The day after we published a post assessing the different options available to instructors for assigning grades in the context of the PSAC strike, the administration released an update on the university’s Labour News page.
We are dismayed to see that the administration continues to insist on CR grades [credit standing] as the primary means of addressing the loss of TA and TF labour in our courses. CR grades are the equivalent of a generic pass; they do not reflect students’ abilities or efforts. In promoting CR grades as a solution to the growing piles of ungraded student work, administrators are overriding institutional grading regulations, compromising academic freedom and integrity, and disadvantaging both graduate and undergraduate students, all in a bid to avoid returning to the bargaining table.
Our post, which has been read more than 1000 times, explains in great detail why credit standing is detrimental to students. We are particularly concerned for first-year students who are on the verge of selecting their academic plans, students with graduate and professional school aspirations, 5th year and other students who were hoping to use this year’s grades to improve their GPAs, disabled students, students with extenuating circumstances, and exchange students.
As we post this, more than 1200 undergraduate students have signed a letter demanding fairness in grading. They have pegged CR as “demoralizing and unfair” and are arguing instead for the use of Grade Deferred (GD), which means their assignments would be graded once the strike ends.
Students have also organized a protest tomorrow, Thursday March 27 at 2:00 pm. All are welcome to join them on the steps of Stauffer Library.
We echo the students’ demands: Fair grades and a fair deal now!
Queen's Coalition Against Austerity 