BFA Assembly Considers Revisions For Two Academic Policies on Grading
On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, BFA Chair Tiffany Beechy sent the following message to BFA representatives:
Dear BFA Reps,
I write with a time-sensitive pair of proposals regarding grade policy that we will be voting on at the February 3rd General Assembly.
1) The first concerns the grade-replacement policy that we adopted in 2019, aspects of which present equity concerns that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. By bulletpoint, the proposed changes to this policy are:
- Make grade replacement automatic rather than opt-in by a deadline
- Lift the limit on credits allowable for grade replacement
2) The second proposal creates a new designation, S/U (“Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory”), to disambiguate “Pass/Fail Only” classes from the three-part system now implied by P/P+/F, according to which a “P” now implies a grade below a C-.
PDFs giving the history of these policies, rationales for the changes, and a memo endorsing them from the deans are attached here.
- Grade Replacement Policy Revision January 14, 2022
- Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading Basis Proposal January 14, 2022
Please distribute these widely among your constituents and send questions and feedback to bfa@colorado.edu by January 30. We hope to address any major concerns prior to the Assembly meeting so that our discussion that day can be focused and informed. Additionally, we have created a Proposed Grading Policy Changes FAQ on our website that you can share as well.
Thank you for your attention to these important policy matters at a busy time. I believe it is important for us to consider them promptly, as they concern both equity and student success.
With best regards,
Tiffany Beechy, BFA Chair