Opinion: Without academic justice, AU fails its students

#AUniversalPass is necessary for students during this crisis

Photos courtesy of Sarah Soliman (left) and Faith Lewis (right)

By Sarah Soliman and Faith Lewis | April 25, 2020

We are raising awareness about academic justice at American University. For the University to fail a student as a result of a worldwide pandemic would be the greatest injustice this institution could commit. If AU maintains ‘standard’ grading then it should maintain the same ‘standard’ for our education. That means in-person classes, access to the library, face-to-face office hours and in-class discussions. However, these realities are not currently possible. So, why should AU expect students to maintain the same standard of performance? Recognizing this hypocrisy was the birthplace of #AUniversalPass. It is our belief that every single AU student should receive a passing grade.

An opt-in Pass/Fail grading system will have implications that affect our futures. Graduate schools and employers may look unkindly upon those who chose a Pass/Fail grading scheme. That means that students who currently have WiFi, a safe home, healthy family members and a source of income will have greater access to future opportunities — thus exacerbating pre-existing inequalities. 

The ramifications of this policy decision for Spring 2020 will stretch far beyond early May. 

We know AU has the capacity to meet our needs. AU has issued partial refunds to students for the services they paid for this semester. AU has listened to students regarding grading policy in the past and changed policy accordingly. Why not do so now?

Mandatory Pass/Fail is insufficient because it will still fail the most marginalized individuals at AU. The current grading system permits an ‘F’ to impact the student’s GPA in the same way an ‘F’ that the  A-F scale uses. Yet the ‘P’ does not impact the student’s GPA at all, especially not in a way that an ‘A’ would. 

Social distancing was instituted out of a ‘care for your community’ mindset. If administrators care about the health of their communities, then this must include the mental health of their students. If a student is unable to complete their work because of COVID-19-related reasons, such as a death in the family, an inability to pay bills, a lack of internet connection or an un-accommodating professor, then they should not fail the semester. 

After interacting with this administration, it is clear that there are steps that students can take when these issues arise. However, every time a hoop must be jumped through in order to have a student’s needs met, we are allowing  students to fail at no fault of their own. This means that the most underserved students will ‘slip through the cracks.’ This is inexcusable. Students’ academic careers cannot and should not be COVID-19 collateral damage. 

#AUniversalPass is about equity and justice. It relates to other issues of equity and justice, such as those connected to issues of partial tuition refunds, long-term acknowledgement of disability rights and academic justice. 

In the context of this crisis, we posit the question, “On what basis are students being graded?” 

Prior to COVID-19, professors graded students based on our ability to successfully meet course goals. However, this is no longer the case. In light of COVID-19, professors are now grading students based on the degree to which they are affected by the global pandemic. The less it affects you, the more time you can devote to your studies, and the better your grade. 

We have spoken with this administration, and we have shared countless deeply personal student testimonies about this struggle. This administration cannot claim ignorance. As it currently stands, AU has failed, is failing and will continue to fail its students.

The University must uphold the integrity of its institution through academic justice by improving the grading scheme for Spring 2020. 

Sarah Soliman and Faith Lewis are both seniors at AU. Sarah is in the School of International Service majoring in International Studies with a minor in Religion from the College of Arts and Sciences. Faith is in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in International Studies from the School of International Service. They are outside contributors and do not reflect the opinions of The Eagle.

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