Whereas, humanities classes tend to have large participation grades, often comprising twenty percent or more of a student’s overall grade. This participation grade is often associated with discussion-based performance rather than just attendance,
Whereas, though discussion performance can comprise a large portion of a student’s overall grade, equivalent to a prelim at times, students often do not know their participation grade until the end of the semester or, sometimes, they are not made aware at all,
Whereas, participation grades exist to ensure students are able to interact with course materials and peers effectively. If students do not know their participation grades, then they cannot constructively improve the way they participate and interact throughout the course,
Whereas, the Faculty Handbook leaves participation, attendance, and grading policies up to instructors. This resolution does not propose to change pedagogy but rather requests that professors communicate their pedagogy through more regular participation grades so that students may perform to the best of their ability,
Be it therefore resolved, that faculty communicate with students at least bi-semesterly, either by student request, through posted grades, or through general class feedback, regarding participation scores that factor into a student’s overall grade in the class,
Be it further resolved, that students can better perform in discussions through this feedback and improve their interactions with course materials and peers,
Be it finally resolved, that this resolution amend the Faculty Handbook under “Grading Policies” to include “Faculty are also encouraged to make an effort to communicate with students at least bi-semesterly, either by student request, through posted grades, or through general class feedback, regarding participation scores that factor into a student’s overall grade in the class,”
Respectfully Submitted,
Ellie Porter
Chief of Staff, Student Assembly
Representative At-Large, Student Assembly
Alexander Walters
Vice President for Communications, Student Assembly
Academic Policy Committee Chair, LGBTQIA+ Representative, Student Assembly
Eeshaan Chaudhuri
President of the Student Assembly
Vasilios Likourezos
Academic Policy Committee Member, Student Assembly
Ivan Ting
Academic Policy Committee Member, Student Assembly
George Kurakin
Academic Policy Committee Member, Student Assembly
Lydia Blum
Vice President for Policy, Student Assembly
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative, Student Assembly
Matthew Luciani
Academic Policy Committee Member, Student Assembly
Jai Anand
Representative At-Large, Student Assembly
