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Policy Handbook 
    
Policy Handbook
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AA/17/AS/20/GC - Temporary Grade Options for Graduate Courses

Effective Spring 2020


Resolved: That the Graduate Council, California State University Stanislaus [GC] acknowledge that the COVID-19 Pandemic has necessitated a mid-semester transition of all courses to non-face-to-face modes of instruction; and be it further 

Resolved: That GC assert that the most effective means of supporting our University’s core mission is to ensure that students are not penalized because of a public health crisis; and be it further 

Resolved: That AS approves the attached statement, Temporary Modification to University Grading Policies and Published Deadlines as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and urges immediate implementation of the statement; and be it further 

Resolved: That the standard procedure of forwarding resolutions to the University President 10 days after Senate minutes are published be waived and that this resolution be immediately forwarded to the President for action; and be it further 

Resolved: That the modification to University Policies and deadlines described in the attached statement be implemented immediately for Spring 2020 and that the Senate Executive Committee, in concert with the Provost, monitor the evolving Pandemic situation and determine whether the modifications in the statement will apply to Summer 2020, reaching a decision no later than the end of Spring Semester Finals Week. 27 

Rationale: The 2020 worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 has resulted in a number of emergency measures for the Stanislaus State community. Most notable has been a move to remote instruction for all Spring 2020 coursework. Due to fact that most coursework was not described as taking place via remote instruction when students registered, the Graduate Council recognizes that measures need to be taken to offer students as much flexibility as is possible to achieve their immediate-term and longer-term goals; with respect to learning, grading, progress toward program completion, and the future utilization of program grades. The modifications to grading procedures proposed in this resolution offer such flexibility to all students while also preserving the foundational integrity, rigor, and systemic policy of grade-based assessment of learning conducted by the appropriate faculty that teach, advise and mentor graduate students and collectively maintain the academic integrity of the University’s graduate programs. The Council recognizes that a majority of graduate programs have stringent external stakeholder requirements; in terms of students’ grades received and licensing requirements towards certain professions, grades received and issues with national and regional accreditation requirements, grades received and possible admissions requirements to doctoral programs. 

19/AS/20/GC Temporary Grade Options for Graduate Courses 

For Graduate courses the following modifications to extant curricular policy documents and published deadlines will be implemented:

a) For courses that currently are on a letter grading system the grading option would change to the following grade system: A, A-, B+, B, B-, NCR (no credit). The NCR (no credit) option would replace grades below B-

b) The deadline for students to withdraw from a course will be moved to the last day of final exams

c) In consultation with their graduate advisor and their program, and students can also opt to receive an incomplete (I) for their course till the last day of final exams

d) For courses designated as credit / no credit only, that designation remains in place.

e) Instructors are asked to inform students of their current “course grade” to assist students with making informed choices. Faculty must

f) Students who ceased attending class part way through the semester before the campus implemented measures as a result of the pandemic will be assigned a grade based on their work in the course

g) Graduate programs will increase , as much as possible, student support and flexibility when advising/mentoring students so that students are best able to navigate through this pandemic

h) Faculty shall , if possible, inform students of their current grade in the course, and advise them towards the best grading option

Related Policies and Procedures: 19/AS/20/GC Temporary Grade Options for Graduate Courses (included in attachment)

Review History: Approved by Academic Senate on April 21, 2020 Approved by President Ellen Junn on April 28, 2020 

Academic Affairs Division has the primary responsibility for this policy.

Attachment(s): AA/17/AS/20/GC Temporary Grade options for Graduate Courses  


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