing their grading policy so Ds and Fs are classified No Pass and do not affect a student’s GPA. This is a positive development that should be implemented across higher education.
WOU’s data shows that 65% of Freshmen who stopped enrolling for classes had an F during their first year. This clearly demonstrates an F grade has a major psychological impact on students. The main purposes of higher education should be to expand a student’s world view, prepare them for the workforce, and help students obtain a degree. Keeping students enrolled should be an institution’s utmost priority, instead of filtering out those who are struggling
Some believe that when a student fails a class, it motivates them to try harder in the future. However, every student is different, and oftentimes a failing grade can dig a student deeper into a hole of self-doubt. Alleyah failed a class in her senior year of high school due to extenuating circumstances after being a straight-A student for all four years. Alleyah’s school did not take into consideration her personal circumstances and offered little to no help with repairing her GPA. She went to summer school to pass the class, yet considers herself lucky that this incident happened at the end of her high school career. If a similar situation had occurred earlier, it would have negatively affected her academic drive, and she might not be in college today.
In high school, Zion had untreated mental health issues that made it difficult for him to complete some of his classes. Luckily for Zion when he failed a class at his school they removed it from his transcript instead of marking the course as an F. This afforded Zion the opportunity to attend OSU and LBCC where he is currently thriving as an Engineering major.
Growing up, Eagle did not plan on attending college. In 2021, he reluctantly enrolled at LBCC and started burning out after a few terms. Although he did not fail any courses, it is possible he could have. Failing a course during that time would have been overwhelming and resulted in Eagle dropping out. One of the reasons Eagle is still in school today (with a 3.9 GPA and an anticipated graduation date of June 2024) is because he has felt supported. WOU’s new policy will institutionalize this feeling of support and help more students enjoy similar success.
Any system that focuses on supporting all students through their time in college is preferable to one that rewards students who get As and punishes those with Fs. College students who fail their classes already have to pay tuition for the classes they fail and will have to pay additional tuition and fees to retake the class. Colleges should encourage students to try their best to achieve a passing grade through positive reinforcement, instead of threatening them with bad grades. Western Oregon University is moving in that direction and should be applauded for doing so.
No for WOU’s New Grading Policy
Cheyanne Rider, Norah Steed, and The Civil Discourse Program
Western Oregon University recently announced that they will be replacing the traditional A-F grading system with a new one that replaces Ds and Fs with “no credit”. We think this decision is a mistake and a disservice to the students at WOU. Under the traditional system, credit is not awarded for those grades anyway so the only real change is to GPA inflation, academic rigor, and the preparation of students for life after college.
When universities make it easier to maintain a high GPA, it weakens the value and validity of the degrees they award. Future employers may hesitate to hire someone with a degree from a school with a reputation for making things easier for their students. At the very least, their GPA will no longer be a reliable measure of their knowledge and work ethic. A 4.0 GPA from a school where students will actually be penalized for Ds and Fs means more than a 4.0 from a school that ignores low grades. The student who attended the more rigorous school will have a competitive edge in the job market. Additionally, erasing Ds and Fs is unfair to students who consistently pass their classes and earn good grades. It cheapens the reward of their hard work. This can be demotivating to high-achieving students who are disciplined and make sacrifices to succeed.
Students in higher education have a lot to balance; homework, classwork, extracurriculars, and social lives. Part of going to college is learning how to prioritize and manage your time. Most campuses have resources to help students keep up with their work and take care of their mental health. Here at LBCC, we have the writing center, tutoring, and instructors who are available for questions and extra help as well as mental health services. Students can ask for extensions, and while they are not guaranteed, they are occasionally granted to students who are struggling. College is hard, Ds or Fs happen. Communicating with your instructor and advisor is very important so they can help you navigate and overcome challenges. Choices include changing your grading to pass/fail, withdrawing, or doing extra work to earn a better grade. If students have no motivation to put in the work for passing grades, many won’t. They will settle for doing the bare minimum to get their degree with a mediocre education and work ethic.
In life, the possibility of failing is always there. There usually isn’t a safety net that will allow you to progress without putting in the work and communicating your struggles. Failure outside of school can have significant consequences, including demotion and termination. What better place to learn that lesson than in a school where you can get a re-do? When a student fails under the current A-F grading system, they can retake the course as Cheyanne did with Psychology 102 and have the F removed from their transcript. Removing the possibility of failure robs students of this valuable learning experience and is a disservice to their development.
