Special COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy for Fall 2020 (CR/NC)
Resolution from College Council (adopted December 9, 2020):
Whereas, The Student Council of John Jay College of Criminal Justice adopted a resolution on November 12, 2020, that clearly and forcefully articulates the very serious challenges and risks
for student academic success that have been created by the transition to fully online and distance learning modalities necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and
Whereas, The Student Council resolution calls for the extension of the Flexible Grading Policy (aka the Credit/No Credit Policy), enacted by CUNY for the Spring 2020 semester, and
Whereas, CUNY did not extend the Credit/No Credit Policy for the Summer 2020 or Fall 2020 semesters, and
Whereas, on December 7, 2020 Vice Chancellor Cruz further communicated that colleges are to adopt one of the following three options:
1. Allow the use of CR/NC grades for all Fall 2020 courses as in the Spring 2020 term.
2. Allow the use of CR/NC grades for all Fall 2020 courses except those the college designates to be excluded.
3. Do not allow the use of CR/NC grades in Fall 2020 but expand access to the college’s existing flexible grading policies using the University’s P/NC grading framework.
Whereas, the communication by Vice Chancellor Cruz specified that in extending the Spring 2020 CR/NC Policy to the Fall 2020 term, the University is also extending to all colleges the provision in said policy stating that “students with Credit/No Credit grades will be able to transfer those courses across colleges within CUNY, per current CUNY policy.” And as was administratively determined for Spring 2020, consistent with the intent of the University’s COVID-19 CR/NC Policy, for students transferring to CUNY from outside the University, the University will honor and transfer in binary grades for all courses taken in Spring and Fall 2020 that would normally transfer, without negative impact on admission, transfer credit, or degree requirements. This provision must be honored even if colleges choose to expand access to their own flexible grading policies using the P/NC grading framework.
Whereas, the communication by Vice Chancellor Cruz further specified that in extending the Spring 2020 CR/NC Policy to the Fall 2020 term, it is also extending to all colleges the provisions of the Special COVID-19 Graduate Admissions Policy approved by the Board of Trustees on April 27, 2020, which seek to ensure that “in evaluating future candidates for admission into graduate programs, they will not disadvantage students who present P (pass) or CR (credit) grades in their transcripts for courses specifically taken during Spring 2020 and other terms which could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic — regardless of whether their institutions imposed a flexible or similar grading policy for all students or gave them the choice to opt-in” and that to this end “all University graduate admissions committees shall adjust their selection processes to honor this commitment while keeping with the norms of their specific programs and corresponding disciplines.” This provision must be honored even if colleges choose to expand access to their own flexible grading policies using the P/NC grading framework.
Whereas, the Credit/No Credit policy enacted for the Spring 2020 semester was enacted in the context of waivers enacted at the federal and state level that protected students from the potentially negative consequences of the policy for financial aid, for Veterans’ benefits eligibility, for transferability of courses, and for graduate and professional program admission, waivers that are no longer in effect.
Whereas, the communication by Vice Chancellor Cruz further specified that colleges “must develop and implement a broad communications and advising plan to ensure equitable access to the localized policy to students and informed implementation to faculty and staff.”
Therefore, the College Council calls on John Jay academic and administrative leaders and college faculty to:
- respond with empathy and concern for John Jay’s undergraduate and graduate students facing challenges that may impair their academic success;
- apply discretion in registration and academic standing reviews where it is within the discretion of college officials to defer the implementation of deadline and academic
standing decisions;
- extend, when possible, the deadlines of policies designed to help students who are challenged in their academic work; and
- promote access to programs and services that enable students to successfully complete classes with additional support,
Therefore, and furthermore, the College Council, acting on the recommendation of the Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum and the Committee on Graduate Studies, adopts Option 2 to “allow the use of CR/NC grades for all Fall 2020 courses except those the college designates to be excluded.” These courses will be identified, by the Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum and the Committee on Graduate Studies upon the advice of departments and programs. The choice of courses, if any, for exclusion from the Fall 2020 CR/NC Policy by the Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum and the Committee on Graduate Studies shall not require approval by the College Council. Without limiting the authority and discretion of those bodies, the Council notes that courses appropriate for exclusion may include, but are not limited to, courses that are prerequisites to subsequent courses that require specific levels of competency and knowledge that are essential for academic success in the subsequent course.
Therefore, and furthermore, the College Council calls upon all faculty, staff and student leaders to be robust and proactive allies of all students. Students considering opting for a Fall 2020 CR/NC grade should be directed to appropriate resources and personnel in order to be informed of the known, and there may be unknown, potential negative and unintended consequences of opting for a Fall 2020 CR/NC grade. The central administration in CUNY and John Jay College cannot foresee the full universe of potential negative consequences that may result from the Fall CR/NC policy, which may include, among others, the possible loss of TAP for the subsequent semester; the possible loss of PELL; the possible requirement to repay PELL funds received for the semester; the possible loss of scholarships; the possible loss of immigration status; the possible loss of Veterans' benefits; the possible non-transferability of courses outside of CUNY; the possible negative effect on graduate and professional school admission; and the possible negative effect on competitiveness within the job market.
Therefore, and furthermore, the College Council calls on the student body to proactively prepare by assessing their future academic and career goals, and by meeting with faculty and student advisors, and members of key student support service areas such as financial aid, particularly when deciding whether to take advantage of the Fall 2020 CR/NC option for an individual course.
Therefore, and furthermore, the College Council calls on the John Jay administration to provide a structured informed consent protocol to be completed by students before electing a Fall 2020 CR/NC grade.
Therefore, and furthermore, the College Council calls on the Faculty Senate, the Student Council, college administrators, and John Jay academic policy committees to continue to study and propose ways to implement for the Spring 2021 Semester, and beyond, local policies and procedures that allow students to resolve academic challenges without exposing students to harmful and unintended consequences of Fall 2020 CR/NC grades.
Courses to be Excluded from the Fall 2020 Flexible Grading Policy (CR/NC)
The Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum and the Committee on Graduate Studies have determined that the following courses are excluded from the Fall 2020 Flexible Grading Policy (CR/NC):
Department of Sciences
- Biology 101
- Biology 102
- Biology 103
- Biology 104
- Chemistry 101
- Chemistry 102
- Chemistry 103
Department of Psychology
- Psychology 700
- Psychology 715
- Psychology 737
- Psychology 738
- Psychology 745
- Psychology 755
- Psychology 758
- Psychology 769
- Psychology 780
- Psychology 781