[Bioteaching] Optional finals

Fri Jun 5 17:05:45 PDT 2020

Hi all,
In alignment with Bruce's proposal, I would like to encourage everyone to
make sure opting out of the final exam *does not *diminish a student's
grade.
A student shared with me their situation in which their current score
around 95% somehow would lead to an A-/B+ grade according to the curving
strategy suggested by the instructor.
I strongly believe that students who need to opt out should not be
penalized.
Best,
--
Santiago

Santiago Jaramillo, PhD. Assistant Professor
Institute of Neuroscience and Dept. of Biology
University of Oregon. Eugene, OR 97403
http://jaralab.uoregon.edu

On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 3:46 PM Bruce Bowerman <bowerman at uoregon.edu> wrote:
>
> Dear Teaching Faculty;
>
> see note below from Human Physiology where they have made all final exams
optional across the board.
>
> I know some Biology instructors have already done this. Would anyone
object to Biology also making all final exams optional? I am OK with
leaving it to individual instructors, but would encourage everyone to do so.
>
> You can also make the final “non-grade diminishing as follows (and give
them an option to take an incomplete instead):
>
> 1. The final is optional and  non-grade diminishing for those who take it.
>
> ·       If you choose not to take the final or the final leaves you in a
worse spot than before, your grade will be what it is now except with  lab
report 8 included.
>
> 2. The incomplete option is still there! If you were really hoping for an
opportunity to improve your grade but during a calmer time, that option is
still available. Please email me if you wish to have an incomplete, and
take the final later.
>
>
> One other point: I would argue that having the final be optional also is
appealing in that students can avoid having to deal with time limits on
questions, etc.
>
> I could send out a message to our students much like the Human Physiology
department has done, but it seems kind of late for that. But I do think it
is advisable for any of you who have not made the final optional to
consider doing so now and send out such an email yourself. Feel free to get
back to me if you have comments on this; I have no objection if you want to
have a required final, though. It is up to you (I don’t think we have time
as a department to come up with a universal policy).
>
> Bruce
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: John Halliwill <halliwil at uoregon.edu>
> Subject: Re: Student group request for changes to finals
> Date: June 5, 2020 at 1:18:05 PM PDT
> To: Bruce Bowerman <bowerman at uoregon.edu>
> Cc: John Halliwill <halliwil at uoregon.edu>
>
> Hi Bruce,
> We decided to go with a department-wide position to make all final exams
optional. Students can take the exam and potentially improve their grade,
or they can not take it and keep the grade they have. It turned out that
very few of our classes even had a final exam, and in those that did, they
generally counted for very little, and so it made sense to create a clear
positive message as it cost very little.
>
> Here's what we sent out to our majors and students enrolled in our
classes:
>
> Dear HPHY students,
>
> We are living in uniquely challenging times in our country, with few
precedents for the viral pandemic combined with historic unemployment and
economic hardship. Tragically, the recent murder of George Floyd, of
Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are not unprecedented.
>
> When we last reached out to you, it was before the start of spring term.
We were moving to remote teaching, and we told you that we were grateful
that you were sticking with us in the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation.
We were and are committed to your success and to providing a valuable
academic experience this term. We have seen many challenges this term, and
we have worked hard to support you as you have worked hard to adapt to
these circumstances.
>
> Recent nation-wide protests in response to another murder of an unarmed
Black man by police have taken an already untenable situation and elevated
our national stress in ways we will all process differently. Our hearts are
with our many students who have felt the anger, grief, and frustration of
this moment in history.
>
> We've been struggling with what message we as a faculty should send to
you, our students, at this time to express how much we care about your
well-being, and to reinforce our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and
equity, at a time when our broader cultural shortcomings are in such sharp
focus. We feel our students of color, in particular our Black students,
need to know we have your backs. We stand with you. We are here to support
you and we will continue to educate ourselves to become better allies.
While we acknowledge that the burden of addressing generations of
inequities should not fall on those who have been oppressed, we also want
to amplify your voices. In that spirit, for anyone that wants to share - we
welcome your suggestions for what we can do to help. They can be sent to
HPHYHead at uoregon.edu.
>
> As students at a predominately white institution, we ask each of you to
consider what you can do to show your support for classmates that are most
affected. Learn what is going on. Consider the many ways you can make a
difference and show your support (you can go to
http://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ if you need ideas).
>
> Our faculty agree that cancelling final exams is one way we can support
students’ needs at this time, but we don’t want to diminish the value of
your hard efforts to learn. As such, those who want to take a final exam in
a HPHY class may do so, as an opportunity to improve a grade or satisfy a
personal sense of completion. No final exams will be required of students
who would choose to let their grades stand as they are. No student who
chooses to take their final exam will have their course grade reduced by
their exam score. All final exams are now optional.
>
> We have seen your resiliency this term. We have seen your hard work. You
are all part of our HPHY family. We must take care of each other and stand
up for one another.
>
> In solidarity, on behalf of the HPHY faculty, staff, and graduate
students,
>
> John Halliwill, Department Head
>
>
> John Halliwill, PhD, FAPS, FACSM | Professor and Department Head | Human
Physiology | University of Oregon | Eugene, OR
> He/His/Him | 1.541.600.4337 | halliwil at uoregon.edu |
http://eeplab.uoregon.edu | Schedule @
https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule
> Let's take care of each other, because we're all in the same boat.
> As a Designated Reporter, I am required to report any incidents of
prohibited discrimination and harassment including sexual violence or
sexual harassment that I hear about to the university administration. I
will also direct students to resources to help them.
> Just because I email you in the evening, on the weekend, or on vacation,
it doesn't mean I expect you to respond in kind. #worklifebalance
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 1:13 PM Bruce Bowerman <bowerman at uoregon.edu>
wrote:
>>
>> hi John:
>>
>> does Human Physiology have a uniform policy on canceling finals by any
chance? One student contacted me saying that was the case. I am curious to
know how you department is handling this situation with respect to optional
or cancelled finals. If you could let me know, I’d appreciate it very much!
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>> On Jun 3, 2020, at 1:14 PM, John Halliwill <halliwil at uoregon.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> We are receiving requests from our students, in conjunction with an open
letter from the ASUO to the UO, to support our students of color at this
time of fear and anxiety by either cancelling final exams or making them
"non-grade diminishing".
>>
>> Here is a link to the ASUO( a letter).
>>
>> I'd like to hear thoughts on this. As a country, a state, an
institution, and a collection of academic fields that have a long way to go
to redress long-standing systemic racism, I feel we should be doing
something. What, is less clear to me.
>>
>>
>>
>> John Halliwill, PhD, FAPS, FACSM | Professor and Department Head | Human
Physiology | University of Oregon | Eugene, OR
>> He/His/Him | 1.541.600.4337 | halliwil at uoregon.edu |
http://eeplab.uoregon.edu | Schedule @
https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule
>> Let's take care of each other, because we're all in the same boat.
>> As a Designated Reporter, I am required to report any incidents of
prohibited discrimination and harassment including sexual violence or
sexual harassment that I hear about to the university administration. I
will also direct students to resources to help them.
>> Just because I email you in the evening, on the weekend, or on vacation,
it doesn't mean I expect you to respond in kind. #worklifebalance
>>>
>>>
>>
>
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