Support for our Faculty and Students at the End of Fall Quarter
Dear Colleagues,
At the start of Fall 2020, we sent you a message to share our support during these unprecedented times. As the quarter draws to a close, we are writing to reiterate this message of support as we all continue to face new challenges and work harder than ever to succeed in our academic mission. Thank you for everything you do—we understand that this is a difficult and trying situation, and that it has taken a toll on faculty, staff, administrators and students alike. We appreciate all your efforts to support student success and well-being.
Unfortunately, the situation has not become easier for our students, and has worsened for some. The pandemic is raging, and although a light has appeared at the end of the tunnel it is still imperative that we recognize and respond to the realities of the student experience. Many of our students have been impacted directly or indirectly by COVID-19 and we ask that all faculty please consider additional flexibility, especially as final exams approach. Guidance from the Educational Policy Committee to instructors with regard to final exams during this period of emergency remote instruction is available on the Senate's COVID-19 Updates webpage.
In keeping with this spirit, the Educational Policy Committee is offering undergraduate students a one-time only option to petition to retroactively change their grading option from Letter to Pass/Not Pass in Fall 2020 classes. Additional accommodations are under consideration for Winter and Spring 2021.
We hope that our community continues to support each other as we come to the end of the quarter and we wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Steven Constable Chair, San Diego Divisional Academic Senate
Tara Javidi Vice Chair, San Diego Divisional Academic Senate
Geoffrey Cook Chair, Educational Policy Committee
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093
