[Bioteaching] optional final: up to individual instructors

[Bruce Bowerman]

Dear Biologists,

While I strongly support making optionals final, there are a small number of faculty teaching smaller courses that have already implemented projects that count as final exams, and I do not think it makes sense to insist that all finals be optional. 

The DEI committee has voted in favor of having all finals be optional and I generally support that sentiment. I would point out that in fact all of our 200 level course instructors have now made finals optional, and those are the most stressful and by far our largest courses (that also include many Human Physiology majors). I also have heard that at least some 300 level course instructors have made finals optional. 

So while I feel like it is too late to impose a strict requirement, and also perhaps not appropriate for all courses, especially some smaller and elective courses with finals that are more project-oriented than exam-oriented, I would encourage as many of you as possible to (i) make finals optional, and (ii) send out an email to your students letting them know this, and telling them how you understand their concerns and encourage their safe and peaceful involvement in the ongoing protests that are long overdue and very worthy of our support. 

Bruce