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Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

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Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#52
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. You think there will be alot of folks to choose from?

I'm not following, are you saying in this scenario there are a lot of ivy applications?

In the reality of what is about to happen to our world and the US economy and job market, there will be many more job applications than jobs.

I would rather hire the person that graduated from Yale a few years ago versus the one hopefully graduating next year, even for a fully remote position.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#54

In contrast and great irony, my local community college has announced that they will go online and expect full completion as usual - and the students have accepted it, because of course the academic culture at a white label school for tradesmen and transfer students would be more rigorous, serious and refined than the one at a national pride.

Of course! A community college is actually producing students that go on to perform the jobs they are being credentialed for. Having incompetent graduates would be a devastating blow to their reputation.

Yale bubble has just popped.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#55
Before we jump to conclusions...

Undergraduates were forced off campus a few weeks ago.

Imagine yourself in the shoes of an international student who left New Haven in a hurry. You're now required to attend online lectures at 3:00AM local time. Five nights a week.

You don't have a reliable internet connection in your country. You lost your job when you left campus. You're missing out on office hours. You can't collaborate with classmates in the United States. You need to take care of at-risk relatives at home. You're in a state of heightened anxiety during a lock-down. Don't even think about taking a nap! Your next discussion seminar (with mandatory attendance) is in fifteen minutes... at 4:30AM!

Now, is it really so unreasonable to ask the administration to relieve some of this pressure? We should empower students to seek knowledge without sacrificing their health and family obligations.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#56
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To me that's the most compelling argument: equity. Some students come from a background with very few resources and an unstable home environment, or no home to speak of. These students shouldn't be at an academic disadvantage because of a global pandemic.

I mean, I agree, they shouldn’t, but the reality is, they are. Now, what happens if this extends for multiple semesters? Are all the Ivy schools going to PASS/FAIL online until graduation?

I'm not trying to get into a lengthy discussion so I'll leave it after this comment.

> the reality is, they are.

But Yale admins/faculty have the power to change that. Whether the change is worth it (and what the best course of action is) is a matter for debate. But I wouldn't say that the best course of action is to sit back and say "that's just the reality of the situation" when we have a capability to effect change.

> Now, what happens if this extends for multiple semesters?

> Are all the Ivy schools going to PASS/FAIL online until graduation?

That's certainly not an ideal course of action, but (in my view) it may be what the Ivies are forced to do.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#57
Perhaps they need to learn the life lesson that bad things happen. Sometimes it's really bad, really unfair. But you can always make the best of it.

It'll be harder for them than others but they can demonstrate an ability to overcome and achieve during hard times. That'll be a huge personal confidence booster for future hard times.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#58
post #39
post #17

So how does this compare to Harvard, where students expect an automatic A even without Covid-19?

At least at HLS there's not such thing as an 'A'. You can get an F, LP, P, H, or DS. DS is not equivalent to an A. DS is insanely hard to get. The professor can only give like 1 or 2 students in the entire class DS so you basically have to be top gun to consistently get DS.

Harvard College (the university's undergraduate arm) definitely gives As. Law schools are vocational programs. I'm not surprised it works differently there.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MIT made all classes this semester effectively pass/fail. Makes sense to me. It has been wrenching, with different impact depending on each student's situation.

Is that how freshman year is graded, regardless?

First semester only.

Re: Yale Students Demand Automatic 'Pass' Due to Covid-19

#60
post #13

Hard to know what's right, under the circumstances. At the same time, it seems like their degrees should have an asterisk, to be fair to full graduates.

I'm not sure an asterisk really tells anyone about the critical thing....do they know this stuff? Can they do the job?

A degree attests to what one has done, not what one can do.
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