Credit/No Credit Fall 2020
Dear Brooklyn College community,
Earlier this week, Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez asked the CUNY college presidents to consult with leaders on their respective campuses to determine the appropriateness and application of a Credit/No Credit flexible grading policy for the Fall 2020 semester.
The issue of Credit/No Credit had already generated considerable discussion at Brooklyn College. In late October, our Student Government passed a resolution in support of adopting the Credit/No Credit policy. In response, I took the issue to the November meeting of the Council on Administrative Policy, where I discussed it with department chairs and program directors. The matter was then referred to the Faculty Council.
This week, following the CUNY Board of Trustees’ formal approval of a Credit/No Credit policy, I consulted with Brooklyn College’s shared governance leaders to determine whether all or some of our Fall 2020 courses should be subject to the policy. On Wednesday, our Policy Council voted in favor of the Student Government resolution supporting a broad application of the policy. The Faculty Council also convened this week, where it passed a resolution to implement the Credit/No Credit policy for almost all courses at the college, except for certain prerequisite courses.
Given the extraordinary challenges students are facing as a result of the pandemic, I am convinced that implementing a Credit/No Credit policy this semester is the right thing to do. I have decided that the college will implement a Credit/No Credit policy with the limited exceptions that the Faculty Council identified. As a result, 98% of courses at Brooklyn College this semester will allow our students to opt for Credit/No Credit, if they so choose. (Courses excluded from the Credit/No Credit policy are listed here.)
This choice was guided, first and foremost, by a commitment to equity and access, along with the desire to facilitate our students’ academic success. It was also guided by the knowledge that it is standard practice in the academy, as well as our accrediting bodies, to grant substantial deference to faculty on grading.
I want to thank everyone who provided input on this issue, especially the leaders of our Student Government, whose passionate advocacy helped everyone in our community understand how challenging this semester has been for students.
I hope all of you enjoy a successful end of the semester and a well-deserved holiday break.
Yours truly,
Michelle J. Anderson
President, Brooklyn College
