Senate approved motions on CR/NCR use for W2020 numeric grades

This message was originally sent to faculty and course instructors by James W.E. Rush.

• Course instructors can elect to use CR or NCR in place of numeric grades for Winter Term 2020 if they judge that they do not have enough information to give numeric grades 
• Students will be able to ask to convert numeric grades to CR or NCR for a specific period after the end of Winter Term 

Earlier today, the Senate approved two motions intended to support students’ learning experience at Waterloo during these unprecedented times and to ensure that we provide equitable opportunities for students to progress in their academic studies.

Motion 1: Senate endorses that some courses originally set to use numerical grades for the Winter 2020 term will instead use CR/NCR (for all students in the course), at the discretion of the Instructor and with the approval of the Faculty.

Motion 2: For courses using numerical grading for the Winter 2020 Term, Senate directs the Registrar’s Office and the Associate Vice Presidents, Academic, and Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in consultation with the Faculties, to develop a process by which, after the completion of the Winter 2020 Term, within a specified time limit a student may convert a numerical grade to a CR/NCR without need for a Policy 70 petition.

We know that changes due to COVID-19 are difficult for many students – and instructors – to face. The changes we have made have the potential to leave some instructors with limited information about the degree to which students have shown mastery of course objectives. We also know these changes could have a negative effect on some students’ likelihood of success.

The first motion is intended to allow instructors who feel that circumstances mean that they have insufficient information to provide a numerical grade to nevertheless allow students to complete their courses and progress towards completion of their academic programs. We are still encouraging instructors to use numeric grading schemes when possible, but are introducing this as an option in the cases identified.

The second motion intends to provide some agency to students as to how the Winter 2020 term may be represented on their academic record.

Note that Policy 70 currently allows students to seek relief from an academic decision, including marks in a course, if the student can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Our belief is that the events of Winter 2020 will, in many cases, constitute extenuating circumstances. The second motion is intended to allow the process to be simplified.

If you have any questions about these changes, please discuss with your Associate Dean.

Thank you for your continued flexibility and understanding as we all seek to make changes to ensure students continue to enjoy a quality University of Waterloo learning experience.