hey all,
i hope that midterm season is going well for everyone. overloading this semester has made me especially sensitive for the need for change in some academic policies :-/ luckily, the new pass/fail policy proposal is in committee, and in general AA is working on some pretty exciting projects.
-PASS/FAIL: the proposed pass/fail policy went to committee last Thursday, and it seems that it will definitely be subject to heated debate. as i've said before, i think that it is essential to change the pass/fail policy--in its current state, it acts as more of a veil for seniors who don't want to take a rigorous schedule rather than as an opportunity for all students to try new classes and take risks without the chance of long-term damage to their GPAs. the proposed policy would, among other things, (1) allow premajor students to take courses pass/fail, (2) extend the deadline by which classes have to be declared pass/fail to the withdrawal date, (3) remove the blanket ban on Pass/Fail grading for prerequisites and seminars, and (4) go to a Pass/D/Fail grading system. what do you all think? would you take more challenging classes outside of your discipline if the new policy was in place? is there anything that you would add? please give feedback!
-MAJORS' UNIONS: the majors' union round table is this MONDAY and we are really excited about it. majors' unions are a unique chance to give students a forum to discuss their subject and their needs within the major with faculty in a collective position. this also can be a forum for students to bring in speakers and hold events. we want to inspire each major to start and upkeep a union. cynthia and i will keep you updated on the results.
-HALF-CREDIT CLASSES: Price and Harrison have been working to try to get more half-credit classes for students who want to try out another discipline, but don't have the prereqs or the time for full-credit classes. What subjects would you be interested in pursuing? We're thinking potentially a Current Events Class, where top public policy professors and political scientists could teach all students about the world. Modelling and project based engineering classes for those of us that usually would not touch Pratt with a 12 foot pole (not that I don't respect you all immensely, but...). Art history courses minus the papers. You get the drift. Any interest, let us know! Cpg5@duke.edu.
On top of these three projects, we're also working on opportunities for students to have greater access to evaluations through a new site and access to comments that you have written in class. What would you like to see in an evaluations website just for students?
I'm off, but please comment or contact me with any questions.
AA love,
Chelsea
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