The faculty of social sciences at the University of Ottawa (U of O) announced on March 23 that there would be “exceptional circumstances for final exams and grades,” according to an email statement sent by Victoria Barham, the dean of the faculty.
This decision comes after the U of O Senate ruled that each faculty would be able to make decisions concerning how they will conduct final examinations, according to an article by The Fulcrum.
Many students have been worried about the way assignments and exams will be graded at the end of the term and their ability to fulfill these requirements in the current COVID-19 pandemic, according to the statement.
As a result, the faculty decided to implement “exceptional measures” in order to relieve pressure from students and ensure they receive the credits they need in order to graduate.
“These measures were discussed and approved by the entire FSS management team, which includes the Dean, the Vice-deans and the Directors of each department. Rest assured that we all desire to support you through the difficult times that we are currently living through,” read the statement.
There are five measures in place, for undergraduate students only. Additional measures will be announced for graduate students of the faculty as well, the statement adds.
The first measure outlined that professors who teach courses with a written assignment, such as an essay, before the end of the semester and before the exam period are encouraged to accept late submissions without any penalty for seven days after the original due date.
The second measure was that students would not be penalized for failing to complete any final exam format that is scheduled during the exam period.
The third measure outlines that students are the ones who will decide which final exams they will complete and they do not have to notify their professors of their decision.
The fourth measure will allow students the opportunity, once they have received their final alphanumeric grade, of keeping that final mark or a final mark of satisfactory/non-satisfactory, also known as pass/fail.
The fifth measure is that no student will be allowed an exam deferral for the April exam period. The statement also outlined that measures two and three do not apply to internships, honours thesis courses, directed research courses, and directed reading courses.
The U of O moved all their courses online on March 18 and also announced that no in-person exams would take place during the April exam period.
A petition has been circulating amongst the Carleton community that is demanding the pass/fail option be implemented at Carleton for all courses. The petition gained over 1,500 signatures. The pass/fail grading option was implemented at McGill University and offered at the University of Alberta as well.
Ryerson University announced on March 25 that students enrolled in undergraduate courses and Chang School will have the option of a pass/fail grade, according to an article by The Eyeopener.
As of March 24, there are 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Ottawa community and 572 confirmed cases in the province. There are no confirmed cases in the U of O or Carleton community so far.
Photo by Spencer Colby.
