5,000 signatures reached
To: University of Maryland, College Park
Option for UMD Pass/Fail Grades
We as students would like the option to choose between a letter grade or pass/fail for any courses this semester, just as we had the last spring semester.
Why is this important?
Last spring, UMD students abruptly moved to remote learning because of COVID-19. During this time, we were given the default option of pass/fail and were encouraged to use that option. This saved many students from even more stress than they already were experiencing due to the pandemic. Now, in the fall 2020 semester, we are still online, not back to normal, yet the grading system is back to normal (letter grades). The COVID situation in America has yet to steadily improve. Many students and families are still jobless, homeless, and under an immense amount of stress. Many students are struggling to balance their lives with school during this time. Currently, only one class per semester can be registered as pass/fail and it may only be an elective. We ask that all courses for undergrads have the pass/fail option, regardless of the major or Gen Ed requirements, just like last semester. If life is not back to normal, grading shouldn’t be either.