NYU Schools Update Pass/Fail Policies in Response to Coronavirus
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3 SPORTS 5 ARTS NYU Senior Athletes React to How to Support New York’s Their Final Season’s Early End Vibrant Independent Arts Scene 4 CULTURE 6 OPINION Where Did You Go? Students on NYU’s Evictions Show Its Being Kicked Out of Housing Disregard for Students’ Needs VOLUME LIV | ISSUE 8 MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020 NYU Schools Update Pass/Fail Policies in Response to Coronavirus Several NYU schools are offering expanded pass/fail options for students in response to concerns surrounding the transition to remote instruction. By EMILY MASON News Editor Some undergraduate students can now choose to pass/fail Spring 2020 courses and still count them towards degree requirements, as several school deans have an- nounced in response to potential performance shortfalls brought by the transition to remote learning. “We recognize the unfamil- iar challenges that students may encounter in a remote learning environment and the ways in which this might amplify pres- sures we are all feeling,” an email from Liberal Studies Dean Ju- lie Mostov read. Remote instruction has raised concerns spanning from wifi ac- cessibility, to lack of a quiet place to participate in classes, to confu- sion regarding how to transition lab or project-based courses to Zoom. Additional worries include professors ill at ease with the vid- eo conferencing platform and stu- dents being distracted by the emo- tional tolls of the ever-evolving pandemic, all of which may nega- ALEXANDRA CHAN | WSN tively impact students’ grades. The COVID-19 crisis has left students wondering about the rest of their spring academic semester. Most NYU schools are currently offering students the option to request to pass/fail CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 their classes up until May 12th. NYUAD Students Confident in Campus’ Response to Coronavirus By ABBY HOFSTETTER Regardless, NYUAD students are tertainment areas and disinfecting the 38 reported recoveries from the virus in NYU New York,” the student told Managing Editor not worried about losing their housing entire city of Dubai — many of which in the country. WSN in an email. anytime soon. Several students cited have proven to be effective. A CAS sophomore who has asked NYUAD junior Xinyi Zou agreed, An email sent on Monday, March 16, NYUAD’s tight-knit community — As of Monday, March 16, 125,000 to remain anonymous is studying away noting that it is not only the gov- by NYU Global Programs notified the including its administration — as the Emiratis had been tested for the vi- at NYUAD. He noted that the UAE’s ernment’s actions that make her students of NYU Accra and NYU Syd- reason why they are not bracing for a rus, equal to approximately 13% of quick response helped assure him of feel safer, but those of the NYUAD ney that both campuses would be clos- campus closure. its population. In comparison, there his safety in contrast with the United community as well. ing. With this shutdown, every NYU The United Arab Emirates reported have been 71,695 people tested in the States’ slow response to the outbreak “Abu Dhabi right now is probably, campus has been closed due to the coro- a confirmed case of coronavirus in late U.S. as of Sunday, March 22. This is and the resulting effect on NYU’s in terms of health care and testing facil- navirus outbreak — every campus ex- January, making it the first known case equal to approximately 0.0002% of New York campus. ities, safer than most places,” Zou said. cept NYU Abu Dhabi. While NYUAD in the Middle East. Since then, the UAE the population. “I do think that the UAE in gener- “[It is] a combination of the campus announced it was switching to remote has taken drastic measures to combat There are currently 153 cases of al has been doing a lot better to miti- and the government and the healthcare instruction on March 4, it is the last of the spread of the virus — barring all in- COVID-19 in the UAE, with 13 aris- gate the pandemic-crisis, where we are system itself.” 14 campuses to physically remain open. ternational travel, closing all public en- ing within the last day. There are also definitely in a different position than CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 Washington Square News MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020 [email protected] NEWS Edited by LISA COCHRAN and EMILY MASON NYU Schools Update Pass/Fail Policies in Response to Coronavirus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ence is limiting students to two pass/ guessed that he will end up pass/failing doing it, but I think other schools body knows how remote learning will All schools have extended the dead- fail courses, which can count towards one or more courses this semester and have a better approach to it making evolve over time. line to petition for pass/fail to May core requirements or degree electives, that the option was necessary to allow a blanket mandatory pass/fail for ev- “It’s good that we have most of the 12. And while most have adopted but not core degree courses. students to finish out the semester. erything,” Grove said. “Although it semester to decide because most of us policies allowing for all courses to be The enhanced policies come af- “I feel I’m not going to get the full may not allow students to raise their haven’t really experienced the com- taken pass/fail and still count towards ter the Executive Committee of the experience, and whatever grade that I GPA, it is setting one standard that plete breadth of online classes and the degree requirements, each school’s up- Student Government Assembly met get isn’t accurate to the performance people aren’t going to be able to look complete experience of them,” Haeck- dated policy is different. with the Office of the Provost and I could have had if we didn’t have better than others during this semes- er said. “So in a way, it is more useful Tandon School of Engineering not- NYU administration on Wednesday, to go home, if we didn’t have to do ter of confusion.” that we have until the end of the se- ed that even if a student opts for pass/ March 18 to address student concerns classes over Zoom,” Fuentes said. “In And Grove is not alone in her mester to decide.” fail, they may still need to receive a let- in the face of coronavirus, as report- terms of pass/failing, I feel it’s just to thinking, some students have rallied in GLS sophomore Erin Zubarik ap- ter grade to move onto a higher-level ed by NYU Local. get it over with, just move on to the support of a Universal Pass System to preciated Liberal Studies offering the course. Steinhardt has extended the Following the meeting, SGA is- next semester.” overcome stigmas surrounding pass/ more generous pass/fail policy. deadline to petition for pass/fail from sued a statement announcing that But not all students feel these re- fail which may prevent students from “I still plan on not passing and fail- the ninth week of the term to May 12, students should expect emails from vised policies have done enough, opting in, including concerns that ing, but I did see that email as the Lib- but has not updated its limit on how their school’s deans by this week at including GLS sophomore Parker pass/failing a course will hurt students eral Studies school trying to accommo- many courses students can take per se- the latest. At the time of publication, Grove, who feels that NYU should when applying for competitive gradu- date students for the changes that are mester using this grading system. the School of Professional Studies is have followed the example of univer- ate programs or jobs. happening right now,” Zubarik said. Gallatin School of Individualized the only undergraduate school that sities like Columbia and Duke Univer- CAS sophomore Samuel Haecker “So I looked upon it in a good light.” Study decided that students’ senior has not yet announced updates to its sity, which made pass/fail mandatory isn’t currently planning on pass/fail- projects must still be given a letter pass/fail policy. for all students. ing any courses, but is grateful to have Email Emily Mason grade. The College of Arts and Sci- Tandon sophomore Tripp Fuentes “I think it’s good that [NYU is] the semester to decide given that no- at [email protected]. NYUAD Students Confident in Campus’ Response to Coronavirus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 AD administration will continue its hence, will not take sudden measures is not abnormal. ing campuses, New York and Shanghai. NYUAD senior Alia ElKattan noted practice of transparent communication that will make us feel that we were off- “They feel very accessible,” the stu- Others think it’s because of NYUAD’s that after students at NYU’s New York with students regarding the virus. guard,” Oyane told WSN in an email. dent said of NYUAD’s administration. high percentage of international stu- campus were evicted from their resi- “[NYUAD’s administration] has NYU Abu Dhabi’s administration “Part of it, I think, has to be because dents and the risk of traveling abroad. dence halls with little warning, NYU- been communicating with our student is known amongst its students for its they live in proximity to us. They live Because of the open communication AD students grew worried, but their body and community at-large with transparency and care. Vice Chancel- on campus, and not in a penthouse from the administration, many students fears were soon alleviated.