CCP passes new course repeat policy

The Committee on Curricular Policy (CCP) passed a motion for the creation of a "course repeat policy" which would allow students who earn a D or D+ grade in a course during their first three semesters of college to take the course again. Vassar's current policy only allows students to repeat courses in which they have received an F. The policy is now under review by the faculty.

CCP proposed a similar policy in April, which would allow students in any class to submit a petition to the Committee on Leaves and Privileges to be allowed to retake a course in which they received a D or D+. The proposed policy was tabled by the faculty; CCP has now endorsed a revised policy that does not include a petitioning process and is restricted to students in their first three semesters. According to an e-mailed statement by Dean of the Faculty Jonathan Chenette, "The question of how the policy would apply to transfer students is unresolved." Whether students who enter Vassar after already completing a semester or more of college will have a full three semesters to take advantage of the course repeat policy will be determined in the faculty meeting.

The policy is targeted at a small group of motivated students; only 0.4 percent of grades earned at Vassar are a D or D+, or about 80 grades each year. Most students who receive these grades would elect not to retake the course, based on the current use of the policy that allows students to retake the courses they fail. About 70 of the 500 students who received an F between the 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 academic years chose to retake the course. Since a D is considered a passing grade and sufficient to complete most distribution requirements or course prerequisites and since the D or D+ grade would remain on the student's transcript and be calculated into his or her GPA, students are unlikely to take advantage of the policy unless they are highly motivated to gain a strong understanding of the subject.

Chenette points out that, "While a D is a passing grade, it reflects a shaky understanding of the subject. Many of us would prefer that students address this weakness if they aspire to move on to more advanced studies in the same area."

The faculty, which will meet on this proposal twice, voting at the second meeting, is divided on the merits of the policy. Chenette wrote that "those favoring this policy hope that students will be motivated and able to strengthen their understanding of a subject before moving on to more advanced work." These faculty members believe that the proposal will "open greater opportunities for students to fulfill their academic aspirations."

However, some faculty members have concerns that the policy goes "too far in protecting students from the consequences of their academic miscues," says Chenette. The College already provides academic support programs that students receiving poor grades can take advantage of, and this addition brings up questions about whether increased support would prevent students from learning to meet the College's academic expectations on their own. According to Chenette, faculty members are also concerned that the policy "might be responding to the increasing diversity of our student body in a way that assumes a greater likelihood of weak academic performance on average among more recent classes, with their greater socioeconomic and ethnic diversity."

In an article on CCP's first proposal in the 4.28.10 issue of The Miscellany News ("CCP proposes new policy on academic forgiveness"), Dean of Freshmen Benjamin Lotto is quoted as saying that that policy was inspired by the increasing diversity of incoming classes, emphasizing "that diversity includes diversity of preparation."

Though there are concerns that allowing students to retake courses in which they have received passing grades constitutes a lowering of Vassar's academic standards, Lotto has prepared a list of peer institutions with similar policies already in place. Colgate University, Colby College, Wellesley College and Bowdoin College are among the 11 colleges he has contacted that allow all students to repeat courses in which they have received a D, without having to gain special permission. Meanwhile, Amherst College and Mt. Holyoke College use Vassar's current policy; students may not retake courses they have passed.

The faculty met for a primary reading of the proposed policy on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and will meet again and to vote on the policy on Dec. 15. Vassar Student Association (VSA) Vice President for Academics Laura Riker has constructed a survey to gauge student opinion of the course repeat policy, and the VSA will "issue a statement on this policy from the student body to the faculty" before the final vote, according to an e-mail from Riker.