Students continue their demands for an optional pass-fail grading system from the University System of Georgia in response to the coronavirus pandemic in a social media video.
“I’m the student you’re failing,” a series of students say.
USG Students 4 Grade Reform is a coalition of students across the university system’s 26 public institutions. They call on students to call Governor Brian Kemp’s office and sign a petition in support.
“Firstly, for all the students who have given up on the hope of implementing a pass fail system, I would encourage them to stand strong,” a student representative tells PRN. “USG Students 4 Grade Reform will continue to advocate for this system because we know that there are thousands of students across the state who would benefit from equitable grade reform. However, to represent the voice of students, we need students to stand with us and show the Board of Regents why this is crucial to all of us.”
Advocates of the grading system say the pandemic places stress on the shoulders of students, and this could prevent consequences to GPAs. The optional choice allows students to use the A-F grading scale still if they want it.
A student representative of the organization says they are redirecting their requests to Governor Brian Kemp’s Office after a lack of communication from the Board of Regents. They remain hopeful that discussions proceed in a “positive direction.”
“However, in addition to denying our request, the Board of Regents has now begun ignoring student calls and refusing to answer emails. In response to this, we have reached out to the governor who has been significantly more responsive than the BOR,” a student representative says.
The video has already attracted the support of thousands online, including actress Alyssa Milano who shared it with her 3.6 million followers on Twitter.
“Besides Arizona St., the University System of Georgia’s 26 schools are the only ones in the country to not change their grading system in recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Milano writes.
The University System of Georgia says they stand behind their initial statement that they would not implement the grading system, trusting students overcome difficulties. This came after a similar petition pulled over 10 thousand signatures on change.org.
“The University System of Georgia is aware some institutions around the nation have decided to shift to pass/fail grading after transitioning to remote education,” a USG spokesperson told PRN. “We are confident our students will rise to the challenge, and the USG will do everything in its power to help them do so.”
On April 2, the Atlanta Senate of Georgia State University’s Student Government Association unanimously passed a policy resolution supporting an optional pass-fail grading system.
But Mark Becker, the president of Georgia State University, echoed the university system’s position during a virtual town hall on April 17.
Before Georgia State made the transition online, Provost Wendy Hensel told professors to rethink grading habits due to the transition faculty and students will undergo.
Note: This article has been updated to reflect the additional statements from both USG Students 4 Grade Reform and the University System of Georgia. This article was written for PRN, the student-led news station at Georgia State University.
