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Hi Santiago,
<div class=""><br class="">
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<div class="">I have students freaking out left and right over grades now, taking misinformation from one another and convincing themselves that they have worse grades than they do. </div>
<div class="">I announced for instance that because the final project in lab is not yet graded they should expect their lab grade in Canvas to change. Somehow this was turned into the lab counting for more and the lab not counting at all in the final grade
within the rumor mill. Fascinating how information moves these days.</div>
<div class="">Bottom line: I doubt any of us are penalizing students, and I think you should send that student to the instructor for clarification. If it is someone in my class I would like to provide comforting clarification, and I'll bet my colleagues would
all agree.</div>
<div class=""><br class="">
</div>
<div class="">mark</div>
<div><br class="">
<blockquote type="cite" class="">
<div class="">On Jun 5, 2020, at 5:05 PM, Santiago Jaramillo <<a href="mailto:sjara@uoregon.edu" class="">sjara@uoregon.edu</a>> wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<div class="">
<div dir="ltr" class="">Hi all,<br class="">
In alignment with Bruce's proposal, I would like to encourage everyone to make sure opting out of the final exam
<b class="">does not </b>diminish a student's grade.<br class="">
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.<br class="">
I strongly believe that students who need to opt out should not be penalized.<br class="">
Best,<br class="">
--<br class="">
Santiago
<div class=""><br class="">
Santiago Jaramillo, PhD. Assistant Professor<br class="">
Institute of Neuroscience and Dept. of Biology<br class="">
University of Oregon. Eugene, OR 97403<br class="">
<a href="http://jaralab.uoregon.edu/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" class="">http://jaralab.uoregon.edu</a><br class="">
<br class="">
On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 3:46 PM Bruce Bowerman <<a href="mailto:bowerman@uoregon.edu" class="">bowerman@uoregon.edu</a>> wrote:<br class="">
><br class="">
> Dear Teaching Faculty;<br class="">
><br class="">
> see note below from Human Physiology where they have made all final exams optional across the board.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> You can also make the final “non-grade diminishing as follows (and give them an option to take an incomplete instead):<br class="">
><br class="">
> 1. The final is optional and non-grade diminishing for those who take it.<br class="">
><br class="">
> · 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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). <br class="">
><br class="">
> Bruce<br class="">
><br class="">
> Begin forwarded message:<br class="">
><br class="">
> From: John Halliwill <<a href="mailto:halliwil@uoregon.edu" class="">halliwil@uoregon.edu</a>><br class="">
> Subject: Re: Student group request for changes to finals<br class="">
> Date: June 5, 2020 at 1:18:05 PM PDT<br class="">
> To: Bruce Bowerman <<a href="mailto:bowerman@uoregon.edu" class="">bowerman@uoregon.edu</a>><br class="">
> Cc: John Halliwill <<a href="mailto:halliwil@uoregon.edu" class="">halliwil@uoregon.edu</a>><br class="">
><br class="">
> Hi Bruce,<br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> Here's what we sent out to our majors and students enrolled in our classes:<br class="">
><br class="">
> Dear HPHY students,<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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 <a href="mailto:HPHYHead@uoregon.edu" class="">HPHYHead@uoregon.edu</a>.<br class="">
><br class="">
> 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 <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/__;!!C5qS4YX3!TRIG4ZOqJhY7TRu8xCSDQ-v8sQs5MlM48KXLl0eJHY2XeKMy9ExxgY2bsx03uHyihA$" class="">
http://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/</a> if you need ideas).<br class="">
><br class="">
> Our faculty agree that cancelling final exams is one way we can support students’ needs at this time, but we don’t want to diminish the value of your hard efforts to learn. As such, those who want to take a final exam in a HPHY class may do so, as an opportunity
to improve a grade or satisfy a personal sense of completion. No final exams will be required of students who would choose to let their grades stand as they are. No student who chooses to take their final exam will have their course grade reduced by their
exam score. All final exams are now optional.<br class="">
><br class="">
> We have seen your resiliency this term. We have seen your hard work. You are all part of our HPHY family. We must take care of each other and stand up for one another.<br class="">
><br class="">
> In solidarity, on behalf of the HPHY faculty, staff, and graduate students,<br class="">
><br class="">
> John Halliwill, Department Head<br class="">
><br class="">
><br class="">
> John Halliwill, PhD, FAPS, FACSM | Professor and Department Head | Human Physiology | University of Oregon | Eugene, OR<br class="">
> He/His/Him | 1.541.600.4337 | <a href="mailto:halliwil@uoregon.edu" class="">halliwil@uoregon.edu</a> |
<a href="http://eeplab.uoregon.edu/" class="">http://eeplab.uoregon.edu</a> | Schedule @
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule__;!!C5qS4YX3!TRIG4ZOqJhY7TRu8xCSDQ-v8sQs5MlM48KXLl0eJHY2XeKMy9ExxgY2bsx2TOmboRA$" class="">
https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule</a><br class="">
> Let's take care of each other, because we're all in the same boat.<br class="">
> 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.<br class="">
> 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<br class="">
><br class="">
><br class="">
> On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 1:13 PM Bruce Bowerman <<a href="mailto:bowerman@uoregon.edu" class="">bowerman@uoregon.edu</a>> wrote:<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> hi John:<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> 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!<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> Thanks.<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> Bruce<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> On Jun 3, 2020, at 1:14 PM, John Halliwill <<a href="mailto:halliwil@uoregon.edu" class="">halliwil@uoregon.edu</a>> wrote:<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> Hi folks,<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> 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".<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> Here is a link to the ASUO( a letter).<br class="">
>><br class="">
>> 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.<br class="">
>><br class="">
>><br class="">
>><br class="">
>> John Halliwill, PhD, FAPS, FACSM | Professor and Department Head | Human Physiology | University of Oregon | Eugene, OR<br class="">
>> He/His/Him | 1.541.600.4337 | <a href="mailto:halliwil@uoregon.edu" class="">halliwil@uoregon.edu</a> |
<a href="http://eeplab.uoregon.edu/" class="">http://eeplab.uoregon.edu</a> | Schedule @
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule__;!!C5qS4YX3!TRIG4ZOqJhY7TRu8xCSDQ-v8sQs5MlM48KXLl0eJHY2XeKMy9ExxgY2bsx2TOmboRA$" class="">
https://doodle.com/mm/johnhalliwill/schedule</a><br class="">
>> Let's take care of each other, because we're all in the same boat.<br class="">
>> 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.<br class="">
>> 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<br class="">
>>><br class="">
>>><br class="">
>><br class="">
></div>
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