Pass/Fail Plus would be detrimental to Univ
by Liz Posner
Op-Ed | 3/16/10
Posted online at 1:47 AM EST on 3/16/10
Earlier this month the Student Union proposed an amendment to the existing pass/fail system at Brandeis. The new initiative, Pass/Fail Plus, would allow students to satisfy one of the eight general University requirements with a pass/fail grade.
There are two distinct ways in which such a Pass/Fail Plus policy could be detrimental to the strength of academics at Brandeis. The first concerns the way this amendment will amplify the negative aspects of the already existing pass/fail policy. The second pertains to the problems of the Pass/Fail Plus policy itself.
Ordinarily, chances are that a student enrolled in a course pass/fail is taking the class out of pure interest. Curiosity alone may motivate a student to complete the assigned work.
On the other hand, students who use the Pass/Fail Plus option and enroll in the course to complete a University requirement may not be as interested in the subject matter, as their motivation for joining the class differs from that of the regular pass/fail student, and they will be less likely to keep up with their work.
This proposal would amplify the destructive consequences of the already existing pass/fail option. Undoubtedly, under the new Pass/Fail Plus option, more students will choose to take a class pass/fail each semester. It is likely that several more students per class will not be taking the course with intent to receive a standard grade.
Let's look at a hypothetical class to examine these consequences. Let's say it's a science class. This class of 25 students is marketed toward nonmajors. Certain interdisciplinary courses that are cross-listed between departments are, after all, most likely to be bombarded with students taking the class pass/fail under the new policy. I doubt most of the advanced, strictly departmental courses-many of which require prerequisites-will be affected. Even though the cushion of pass/fail status will encourage students to take more challenging classes, most students who do not plan on pursuing studies within that particular field will not want to put the additional time or energy into maintaining only grades that only need be above a C+. An English major may very well still be at risk of receiving a C or worse in Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy and will elect to enroll in a course like Astronomy to satisfy his or her science requirement regardless of Pass/Fail Plus.
There are two distinct ways in which such a Pass/Fail Plus policy could be detrimental to the strength of academics at Brandeis. The first concerns the way this amendment will amplify the negative aspects of the already existing pass/fail policy. The second pertains to the problems of the Pass/Fail Plus policy itself.
Ordinarily, chances are that a student enrolled in a course pass/fail is taking the class out of pure interest. Curiosity alone may motivate a student to complete the assigned work.
On the other hand, students who use the Pass/Fail Plus option and enroll in the course to complete a University requirement may not be as interested in the subject matter, as their motivation for joining the class differs from that of the regular pass/fail student, and they will be less likely to keep up with their work.
This proposal would amplify the destructive consequences of the already existing pass/fail option. Undoubtedly, under the new Pass/Fail Plus option, more students will choose to take a class pass/fail each semester. It is likely that several more students per class will not be taking the course with intent to receive a standard grade.
Let's look at a hypothetical class to examine these consequences. Let's say it's a science class. This class of 25 students is marketed toward nonmajors. Certain interdisciplinary courses that are cross-listed between departments are, after all, most likely to be bombarded with students taking the class pass/fail under the new policy. I doubt most of the advanced, strictly departmental courses-many of which require prerequisites-will be affected. Even though the cushion of pass/fail status will encourage students to take more challenging classes, most students who do not plan on pursuing studies within that particular field will not want to put the additional time or energy into maintaining only grades that only need be above a C+. An English major may very well still be at risk of receiving a C or worse in Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy and will elect to enroll in a course like Astronomy to satisfy his or her science requirement regardless of Pass/Fail Plus.
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